Q U I C K T O L AY, T H E R E T O S TAY

25.05.18
Leader

Hackitt – no easy answers / Thomas Lane

For many, the Hackitt report has occupiers on handover. Hackitt’s bid to condemning it to a dusty shelf
turned out to be a something of a Underpinning this vision is a new somewhere in Whitehall. The
bring some
disappointment. Many industry
organisations expected it to tackle
perceived failings in the Building
focus on the industry where it takes
responsibility for its actions rather
than passing it onto someone else, or
“ discipline to a
government, perhaps mindful of the
uproar caused by the failure of the
report to tackle the combustible
Regulations; the RIBA wanted a ban perhaps not at all. This vision means
fragmented industry cladding issue, announced a
on combustible cladding, two means a move away from prescriptive where the right hand consultation on this topic just three
of escape and compulsory sprinklers guidance, which Hackitt sees as hours after it was published.
on high-rise residential buildings. unhelpful and part of the problem.
doesn’t have a clue Attention immediately switched
Others saw it as an opportunity to Instead fire safety on “high-risk what the left is doing is away from the report to this
right long-standing grievances – for
example, private approved
residential buildings” should be
considered holistically, with
laudable and brave announcement. And attention is now
focusing on the Grenfell inquiry,
inspectors wanted the same powers regulations moving to an outcomes- which started this week and is
as local authority building control based model with a case-by-case expected to run into 2019. And there
and for the latter to be subject to the approach made for each building, an is the ongoing police investigation
same set of professional regulations. approach similar to that adopted by into the disaster.
Instead, Hackitt has produced a fire engineers. Making the Hackitt report stick will
high-level report that dismissed these Hackitt’s bid to bring some need a continuing focus, as delivering
concerns as symptoms of a wider discipline to a fragmented industry its recommendations will require a
malaise that could only be tackled where the right hand doesn’t have a concerted effort and money. Setting
from first principles. clue what the left is doing is laudable up the Joint Competent Authority is
It proposes a new, overarching and brave. Her proposals seek to the government’s responsibility and
regulatory framework that aims to create a joined-up regulatory body responsible for promoting will need resourcing properly.
clearly define the roles and free from competitive pressures and professional competency with regard Although the JCA will ultimately be
responsibilities of those designing, armed with proper enforcement to fire safety sitting above the self-funded through fees, the three
building and maintaining multiple- powers, which should be more professional institutions should organisations comprising the JCA
occupancy residential buildings effective than the currently ensure consistency of approach. The (local authority building control, the
higher than 10 storeys. Those people disjointed, resource-starved recommendation for independent, fire and rescue service and the HSE)
would be governed by a new super arrangement. Defining who is third-party test accreditation for will have significant additional
regulator, the Joint Competent responsible for ensuring fire safety – product fire performance is long responsibilities, which means
Authority (JCA), which combines the the clients, designers and contractors overdue, and clearly stating what recruiting and training the staff
expertise of building control, the fire – and what they should be doing at products can and can’t be used for necessary to fulfil all the procedures
and rescue service and the Health key milestones during design and specific applications will be helpful proposed by Hackitt. This will need
and Safety Executive (HSE). There delivery follows the tried and tested to specifiers. government funding from an
would be clearly defined milestones CDM model and makes sense. However, there are some administration not known for its love
at planning, design, delivery and Keeping a record of the building’s questionable recommendations – of spending or regulations. It is also
handover stages that would require specification and how this changes many in the industry rely on bogged down by Brexit. If the
scrutiny and sign-off of the work to during delivery is plain common prescriptive guidance in the approved enduring legacy of past initiatives to
date before progressing to the next sense and should be relatively documents and moving away from reform the industry – think Latham
stage. Changes to the specification straightforward for projects using this is a high-risk strategy. and Egan – is any guide, the signs
during design and construction BIM and an incentive for those who Although the omissions in Hackitt’s aren’t good.
should be digitally recorded and the aren’t. There are other welcome report have a logic, these might have Thomas Lane, group technical editor,
as-built status of the building given to recommendations: a new body the unintended consequence of Building

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

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 25.05.18 Contents
Online In the magazine

Online this week News

9 News
17 Financial news

Comment & Analysis

21 Hansom
22 News analysis: Hackitt’s final report
The Building Awards 2018 is now open for entries. To enter The industry is unconvinced and unimpressed by
Dame Judith’s conclusion that less prescription,
go to the awards website: www.building-awards.com not more, might have prevented the Grenfell fire

Agenda
3 Leader Thomas Lane
Online Building Your Future 26 Sadie Morgan Sounding the warning bells on good
design

Building Your Future: In the skip! 30 Moving up in the world

What single thing would you consign to the The Hays International Salary Survey shows other
skip of history? Attitudes, tech, policies, countries trying to lure Brits away with big salaries
practices: if you hate it, we want to know – but the UK market is hanging on to its talent
about it! Use the hashtag #Building175 and
#InTheSkip to tweet us about what you think Projects
doesn’t deserve to survive the next 25 years
36 Only connect
Building Your Future: Trailblazers David Chipperfield’s £56m overhaul of the Royal
Which buildings from the past 175 years Academy has entailed connecting it to Burlington
were futuristic in their time, or marked Gardens, swelling its size by a massive 70%
a change in how the industry built?
In 250 words, tell us which structures
you think were trailblazers, and what you
believe we can learn from them for our
Our campaign is all about future working future projects.
practices, and we want to hear about your
careers, colleagues and businesses. Visit www.building.co.uk/175 or email
Opportunities for you to have a say include: [email protected]

Enjoy Building wherever you are

Legal
40 Robert Akenhead Talking in private to one side
COVER: HAMISH CHAMP

40 Andrew Wood Cyber security – the new data rules

Digital edition online Economics

Read the whole magazine online. Free to access for all
subscribers at building.co.uk/home/digital-editions 42 London vs Melbourne
Comparing the residential construction market in
the two cities
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 NEWS
finance p17

Private approved inspectors

‘insulted’ by Hackitt report
Inspectors offended by recommendation in report that they be excluded from high-rise residential
By Thomas Lane technical policy at Local Authority
Building Control, the organisation
Private approved inspectors have that represents local authority
said the recommendation in last building control departments, said:
week’s Hackitt review that they be “I think it is right that developers
excluded from providing building should not be able to choose their own
control services on high-rise regulator. That is it in a nutshell.”
residential buildings is Turner added that the numbers of
“unacceptable in a public report”. buildings that would be affected by

HAMISH CHAMP
Paul Wilkins, the chair of the the proposals was only a small
Association of Consultant percentage of the overall amount of
Approved Inspectors (ACAI), which The Hackitt report was commissioned by the available work, adding there was a
represents the profession, said its government following the Grenfell Tower fire possibility that approved inspectors
members were “insulted and highly could work with local authorities
offended” by the report’s implication evidence, Instead, she recommends that only although they would need to meet
they would approve sub-standard has the local authorities are allowed to the criteria set out by them.
work in order to get the next job. potential to damage enforce building regulations as part He admitted local authorities
He added: “To have their reputations and is unacceptable in a of a proposed Joint Competence would need additional resources to
professionalism and ethics public report.” Authority which also includes the cope with the additional workload
questioned in this way, with no Wilkins plans to write to Dame fire and rescue service and the and added: “There is a recruitment
Judith Hackitt to ask for the Health and Safety Executive. process that is necessary and
evidence that approved inspectors Hackitt suggested approved training to be done. We need to gear
accepted lower standards of inspectors could provide up towards that.”
TO HAVE THEIR workmanship. consultancy services to clients and Wilkins said the ACAI had told
PROFESSIONALISM Hackitt’s final report into building expand local authority’s capacity Hackitt that enforcement should be
regulations and fire safety said while operating under the latter’s handled by a body independent of
AND ETHICS developers should not be able to rules and standards. approved inspectors and local
QUESTIONED IN choose between approved inspectors The ACAI said it was “seriously authorities – and would repeat this if
and local authority building control concerned” that local authorities did the government decided to consult
THIS WAY IS
when working on residential blocks not have the capacity, competence on the report’s findings.
UNACCEPTABLE over 10 storeys and all other or the regulatory requirements to
PAUL WILKINS, ACAI multi-occupancy residential fulfil the role suggested in the report. For more coverage of the Hackitt
buildings including institutions. But Barry Turner, the director of report, go to P10-11 and P22

Battersea turns to supply chain for Carillion snagging work

The developer behind the Battersea Power Station Called Circus West, Carillion’s first phase includes including £17m this year, on the scheme by
redevelopment has begun the snagging work on the 865 flats designed by Manchester architect 2020, although it had earmarked £16m in claims
first phase of the £9bn scheme completed by SimpsonHaugh and last year’s Stirling prize-winner on the scheme.
Carillion just before it collapsed in January. dRMM. Ticknell left the developer at the beginning of
The bust contractor finished the first phase work Rob Tincknell, the former chief executive of the this month after a decade at the firm and has been
at the mixed-use site at the end of last year under a Battersea Power Station Development Company, replaced by his deputy Simon Murphy.
fixed-price lump sum contract. told Building last summer Carillion had done “a Mace is currently on site with the second phase of
But a project source said the Battersea Power brilliant job”. the Battersea job, which includes work on the main
Station Development Company had decided not to But the job was one of a number of loss-making grade II-listed structure and includes new offices
bring in any additional main contracting expertise contracts the contractor detailed in a business which will see tech giant Apple take up space at the
for the work Carillion would have done but has recovery plan published in the wake of its collapse development, while Sir Robert McAlpine is working
instead called in Turner & Townsend to manage the in January. on the third phase which includes 1,300 homes
supply chain. It said it expected to lose a further £29m, designed by Foster + Partners and Frank Gehry.

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

 10 / Hackitt report news

Combustible
cladding ban
in the offing
Government prepared to support ban on use in
high-rise buildings, says housing secretary

By the Building newsdesk But worries are growing another

government consultation will delay
Housing secretary James schemes further. Lucy Grove,
Brokenshire has said the Grenfell Programme lead at the
government is prepared to support a National Housing Federation, said:
ban on combustible cladding in “The uncertainty around materials
high-rise buildings. has led to delays in identifying
Speaking in the House of solutions and receiving building
Commons this week, Brokenshire control sign-off for some
Protesters on a silent march in London last month
said government had been moved organisations.”
by arguments for a ban on cladding And Lord Porter, chairman of the
systems such as the one that caused Local Government Association, said occupancy residential buildings. buildings, only able to subcontract
the Grenfell tragedy. the government should introduce a Her report recommends the to local authorities.
He added: “Having listened “temporary ban on the use of creation of a new definition in the The JCA will not be set up by
carefully to the arguments for combustible materials on complex building regulations system of merging LABC, FRAs and the HSE,
banning combustible materials in and high-rise buildings” which higher-risk residential buildings but by requiring the three bodies to
cladding systems on high-rise would “provide the clarity for (HRRB) of more than 10 storeys in work together.
residential buildings the building owners who need to know height, which a new Joint Competent Hackitt proposes scrapping the
government is minded to agree and what they can use to replace Authority (JCA) made up of Local government-industry Building
will consult accordingly.” dangerous cladding and insulation”. Authority Building Control (LABC), Regulations Advisory Group which
Declining to proscribe the use of Hackitt’s review of fire safety rules, fire and rescue authorities (FRA) and oversees the creation of guidance,
flammable materials in cladding undertaken in the wake of the the Health and Safety Executive and the creation of a “new structure”
systems, Dame Judith Hackitt in Grenfell tower fire, has proposed (HSE) should oversee. to “validate and assure” the
her final report said it is for the the creation of “less prescriptive” Only the JCA will be able to guidance created by industry – but
construction industry to “respond to regulation and cutting out approve HRRBs, with approved makes no recommendation as to the
the [building regulations] by shaping private sector approved inspectors inspectors, who currently compete industry bodies to be involved in
detailed guidance to support the from performing building control with local authorities to provide drawing up the new guidance.
delivery of those outcomes”. on high-rise and multiple- building control services on all She said: “This is a systemic

The industry must step up and play its part too

Legislative change takes time and we need to start changing now, says Peter Caplehorn

Dame Judith Hackitt’s report is in many failure: a broken system that requires published, work had already been and competence shortfalls.
ways what we expected – fleshing out cultural change. But can we agree on the started to clarify Approved Document B These are all necessary but we have
many of the themes identified in direction of those actions? (dealing with fire safety), the future for our part to play, too. The construction
December’s interim report. Many who We are now waiting for the government desktop studies and the future approach sector is not known for its ability or
contributed through the working groups to respond to the findings of the report to testing. readiness to undergo substantial reform.
and the wider community will be pleased and we are likely to see a range of But there are also many complex areas But it has real issues to confront and
and supportive. actions stretching over the forthcoming yet to be considered, especially the now needs to step up and not just wait
But Dame Judith also challenges the months and (realistically) years to come. formation of the new regulatory body, for government to drive all the actions.
industry and government alike to put However, there is an expectation that the Joint Competent Authority, greater Peter Caplehorn is deputy chief executive
their house in order. The key points she reform should be pushed through as fast technical clarity for product testing and and policy director at the Construction
identified are symptoms of systemic as possible. Before the report was performance, and addressing skills Products Association

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

 news / 11

MPs ask Grayling to explain

HACKITT: KEY POINTS Carillion conflict of interest
Q Create a new regulatory framework The MPs behind the inquiry into interest, which “due diligence checks”
Q Improve clarity about who is Carillion’s collapse have asked transport were carried out and how Carillion
responsible for meeting standards secretary Chris Grayling to explain an performed against those checks.
Q Tougher punishments for flouting “apparent conflict of interest” in the The first question the inquiry co-chairs
building regulations, including criminal process of the firm a contract for work asked the transport secretary was:
prosecution on HS2 last year, writes Jordan “Were you aware that EY was
Q Three approval stages for safety Marshall. simultaneously advising Carillion on its
Q Improve tracking and document Business chair Rachel Reeves and her finances, and HS2 Ltd on the state of
records co-chair Frank Field, who leads the work Carillion’s finances?”
Q Ban in-house product testing and pensions committee, wrote to In total, EY billed Carillion over £13m
Grayling, following correspondence for its restructuring work between July
For all online news related to the report,
go to www.building.co.uk/Hackitt between him and the transport 2017 and January 2018. Of this,
committee last week. £10.8m was paid, including £2.5m on
The letter indicates that, following the last working day before the company
Carillion’s massive July 2017 contract collapsed. Lee Watson, an EY partner,

