Rent setting for social housing tenancies

Posted on: 2 February 2012
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This note explains the Government’s policy of achieving convergence between council and housing association rent levels.

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Does size matter – or does culture drive value for money?

Posted on: 2 February 2012
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This research, published by the Chartered Institute of Housing, considers how well equipped the housing association sector is to respond to fundamental changes to the economic climate, increased regulatory emphasis on governance, viability and value for money and new funding models for investment in affordable housing, which are likely to have a profound impact on the operating environment for housing associations in England.

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BIM from the point of view of a small practice

Posted on: 2 February 2012
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David Miller describes his practice’s recent BIM experience in three parts; firstly describing the adoption process, then defining the costs and concluding by trying to quantify the business advantages.

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BS 8572:2011 Procurement of facility-related services. Guide

Posted on: 2 February 2012
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ISBN 9780580751516  £182 (£91 for BSI members)

BS 8572:2011 provides owners, operators, tenants, facility managers and property managers with guidance and recommendations for the procurement of a broad range of services that are required to support the physical assets making up a facility and the needs of users of that facility. It covers both new and existing facilities. BS 8572:2011 is applicable to organizations facing re-tendering of facility-related services and those entering directly into the later stages of the procurement process, notably mobilization and performance review. While this BS 8572 covers the procurement of facility-related services within the private sector and, in particular, for commercial and industrial premises, it does not cover those areas of public sector procurement of facility-related services which are covered by public procurement regulations.It is also not applicable to the procurement of services required to deliver a facility, including those forming an integral part of a public-private partnership (PPP) or to the provision of in-house services. An article in the January 2012 NBS Newsletter discusses the new standard and the benefits it offers the facilities management sector. The article is available here.

Probability, Uncertainty and Risk in the Environment

Posted on: 2 February 2012
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PURE (Probability, Uncertainty and Risk in the Environment) is a new Knowledge Exchange Network and Research Programme. This online group supports the Knowledge Exchange component of PURE. Its aim is to be the leading national network bringing together researchers, industrialists and policy-makers in uncertainty and risk for natural hazards, through collaborative working, knowledge exchange and the development of best practice. It will help to shape the direction of future research and provide valuable information to practitioners in environmental risk management.

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Flood defence

Posted on: 1 February 2012
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A publication from the House of Commons Library looks at changes to the funding and management of flood defence in the UK.

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Flood risk management in England

Posted on: 1 February 2012
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Report from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee on flood risk management in England.

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D.I.Y. Creative Placemaking

Posted on: 1 February 2012
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With 25 years of experience, Artscape has a longstanding commitment to sharing its experience in Toronto with communities elsewhere. Artscape DIY is a central component of the Knowledge Exchange programmes and services offered in order to: engage communities across Canada and beyond in the cultural, environmental, social and economic contribution of creative placemaking; build community capacity to integrate creative and cultural facilities and activities into the cultural, social and economic fabric of their communities through creative placemaking projects; build a community of practice in creative placemaking.

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Rail route 2050: Towards a competitive, resource efficient and intelligent rail transport system for 2050″

Posted on: 1 February 2012
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An initial update of the European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC) vision for the future of rail, projecting to 2050, has been issued, addressing the European effort required for research and innovation to achieve a competitive, resource efficient and intelligent rail transport system. The European vision for railway research and innovation outlined in the document illustrates the research pillars that need to be supplemented by the corresponding investment pillar. To complement those, the legislation pillar is necessary to provide fair market conditions. This combination has the potential to transform rail into the low carbon natural transport mode of choice in the middle of the 21st Century.

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Guidelines for the Active Travel Audit

Posted on: 1 February 2012
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As part of the URBACT European exchange and learning programme, the Active Travel Network has produced guidelines for conducting Active Travel Audits. The Active Travel Audit is a self assessment tool carried out by different groups. It’s not intended as a method for benchmarking, but as a means to improve the active travel system in the audited city. The guidelines outline the steps of the audit – how to prepare, run and analyse the audit – as well as defining the participants that should be involved and the skill set of the auditor.

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