The week that was - 30th October 2020

Welcome to The Week That Was, a round-up of key events in the construction sector over the last seven days.

Consultants appointed to fire safety framework

Social housing framework operator Procurement for Housing has announced the first appointments to its new four-year Fire Safety Consultancy Framework Agreement, with Arup, Ridge and Partners and WYG among the firms appointed.

The framework consists of three lots consisting of:

1. all four types of fire risk assessment;

2. compliance, policy and strategy reviews, fire safety training, advice on legislative requirements, project management services and advice following fire risk assessments; and

3. M&E engineering services in respect of fire safety, design of sprinkler systems and fire suppression systems, fire safety and protection systems, project management and procurement services

The framework is available to housing associations and all public sector bodies including local authorities.  The framework applies across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a similar framework for Scotland set to be announced shortly.

For more information, see here and here.

Construction furlough levels dropping faster than other sectors

The construction sector brought back almost 75% of those individuals on the Government's job retention scheme by 31 August 2020, faster than most other sectors.

The number of individuals within the construction industry on furlough reached a peak in mid-April, with 723,600 employees on the scheme.  However, by 31 August 2020, this had reduced to 185,700, representing just over 25% of the peak figure.  Such reduction represents the third largest proportionate decrease in employees on the scheme, behind energy production and supply, and mining and quarrying, but these industries had far fewer employees on the scheme.

Encouragingly, analysis also shows that 93% of construction workers who had previously been furloughed were still on their firm's payroll by 31 August 2020 (the best of any sector except public administration, defence and social security).

For more information, see here.

Vital Energi awarded M&E contract for Woking power station

Vital has recently won the M&E contract on the ThamesWey Energy power station being built in Woking.  The new power station is designed to produce up to 10MW of heat which would feed a low temperature district heating network.  The station is initially intended to serve the flats and hotels which form part of the Victoria Square development, but has capacity to serve 2,500 homes.

 Interestingly, the station is designed to be scalable and will evolve over time to adopt lower carbon technologies.

 Click here to read more.

 Glasgow City Council plans for the future

 Glasgow City Council has approved plans to redevelop the city centre over the next 30 years to make it green and focused around walking and people.

 The final framework was influenced by the responses to a public consultation and is built around 6 core targets:

•  Building sustainable neighbourhoods;
•  Economic strength;
•  Improving public transport, cycling and walking to reduce traffic;
•  Reconnecting to the riverside;
•  Creating climate resilient public spaces; and
•  Restoring the existing centre.

 Click here to read more.