BEN GINGELL / SHUTTERSTOCK

writedown, HS2 hired EY to “carry out was seconded to the Carillion board of
due diligence checks” on Carillion’s directors as chief transformation officer
financial standing ahead of the awarding in September last year.
of contracts. At the same time, EY’s evidence to the
In the same month, and in response to joint committees’ inquiry into the
the same profit warning, Carillion collapse of Carillion showed that the
appointed EY to restructure the firm. firm was paid approximately £29,000
The letter, which has been published, by the government for its work
problem. The current system is far landlords setting out more details put 11 questions to Grayling, seeking assessing Carillion’s financial fitness in
too complex, it lacks clarity as to about how government would clarity in regard to the conflict of fulfilling the HS2 contract.
who is responsible for what, and fund the removal and replacement
there is inadequate regulatory of ACM cladding from social
oversight and enforcement.
“Simply adding more prescription
housing buildings.
It also emerged this week that
Use modern methods, says PM
or making amendments to the an investigation by the BBC’s Prime minister Theresa May has we will use new technologies and
current system, such as restricting Panorama programme has said the thrown down the gauntlet to the modern construction practices to at
or prohibiting certain practices, will insulation used on Grenfell tower construction industry, saying modern least halve the energy usage of new
not address the root causes.” should not have been fitted to the methods of construction are central buildings by 2030,” she said.
As Building went to press, building. The programme focused to putting “the UK at the forefront of “Meeting this challenge will drive
Brokenshire also revealed he has on insulation manufactured by the industries of the future”. innovation and higher standards in
talks scheduled with private sector Celotex, which is owned by St Speaking at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire the construction sector, helping it
landlords who are in charge of Gobain, and questioned the testing this week, May said modernising the to meet our ambitious homebuilding
buildings with dangerous cladding. and marketing of its product in construction sector is particularly targets and providing more jobs and
And the housing secretary said he relation to Grenfell. St Gobain has significant in addressing the Industrial opportunity to millions of workers
would be writing to social sector been contacted for comment. Strategy’s “grand challenges” and in across the country.”
achieving clean growth. May also reiterated the importance
“In the clean growth grand challenge, of T-levels in moving industry forward.

‘Mandate BIM’ for high-rise flats

The Hackitt report has urged the
government to mandate a digital
be held in any digital record for new
HRRBs, while clients should demand
Skanska seals Knightsbridge deal
standard of record keeping for the that information or work is delivered Skanska has been awarded a £141m of a large site bordered by Brompton
design, construction and occupancy “in a BIM-compliant fashion”. Hackitt contract to build a luxury mixed-use Road and Sloane Street in the heart
of new residential buildings of more also urged that any digital records scheme in London’s Knightsbridge. of Knightsbridge.
than 10 storeys high. should include details of subsequent The 31,600m2 project combines Skanska was employed on the
Hackitt’s interim report, published refurbishment to such buildings. commercial, residential and retail. second phase of the project under a
last December, raised the issue of a Industry figures suggested Hackitt’s K1 Knightsbridge, designed by pre-construction services agreement
“golden thread” of information for all recommendations could give BIM a Fletcher Priest Architects, is being in November 2016.
higher-risk residential buildings boost. Sarah Davidson, head of R&D at developed by Chelsfield for Saudi The site’s historic facades will be
(HRRBs). But her full report calls for Gleeds, said the report could improve Arabian investor Olayan Group. retained as part of the project, which
ministers to push the matter further. take-up of BIM Level 2 “because it is The scheme, which will include 35 will also create step-free access to
It said government should work with all predicated around reduction of risk residential units and a rooftop Knightsbridge underground station
industry to agree what data needs to and efficient […] ways of working”. restaurant, involves redevelopment via a new entrance.

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

 12 / news

Doubt cast on Croydon mega-tower

Croydon’s planning director has When the current proposal won
questioned whether One Lansdowne consent, David Hudson, chief
– which would be Britain’s executive of project partner
second-tallest tower – will ever be Guildhouse, said it would become a
built, writes Elizabeth Hopkirk. world-famous building. “With the
The project, designed by Piers highest bar and restaurant in
Gough of CZWG Architects, won London and a viewing gallery open
planning approval last autumn to the public, this really puts WE HAVE TO MAKE
amid much fanfare, but work has Croydon on the map,” he said. SURE THAT WE DO
not yet started on site. In response to Cheesbrough’s
The scheme involves 794 flats and statement, the site owner, known
BETTER AT
30,000m2 of commercial space in as One Lansdowne Road Ltd, HIGHLIGHTING THE
two towers of 38 and 69 storeys – issued a statement saying:
which, at 236m, would be the “We find a senior officer of the
‘BEAUTIFUL ORDINARY’
Still kicking: One Lansdowne
country’s second-tallest building council making such a comment IN DESIGN
after the Shard. surprising, unhelpful and SADIE MORGAN, P26
Heather Cheesbrough, Croydon’s not sure it ever will be. It’s been potentially damaging at a time
new director of planning and kicking around for a while.” when we are putting together the
strategic transport, said: “It would She was speaking at an event on funding for the project.
be great to see it delivered but I’m tall towers and later clarified: “What “The facts are that, one: planning NEWS IN BRIEF
I was saying about One Lansdowne consent was granted in 2012 for a
was that it had been kicking around similar scheme on a smaller site with Pay cut for new Network Rail boss
in some form or other for a while. a significantly different content than Outgoing Civil Aviation Authority boss
WE FIND A SENIOR “Planning permission for a similar now proposed. Two: planning Andrew Haines has been appointed to
OFFICER OF THE form of development was granted in consent for the current scheme was replace Mark Carne as chief executive of
COUNCIL 2012 – with a material start on site granted in November 2017 and it is, Network Rail. But his £588,000 annual
having taken place earlier in 2017. therefore, totally misleading to salary will be 27% less than his
[QUESTIONING THE We had refused planning suggest that it has been ‘kicking predecessor’s when he joins later this year.
DELIVERABILITY OF permission for a similar scheme around for a while’. Three: we are now
back in July 2016 – and the recently working on funding, design and […] WSP poaches CH2M’s regional boss
OUR SCHEME] consented scheme sought to deal procurement with a view to being on WSP has poached CH2M’s regional
SURPRISING AND with the reasons for refusal.” site in the first half of 2019.” development director David Stephens as
The previous proposal was refused Cheesbrough said Croydon was head of local government at its transport
POTENTIALLY
because of concerns it would harm keen to have more tall buildings and infrastructure business. Adrian
DAMAGING the setting of heritage assets, the but said the council would insist Malone has been appointed head of
ONE LANSDOWNE ROAD LTD mix of residential units and the on quality design and 20% digital project delivery and BIM at the
amount of affordable housing. “affordable” housing. same division after a decade at Atkins.

ISG to build two Edinburgh hotels

Top marks ISG has won a brace of hotel deals in
Oxford university chancellor Lord Edinburgh, including a £20.5m scheme
Patten has formally opened a study and to turn a former BHS store on the
residential building at St Peter’s Scottish capital’s Princes Street into a
College. The building, which has been Premier Inn.
shortlisted for an RIBA award, is a
three-storey pavilion with a set-back Go-ahead for Wolverhampton offices
fourth storey and includes study space, Ion Development has been given planning
six en-suite bedrooms and a meeting for an office scheme in Wolverhampton
room on the top floor. Designed by by Glenn Howells Architects called i9.
Design Engine Architects, the £2.2m The work is part of a £150m revamp of
project was built by Buckingham the area by the train and bus stations.
contractor Edgar Taylor with
consultants including QS Ridge and Balfour set to hit standard margins
Partners and project manager Balfour Beatty said it was on course to
Waterman. It is the first multi-level meet industry standard margins in the
building to be built at the college in second half of the year in a statement
JIM STEPHENSON

20 years. ahead of yesterday’s AGM. Chief

executive Leo Quinn has told bosses at
aSend your project images to the firm’s UK construction business that
[email protected] margins should be 2%-3%.

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

 news / 13

UK workers stay put despite

rewards of working abroad
A skills shortage at home and less generous conditions in some overseas markets mean less movement
By Hamish Champ £108,000, versus £53,000 at home, workers and save money on
while in Singapore an estimator can advertising campaigns instead.
Lucrative construction jobs overseas command nearly £132,000, when “Employers overseas looking at the
are failing to tempt UK workers to the same role in the UK pays around UK market know there are fewer
go abroad, despite a sluggish £45,000. people looking for work and they are
outlook for the domestic market and But UK workers appear to be taking a pause for breath.”
concerns around the impact of resisting the lure of more cash and Richard Steer, chair of construction
Brexit, according to new research. part of the reason may be the UK consultancy Gleeds, said: “During
The latest annual Hays industry’s ability to hold onto its the 2008-10 recession, we could get
International Salary Survey has workforce, said Hays Construction good people to go overseas relatively
Abroad has limited pull on UK workers
highlighted that while there are and Property director Richard Gelder. easily but today it’s difficult to tempt
strong opportunities for UK “During the last recession, the UK people to leave the UK. There’s a
construction professionals in several thanks to local skills shortages and was a hard environment to work in skills shortage here and conditions
other countries, including New the start of several large projects. and lots of people were looking elsewhere aren’t quite so generous
Zealand and Ireland, workers are In Australia, a site manager can abroad. Today, most employers here these days.”
opting to stick with what they know. earn the equivalent of £137,000 are actively looking to recruit so that The survey was based on data
Roles looking to be filled in compared with a salary of £44,000 takes a huge amount of the drive out collected over the last 12 months.
Australasia and elsewhere include for the same job in the UK. In of people looking overseas.”
quantity surveyors, civil engineers Canada, a project manager working He said overseas raiders were Read the full survey results
P30
and site and project managers, on high-rise schemes can earn up to weighing up whether to target UK

US architect wins V&A’s new research centre job

The V&A has appointed a team from New York- venue, currently the home of the Museum of London V&A deputy director Tim Reeve said: “The field
based architect Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) and part of the City’s “culture mile” initiative. for this design competition was incredibly strong,
together with Austin-Smith: Lord to lead the design The competition for the new V&A collection and featuring many of the best architecture practices
of its new collection and research centre at Here research centre saw five practices shortlisted. from the UK, Europe and around the world.”
East in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The other firms were 6a; Hoskins Architects; The job is the US firm’s second UK project after its
The centre will extend public access to thousands Haworth Tompkins with AOC; and Robbrecht en concert venue scheme in the City of London, called
of objects from the V&A’s collections of art, design Daem and DRDH. the Centre for Music, which it won last autumn.
and performance not currently on display. The V&A said DS+R’s proposal was selected “for The firm, which beat Foster + Partners, Renzo
DS+R is known for its work on the High Line in its clarity, ambition and originality, communicating Piano and Amanda Levete among others, is working
Manhattan and for winning the competition for the a vision that will transform engagement with, and with Sheppard Robson on the deal, which has an
planned new London Symphony Orchestra concert access to, the V&A’s collections”. estimated pricetag of £250m.

GT takes further hit on Aberdeen job Willmott Dixon beats Kier and
Galliford Try has said it will take
another hit on its disastrous contract
venture building the £745m
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
Engie to £2.5bn framework
to build a bypass around Aberdeen. for Transport Scotland. Willmott Dixon has beaten Kier and regeneration business last year.
The firm, along with remaining Galliford Try has already taken a Engie to win Places for People’s sole The major projects framework was set
joint venture partner Balfour Beatty, £25m hit in the first half of this year supplier major projects framework, up for public sector organisations to
has been plagued by problems on and in a trading update said further which is worth up to £2.5bn over deliver major projects in response to
the loss-making job which was weather-related problems meant it four years. government’s call to address the
supposed to have finished last was likely to increase the exceptional Procurement Hub, part of the Places housing shortage.
autumn but is now set to open a charge in the current year. for People Group, said it received 16 Its aim was to select a supplier to
year late. It said the amount would depend responses to the selection questionnaire manage the supply chain and
In January, the pair were forced to upon progress made during the and three responses to the tender. subcontractors either on behalf of,
deal with the collapse of Carillion, summer but it expected it to be These came from Willmott Dixon, Kier or in conjunction with, the contracting
the third member of the joint lower than the hit in the first half. and Engie, which acquired Keepmoat’s authority.

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

 14 / news

UCL picks 34 consultants for next phase of renewal

Aecom, Mace, Faithful + Gould and Lower Refectory, Bentham House,
Turner & Townsend are among those home of the Faculty of Law, teaching Firms on the UCL framework
to have been selected for the next spaces at 1-19 Torrington Place and
phase of University College London’s the Kathleen Lonsdale Building, The 34 consultants named are:
decade-long £1.25bn transformation home of Earth Sciences. Aecom; AKT2; AME Partnership;
programme, writes Hamish Champ. UCL said it aimed to open a student Arcadis; Artelia; Arup; Atkins; BDP;
In all, 34 companies have secured a centre in early 2019. BMJ Architects; BuroHappold; Burwell
place on UCL’s estate construction The UCL East campus will be built Deakins; Wilde Carter Clack;
consultancy framework, which will in phases under a masterplan drawn Conisbee; Curtins; Elementa;
include the construction of the new UCL’s main campus in Bloomsbury up by LDA Design. Construction of Faithful+Gould; Fowler Martin; Fulkers;
UCL East campus in Stratford. phase one will start in 2019 and will Gardiner & Theobold; Hawkins\Brown;
Firms from architecture, project consist of more than 50,000m2 of Hoare Lea; Kendall Kingscott; Mace;
management, cost management, civil refurbished including 22 Gordon development across two buildings. Nicholas Hare; Penoyre & Prasad;
and structural engineering, M&E Street, home to the Bartlett School of The second building, Marshgate I, Peter Brett Associates; Pick Everard;
engineering and building surveying Architecture, designed by Hawkins\ will have a phased opening, starting PRP; Rivington Street Studio;
have all landed spots. Brown and built by Northern Ireland in September 2022. Five firms – Laing Saunders Boston; Sheppard Robson;
Since the start of its capital contractor Gilbert Ash. O’Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Turner & Townsend; Twelve Architects,
programme four years ago a number Other completed schemes include Lendlease, Mace and Bouygues – are and Wilson Mason
of UCL properties have been the new Wilkins Terrace and the all bidding for this £200m scheme.

