In today’s news, we will look into Materials Passports, a “pioneering” initiative that will “kickstart” the circular economy in the construction industry. The most recent readings from the Glenigan Construction Index indicate that the industry will face even more challenges in the fourth and first quarters of this year. The Littlewoods Film Studio project has suffered a significant setback due to the withdrawal of a key collaborator. A member of parliament has demanded action be taken regarding the “unsafe” flats development in Kettering.

Pioneering Materials Passports “kickstart” circular economy in building

Original Source: “Pioneering� Materials Passports to “kickstart� circular economy in construction sector

The 94,000-square-foot Edenica office development at 100 Fetter Lane, designed by Fletcher Priest Architects, is under construction in London’s City.

Waterman says this BauMont Real Estate Capital and YardNine concept uses the latest design approaches to maximise energy efficiency and reduce embodied carbon.

Waterman’s Sustainability Team is using Materials Passports as part of the development’s “unique” approach to reduce whole-life carbon and develop a platform for material circularity.

Materials Passports are digital data sets that define materials and components in goods and systems for “current use, recovery, and future reuse,” according to Waterman.

The Edenica will be a trial project for its implementation and is the first scheme in London to be constructed as a storage bank for future reuse, the sustainability consultant group said.

Working with Third London Wall’s project manager, Waterman’s Sustainability team has built out the procurement process to guarantee Materials Passports contain critical building material attributes in a consolidated database.

Waterman explains that this can be used to offer maintenance and potential future reuse reports over the building’s life and beyond.

Waterman said Edenica’s Materials Passports will provide a glimpse of building elements’ credentials, listing the materials, goods, and components used.

The company says the records will allow reuse of materials during the building’s operation or at the end of its life, turning trash into valuable resources.

Future owners, design teams, manufacturers, and contractors can reuse materials with Materials Passports, says Waterman.

Natalie Harrison, managing director of BauMont Real Estate Capital, said, “We employ a ‘use less, waste less’ approach to development and refurbishing.”

“We hire sustainability specialists at the start of our projects to guarantee best-in-class ESG credentials are considered early on.”

Waterman’s Material Passports program at Edenica, which looks beyond legislation and sets a new precedent for London, is a fantastic example.

Anastasia Stella, Waterman’s Sustainability Associate, led the development of Materials Passports at Edenica. She noted, “As building experts, we must constantly innovate to combat the climate emergency.”

“Our Materials Passport effort shows how even simple concepts can reduce whole-life carbon and optimise material re-use in the future.”

Glenigan predicts Q4 construction headwinds

Original Source: UK construction industry to face stronger headwinds in Q4: Glenigan

UK construction has been affected by a series of disruptive events in the past six months, but the latest Glenigan construction index predicts headwinds will get even worse in Q4 and Q1 of this year.

The Russia-Ukraine war and related materials, oil, and fuel price increases, together with new building laws and a new government, have harmed trust.

The market is stabilising. With index results marginally up from the previous month, the market is

Glenigan says the business “is carefully getting back on its feet, but it will be an uphill battle.”

Last week’s collapse of the pound and higher-than-expected interest rates are expected to add to growing import prices.

The new indicator reveals a welcome stabilisation of project-starts levels, but sluggish activity continued, with the value of on-site work decreasing 27% in the three months to September to stand 23% lower than a year ago.

Residential projects start to weaken from July to September. The value plummeted 33% in the previous three months and 24% year-over-year.

Social housing project-starts fell 13% from the previous quarter and 36% from 2021.

Private housing construction-starts fell 37% from the previous quarter and a fifth from the previous year.

Most non-residential sectors saw project-start decreases in Q3, including education and health, which fell 37% and 39% from Q2.

Every English region saw a fall in project-starts.

North East and East of England project-starts fell 38% and 36% from the previous quarter. Both regions fell 30% and 29% year-over-year.

London had the worst performance of any region, decreasing 45% from 2021 levels, while on-site work value fell 30% from the previous quarter.

Scotland’s project-starts fell 26% from the previous quarter and were a fifth lower than a year ago.

Northern Ireland’s project-starts rose 31% from the previous quarter and 51% from a year ago.

Work starting on-site in Wales performed well, holding steady from the previous quarter and rising 7% year-over-year.

