You were undoubtedly going to have some information regarding the new report in your possession at some point. During the second quarter (Q2), the level of construction workloads in Northern Ireland remained steady, and surveyors believe that they will come under increased pressure in the following 12 months as a result of a decline in profit margins. In the meantime, development is about to start on more than a hundred brand-new homes that are going up in the northern portion of Dorset. Additionally, Conrad Energy has begun construction on a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 6 megawatts (MW) and 12 megawatt hours (MWh) in Somerset, United Kingdom. This comes after initial plans for a new gas generator in the area were derailed due to opposition from the local community. And even before that, recent data that was made publically available by a company that specialises in providing intelligence to the construction industry, Barbour ABI, indicates that the city of London is currently in first place in the United Kingdom in terms of the value of contracts awarded for residential, commercial, retail, industrial, and hotel and leisure construction. This is according to recent information that was made publicly available by Barbour ABI.

Second-quarter construction workloads in Northern Ireland flatten.

Original Source: NI CONSTRUCTION WORKLOADS FLATTEN IN SECOND QUARTER

According to the latest RICS and Tughans Construction and Infrastructure Monitor, Q2 2022 workloads were stable. In contrast, UK workloads continued to expand strongly, boosted by large infrastructure projects.

Northern Ireland respondents are likewise less positive about the coming year, expecting workloads to fall. Northern Ireland’s net balance is –27, while the UK’s is +27.

Positive workloads were noticed in Northern Ireland’s housing sector. According to respondents, public and private housing workloads grew in Q2. Private commercial (-15%), industrial (-17%), and infrastructure (30%) all had negative workload balances.

Rising material and labor costs have eroded profit margins, and 12-month profit projections are -31.

56% of respondents reported a scarcity of quantity surveyors, 40% of construction professionals, and 45% of blue collar workers.

While labor shortages remain pervasive, there are signs they may be reducing, the survey said, with shortages of other construction professionals and blue-collar employees decreasing from 57% and 55%, respectively.

RICS NI’s building spokesman said: “Northern Ireland surveyors are pessimistic about the coming year.” This is likely unsurprising given skills shortages, material access issues, growing costs, and stagnant workloads.

“Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK differ in infrastructure workloads.” Big infrastructure projects drive industrial development in GB, but Northern Ireland respondents report falling workloads.

“We urgently urge Northern Ireland’s political parties to create an executive, commit to upgrading infrastructure, and present a long-term vision for future activity, allowing the sector and supply chains to plan and resolve any hurdles.”

“Current conditions are tough for Northern Ireland’s construction industry,” according to Tughans’ Michael McCord. Even so, the prospect of relieving skills shortages is optimistic, given that increased workloads in the rest of the UK may syphon talent from the industry here.

“The continuous decline in infrastructure workloads is worrisome.” We support proposals for local lawmakers to create an executive and make long-term investments. Northern Ireland’s construction industry is vital to its economic revival.

Investing in infrastructure may create jobs, drive economic spending, and improve Northern Ireland’s long-term competitiveness.

North Dorset will build 114 new homes.

Original Source: Construction to get underway on 114 new houses in North Dorset

In April, Dorset Council approved detailed proposals for 114 new dwellings on a 9.5-acre plot off North Fields, near to Sturminster Newton United’s field.

Construction will begin this month on 85 two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes for private sale and 29 inexpensive homes offered through shared ownership or low-cost rental.

As part of the development, Bellway will invest roughly £1.6m in Sturminster Newton’s services and facilities.

The money goes to primary and secondary schools, the Honeymead Lane Education and Leisure Hub, and training and all-weather sports facilities. Sustainable transport, allotments, libraries, and hospitals will receive more funding.

Corallian Heights honours Dorset’s Jurassic limestone geology.

Kim Caldwell, sales director for Bellway Wessex, said Corallian Heights will offer much-needed houses to Sturminster Newton.

“We worked together with the local council to design this development to fit its rural location, with additional planting and wildlife habitats.

“The new residences will have a variety of designs to meet the needs of buyers in the area, and new walkways will connect pedestrians and cyclists to nearby sports and leisure facilities.”

