Government Construction Strategy: trial projects

Posted on: 24 July 2013
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Constructing Excellence is working with the Cabinet Office to monitor and report on a number of trial projects that are testing three new procurement models (Cost Led Procurement; Integrated Project Insurance; Two Stage Open Book) that were proposed by industry, and developed by a joint task group. The three new procurement routes perform a central role in delivering the Government Construction Strategy’s sustainable 15-20% reduction in costs. The case study reports are an output of monitoring the progress and outcomes of the trial projects. Early findings from the government’s trial projects programme already indicate that smarter procurement focusing on earlier supply chain involvement is delivering 10-20% improvements in value for money. For more information, please see the individual case studies: Environment Agency: Rye Harbour (cost led procurement) ; Ministry of Justice: Cookham Wood Prison (two stage open book) ; Surrey County Council: Project Horizon: highways maintenance (two stage open book); Hackney / Haringey: SCMG: social housing refurbishment (two stage open book).

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London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Legacy: Sustainable procurement for construction projects. A guide

Posted on: 19 July 2013
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This new quick reference guide brings together London 2012’s learning on sustainable procurement of construction projects. The aim of the guide is to assist procurers in central government and the wider public sector to manage large or smaller procurement exercises that relate to construction in a way that achieves sustainability objectives.

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Keeping costs down on commercial

Posted on: 18 July 2013
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From inception and planning through to the construction and defects liability periods, costs on all schemes rapidly mount up.  In this programme Sweett Group director Andrew Moore and architect Suzette Vela Burkett, a director of Aukett Fitzroy Robinson, discuss how the project team ensure the scheme is built within the agreed cost parameters. They discuss the importance of clear channels of communication and clarity of vision and explain how the architect’s vision can be realised without compromising the budget.

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Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery in new homes: Final report

Posted on: 18 July 2013
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This final report from the Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality (VIAQ) Task Group reviews available evidence on the performance of MVHR in new homes. It sets out key recommendations to ensure that future installations are well designed, installed and commissioned and have clear operational guidelines for occupants.

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Earthquake-proof precast buildings

Posted on: 15 July 2013
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Innovative solutions to make ready-made building structures safer in earthquake-prone areas is the subject of a new EU-funded project. An EU-funded SAFECAST project (Performance of innovative mechanical connections in precast buildings structures under seismic conditions) will study ways to make precast buildings in earthquake areas safer.

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Retrofit incentives

Posted on: 11 July 2013
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This report produced by the Retrofit Incentives Task Group examines financial incentives to increase the uptake of domestic energy efficiency measures. It outlines proposals for the three most promising incentives – variable Stamp Duty, variable Council Tax and an Energy Efficiency Feed-in-Tariff – and includes economic analysis of their potential impacts.

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Design and decision tools in construction

Posted on: 8 July 2013
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The Technology Strategy Board has launched ten new software design tools for sustainable buildings. These tools have been developed with funding from the Technology Strategy Board and are beginning to emerge onto the market covering activities from life cycle analysis and operational carbon reporting, to embodied carbon reporting and early carbon calculations. Information on the tools and presentations from the launch conference are available online.

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Institution of Civil Engineers: Recorded lectures

Posted on: 4 July 2013
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Recorded lectures from the Institution of Civil Engineers are available on a new dedicated website.

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Construction 2050: Industrial Strategy

Posted on: 3 July 2013
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This sets out a vision and a plan for long-term strategic action by government and industry to continue to work together to promote the success of the UK construction sector. It focuses on key growth markets in: smart technologies, green construction, and overseas trade. A related report explores the most recent research on factors underpinning growth, competitiveness and performance of the construction sector, including: skills. access to finance, innovation capability, and supply chain developments.

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Infrastructure is firmly valued: but delivery is down the road

Posted on: 2 July 2013
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In this commentary from construction consultants Davis Langdon, experts have analysed the Spending Round 2013 and summarised what it means for the construction industry, with a particular focus on its investment plans for infrastructure, transportation, energy, housing, healthcare and science.

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