Henry Construction to turn former Croydon council HQ into flats

West London firm Henry Construction plans for the site. The previous Landscape architect Grant Henry is also one of a number of
has begun work on a deal to turn the proposal was drawn up by Make and Associates is carrying out work on the firms that is on a framework for a
former headquarters of Croydon would have featured 420 homes built nearby Queen’s Gardens. development company set up by
council into more than 500 homes. across five blocks. Hub is backed by investor Bridges Croydon council to make sure homes
The sixties office block called AHMM’s scheme includes a Fund Management, with the pair having are better designed.
Taberner House was torn down in 35-storey block with three other sold the 35-storey tower to insurance Brick by Brick was established in
2014 but the site remained empty blocks of 21, 19 and 13 storeys. The giant Legal & General for £100m. 2016 to build more than 1,000 homes
while developer Hub was appointed. scheme will also include 1,200m2 of Legal & General, which earlier this across the borough by 2019.
Hub replaced the council’s own retail and commercial space. month set up an affordable homes The £300m-plus framework also
development arm, which had been due The 35-storey tower includes 251 arm, now has a pipeline of close to includes Osborne Homes, the
to mastermind the work, in summer build-to-rent homes, with the Taberner 2,000 build-to-rent homes and wants residential arm of Osborne, north
2016 and asked Stirling prize-winning House scheme having a development 6,000 either in planning, being built or London firm Quinn and Surrey firm
architect AHMM to come up with new value of £200m. finished by the end of next year. Buxton Building Contractors.

Dram busters
Elgin-based contractor Robertson
has completed work on a £140m
distillery and visitor centre in
Scotland for whisky brand The
Macallan. Designed by Rogers Stirk
Harbour + Partners, the complex has
been built at the Easter Elchies
estate in Speyside and features an
undulating timber roof that is made
up of 380,000 individual
components. Distilling at the site
began last December with the visitor
centre set to open its doors next
weekend. More than 400 workers
were on site at peak.

aSend your project images to

[email protected]

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

 Carillion report / 15

Carillion chief torched by MPs

in touch with London PR firm
Richard Howson has spoken to reputation management business, the firm’s managing director confirms
By Hamish Champ a personal friend and had “been

The former Carillion chief executive

through a lot”.
He added: “I have not been hired
MPs’ report
blasted by MPs last week for his role
in the firm’s collapse has been in
by Richard, now or at any time in
the past. I have not offered him any
spreads blame
touch with the boss of a London
management reputation firm,
professional advice and have only
ever spoken to him as a friend.
for Carillion
Building can reveal.
A 100-page report into Carillion’s
He’s been through a lot and I wish
him well.”
collapse
PA

fall laid the blame at the door of the MPs said Howson had
firm’s directors, singling out Richard demonstrated “misguidedly Carillion’s directors are not the
Howson at the select committee hearing
Howson, chief executive for five self-assured leadership” and had only ones who failed to stop the
years until 2017, for particular “little grasp of the unsustainability contractor’s collapse, according to the
accountability. Set up last year, its website says of Carillion’s business model or the MPs who ran an inquiry into the
Howson was replaced as chief Blanchard “takes charge of our crisis basic failings of governance that lay events leading to the firm’s liquidation.
executive after Carillion unveiled an work”, and on his own website at the root of its problems”. The joint parliamentary committee
£845m writedown last July. Blanchard describes himself as a The report added: “He even inquiry into Carillion’s failure levelled
Paul Blanchard is managing “PR consigliere, working exclusively seemed surprised to have been blame at plenty of people not directly
director of Right Angles, a PR firm with CEOs and global thought removed as chief executive following employed by the firm.
based in London’s Soho, and leaders, building and managing the [July 2017] profit warning.” While ex-chief executive Richard
describes itself as a “boutique their reputation”. Howson told MPs one of the main Howson, former finance boss Richard
public relations and reputation Blanchard, a former Labour reasons Carillion went bust was being Adam and chairman Philip Green bore
management practice”. councillor in York, said Howson was owed £200m on a scheme in Qatar. the brunt of the MPs’ wrath, auditors,
government, regulators and advisers
have also come under fire.

… while probe into FDs makes ‘good progress’ Auditors

KPMG, Carillion’s external auditor, was
The accounting watchdog auditing of Carillion’s into Carillion’s collapse, several months to prepare, slammed in the findings, with MPs
looking into Carillion’s accounts between 2014 the watchdog said the schedule and conduct a saying there was “a danger of a crisis of
external auditor, as well as and 2017 two weeks investigation was making series of interviews”. confidence in the audit profession” .
former finance directors after Carillion went bust in “good progress”, and added: “The speed of the FRC’s
Richard Adam and Zafar January. Two months later “The first of many detailed investigations may also rely Advisers
Khan, has said it will not cut it began a probe into Adam and recorded interviews and on the level of co-operation While Carillion’s board hired an array
corners simply to get to a and Khan. fact-finding meetings with of those under investigation, of big-name advisers, they did
decision. In an update on the those under investigation audit clients and third nothing to promote the contractor’s
The Financial Reporting investigation published and other relevant witnesses parties […] The FRC will not survival, according to the MPs.
Council (FRC) announced last week following the have been conducted.” cut corners to conclude its
it was looking at KPMG’s parliamentary report But it admitted it “takes investigations,” it said. Regulators
The Financial Reporting Council and
the Pensions Regulator were both

Call for government inquiry into ‘Big Four’ criticised for their failure to act
before Carillion’s collapse.
MPs behind the inquiry into counterpart on the work and PwC handed the special managers’
Carillion’s collapse have called on the pensions committee, Labour MP position in the liquidation by default. Crown representatives/government
government to commission a review Frank Field, the inquiry found a The report said: “Waiting for a These failed to provide corporate
into the statutory audit market. “danger of a crisis of confidence in the more competitive market that regulators with sufficient powers to
The MPs’ findings made a number audit profession”. promotes quality and trust in audits pull Carillion into line.
of recommendations to help prevent The findings heavily criticised has failed. […] We recommend that
another Carillion-style collapse. internal auditor Deloitte and external the government refers the statutory To read the full article go to
Led by business committee chair auditor KPMG, and said EY’s role in audit market to the Competition and www.building.co.uk/carillion-report

Labour MP Rachel Reeves and her attempts to save the company saw Markets Authority.”

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

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 finance / 17

Ex-Carillion FD and MPs in war

of words over inquiry findings
MPs hit back at ex-Carillion finance boss Richard Adam over claims he was misrepresented in report on collapse
By Jordan Marshall In a letter to the committee, which “The committees cannot of course
has been made public, Adam wrote: assert that Mr Adam said those
The MPs behind the inquiry into “The report, in a number of places, precise words in 2013, but have
Carillion’s collapse have taken states that I considered that accepted the characterisation in the

PA/PA WIRE/PA IMAGES

another swipe at the firm’s former payments into Carillion’s pension contemporaneous note by the
finance director Richard Adam. schemes were a ‘waste of money’, trustees’ lawyer. That attitude was
In a statement published after the and appears to directly attribute reflected again in his evidence in
release of their findings from the these words to myself. This is a parliament on 6 February 2018 […].
Richard Adam
inquiry, MPs refused to back down mischaracterisation of the evidence “These, taken alongside his
on conclusions they had drawn on and should be rectified in the report. actions as finance director
Adam’s role in the collapse. about quotes that they have “In particular, all references should throughout, led the committees to
Adam, who along with ex-chief misattributed to me.” make clear the true position that the inescapable conclusion that he
executive Richard Howson and The quotes in question centre on Mr Ellison was expressing his considered funding the Carillion
chairman Philip Green bore the Adam’s attitude towards funding opinion of what my views were, and pension schemes to be a waste of
brunt of the MPs ire, took issue with pension schemes, with the man who not asserting that I had, or had money. He […] resolutely resisted
the MPs’ comments. spent nearly a decade at the firm expressed, such views.” pleas from the trustees for more
He said: “I reject the unwarranted saying he never said pension schemes But MPs have fired back, saying adequate deficit contributions.
conclusions the committees have were a waste of money and that these while they could not guarantee “This was entirely in keeping with
reached concerning my role at the words were instead Carillion Pension Adam’s said those exact words his the Carillion board’s short-termist,
company. Trustee Robin Ellinson’s opinion of attitude towards pensions was clear. cash-chasing, dividend-plumping
“I have objected to the committees Adam’s view on pensions. A statement from the MPs said: approach.”

Crest says margins will be at bottom end of forecasts

Crest Nicholson has warned that margins this year He added: “Crest’s pre-interim close [statement] to 1,251 while the average selling price was up 5%
will be at the bottom end of its forecasts. will be infamous for one reason alone – the revised to £493,000. It said revenue would grow more than
In a trading update, the housebuilder said guidance on margins. Moreover, it is flagging a 15% for the full year.
operating margins for the year will be 18% which it similar level for Fy19.” The firm will unveil its half year results on
said was at the lower end of its 18-20% range. In a trading update ahead of its interim results for 12 June.
In January, it reported operating margins of the six months to the end of April, the firm blamed Last week, Taylor Wimpey said it planned to
20.3% for 2017 and Cenkos analyst Kevin a 3-4% increase in building costs and “the maintain margins at 21-22% over the next five
Cammack said the revised figure for 2018 was experience of generally flat pricing”. years and announced a special dividend for 2019
down on the 19% predicted earlier this year. It said completions in the first half were up 18% of £350m taking dividends next year to £600m.

Willmott Dixon eyes more Brum work Bam chalks up £13.5m

Willmott Dixon is opening two new
offices in the centre of Birmingham,
said the firm has been working in
the region for more than 30 years.
Huddersfield university win
the first time the firm has ventured He said: “Birmingham is where Bam has beaten a host of firms to land The university is carrying out a major
into the heart of the city. business is being done and […] it is a £13.5m deal to build science estates improvements programme,
The contractor, which has its important we’re located close to our teaching laboratories for Huddersfield beginning work on a £30m building for
Midlands headquarters 12 miles to partners and customers.” university. its art, design and architecture
the east of the city centre in Willmott Dixon is currently The firm, which earlier this month posted departments that has been named after
Coleshill, has taken 4,000ft2 of working on a number of projects in a 40% hike in underlying operating profit sculptor Barbara Hepwoth.
space at One Snowhill on a 10-year the UK’s second largest city, to £18.2m, saw off pitches from seven Designed by AHR, the five-storey
lease, while its fit-out division is including three schemes for other bidders, including Kier, Wates and scheme is being built by Morgan Sindall.
opening up an office next door, at Birmingham City University, the Interserve, to chalk up the win. The pair worked together on a £28m
Two Snowhill. National College for High Speed The four-storey building will include building for its music, humanities and
Nick Gibb, the firm’s deputy Rail and the refurbishment of the science labs along with office space media faculties called the Oastler
managing director in the Midlands, Lloyd House police headquarters. with work set to start later this year. Building, which opened last year.

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

 finance / 18

Mace gloomy on ‘weak general trend’ for 2018

The “Beast from the East”, the year, with 1.5% being recorded
collapse of Carillion and a general nationally, while both the capital
malaise exacerbated by concerns and the wider UK are set to see
over Brexit have all conspired to pile growth of 1.5% next year and 3% in
the pressure on suppliers, according 2020, 2021 and 2022.
to Mace, writes Hamish Champ. But questions around the
In its first quarter UK Tender reliability of the Office for National
Cost Update, the firm said that Statistics’ figures meant that
while the weather in the early part forecasting tender prices was “very
of 2018 had had a clear impact on difficult”, said the report.
growth, it was “not possible to split Mace said material price rises
the lack of activity due to snow from were beginning to ease but
the wider, underlying issues facing the slowdown so far has been
the industry”. gradual, and prices were still more
Mace said that while a rebound of than 10% higher than at the start
of 2016.
Strong growth in private housing
output in the first quarter had not
A NUMBER OF some sorts was likely in the second financial implications a second been matched by a similar increase
SUBCONTRACTORS quarter, “the general trend for 2018 issue that has emerged is clients in the number of completed
is one of weakness”. becoming increasingly cautious properties, it said.
ARE LIKELY TO BE
Carillion’s collapse had only a about who they take on. They are The infrastructure sector was
FACING limited effect on the supply chain, also pushing hard on prices and in also showing signs of weakness, as
CONSIDERABLE Mace’s report argued. But it added: response we have seen many cases was commercial, which had seen
“It is still early days and a number of overhead profits and margins what Mace called “a noticeable
PRESSURE of subcontractors are likely to be falling.” reduction since early 2017 as firms
MACE facing considerable pressure. The firm said that London would have held back from investing in
“Along with these obvious see tender price inflation of 1% this new office space”.

Westleigh acquisition set to give Countryside a boost

Countryside expects last month’s acquisition of Countryside completed 1,655 homes in the first Underlying house price inflation was roughly 3%
Westleigh Group to give it a further lift in the second half, a 15% rise year-on-year. Its partnerships in the first half and underlying build cost inflation
half of 2018, after the housebuilder reported pre-tax operation completed 1,172, a jump of 19%, while was around 3% to 4%, it added.
profit of £74m for the first six months of the year. its housebuilding operation completed 483 homes, Land plots totalled 41,439 across both
Announcing the 22% profit hike on turnover, which up 7%. Countryside’s partnerships and housebuilding
was up 13.5% at £399m for the six months to 31 The group’s private average selling price fell by businesses, up 5.7%.
March 2018, Countryside chief executive Ian Sutcliffe 11% to £392,000. Countryside said this was “With continued strong growth in partnerships
said the deal in early April to buy the Leicestershire- driven by an increase in private completions from and improved efficiency and returns in the
based affordable housebuilder would further increase its partnerships business, particularly the regional housebuilding division we remain confident of
the group’s momentum “by expanding our geographic businesses outside London where average selling maintaining our sector leading growth over the
reach and mixed tenure delivery”. prices were lower. medium-term,” said Sutcliffe.