“We’ll begin construction this month and sell the first residences in January.”

Bellway is planting new trees to improve the site’s existing woods and hedgerow and is establishing a landscaped recreational trail. A new playground will be built.

Local opposition thwarts original gas plant plan, leading to 6MW BESS construction.

Original Source:  Construction starts on 6MW BESS after local opposition thwarted original gas plant plan

Last week, Conrad Energy broke ground on the project with the mayor and council members. The 6MW, two-hour BESS will be built up of Tesla Megapacks and will enable Conrad Energy to reach 200MW by 2022.

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for climate and sustainable travel, Sarah Warren, said, “We are very pleased to host this significant new battery storage facility from Conrad Energy and applaud its role in creating smarter and more flexible energy to get us to net zero by 2030.”

Bath and North East Somerset Council approved a gas-powered generation facility in early 2020, prompting local outrage. Conrad Energy halted plans later that year to find a greener option.

Chris Shears, the company’s chief development officer, told Energy-Storage news about the transition.

As an experienced and conscientious energy firm with over 50 facilities in the UK, we recognise the need to plan and operate our projects delicately and cooperate with local communities. “We changed the technology at Midsomer Norton after planning was approved because of local concerns,” he said.

“We secured import capacity for the grid link, and all stakeholders agreed battery storage was vital to attaining net zero in the UK and an acceptable technology for the location.” Batteries are good at storing and distributing sustainable energy during peak demand periods and supporting system stability, so we can all benefit from it. Our Midsomer Norton station can export enough electricity to power 14,000 homes for two hours, making it a reliable resource for Western Power Distribution.

Local opposition to fossil fuel ventures leading to BESS technology isn’t restricted to modest projects like this one. A 100MW/400MWh BESS went online in California in June after local objections to a gas peaker plant.

BESS units are often chosen as alternatives to new fossil fuel projects. Australian researchers found that BESS projects are 30% cheaper than gas for peaker plants.

Construction in London remains robust.

Original Source: Construction activity in London remains strong

June was a good month for London. Residential contracts for the month totaled £622m, far more than Scotland’s $206m. London’s residential planning approvals were £416m in June, not much behind the South West’s £484m.

Barbour ABI’s data is part of its Super Sectors report, a monthly study of planning approvals and contract awards by sector and region that gives a thorough picture of the UK construction industry. The analysis examines planning approvals and contract awards to predict the industry’s short-term future in each location. The June issue emphasises strong London construction trends.

London also led in June’s commercial and retail building contract awards with £159m. London’s planning applications have only reached £30m, lagging behind the South East, Scotland, the North West, and the West Midlands.

The capital also led the tables in Industrial and Hotel & Leisure building with £158m and £80m respectively.

Tom Hall, chief economist at Barbour ABI, said that while London had a good month in June for contract awards, the longer-term picture isn’t as positive. June planning approvals were low across the building industry. Residential projects received £416m in planning approval during the month. The next few months will show how this picture develops.

Summary of today’s construction news

You have learned the news above regarding the latest RICS and Tughans Construction and Infrastructure Monitor shows stable workloads in Q2 2022. Workloads in the UK have grown rapidly, helped by infrastructural projects. Infrastructure spending might generate additional jobs, enhance consumer spending, and strengthen Northern Ireland’s competitiveness.

Meanwhile, 114 dwellings are being built on 9.5 acres near Sturminster Newton’s North Fields. When building begins later this month, Bellway will invest £1.6 million in Sturminster Newton.

In addition to that, Conrad Energy, the mayor, and city council members helped break ground. Tesla Megapacks will help Conrad Energy reach 200MW by 2022. Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) units are replacing fossil fuels. Australian scientists say BESS is 30 percent less expensive than gas for peaker plants.

Also, even though London’s contract awards were strong in June, the longer-term outlook isn’t as good, says Barbour ABI chief economist Tom Hall. Despite June being great, this holds true. In June, building industry planning approvals dropped, and 416 million pounds of residential development were cleared for planning this month. In the coming months, we’ll see how this image changes.