Senior economist Rhys Gadsby thinks the recent decrease in project starts has stabilised. Due to a weakening pound and higher-than-anticipated interest rates, imports of building materials and supplies are predicted to continue rising in the coming months.

This will undoubtedly pose new issues for the construction industry, indicating we’re not out of the woods yet. However, the industry can take hope from indicators of individual vertical revival, such as civil engineering project-starts.

Key partner withdraws from Littlewoods film studio project

Original Source: Huge blow for Littlewoods film studio project as key partner pulls out

The £70m plan to renovate Liverpool’s famous Littlewoods building has been derailed.

Liverpool John Moores University will no longer be an anchor tenant, jeopardising the project’s survival.

In November 2021, Liverpool City Council and the City Region Combined Authority proposed turning Edge Lane into one of Europe’s premier TV and film hubs, creating 4,000 jobs. The Combined Authority provided £8m for essential restoration after the structure experienced extensive dilapidation over two decades and fire damage in 2018.

Last month, it was confirmed that the Combined Authority and current leaseholders, Capital and Centric, were still signing development contracts. Later this year, construction should begin.

For phase two to proceed, a fully-costed financial package is needed, with the council and combined authority each investing £12m and a commercial lender for the rest. When the proposals were announced, Twickenham Studios and Liverpool John Moores University were named as anchor tenants (LJMU).

Liverpool John Moores University will no longer lease 75,000 sq ft in Littlewoods. The decision will be a severe blow to one of the city’s most ambitious reconstruction projects, as the institution was intended to be a major tenant.

Liverpool is the second most filmed UK site behind London and has attracted many film and TV productions. Last November, the Liverpool Film Office said the sector was attracting around £20m a year.

Two big ‘blank canvas’ studios opened on Edge Lane a year ago and have been essential to the city’s TV and film boom. The proposed Littlewoods studio building would complement the Depot and cement the city’s status as the “Hollywood of the North.”

LJMU will remain a “active and committed collaborator” but will invest in its own campus and infrastructure. Last month, Capital Centric confirmed its commitment to the project, stating agreements were virtually in place to “kick-start the realisation of our ambition” and develop “one of the biggest film and TV complexes in the UK.”

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which provided £8m for the initial phase of remediation, remains committed to the project. A Combined Authority official said the Depot’s success means Littlewoods can still go forward.

Liverpool city council also supports the idea. Talks with other education partners have commenced.

LJMU said Littlewoods is a fantastic project with transformative possibilities for the film and TV industries in the city and the opportunities it will bring.

Screen, creative, digital, and media disciplines are crucial to our portfolio; to give our digital and creative arts students an extraordinary university experience, we will continue to invest in our existing city campus facilities, but will not lease space in the Littlewoods project.

“We will remain an active and close partner, committed to working with the film office, city, combined authorities, and film industry locally to enable equitable growth in this sector.”

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority: “The film and TV business continues to grow.” The Depot, which was funded by the Combined Authority and built next to the Littlewoods site, proves the region’s demand for high-end studio space.

Liverpool Film Office’s facilities have been utilised for six TV commercials, one feature film, and are currently being rented for six months by a large US streaming service to develop a flagship TV drama.

Liverpool is the UK’s most filmed city outside London and a hub of creative creativity. The city region has recently hosted The Batman, Peaky Blinders, and Munich: The Edge of War.

The Combined Authority has also contributed £3m to the LCR Production Fund, which supports high-end TV series like Time and Help and The Responder. The fund secured and developed talent in the city region, boosting the pandemic-hit economy.

The redevelopment of the former Littlewoods Building aims to create a 260,000-square-foot film studio, as well as commercial, creative employment, and educational space. This would enhance the City Region’s reputation for culture and creativity, generate jobs across a range of skills, and provide opportunities for the region’s growing creative and digital cluster.

“The Combined Authority will be recommended to repeat its funding commitment while the developer pursues new tenants, since the project continues to deliver considerable benefits for jobs and the film industry in the City Region.”

Capital&Centric’s John Moffat remarked, “We’re not doing the LJMU deal as planned, but we’re still in talks.” This doesn’t change the overarching aim for the Littlewoods Project, there will still be an education provider whether the university is participating or not, and the Combined Authority will continue funding.

“Legal agreements are virtually in place to kick off this enormous regeneration project that will consolidate Liverpool’s position at the heart of the UK’s film and TV industry, produce millions for the local economy, and provide exciting job prospects for decades to come.”