Office jobs stall in South-east T Clarke starts work on phase

Construction of new office space in
the M25 area and the South-east of
is on average more than 15 years old
in 18 markets.
two of Battersea Power Station
England has all but ground to a halt, And more than 90% of stock in six T Clarke has started electrical The group said it was on track to
according to a new report by agent towns – Croydon, Farnborough, infrastructure work on the second hit revenue and profit figures for the
Knight Frank. Heathrow, Uxbridge, Watford and phase of Battersea Power Station, year to 31 December 2018 in line
Only three new schemes have Woking – dates to before 2003. the M&E specialist announced at its with current market expectations.
begun in the last six months, Markets to watch for new AGM last week. Annual turnover is forecast to
according to the property development include Brighton, Other projects secured since the come in at £300m, with underlying
consultant, and supply is expected Cambridge, Croydon, Watford and end of March include electrical pre-tax profit of £7m.
to peak by the middle of this year. Oxford, Knight Frank said. infrastructure works for BAE Its forward order book stood at
Since 2003 around 17 million ft² of In March, the firm said it had driven Systems and an upgrade of the £368m at the end of April,
space has either been newly built or up turnover in 2017 by 12% to £311m Princess Alexandra Maternity Wing increasing from £337m as at
refurbished and 82% of office stock and pre-tax profit by 5% to £6.5m. for Royal Cornwall Hospital Services. 31 December 2017.

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

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 comment / diary / 21

HANSOM IT’S ALL IN THE TIMING

Carillion’s former finance boss is recognised for his judicious timing, while Willmott Dixon’s snapper captures
just the right moment (smile!) – though the Royal Academy opens perhaps just a little too early

It wasn’t me trundle a cart around its head office handing out

I was struck by the tone Carillion’s former finance that month’s pay slips. I wonder if the directors
director Richard Adam took in the wake of last have read Mark Farmer’s report on the industry
week’s parliamentary report into the firm’s published 18 months ago, which was titled
collapse. He felt it necessary – just for the record – Modernise or Die?
to point out he had left it “over a year before
Carillion went into insolvency” in December 2016. Wheely worthwhile
Seven months later the firm made a writedown of Is there a British & Irish Lions rugby tour to
£845m – so around £140m a month between Australia this year? I ask because Laing
January last year and 10 July, the day of the O’Rourke, chaired by well-known rugby fan
writedown. Just for the record, the MPs’ report Ray O’Rourke, is hoping to raise £160,000 for
said about Adam: “His voluntary departure at the mental health charity Mind and health charity
end of 2016 and subsequent sale of all his shares the British Heart Foundation by
were the actions of a man who knew where the getting 1,400 of its staff to collectively
company was heading.” cycle the equivalent of 21,000 miles,
which just happens to be the
Bleedin’ obvious distance between its HQ in Dartford
A colleague of mine was chatting to Bam’s UK chief and offices in Sydney. The firm is
executive James Wimpenny recently. Talk hoping its suppliers and clients
inevitably turned to what went wrong at Carillion can chip in with some miles as well.
– especially pertinent given that Bam has taken A good cause, so allez, allez, I say.
over a number of its jobs in London, Birmingham
and Manchester. “You have to avoid the contracts Top of the tree
where you’re taking on too much risk,” said A London law firm
Wimpenny. “We call them the bleeders.” Graphic with a considerable
for sure but an image strong enough that even construction
Carillion directors might be able to recognise it. business has recently
been doling out
Time warp internal awards. You know, those unsung
A pal works for a large civil engineering contractor, hero gongs that firms are fond of. I hear that one
which at the end of every month has a man recipient has the surname Bird and the email citation sent out to staff announcing the prize,
said the recipient was “happy, positive and
unflappable”. Cheep, cheep.

Closed encounters
A visit to the opening of the spruced-up Royal
Academy of Arts in London’s Piccadilly found one
of my hacks scratching his head, wondering if the
academicians’ hideout was quite ready for the
public. There was much evidence of the David
Chipperfield refurb undergoing “finishing touches”,
ahem. The new Poster Bar looked terrific – inviting
even were it not for the total lack of food or drink.
Ditto the Senate Room, which apparently opens in
“late May”. Some of the rooms were closed – always
A ROYAL OPPORTUNITY positioned a snapper for when the new Duke and disappointing for an opening – but a peek into the
Duchess of Sussex drove by in an open-top carriage, locked lecture room revealed a PowerPoint slide
It can’t have escaped any good construction proving there was absolutely nobody in Windsor who (apparently on display in error) of professional and
professional’s notice last Saturday that Prince Harry wasn’t on the lookout for a Royal Wedding angle. consulting fees – originally reckoned at £8.7m but
and new wife Meghan Markle rode past a Willmott jumping to £10.6m in the latest estimate, a 22%
Dixon site on their way back from the church in Windsor. aSend any juicy industry gossip to increase. No reason for the price hike was apparent
The Willmott Dixon press team saw the potential and [email protected] from the slide but clearly the client couldn’t be
accused of reckless spending on the opening.

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

 A N A LYS I S & C O M M E N T
Sadie Morgan p26 / Hays international salary survey p30

‘IN T
RIG
PRA
CO

industry she herself admitted in January has a

“mindset of doing things as cheaply as possible
and passing on responsibility for problems and
shortcomings to others”.
But for those arguing for more prescription,
this simply adds insult to injury. And it is not
only social housing residents who are worried.
Many in the construction industry itself are
voicing doubts as to whether it is capable of
stepping up to the plate, and what kind of
outcome it will create. Meanwhile there are
huge concerns over what on earth the owners of
ithin 20 minutes of Dame Judith unsafe tower blocks should do now to make

W Hackitt’s 156-page report into building

regulations and fire safety being
released, Tottenham MP David Lammy – a
blocks safer.

Responsibility
personal friend of Grenfell Tower victim Launching her report last week, Dame Judith
Khadija Saye – had already branded it a betrayal made clear her recommended approach was
and a whitewash. Shortly after, survivors group one that had worked in other sectors. Her vision
Grenfell United professed itself to be “saddened is that less prescriptive building regulations
and disappointed”. would sit within a beefed-up regulatory process
Hackitt can hardly be surprised at the for high-rise housing, new systems for ensuring
response. Because, while the report contains individual professional competence, and much
many widely supported recommendations for tougher sanctions – including imprisonment –
improving the system, it is at heart guided by a for those that flout the rules. All of which, in her
profoundly controversial conclusion: that the view, will force the industry to take proper
tragic blaze was a result of building regulations responsibility for fire safety as an issue, rather
being too prescriptive, not too lax. than attempt to push the guidance as far as it
Hackitt has come to her conclusion given will go. Hackitt says: “No longer can the
years of experience in the chemicals and oil and building industry look to others to tell them
HAMISH CHAMP

gas industries, which she says have successfully what is and is not acceptable. Those
followed a model where it is the organisations undertaking building work must recognise their
that create risk, rather than the government, fundamental responsibility to provide a safe
that set the rules. Hence she recommends building, not just comply with rules.”
handing control of creating building regulation She adds: “It’s regrettable that perpetual
guidance to the construction industry, an governments have fallen in to this trap of

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

 news analysis / Hackitt report / 23

THEORY SHE’S HACKITT’S PROPOSED

BUILDING REGS CHANGES

GHT BUT IN Q How do Building Regs work now?

The UK already has an “outcomes-based” system of
building regulation. In law, the Building Regulations
consist of simply a short series of brief “functional

ACTICE SHE
requirements” covering different elements of a
building, such as structure, energy efficiency and fire
safety. Much of what is commonly referred to as
Building Regulations is in fact the lengthy guidance,

OULD BE WRONG’
contained in government-authored “approved
documents”, which sits beneath that. It is not
supposed to be prescriptive, but instead is meant to
offer examples of how the functional requirements
can be met.
Hackitt’s conclusion is that the original intent of the
Dame Judith Hackitt’s report into building regulations and fire safety UK’s outcomes-based system of building regulation
blames a broken system that needs fixing. So far, so uncontroversial. has been lost over time, and that the complex and
overlapping guidance has become increasingly seen
But her prescription for change has caused uproar right across the as prescription that must be followed.
industry. Joey Gardiner examines the guts of the report and asks if However, a number of those who submitted
its proposals are likely to go anywhere evidence to the review said that more, not less
prescription was required to avoid another tragedy
like Grenfell.
continuing to provide more and more didn’t change the overall direction of travel
prescription rather than facing up to a forcing the indicated. Q What is being proposed?
industry to take responsibility.” The most immediate problem posed by the Hackitt’s report says that “prescriptive regulation and
Andrew Lancaster, construction partner in law report is faced by those landlords who own tower guidance are not helpful in designing and building
firm Anthony Collins, says: “The idea behind it is blocks with similar cladding systems to Grenfell, complex buildings […] and will prevent those
admirable. Her point is that construction is so and who had been hoping for clarity on what to undertaking building work from taking responsibility
complex it’s not possible to regulate with a do next to best reassure their tenants. Lord for their actions. An outcomes-based framework
rules-based system for every eventuality. In Porter, chairman of the Local Government requires people who are part of the system to be
principle the idea of moving to outcomes-based Association, immediately branded the report a competent, [and] to think for themselves rather than
regulation is very good.” disappointment, and said only a ban on blindly following guidance”.
However, whether it is practically achievable is combustible cladding panels “would provide the Hence, the report finds the government should
another question. Hackitt said at the report clarity for building owners who need to know simply “set outcomes to be achieved”, while industry
launch: “I know that delivering such a culture what they can use to replace dangerous cladding must respond “by shaping detailed guidance to
change will be challenging, but I also know that it and insulation and immediately help keep support the delivery of those outcomes”. In practice,
can be done.” But others doubt it. buildings safer”. it says, a new body or “structure” will have to be set
Lancaster says: “In theory she’s right but in As of last month just seven of the 158 social up to provide “validation and assurance of industry
practice she could be wrong. This is going to be housing tower blocks identified as having unsafe guidance” – essentially assessing it and giving an
really difficult for the sector.” cladding systems had completed improvement » official stamp of approval where appropriate. This
body will replace BRAC, the panel which advises
No changes to guidance government on writing Building Regulations
This is because, consistent with her conclusion, guidance and will be directed by the new regulator
her report included no specific recommendations Hackitt proposes, the Joint Competent Authority.
for changes to building regulations or building The government will retain an ability to write
regulations guidance, which meant ignoring the guidance only where industry is deemed unable to
issues seen by many to be at the heart of the produce it.
failure at Grenfell: what standards should Asked at the launch of her report why she was
cladding and insulation panels be held to? How trusting the construction industry with this task,
many means of escape should a tower block Hackitt said: “I’m not trusting them. They have to earn
have? When must it have sprinklers? Should that trust. What the recommendations says is we will
these be retrofitted? transition to a position where they own their own
Amid the controversy over the report, guidance, but that that whole process will continue to
communities secretary James Brokenshire did be overseen by the JCA.
quickly announce the department was “That doesn’t imply that we’re leaving them to make
considering banning combustible cladding, seen up their own rules, that means they will have to meet
by campaigners as Hackitt’s most egregious the standard that is required of them.”
Dame Judith Hackitt
omission. But this concession to public concern

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

 24 / news analysis / Hackitt report

HACKITT ON …

Blame:
“It’s regrettable that perpetual governments have
fallen into this trap of continuing to provide more and
more prescription rather than facing up to forcing the
industry to take responsibility.”
BEN GINGELL / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Cladding:
“What I’d be very disappointed about is if people
think that simply banning cladding will fix this
problem. It won’t. It is a broken system.”

Guidance:
“The guidance needs to be restructured so it is not so
prescriptive, but it is also clear and non-contradictory.”
Last month, campaigners organised a silent march from Kensington Town Hall to the ruins of Grenfell Tower
Culture change:
“This already works in other sectors and I know it can
» work, with landlords citing both funding opportunity”, while others called for the inclusion be achieved. It is time for this industry sector to step
and lack of a clear regulatory steer as an issue. of lower and non-residential buildings. up to its responsibilities. I call on industry leaders to
The chief executive of one social landlord There doesn’t appear to be any great clamour start working with government and start delivering
responsible for more than 20,000 homes said of from industry for this relaxation in government these reforms now.
the report: “This has simply handed the problem guidance either. Steve Cooper, a director at fire “I know that delivering such a culture change will be
back to us to sort out. There’s no clear guidance, engineering firm Tenos, says that as an challenging, but I also know that it can be done […]
and it’s not clear what we should replace unsafe experienced fire engineer he could himself very It is a big shift, but it is not a leap into the unknown.”
cladding with.” happily work without guidance, but that he is
Hackitt’s report also gave no indication as to worried whether the industry as a whole could Grenfell Tower:
how long the transition to the new system will effectively manage that complexity, particularly “I’m not an expert on Grenfell.”
take. Adrian Dobson, executive director for given it is already facing a shortage of
members at the RIBA, says: “The industry experienced fire engineers. “It’d be an engineers’
doesn’t know what to do, and people living in the charter,” he says. “You’d need a fire engineer for is massive, with a huge range of bodies each with
buildings don’t feel safe. You’ve got to provide every building – there wouldn’t be enough to do their own agenda. You’d end up with a 500-page
more clarity but this is yet more mush.” the work. As you take away prescription, you document trying to be everything to every
increase the need for more skills.” person, and that’s not necessarily the best
Missed opportunity RIBA’s Dobson says: “You can see how Hackitt’s guidance. It’ll be guidance that suits the agenda
It is not only the length of time it will take to approach could work on high-end projects like of the people willing to spend time to get involved.”
implement Hackitt’s recommendations that is the new Bloomberg building with star-architects. The RIBA’s Dobson adds: “Hackitt makes the
concerning people, but also the direction of travel But a lot that will fall under this will be mid-range analogy with the chemical industry and the car
itself. One industry expert said it “beggared projects, often done on a commercial basis by industry – but there you have sectors dominated
belief ” that the response to such a horrific ordinary architects and engineers doing their by a relatively contained number of key players
tragedy could end up being the relaxing of rules. best job on a budget. We think they need some with defined supply chains.
RIBA’s Dobson says: “It feels like she’s lost baseline prescription.” “The construction industry is totally different,
common sense, with conclusions wrapped up in Simple guidance, of course, is as helpful to those with a structure based on risk dumping on to
the kind of pseudo-science that are part of what in building control that sign off plans as to the smallest contractors,” he says, adding that
got us into this problem.” Ben Jayes, managing buildings’ designers. Hence, in a world with less taking on responsibility for its own guidance
director of materials reseller Vivalda Group, says prescriptive guidance, the skills question is as appeared to presume a big culture change that
he feels “let down” by a review he had hoped relevant – if not more so – for building control had not yet happened.
would ban combustible material on tall buildings. officers. “If this requires industry to issue its own But Hackitt rejects any suggestion an unreformed
“This all feels too weak to effect the major culture guidance itself, it’s going to require an experienced construction industry might undermine her
change that’s needed in the construction regulator to hold industry to account. If that’s not system, saying any new guidance will have to be
industry,” he says. there, the system will be weaker than today,” says “approved and signed off by the regulator” and that
Not content with a general move away from Anthony Collins’ Lancaster. the industry “will have to earn that trust”.
prescription, Hackitt also concluded her new With the government looking increasingly likely
system should only apply to buildings of 10 Risk dumping to ban combustible cladding despite Hackitt’s
storeys or higher – equivalent to around 30m – Hackitt says current Building Regulations conclusions, landlords and residents may get
which is much higher than the 6-storey (18m) guidance is confusing for the industry, written in some clarity in the medium term. Brokenshire’s
height at which many existing provisions silos and containing contradictory statements guarded welcome for Hackitt’s report, in which
designed to protect tall buildings kick in today. that make implementation impossible. Few he promised more detail on how it will be taken
Former RIBA president Jane Duncan says the would disagree. But it isn’t clear how letting forward in the autumn, suggested he is still to
decision to focus on just a small number of the industry write guidance would necessarily decide whether to take the leap of faith required
tallest buildings was “a major missed improve this. Tenos’ Cooper says: “The industry to adopt Hackitt’s proposals in full.

