PBC Weekly: Your Midweek Update

Welcome back to PBC Weekly! We cannot start this newsletter without acknowledging the Grenfell Fire developments and remembering the 72 people who tragically died. The past week has seen many developments about this devastating event, including the Phase 2 Grenfell Inquiry report. This edition will cover this topic along with other news from the industry.

Grenfell Tower Fire Developments

"Decades of failure...systematic dishonesty": Final Grenfell Inquiry report released

The final report from the Grenfell Inquiry contains 1,700 pages documenting the failings that led to the 2017 fire, as well as recommendations for Government and industry.

Construction industry reacts to the Phase 2 Grenfell Inquiry report

The UK construction industry is reflecting on the findings of the Phase 2 Grenfell Inquiry report, which found “systemic dishonesty” from both building control professionals and manufacturers.

We cannot rely on paper-based certification post-Grenfell, says CARES

The chief executive of the UK Certification Authority for Reinforcing Steels (CARES) has said that paper-based certification can no longer be relied on after the failings that led to Grenfell, calling for “secure, fully digital formats”.

Housing

Data shows 2,300 residential buildings still have unsafe cladding

The latest government data shows that there are 2,300 residential buildings, at 11m or over, that have yet to have remediation work started on their unsafe cladding.

How retrofitting can help solve the UK’s housing crisis

The team at Buro Happold examine what is needed to answer the UK’s housing crisis- and how retrofitting can help make use of over one million empty homes.

MADE Partnership: Homes England, Barratt and Lloyds form housebuilding JV

Barratt, Lloyds Banking Group and government body Homes England will each contribute ￡50m to the new housebuilding private-public joint venture ‘MADE Partnership’.

Transport

Final deck segment lowered into place in Britain’s new longest rail bridge

The Colne Valley Viaduct has officially become the UK’s new longest rail bridge at 3.4km( or 2.1 miles), after over two years of construction.

[VIDEO]HS2 celebrates project’s first completed viaduct

The 163m long Highfurlong Brook Viaduct, near the village of Aston le Walls, is the first completed viaduct on the HS2 project.

Mental Health

Yesterday, 10 September 2024, marked World Suicide Prevention Day, an occasion of great importance, particularly within the construction industry. The construction industry unfortunately has a higher rate of mental health problems and suicide, with a 2020 ONS report finding that the? suicide rate among male construction workers was 29.1 per 100,000- compared to a national average of 9.6 per 100,000.

If you or someone you know is suffering, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652.