LJMU’s departure from the Littlewoods initiative is sad, but it won’t affect the site’s planned restoration, for which financing will be approved this month.

“Education partners are being contacted to gauge interest in the program when it’s available.”

MP condemns ‘unsafe’ Kettering flats

Original Source: MP calls for action over ‘unsafe’ Kettering flats development

An MP requested authorities to make a Kettering apartment construction project safe for tenants and passersby.

Philip Hollobone, a Kettering Conservative, has raised concerns over an incomplete and “unsafe” complex of flats in Job’s Yard, built with more floors than permitted.

North Northants Council (NNC) must enforce HSE remedy action through its building control department as the planning authority.

Mr. Hollobone welcomed the HSE’s engagement to enforce health and safety requirements. The safe load capacity of the blockwork walls and supporting ground has been surpassed, and the scaffolding is dangerous and in danger of collapsing, according to the HSE.

“In June, the HSE notified Michigan Construction. Now that it’s October, I’ve urged the HSE to make the building and scaffolding safe as soon as feasible.

Marcus Fielding, owner of Michigan Construction Ltd., said, “We’ll work 24/7 to address all complaints.”

Toller Church members and visitors can’t park in the church car park because it’s unsafe.

In July, the Job’s Yard access road to the car park off Meeting Lane was closed. The only access was via pedestrian-only Gold Street.

The parking lot was roped off for three months.

Poor weather posed a risk of falling debris, the Rev Helen Wakefield-Carr, Toller Church minister, said.

The church is suffering. The most vulnerable are affected.

“Our toddler group attendees couldn’t use our parking lot before. Disabled, old, and weak people need to utilise our community rooms during the week, yet they can’t walk.

We have a theatre group, Scouts, Cubs, and Beavers; young people walking through town at night pose a risk.

Mr. Hollobone added, “I’m worried about pedestrians and local churchgoers whose access and parking are disturbed.”

In September, council authorities stated they were “urgently considering their next moves,’ yet the apartment block’s illegal extra story remains.

NNC’s executive member for growth and regeneration stated that the authorities were liaising with the developer.

He stated, “We’re still monitoring the location and working with the HSE.” We’re evaluating our next actions and want to remedy the issue quickly. “

Job’s Yard was closed in June, but some pedestrians ignore the unprotected gates.

A planning inspector ordered the removal of the apartments’ fifth floor after Michigan Construction Ltd. ‘s appeal failed.

The HSE lists 14 Michigan Construction Ltd. violations. Michigan Construction Ltd. violated the Safety at Work Act 1974, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, and Work at Height Regulations 2005.

The immediate prohibition notice served against Michigan Construction Ltd in June 2022 said, “You have not taken all practicable steps to prevent danger from structural collapse.” There have been significant departures from design information and specifications that render the structure unsafe, including exceeding the safe load capacity of blockwork walls and supporting ground, which is within your control. “

“You haven’t made adequate efforts to make the scaffold a safe location to work and prevent its collapse.”

It’s attached to a hazardous structure

– No weekly site inspections

– It’s not built to a standard.

If a structure creates an “immediate hazard to life or safety” and the owner can’t or won’t make repairs, building control must act. A municipality can remove the threat and take reasonable steps to cooperate with the building owner before carrying out needed renovations.

If a building is hazardous, the council will do the minimum amount of work necessary and bill the owner.

Kevin Thurland, Ian Jelley, and Anup Pandey issued a joint statement: “We’re aware of Job’s Yard and the planning violation that worries homeowners and businesses.”

“Our building control teams continue to liaise with the HSE to update them on ongoing issues and support two prohibition letters against the owner, as well as our own enforcement operations.” We understand that citizens and businesses desire action, and we know our police are working to resolve this issue. “

Summary of today’s construction news

Overall, we discussed the Materials Passports as part of Waterman’s “unique” approach to minimise whole-life carbon and establish a platform for material circularity. In the past six months, several unexpected occurrences have had an impact on the UK building industry, and the new Glenigan construction index indicates Q4 and Q1 will be considerably worse. The £70 million renovation of the Littlewoods building in Liverpool has been halted. Littlewoods Film Studio lost an investor. A member of parliament asked for a Kettering apartment construction site to be made safe for residents and nearby pedestrians.