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

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Agenda
Comment / Sadie Morgan

The argument for design

Architects risk losing the ability to influence if we don’t try harder to engage with the rest
of industry and explain more convincingly the value of good design

’m not one for snappy headlines, but I was construction phase and with “the commercial the contractor and away from architects; and

I recently the centre of one, when quoted from a

speech saying “architects are sleepwalking into
irrelevance”. Perhaps I could have been more
pressures that we have as a client”, as well as with
rapid change in the industry.
His outburst generated much discussion and
an education culture that focuses on arresting
images and concepts over learning basic
skills such as organisation, management and
careful with my phrasing, but the message is plenty of introspection about why the profession leadership. An overriding theme, however, was
consistent and I’ve been saying it for some time. has become marginalised, and many well-known how the design industry has failed to articulate
Last July I wrote a piece here noting that as a voices gave astute and thoughtful responses on the argument that good design doesn’t cost more,
profession architects have to think hard about what has gone wrong. These included: the rise but rather adds to the quality of our lives.
our relevance in a world where technology and of offsite manufacturing, meaning products and In the words of architect Maggie Mullan: “We
digital advances are likely to change the built packages can be bought rather than designed; are taught that the profession knows best and
environment beyond recognition. And I’m not the prevalence of design and build, which shifts it is our responsibility to further the cause of
alone in sounding the warning bells; my partners risk and therefore decision-making power onto architecture at all costs – to fight the ‘good’ fight.
in crime are not disgruntled naysayers but friends As a consequence ‘design’ has become a devalued
and advocates of the profession. As such, their currency, seen as something wilfully and
critique should be taken in the spirit in which it is expensively ‘bestowed’ on the ignorant masses.”
given – in good grace. The design industry So how do we change the perception that good

“ has failed to articulate

The developer Mike Hussey, sponsor of the design costs more?
Stirling prize, recently joined the debate by First, we have to make sure that we do better
claiming that “the design industry [is] in danger the argument that at highlighting the “beautiful ordinary” in
of being, not just marginalised, but wiped out”. good design doesn’t cost design. We can all point to an overly expensive,
He went on to talk of the “massive disconnect” over-the-top grand project by a star architect for
between designers and the rest of the industry,
more, but rather adds to an extravagant developer that says more about
and urged them to engage more with the the quality of our lives the egos of both than the world that surrounds it.

Letters & comment

Offsite potential transfers construction time from the site to the consistent demand (relatively over the medium
This, and most other, reviews/commentaries on factory. In addition, modern large-scale projects are term) and decades of experience designing and
offsite procurement miss a number of key factors complex and design changes during construction manufacturing in-house, with a collaborative
(Offsite: quantifying the benefits, 11 May): are common. If design is not bottomed out supply chain that is made up of relatively few
Cash flow: Expenditure by the client/contractor/ before offsite manufacturing (which, remember, companies. This couldn’t be further from the case
developer is needed much earlier in the project may be years prior to the build) you are left with in construction, where almost every element is
cycle. This is true of design and development very expensive mistakes. This is potentially handled by a different business.
costs but more specifically with the manufactured compounded by lead-in times for replacement Offsite has great potential but needs bold
product. If you look at facades, for example, in components. financial commitment … think of a commitment
order to guarantee production slots and because Security of work: In order to get the best out by government to build 200,000 social rent
it can be installed so quickly, in most cases the of offsite manufacturing, main contractors/ homes a year.
whole facade will have to be manufactured prior subcontractors/manufacturers need a visible and Anonymous, via www.building.co.uk
to construction of the superstructure commencing secure workload to invest both in skills and, more
on site. Thus the product needs to be paid for a importantly, in developing a standard library
lot earlier in comparison for a conventional build of components that allows the desire for more Join the debate …
– this also prevents contractors using their supply individual designs but brings the advantages of
chain to finance the work in progress. factory production. Comment on any of our articles online at
Time: Offsite production undoubtedly speeds up Offsite manufacturing is often compared with www.building.co.uk or write to us directly at
installation times on site. However, it is somewhat car manufacturing. However, they are not even [email protected]
disingenuous to say that it saves time. It merely comparable. Car manufacturers benefit from

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

 comment & analysis / agenda / 27

But that is the exception, not the norm. We can all point to coupled with the ability to multitask and make
Next, architects must reconnect with the world decisions quickly. Most importantly, they have
in an unpatronising and meaningful way, to
demonstrate that we understand our clients’
pressures, risks and financial drivers, and to be
“ an overly expensive,
over-the-top grand
nothing to lose and all to play for.
Unlike the rest of the commissioners, they are
likely to be alive in the 30- to 50-year horizon that
prepared to think about the pragmatics of long- project. But that is the defines the timeline for the commission’s remit.
term management and maintenance. Most of exception, not the norm With a perspective shaped by the most recent
all, we have to learn how to compromise by being advances, they can think freely. They are also
smart rather than by being “value-engineered”. In keen to preach to the unconverted in all the ways
the words of Simon Alford: “Let’s stop moaning any future group, and establish initial design that social media allows when you know how.
and start acting ever more professionally.” principles. Our work will be published alongside Ultimately, they might become a loud enough
I agree that we need to stop complaining, and if the National Infrastructure Assessment and voice to wake up some of the “sleepwalkers”
we are these great problem-solvers then we have our recommendations, I hope, will be taken up to whom I referred. If not, at least there’ll be
to start coming up with some solutions. So, you by government. someone relevant enough to tackle the huge
may reasonably ask, what am I going to do to The second is the launch of the NIC Young challenges we must all face in the years ahead
address my own complaints? Professionals Panel, a group of people at the and add the real value of what we do well: solve
Through my work at the National Infrastructure outset of their careers. They come from a mix of problems, maximise space and light, and create
Commission (NIC), I have helped put into disciplines but all with unabashed enthusiasm healthy, sustainable environments for us all.
practice two initiatives that I hope will be a and great ideas to make a positive contribution Sadie Morgan is a co-founding director of dRMM
good start. One is the setting up of a design to the debate around our national infrastructure. Architects. She is also the HS2 independent design
taskforce to create a detailed proposal for They were chosen because they all had the right panel chair, sits on the UK’s National Infrastructure
ensuring quality design in major infrastructure, skills to support the work of the NIC, namely Commission and is a mayor’s design advocate for the
recommend a working model and remit for adaptability, inventiveness and imagination, Greater London Authority

Short and Tweet Reactions to the Hackitt report

Ministry of Housing,
@DavidLammy
Communities and Local Govt Ben Derbyshire PRIBA
I simply cannot believe how,
@mhclg London Fire Brigade @ben_derbyshire
one year on from the Grenfell
Dame Judith #Hackitt calls for @LondonFire The #HackittReview
Tower fire, the Hackitt review
'fundamental reform' in the final Read our response to Justice 4 Grenfell recognises that changes will
doesn't recommend that
report of the Independent Dame Judith Hackitt's @officialJ4G require legislative change and
combustible materials are
Review of Building Regulations Independent Review of I lost my cousin and her take time to fully implement.
banned and that desktop
and Fire Safety, released today daughter at Grenfell – and But we are left with confusion
studies - where materials are Building Regulations
https://www.gov.uk/ I’m shocked the Hackitt and lack of clarity. We
approved WITHOUT A FIRE and Fire Safety
government/news/radical- review has refused to call @RIBA will continue to stress
TEST INVOLVING AN #hackittreview http://
reform-of-building-regulatory- for a ban on dangerous our concerns to Government.
ACTUAL FIRE are banned. bit.ly/2rNk4dE
system-needed-finds-dame- cladding https://bit.ly/2L4p85n
A betrayal.
judith-hackitt …

Follow our journalists on twitter.com/buildingnews/editorial

building.co.uk/communities

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

Agenda
Comment

The UK planning system should focus on the here and now

Andrew Ross is director at leading national planning consultancy Turley

The Raynsford review of planning, The [Raynsford A total reconstruction of the in the right places, to support the
led by former housing minister planning system will only serve economy as we face uncertain
Nick Raynsford to identify how
the government can reform the
English planning system, has
“ review’s]
contention
that the system should
to create great uncertainty and
could potentially impede much of
this activity.
times, and to ensure that we
provide the infrastructure needed
to underpin both.
caused a stir. Strong claims made The interim report lays out nine The Town and Country Planning
by Raynsford that the planning
undergo a comprehensive propositions for a new planning Association, which commissioned
system is “not fit for purpose” and reboot is misguided system. This provides a useful the review and is due to publish a
that “we can’t go on like this” have starting point, but these points final report in the autumn, should
understandably sparked a debate a comprehensive reboot is alone will not deliver the practical refine its ambition and ensure
about the planning system in misguided. solutions that are wanted and recommendations are made which
England. It is simply not the right time for needed in the short term. focus on tangible solutions to live
The purpose of the report is a complete overhaul of the system The system should be seeking issues. There is a place for setting
to highlight how to make the – and a call for this ignores many evolution rather than revolution. a vision for the long-term future
planning system fairer, better positive aspects of the English Deliverable outcomes and practical of planning to ensure it operates
resourced and capable of planning system. solutions are needed in the short in the public interest, but this will
producing quality outcomes We can look at the volume of term, much more so than lofty count for little if this vision is not
– aspirations on which we can development activity currently long-terms aspirations which accompanied by a focus on the
all agree. taking place across the country, could take years to realise. The here and now.
However, the contention that and the prevailing economic priority should be evolving the Read more blogs online at
the system should undergo confidence that underpins this. system to deliver the right housing www.building.co.uk

Digital, diverse and dynamic

We ask readers to share their visions of the
construction industry in 25 years’ time. Here, Jonathan
Hunter of Elecosoft explains what he thinks needs to change
This is what I would like the technologies. as the hard hat.
construction industry to look like in Automotive and product
Business Project margins need to be more
25 years’ time: Construction projects
completing on time and on budget
will be the norm, not headline news.
manufacture provide a future vision.
We will move away from the
presumption that construction is
“ processes
must change
predictable and productivity
improvements will be supported by
technology, which will become the norm.
The industry will reflect broader mainly bespoke, manual and and so must the However, leadership failures brought
society, with people making it on merit. site-based. Data will drive automation, industry’s attitude to about the demise of large and small
Effective innovation will continually offsite and modular building products construction firms and a more diverse
drive improvements and project will be commonplace and on-site technology and robust industry culture could
margins will not be so wafer-thin. Home robotics will do the heavy lifting. prevent this.
buyers will have greater choice and the Decision making will improve as Many construction sites have Business processes must change
ability to configure their house to order. real-time data and collaborative advanced connectivity and and so must the industry’s attitude to
Recently the construction industry software tools become essential. geotracking; cutting-edge computing technology with a realisation that it’s a
has rapidly adopted technology but Using cut and paste to move data will deliver processing power so more case of modernise or die. The
it is still behind the curve. This will between software programmes will software applications can work across workforce of 2043 needs to be digital,
change. Technological transformation become obsolete. multiple devices; furthermore, remote diverse and dynamic.
will be underpinned by artificial So, what needs to change to make and automated manufacturing/ Jonathan Hunter is chief operating
intelligence and predictive this happen? construction will soon be as standard officer of Elecosoft

Do you have a Thought for Tomorrow? Just send your name, job title and company, and 250 words to [email protected], with the heading “Building Your Future”,
answering these questions: Q What would you like the construction industry to look like in 25 years' time? Q And what needs to change to make that happen?

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

 comment & analysis / agenda / 29

The week in pictures

Image of the week: A fitting tribute
The Stephen Lawrence Centre in Deptford, originally opened in
2008 in memory of the teenager killed in 1993, has reopened
after a refurbishment by fit-out firm BW. The result for the
Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust is Your Space, a co-working
environment ‘designed to empower and inspire’ its users
GARETH GARDENER

Reader polls We asked: Would other sectors benefit from an

influx of small new firms in the style of the QS
disruptors? Here’s how you voted …
60

QYes

56% QNo
50 QUnclear at this stage

40 38%

Do you broadly
agree with the 30

conclusions of
SAM FROST / FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION

Dame Judith
20
Hackitt’s report
into fire safety
and building 10

regulations? 6%
Vote on our Twitter
poll @BuildingNews 0

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

MOVING Ireland
Demand for UK candidates has increased as a result of a buoyant market. The
survey shows that engineers with four to six years’ experience are particularly

UP IN THE
valued and newly-qualified workers and graduates in the field are increasingly
well paid. Large-scale commercial projects such as the Facebook
headquarters in Dublin dominate, with healthcare, educational, residential and
associated civil engineering projects on the rise – Capital Dock and the
national children’s hospital among them. The language, distance and similar

WORLD
culture mean it is an easy place for UK professionals to relocate to.

In demand: Quantity surveyors, estimators, senior engineers, health and

safety managers, project managers.

This year’s Hays International

Salary Survey shows lucrative
opportunities in some overseas
markets, but Debika Ray reports
that candidates are increasingly
choosing to stay in the UK as the
skills shortage provides certain
employment and international
recruiters become less likely to
target UK-trained workers

rexit may be looming but the prospect

B hasn’t yet forced an exodus from Britain’s

construction industry, despite the
temptations awaiting in several English-speaking
Canada
Canada’s construction market is buoyant, with Toronto particularly
countries. busy – more than C$16bn (£9.32bn) of investment in transit is
The latest international salary survey by under way, as well as a number of major public-private partnership
recruiter Hays reveals strong opportunities for and design and build projects. Commercial and industrial projects
UK construction professionals in several are strong in Montreal, which is also set to have a C$6bn (£3.49bn)
economies, with demand for construction electric train project over the next five years. Interest rate changes
professionals increasing in New Zealand and and new investment regulations have somewhat tempered
Ireland, while staying solid in Australia, Canada demand in the housing market. Quantity surveyors are in
and the Czech Republic. Quantity surveyors, civil particular demand. It is easy for expats to adjust to life in Canada.
engineers, and site and project managers are the Typically employers won’t offer a relocation package for expats,
most in demand, owing to skills shortages and unless they are transferring internally from a company. From a
several large projects under way in Australia, benefits perspective, they can expect contributory pensions,
New Zealand and Ireland. performance-related bonuses, private medical insurance, life
In Australia, for example, a site manager can insurance, company car allowance, company mobile phone, family
attract a whopping £137,332 compared with benefits such as childcare, generous maternity and paternity leave
£47,792 on average in the UK. Project managers allowance (above the UK minimum), and training support. However,
working on high-rise projects in Canada can earn permits and visas must be arranged independently.
up to £107,601 compared with £53,042 in Britain.
The health of the global economy means In demand: Quantity surveyors, chief estimators, high-rise project
multinational construction companies are managers, cost planners, loan monitors, junior electrical project
competing for talent. “At the moment, our whole coordinators.
global practice is busy, and finding good- »
 feature / international salary survey / 31

Czech Republic Singapore

The only non-English speaking country in this year’s survey, the Czech The only place in this year’s survey where demand for expats has
Republic has a healthy economy, a growing construction sector and low declined is Singapore – employers prefer local candidates, although
unemployment, with demand for candidates high and salaries up by opportunities do exist for people with the right qualifications.
10% since last year. However, if you want to work in the country, it is Business confidence and optimism in the economy are growing and,
essential to speak Czech, as well as having local experience. It is a in the construction sector, there has been an increase in large-scale
particularly attractive location for junior candidates – for example, those infrastructure work and continuing opportunities created by public
from other countries who go to Czech universities to study and then transport and hospital upgrades, particularly for those who can
remain in the country to work. assume a senior position in long-term projects. Since English is one
of the main languages, it is an easy place to relocate and adjust to.
In demand: Project managers, site managers, junior project managers,
development managers, project specialists. In demand: Senior project managers; senior asset managers;
estimators; design managers; mechanical, electrical and
plumbing engineers.

Australia
It’s a candidates’ market in Australia,
with continuing demand for British
workers, against a strong economic
backdrop. Over the past five years
there has been a residential boom in
Sydney and Melbourne, which has
A SELECTION OF
yielded plenty of work. Several large
SALARY HOTSPOTS infrastructure and rail projects are
also under way, creating demand for
professionals with large civil
infrastructure experience. The
commercial building sector – schools,
hospitals and commercial space – is
also strong in Sydney, Melbourne and
Brisbane. It’s easy for British workers
to adjust to life in Australia, and
construction professionals usually
find their skills compare favourably
with local talent.

In demand: Quantity surveyors,

project engineers, civil engineers, site
managers/site agents, building
services engineers and managers.

New Zealand
New Zealand has a robust economy, and demand for foreign workers over the past year has
increased – and is expected to remain at that level. A recent population boom has resulted in
many new commercial, residential and civil construction projects, both public and private. The
local market does not have enough skilled workers with large project experience, so many are
looking overseas. If a UK citizen has a skillset or expertise listed on the Australia and New
Zealand skilled occupation lists, they have an easier path to residency and employment,
although the government is currently reviewing its immigration policy.

In demand: Senior quantity surveyors (building), structural engineers, civil quantity surveyors/
estimators (civil), estimators (building), site managers (commercial construction).

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

 32 / feature / international salary survey

themselves out. And the global financial crisis

IT’S DIFFICULT TO GET took a lot of people out of the industry, so we are TODAY, MOST EMPLOYERS
still suffering from that.”
SOMEONE FROM THE UK In the longer term, he says, technological [IN THE UK] ARE ACTIVELY
TO WORK IN, SAY, PRAGUE change might disrupt the job market, but he LOOKING TO RECRUIT SO THAT
doesn’t think that is likely for at least five years. “I
OR WARSAW, AS THE don’t see a mass exodus of people at the moment
TAKES A HUGE AMOUNT OF
WORK IS CARRIED OUT and I think it would have to be quite a deep THE DRIVE OUT OF PEOPLE
recession to start putting people overseas again.” LOOKING OVERSEAS
IN LOCAL LANGUAGES
Of course, there are other factors that affect
RICHARD STEER, GLEEDS RICHARD GELDER, HAYS CONSTRUCTION
recruitment flows rather than just the relative
AND PROPERTY
strength of economies. For a global business such
as Gleeds, “having expats as part of the team is a
» quality staff – from anywhere around the world very expensive overhead”, Steer says. “In our
– is a challenge,” says Ann Bentley, global board India office, we have two expats out of 275 people. Speaking the language
director at Rider Levett Bucknall. “We see this That’s our model virtually everywhere, as we In many countries, he adds, language is also an
continuing into the medium term and so there expect offices to be part of the local community issue for British candidates. “It’s difficult to get
will be plenty of overseas opportunities for and working as part of the local situation.” someone from the UK to work in, say, Prague or
UK-trained staff.” Warsaw, as the work is carried out in local
However, while skilled workers with UK languages.”
experience are welcome, most countries are not RLB’s Bentley says the Hays findings do reflect
specifically or actively recruiting them or offering METHODOLOGY her experience overall, although she feels that
relocation packages. Indeed, in one country New Zealand and Australia are still interested in
surveyed – Singapore – the number of British The Hays Construction International Salary Guide recruiting from the UK – perhaps for reasons
candidates securing roles has decreased, despite 2018, in association with Building, is based on salaries other than just the local economy. “Australia is
the country’s growing economy, with employers of candidates placed by Hays in the past 12 months losing staff to the US at the moment,” she says,
preferring local candidates. and salary expectations for UK expats. The top five explaining that in her experience it is easier
roles are those in demand from Australia, New Zealand, for Australians to get US work visas than for
Choosing the UK Singapore, Canada, Ireland and Czech Republic. The British citizens. Following the visit to the
But bare facts can be deceptive, says Richard US was unable to provide salaries this year. White House by Australian prime minister
Gelder, director of Hays Construction and UK figures are typical salaries reflecting the findings Malcolm Turnbull in February, one of the
Property. He believes it is not so much a question of the Hays UK Salary & Recruiting Trends 2018. The things agreed was an easing of the visa process
of UK-trained recruits being less attractive than guide is compiled by staff worldwide who understand for Australian nationals applying for jobs in
they were, and more that the British market is the local markets and are specialists in the built the US.
keeping hold of them. “During the last recession, environment. The salaries are typical annual salaries for “We are also seeing a steady flow of Australians
the UK was a hard environment to work in and permanent positions and are guide figures only, due to and New Zealanders coming to the UK for a
lots of people were looking abroad,” he says. possible discrepancies in terminology, purchasing couple of years and then returning home,” she adds.
“Today, most employers here are actively looking power and local variations. They also do not take into Alongside this, Bentley is witnessing a revival of
to recruit so that takes a huge amount of the drive account local government tax regimes, hours of work recruitment of UK staff in the Middle East,
out of people looking overseas. and currency of payment. The salary figures have been particularly Saudi Arabia, as a result of the crown
“[In turn,] employers overseas looking at the converted into sterling, based on conversion rates prince’s modernisation programme, coupled with
UK market know there are fewer people looking applied in May 2018. the rise in the global price of oil. In December the
for work, and they are taking a pause for breath – state unveiled a $19bn (£14.1bn) stimulus
on an advertising campaign, for example, the For more information on Hays Construction visit package, which includes subsidised loans for
return will be less than it would have been a few www.hays.co.uk/construction or to find Hays offices housebuilders and developers, following several
years ago, and that’s before the costs of the worldwide visit www.hays.com years of a flat construction market.
recruitment process.” It is impossible to tell what might happen in the
The sense that staff are less willing to move UK over the coming years. The economy seems
abroad is one that Richard Steer, chair of stable although growth is slowing, but the
construction consultancy Gleeds, shares. country is mired in political and economic
“During the 2008-10 recession, we could get good OUR WHOLE GLOBAL uncertainty, which is perhaps reflected in Hays’
people to go overseas relatively easily, but today discovery that employee movement across the
it’s difficult to tempt people to leave the UK,” he PRACTICE IS BUSY AND construction sector in the UK has slowed – only
says. “There’s a skills shortage here and FINDING GOOD-QUALITY 54% of workers are looking to move jobs this year
conditions elsewhere aren’t quite so generous – compared with 61% the year before. This may
these days [as they used to be].”
STAFF IS A CHALLENGE […] not necessarily reflect nervousness among
He had believed that after the Brexit SO THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF candidates about what is to come, but it’s fair to
referendum there would be a reduction in OVERSEAS OPPORTUNITIES say that anything could happen as the UK pulls
workload but says that has not manifested itself out of the European Union.
yet. “There has been an increase in public sector FOR UK-TRAINED STAFF
and infrastructure work and a decrease in private ANN BENTLEY, RIDER LEVETT BUCKNALL
commercial work, but they have balanced See salary data overleaf »

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

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 34 / feature / international salary survey

» Salaries for roles most in demand

Australia
Top five roles in demand Average salary UK comparative salary UK comparative role
QS £43,926-£71,401 £47,958 - £56,125 Senior surveyor/associate (professional QS)
Project engineer £49,417-£71,401 £38,000 Project engineer
Civil engineer £30,208-£71,401 £34,271- £42,042 Engineer/senior engineer (civil)
Site managers/site agents
(building and civil construction) £82,393-£137,322 £43,792 Site manager (construction operational)
Building services engineers/managers £71,401-£101,641 £48,417 Project manager (building services)

Canada
Top five roles in demand Average salary UK comparative salary UK comparative role
QS £50,962-£73,619 £47,958-£56,125 Senior surveyor-associate (professional QS)
Chief estimators £50,976-£73,619 £45,208 Estimator
High-rise project managers £90,605-107,601 £53,042 Project Manager (construction operational)
Cost planners and loan monitors up to £67,959 £45,208 Estimator
Junior electrical project co-ordinators £25,484-£28,317 N/A N/A

Czech Republic
Top five roles in demand Average salary UK comparative salary UK comparative role
Project manager £33,196-£37,345 £53,042 Project manager (construction operational)
Site manager £18,673-£20,744 £43,792 Site manager (construction operational)
Junior project manager (development) £20,744 £53,042 Project manager (construction operational)
Development manager £33,196-£49,795 N/A N/A
Project specialists £16,598-£24,900 N/A N/A

Ireland
Top five roles in demand Average salary UK comparative salary UK comparative role
QS £66,100 £47,958 Senior surveyor (professional QS)
Estimator £66,100 £45,208 Estimator
Senior engineer £52,876 £42,042 Senior engineer
Health and safety manager £44,059 £42,167 Health and safety manager
Project manager £74,906 £53,042 Project manager (construction operational)

New Zealand
Top five roles in demand Average salary UK comparative salary UK comparative role
Senior QS (building) £46,117-£76,862 £53,875 Senior QS (construction)
Structural engineer £30,743-£71,733 £34,854 Engineer (structural engineering)
QS/estimator (civil) £35,867-£76,862 £47,958 - £56,125 Senior surveyor/associate (professional QS)
Estimator (building) £35,867-£92,252 £45,208 Estimator (construction commercial)
Site manager, commercial construction £46,117-£71,333 £43,792 Site manager (construction operational)

Singapore
Top five roles in demand Average salary UK comparative salary UK comparative role
Senior project manager £68,701-£109,923 £53,042 Project manager (construction operational)
Senior asset manager £54,961-£79,147 N/A N/A
Estimator £65,956-£131,923 £45,208 Estimator
Design manager £54,961-£68,701 £39,483 CAD manager
MEP engineer £38,478-£49,472 N/A N/A
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25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

 projects / Royal Academy extension / 37

SIMON MENGES
ONLY CONNECT
The Royal Academy’s expansion from Burlington House into Burlington
Gardens is all about forging a strong link between these two historic
buildings, using existing underground vaults and a new connecting
bridge. Ike Ijeh reports on David Chipperfield’s subtle intervention

ost major reworkings of existing UK Burlington House, Charles Barry Jr’s

M museums and art galleries in recent

years have been all about extensions.
The National Gallery extended into Venturi
ambassadorial Italianate pile of 1873, itself built
around the remains of Lord Burlington’s early
18th-century Palladian palace.
Scott-Brown’s Sainsbury Wing, the British The academy has now extended into another,
Museum extended into Foster’s Great Court even more monumental Victorian building, just
and Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners’ World north of Burlington House. What is now known
Conservation block, the Tate Modern extended as the Burlington Gardens block was built by
up into Herzog & de Meuron’s perforated ziggurat Buckingham Palace ballroom designer James
and the Whitworth Gallery extended out into Pennethorne in 1870 for the University of
McInnes Usher McKnight Architects’ mirrored London. After the university vacated it in 1900 it
brick pavilion. housed various disparate civil and cultural
The 250-year-old Royal Academy has now functions and was most recently home to the
joined the throng and acquired an extension of Museum of Mankind, an anthropological
Left: James Pennethorne’s its own. Last weekend David Chipperfield’s offshoot of the British Museum, until 2004.
restored staircase is the extensive £56m overhaul of the academy’s Thereafter it was acquired by the academy and
centrepiece of the Royal historic Mayfair campus opened to the public, mainly housed temporary exhibitions hosted by
Academy’s converted swelling its size by an impressive 70% to cover the Royal Academy Schools. The RA Schools is
Burlington Gardens almost 10,000m². But this extension is different, the academy’s world-renowned art school located
building for two reasons. in the basement of Burlington House.
First, the new accommodation has been found The second reason why this extension is
Right: A new ‘bridge’ links in an existing building rather than a new one. So unusual is that the project really isn’t about an
the academy’s original there is no new street-facing external extension at all, it’s about the connection
home in Burlington House architecture. The newly occupied existing between the two independent Victorian
to its new galleries in building is also historically significant in its own buildings. The principal challenge has been how
Burlington Gardens right. The academy’s core block remains to connect the two buildings and merge them »
RORY MULVEY

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

 38 / projects / Royal Academy extension

» into one unified gallery campus. This

emphasis on connectivity rather than expansion
immediately changes the tone and nature of the
entire project. This is no bombastic
contemporary architectural statement designed
to sit in stark contrast to its historic host. Such an
approach is an already well-mined architectural
trope for gallery extensions and one that
Chipperfield himself plundered to sublime effect
with his Neues Museum in Berlin.
Instead this is a subtle stitching together of two
already architecturally assertive historic
buildings, in which the new interventions remain
for the most part externally invisible and visually
subservient to their heritage context. It is a
difficult balancing act to achieve – and one that
previous proposals by both Hopkins Architects
and Colin St John Wilson failed to pull off. But
achieve it Chipperfield largely does.

Contextual humility
Visually he does it by ensuring that his
SIMON MENGES

intervention is largely light-touch. The project

shows a degree of contextual humility and
stylistic restraint that one might not immediately
associate with an architect whose stark
minimalism has perhaps become his defining
trademark. His work on the interiors of
Burlington Gardens – already rich with typically
effusive Victorian décor – has, wisely, been more
a case of restoration than alteration.
But architecturally the stitching together is
achieved by transforming the connection
between the buildings into a subtle and engaging
series of spatial transitions rather than physical
interventions. The key concept for this is the
imposition of a new public route that runs right
through the two buildings along the north-south
axis. This extends from the Burlington House
entrance to the south right through to the
Burlington Gardens entrance to the north.
As luck would have it, both entrances are
virtually on the same axis with less than a metre
differential between them. This allows for a
central route that does not violate the
symmetrical planning of the classical blocks.
Impressively, this route will be accessed at no
charge to the general public, with Royal Academy
president Christopher Le Brun describing it as
“the new Burlington Arcade”, in reference to the
historic covered shopping passageway that runs
alongside the academy.
Crucially, however, it was decided early in the
project that this new internal route must not
Above: The new ‘bridge’ intrude on gallery space, something that
that links the two previous schemes had done to their detriment.
buildings is only visible This requirement meant that while the central
externally from a private axis route worked well horizontally, it would
courtyard have to shift up and down vertically in order to
SIMON MENGES

avoid the galleries on the principal floors at

Left: A new basement Burlington House.
arcade links to the This shape-shifting process is evident from the
staircase ‘bridge’ start of the route at Burlington House. The

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

 projects / Royal Academy extension / 39

A new lecture theatre has connection with the city outside that is rare in
been constructed in contemporary galleries.
Burlington Gardens New interventions also include an impressive
lecture hall conceived as a semi-circular arena in
the Greek “agora” tradition. A new architecture
studio beside the lecture theatre aims to give
architecture equal footing with art among
academicians for the first time and allows for
immersive and rotating creative displays. Unlike
Burlington House, which started life as a
domestic building, Burlington Gardens was
always built as an institutional one so the
academy’s new accommodation here benefits
from the larger, loftier spaces that make
conversion into galleries a fairly logical shift.
Throughout the Pennethorne block
Chipperfield’s restoration is well judged and
finely expressed. In the entrance hall tiles have
been removed to reveal original stone floors and
the walls have been painted a subtle grey that
offers a coolly impassive backdrop allowing the
Victorian detailing and decoration to take centre
SIMON MENGES

stage. Terrazzo flooring features extensively

across the new galleries and the spectacular
Senate Room has been restored to its vivid colour
scheme and transformed into a bar.
Chipperfield has described the fundamental
challenge of finding a role for the Burlington
academy’s entrance hall is unchanged, but those describes this feature as a bridge, and it does Gardens block. “It’s a fine building but it was
wishing to reach Burlington Gardens must pass indeed span the narrow strip of courtyard that unloved and eroded; no one quite knew what to do
behind the main stair and head down a short separates the two buildings. with it. The problem was more a case of deciding
flight of steps. But entombed entirely in trademark what to do with Burlington Gardens than it was a
From here, the visitor reaches the first main Chipperfield concrete and with a long flight of case of how to link the two buildings.”
section of the route, which runs through the stairs to ascend, one does not really get the sense In this new scheme, the problem of Burlington
vaults underneath the main gallery spaces. The of being in an elevated connection at all. Happily Gardens has been convincingly solved and the
masses of cabling and pipework that were here there is a large window at the summit, revealing new spaces fit into it so effortlessly they feel as if
have been carefully repositioned to reveal a fine the courtyard with the buildings running along they have always been there – invisibility of
brick vaulted arcade that burrows through the either side. intervention being as ever the Pyrrhic victory of
basement. This has been transformed into an The bridge itself, though – if one can generously successful refurbishment. Chipperfield
underground street theatrically lined with term it such – feels like a curiously mean and maintains that he has achieved this by “not
sculpture from antiquity and student exhibits. placeless gesture. Too narrow to evoke gravitas imposing all that much and by finding a way to
In institutional terms this is a radical move as and yet too polished to evoke the dusty get the original character of the building back”.
the new sunken route cuts through the Royal antiquarian charm of the vaulted arcade, the But he perhaps does a modest disservice to the
Academy Schools, exposing the work of its windowless stairwell feels like a demilitarised and success of his strategy by underplaying the
students to public view for the first time. In so misappropriated relic of Chipperfield’s Hepworth importance of the link between the two buildings.
grand a building these vaults also maintain a Gallery, an airtight wartime escape chute For it comprises far more than just the
surprisingly utilitarian feel, but the spatial shift improbably rammed between two elegant questionable “bridge”. The link starts at the
they engender is a pleasingly dramatic one. It is country mansions. entrance to Burlington House and ends at the far
not all a case of conveniently reappropriating entrance to Burlington Gardens. By inserting this
existing spaces – there is as much new New interventions weaving, twisting, connecting public street right
architecture as old here, although invisibly done. The route returns to surer footing once the stair through the warren of vaults and spaces that
The brickwork has been forensically cleaned and has been ascended and Burlington Gardens is straddle the Royal Academy, the scheme fortifies
restored, the floor lowered to accommodate a breached. A lofty new gallery leads to this most private and institutional of cultural
new lofty height, and the entrance steps, formerly Pennethorne’s entrance hall, a majestic vaulted campuses with a new urban spine.
external steps in a narrow lightwell, widened to space complete with double-flight imperial
accommodate public visitors for the first time. staircase. This in turn leads to a sequence of new
At the opposite end of this underground first-floor galleries, one of which displays the PROJECT TEAM
Main architect David Chipperfield Architects
arcade lies Chipperfield’s principal connection academy’s gigantic, almost full-sized 1520 copy of
Conservation architect Julian Harrap Architects
device between the two buildings. It is also the Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic Last Supper, arguably
Client Royal Academy of Arts
only part of the scheme that can be reasonably the most accurate and important copy of the Contractor John Sisk & Son
termed new built architecture. A long flight of painting in existence today. Refreshingly this Structural engineer Alan Baxter
stairs leads up to link to the ground-floor level of gallery also contains filtered views out onto the Mechanical engineer Arup
Burlington Gardens beyond. Chipperfield street through veiled windows, a thrilling visual Project manager Buro Four

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

LEGAL

Robert Akenhead highlights the dangers of a private conversation

between one party in a case and the judge, arbitrator or adjudicator

CARELESS TALK
CAN COST CASES
t is of fundamental performance that justice employer’s counsel, Mr Modha, consented.
REQUESTING A PRIVATE
CONVERSATION WITH ONE I should not only be done, but should manifestly
and undoubtedly be seen to be done.” So,
famously, declared Lord Hewart CJ. A recent
The judge and Mr Varma then had a private
conversation. It began with the judge thanking
Mr Varma and his chambers for hosting the
PARTY WAS INAPPROPRIATE, Court of Appeal decision is a salutary reminder judge’s daughter as a mini-pupil – a fact already
AS IT RISKED FOSTERING AN for tribunals – arbitrators, adjudicators and even disclosed to the employer. The judge then
judges – to keep their distance and not talk in expressed views about the merits of the case,
IMPRESSION OF FAVOURITISM. private to one side only. including that the employer’s counterclaim
WORSE WAS THE DECISION Bubbles & Wine Ltd vs Reshat Lusha (March seemed weak, and that the contractor’s claim had
2018) began life as an unremarkable dispute: the evidential gaps. He asked for these views to be
TO EXPRESS VIEWS ON THE
contractor claimed payment of the outstanding passed on to Mr Modha since it might assist with
MERITS OF THE CASE IN THE contract price; the employer counterclaimed the production of the list of issues.
ABSENCE OF ONE PARTY damages for delay and defective works. The case That evening Mr Varma reported the
only became noteworthy because of what conversation to Mr Modha by email. Mr Modha
happened after the trial had overrun, leaving no replied noting he would rather the judge had not
time for closing submissions. Directions were said anything about the case, but acknowledging
given for written closing submissions and the he did not think the judge had said anything the
production of a list of issues. As the parties got up parties did not already know, and that it probably
to leave the courtroom, the judge invited the did help to narrow down the issues.
contractor’s counsel, a Mr Varma, to remain The next morning the judge emailed the parties
behind to speak about a personal matter. The giving his account of the conversation. Two

CYBER SECURITY: THE NEW DATA RULES

 new
Andrew Wood of Taylor Wessing’s construction team explains why nobody can afford to ignore the
data protection regulation rules that come into force today

In an industry such as construction, the (both employees and subcontractors) individuals, increase obligations on data social media posts, dates of birth) but
core of firms’ business is not concerned carrying site access cards bearing some controllers (who determine how and why also less obvious data (such as tracking
with processing customer data. personal data. CCTV will capture personal data is processed) and, for the cookies or IP addresses). GDPR extends
However, the new General Data footage of individuals on site. Smart first time, impose obligations directly on to pseudonymised data (where it’s
Protection Regulation (GDPR) gives technologies that log personal data in data processors (the entities actually possible to identify someone by a
individuals the right to sue anyone who increasingly sophisticated, and often obtaining, recording, adapting or holding pseudonym). There is also a special
holds their data and fails to deal with it unexpected, ways are being deployed. it on the controller’s behalf). category of sensitive personal data
properly – and almost all companies hold Failure to comply with GDPR can lead to The regulation is concerned with the attracting even greater protections,
such personal information. serious consequences. use of individuals’ personal data, being such as trade union membership,
In the construction industry, the any data unique to an individual that can religious beliefs or sexual orientation.
obvious example is information about a Key features of GDPR be used to directly or indirectly identify Personal data needs to be processed
company’s own employees but it will GDPR represents a major shift in UK them. This includes obvious information lawfully and for explicit and legitimate
inevitably go further. Any construction data protection law. Its 99 articles that businesses routinely collate (such reasons. The conditions for acquiring
project may involve a raft of personnel increase data protection rights for as names, photos, addresses, emails, consent for processing personal data

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

 legal / 41

been disproportionate to the sums at stake.

The employer appealed, alleging apparent bias.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, for
these reasons: Mr Modha had consented to the
conversation; there was no evidential doubt as to
what was said; the provisional views expressed
were innocuous and did not suggest the judge
had reached a final decision before argument; the
purpose of expressing the views was to assist the
parties and the expression of provisional views is
common; the judge had asked for the views to be
passed on to Mr Modha; Mr Varma made no
submissions in private to the judge; and there was
no reason to think the judge deliberately sought
in his email to withhold his view on the claim.
Despite this conclusion, the court’s criticisms of
the judge were forthright. Requesting a private
aspects of that account were noteworthy: the parties felt this principle had been compromised. conversation with one party was inappropriate,
omission of any reference to the evidential gaps Mr Varma responded with the contractor’s view as it risked fostering an impression of
in the employer’s claim, and his suggestion that that recusal was unnecessary. After taking favouritism. Worse was the decision not to
had the employer’s director not been in the room, instructions, Mr Modha requested the judge confine the conversation to personal matters,
the judge would have made his comments about recuse himself on the basis that he made an and to express views on the merits of the case in
the case in the presence of both counsel. adverse comment on the case in the presence of the absence of one party. That is particularly
Mr Modha replied, questioning the judge’s only one party’s representative. The judge refused. damaging where views expressed are adverse to
omission of any reference to the evidential gaps The contractor’s claim was mostly successful; the absent party, who then must rely upon a
in the contractor’s claim and seeking clarification the employer’s counterclaim failed. In his second-hand account. The court also criticised
on what was said. The judge’s first reply said his judgment, the judge said that his comments to the judge’s explanations as “unimpressive”. By
recollection was as he had already stated. After Mr Varma had only been made out of concern offering to recuse himself and then refusing, the
further thought, he emailed again to say that he that Mr Modha be made aware of evidential judge had been “bound to create a sense of
had also expressed similar concerns about the weaknesses as quickly as possible, and in an grievance”. He should not have offered to recuse
contractor’s evidence, and not just the employer’s attempt to assist the parties in preparing their himself at one party’s request. Finally, the judge
counterclaim, but had not made up his mind closing submissions. He rejected any suggestion had been wrong to suggest that questions of
about either party’s claim. He explained that he of actual or apparent bias. He repeated his claim proportionality, or the fact that he felt the issues
had thought it helpful to express the concerns so that he had not made the comments in open had been properly decided, were relevant. The
they could be dealt with in closing submissions. court due to the presence of the employer’s issue was solely one of procedural fairness.
In the same email, the judge also acknowledged director, and a desire not to lead the director to Sir Robert Akenhead is an arbitrator, mediator, DRB
the importance of the court being seen to be conclude that his mind had been made up. He member and adjudicator at Atkin Chambers. He was
impartial and offered to recuse himself if the also noted the cost of a rehearing would have assisted in the writing of this article by Omar Eljadi

are strengthened by GDPR. This does the UK is in the process of implementing deliberately or by accident). Companies within 72 hours. Companies should
not always mean consent is required, but its own new Data Protection Bill. While need to establish where this comes from consider whether their notification
GDPR does demand transparency on there are small concessions to protect and who it gets shared with. policy is robust enough, whether they
how data is used. Consent is likely to be the media and scientific researchers, QReviewing data protection and privacy have procedures in place to detect
an issue for firms dealing with sensitive among others, this proposed law largely policies, and implementing necessary breaches, and how often they stress-
personal data or where personal data is covers the same provisions as GDPR. changes in light of GDPR. This includes test their breach plan. It is also
used in marketing, where it is most likely being prepared for the exercise of new important to consider whether the
that the individual must “opt in”. Compliance rights (which means making personal company needs to hire or designate a
Where a company breaches GDPR, Companies now need to actively information available free of charge formal data protection officer. This will
there is a tiered approach to fines, with demonstrate compliance with GDPR. within one month) and complying with apply to organisations that carry out
the most serious infringements (such as Steps that should be taken include: new obligations to the extent they apply large-scale systemic monitoring or
obtaining inadequate consent) attracting QEnsuring all relevant personnel are to the organisation. For companies with processing of sensitive personal data.
a potential maximum fine of 4% of engaged. This extends to anyone more than 250 employees, this means
annual global turnover, to €20m (£17.5m). collecting customer data, human setting out a rationale for why they have Conclusion
Less serious breaches (such as failing to resources, IT and those involved in a legitimate interest in holding that data. The GDPR rules now in force impose
make data breach notifications) can governance and risk. Employers should QBeing prepared for data breaches. strict obligations on how personal data
attract fines reaching 2%. The previous give thought to who may act as a GDPR requires data breaches posing a must be handled, affecting companies
maximum penalty was £500,000. processor or controller, which may risk of destruction, loss, alteration, more widely than some may realise.
GDPR is a regulation under EU law, include subcontractors. Outsourced unauthorised disclosure of, or access to Those that have not already considered
which means it now bites in the UK and data storage will still require compliance. data to be notified to the individuals how GDPR affects them must do so.
UK businesses should be complying. QBuilding an inventory of all data the involved without undue delay, and to the Andrew Wood is an associate at
With an eye on the future after Brexit, company may collect on a person (either Information Commissioner’s Office Taylor Wessing

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

ECONOMICS
analysis / facts / forecast

LONDON VS MELBOURNE RESIDENTIAL

Angela Joseph and Gary Hoskyn of Alinea Consulting in London and Barry Laycock and Steven
Martindale of Slattery in Melbourne compare the residential construction markets in their two cities

01 / INTRODUCTION

Cities will always be endowed with their own as foreign investment in luxury apartment efficient and attractive environments for future
distinct characteristics. Yet increasingly they are towers and trophy assets raises concerns about generations to live, work and play.
beset by common challenges, as globalisation and affordability and social cohesion. Here we compare and contrast the residential
the movement of money across borders support On opposite sides of the Earth, London and markets in the two cities, examining factors
new phases of real estate development, against a Melbourne provide an interesting example of including ownership vehicles, procurement
backdrop of population growth and urbanisation. shared predicaments but also of different, models, programme and productivity, design
Residential markets face particular challenges localised responses in their attempts to create parameters and construction costs.

02 / HOW DO THE CITIES COMPARE?

This research focuses on the core of being a business hub, Melbourne’s the number is zero. A typical central influx of significant investment from
each city, comparing central London asset classes and uses are more evenly London tall building would command a overseas. Foreign investment, in terms
(zones 1-4) with inner Melbourne. distributed and it is less geared to sales value of £1,500-1,800/ft2, but of expenditure on both development
London has a much higher density, being a global financial centre. could be up to a staggering £7,000/ft2 and sales, is simpler in the UK than in
at 5,595 people per km2 versus Each city is growing in a different in certain locations. Australia. Primary foreign investment
Melbourne’s 3,637. London has way. The increasing density of London In Melbourne, a historic lack of in the residential sector in the UK
become a culturally diverse city over is encouraging a cycle of high-rise affordable housing and a need for often comes from the Middle East
recent years as its population has development, and the number of tall rental accommodation have fuelled an and Asia and has shown no signs yet
grown significantly on the back of a buildings (20-plus storeys) planned apartment tower construction boom for of slowing down in relation to Brexit.
strategic plan to densify and improve over the next decade has topped a the last 18 years. These apartments In Melbourne, foreign investment,
the capital’s infrastructure, in response staggering 500 (according to New have generally been purchased off-plan particularly from South-east Asia
to a period of depopulation that London Architecture’s recent study), by investors looking to rent out their and China, has underpinned the
culminated in a low-point of 6.7 million of which some 90% are intended to property, obtain capital growth and apartment market for a sustained
in the mid-1980s. While the impact be residential. While not all of these take advantage of negative gearing period. However, Australian banks
of Brexit is yet to play out, growth planned schemes will be built, it is a taxation. Despite the apartment have tightened their lending policies in
will only continue in the long term if reminder that tall buildings have moved construction boom, according to the recent years, and the Victorian state
the residential sector, supported by from engineering challenges to become Real Estate Institute of Victoria, the government has removed stamp duty
physical and social infrastructure, social challenges. Savills estimates vacancy rate for residential properties tax savings for off-plan purchases.
can address the challenge of 58% of demand in London is for homes is just 2.1%. According to the Property Council of
accommodating people at sensible priced below £450/ft2, but only 20- One of the most obvious influences Australia, sales to foreign purchasers
and sustainable price levels. London 25% of homes are built at this price on residential development that dropped from 24% in September
is an expensive city in which to eat and within central London (zones 1-4) London and Melbourne share is the 2016 to 16% in March 2018.
and drink, although not off the chart
by global standards. However, it is Figure 1: Building function breakdown in the two cities
the most expensive city in Europe for
rental accommodation.
Hotels 2% Government 2%
Melbourne is seeing record levels of Mixed use 19%
population growth: it is the fastest-
growing city in Australia and is growing Mixed use 23%
Residential 29%
faster than both London and New York.
Most newcomers are migrants from
Residential 40%
overseas, although there are high levels
of interstate immigration and organic
growth. Analysts predict that by 2036
the city could overtake Sydney as
Australia’s most populated destination. MELBOURNE LONDON
Offices 33% Offices 52%
While London’s bias remains towards

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

 economics / London vs Melbourne / 43
SHUTTERSTOCK / MATT ORFORD ALINEA

Melbourne (left) has a lower population density than London (right), but a higher
proportion of residential development in its centre. Both cities are experiencing a boom in
residential tower construction, for different reasons

03 / OWNERSHIP VEHICLES

London and Melbourne between them feature inner London wage at £35,000, the possibility compromises on incentives, it remains to be
a myriad of ownership vehicles, although of owning a home is becoming further seen whether this is the medicine required to
these are commonly split into three key areas: out of reach. Purpose-built rental homes solve the housing shortages and affordability.
affordable housing; private rental sector; and offer an alternative to home ownership,
private ownership. providing the tenant with a long-term renting Private ownership
opportunity, well-being amenities and In the UK, private home ownership is still the
Affordable housing professionally managed landlord entities most common form, with more than 60% of
In London, house prices have soared over (typically long-term investment companies) households owner-occupied. However, this is
the past decade which raises the question: that remove the difficulties associated with the lowest rate in some 30 years. The decline
what really is “affordable” in a city where the private independent landlords. is particularly noticeable in London, where
average property price is about £600,000? The The build-to-rent model also aims to bridge the number of homeowners has dropped 50%
London Plan describes affordable housing in the gap in the London housing crisis, where in the last 25 years for those aged 25-30, as
terms of social rented, affordable rented and the shortage of new homes being built is London prices are now so high that even with
intermediate, to cater for a range of people. not meeting the demand of the growing help, first-time buyers find private ownership
In Melbourne, and indeed across Australia, population. This model is still in its infancy in unaffordable. This generation of people have
housing affordability is a major challenge the UK, with many developers looking at the been forced out of the inner London market by
particularly for first-time buyers. Apartments US model and trying to work out how it can be UK and overseas investors.
are owned by private investors or leased to not- tailored to the UK market. Similarly, Melbourne home ownership
for-profit housing agencies with the Australian Meanwhile, Melbourne has been looking stands at 66%, with 36% being owned with
federal government subsidising the rent by up with great interest at how this model operates a mortgage and 30% owned outright. These
to 20%. Some of Melbourne’s local councils in the UK and in the US. Currently, there figures have shown a steady decline since
are exercising their power over zoning and is only one significant development in 1991, as housing has become increasingly
planning permissions to push developers into Melbourne aimed at build-to-rent, but this is unaffordable. The number of “stressed”
offering more affordable housing. still in the planning phase. Housing industry mortgages (where debt is greater than 30% of
experts expect this model to gain traction the monthly household income) continues to
Private rental sector over time. However, while developers grapple rise. Only 45% of young people aged 25-34 own
The challenge for many Londoners is to with the underpinning financial model their own home, a drop of more than 30% since
earn and save for a deposit. With the average and government assesses the necessary the early eighties. »

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

 44 / economics / cost model

0 / LOCATIONS AND SALES VALUES

Like most cities, both London and Melbourne offer the many other interested parties such as English
a variety of sales values driven by location, which Heritage, the Museum of London Archaeology, the
in turn offer a variety of residential products and mayor’s office and – in relation to tall buildings – City
specifications. While location is the primary driving airport. The diversity in policy across boroughs
factor for sales values in both cities, what this means means inner London enjoys bigger schemes (in terms
in practical terms differs. of both mass and height) built around transport hubs
On average, someone living in the UK will have than does outer London. With zones 1-2 generally
a journey to work that is greater in distance than remaining a business district, the relatively modest
people in Melbourne, but quicker in time due to a level of residential use has resulted in high sales
better public transport network. This has caused values, ranging from £2,000/ft2 to over £4,500/ft2.
many in Melbourne to want to live in the city centre, Inner Melbourne, by contrast, is more balanced in
and tower development has enabled this to occur. its building class distribution and there is a tighter
It does, however, come at a cost to the occupier range for sales values across the city, generally
as sales values have been driven upward through ranging from £450/ft2 to £950/ft2 depending
this demand. While population densities point to a on location and whether the development is
significant amount of additional space per person in aimed at investors or owner-occupiers. CBRE
Melbourne, places of residence need to be as close Residential believe that the market is maturing
to the city centre as possible. from an average of £500-£600/ft2 a few years
London is made up of many boroughs, and local ago to £600-£800/ft2 currently. With a tightening
planning policy is a big influence on building typology. on lending and declining foreign purchases,
Obtaining planning consent can take many months achieving a critical volume of sales is becoming
Construction of Aurora Melbourne Central
or years, as developers battle with planners and increasingly difficult.
PROBUILD

0 / DESIGN PARAMETERS

While we can compare both cities in a wider Beyond a certain price point in London, The guidelines focus on standards for building
context, how we design and build residential developers tend to provide apartments larger setbacks, communal open space, landscaping,
towers is also important, as it affects many than guideline standards. However, this has a noise impacts, energy efficiency, room layouts,
things from architectural statement to the limit at the higher price point because oversized natural light, natural ventilation, among other
way we live and make these residential towers apartments can tend to dilute per ft2 sales values. factors. As the state government looks to
our homes. The table below compares the cities in terms of improve the quality of design and support
In order to achieve the highest quality for key design parameters and metrics, for a typical greater consistency in the planning process,
occupiers, there are guidelines available aimed inner city 40-storey tower development. the development community has absorbed
at supplementing the local planning policies to Melbourne does not have mandated minimum these standards with relatively little fuss.
create a set of standards for housing within the apartment sizes yet. However, in response to The difference in unit mix split across the
respective cities. Although they are not seen an increasing number of apartment projects two cities is interesting, supporting a view
as a planning requirement, they do help set out seeking to shrink apartment sizes and reduce that perhaps London has more of a focus on
principles such as daylight, noise and minimum amenity spaces, the Victorian state government wealthy individuals rather than a bias towards
space standards. issued apartment design guidelines in 2017. multiple occupancy.

Figure 2: Unit sizes compared Figure 3: Design metrics

Design guides versus typical 40-storey tower
London Melbourne
London London typical Melbourne Melbourne typical
guide* guide Net/gross 70-75% 72-77%

Min (ft2) Av (ft2) Mix Min (ft2) Av (ft2) Mix Wall/floor 0.50-0.60 0.45-0.55

One-bed 538 580 40% n/a 550 30% Floor to ceiling 2,600-2,800mm 2,650-2,700mm
height
Two-bed 753 950 50% n/a 800 62%
Shared amenity Pool/spa/gym Pool/spa/gym/private dining/
Three-bed 1,023 1,500 10% n/a 1,100 8% library/media room

Av size/unit 694 857 750 Shared amenity 2-5% of GIA 2-5% of GIA
based on
typical 250- Private amenity 6-9% of NIA 8-10% of NIA
unit scheme (balconies)
* LONDON HOUSING DESIGN GUIDE

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

 economics / London vs Melbourne / 45

06 / CONSTRUCTION COSTS

The table below shows typical construction sales value, the specification in London is timber doors, engineered timber floors, entry-
costs for a 40-storey residential tower in each far more luxurious than that in Melbourne. level appliances, reconstituted stone worktops
city, prompting the following key observations London apartments would see veneered timber to kitchens and bathroom vanity units and
on the differences and the forces in each city. doors, hardwood floors, high-end kitchen mirrored sliding wardrobe doors with basic
Superstructure: A deeper dive into spot rates appliances, marble worktops, marble vanity shelves and hanging rails. The difference in
for concrete, reinforcement and formwork show units to bathrooms and high-end joinery for spend is also exacerbated by Melbourne’s ability
these costs to be comparable between London wardrobes. In Melbourne, the specification is to access suppliers from South-east Asia and
and Melbourne. However, as a percentage of more restrained and typically includes painted China, which offer a lower cost base.
overall build cost, Melbourne’s structural costs
stand much higher at 17% as opposed to 12%
in London. This is a consequence of lower Figure 4: Elemental cost model (£1 = $1.8)
spend on other elements in Melbourne, thereby
increasing the superstructure percentage of London Melbourne
the whole. Sales £1,500-1,800/ft2 Sales £600-800/ft2
MEP: The approach to mechanical and
electrical services in each city does vary quite Element £/ft2 % £/ft2 %
significantly. London generally sees its heat
source located in the basement with central Substructure – piling only 12 3% 4 2%
cooling also located in the basement or on Substructure 12 3% 4 2%
the roof. These serve the apartments through Frame, upper floors, stairs, roof 55 12% 30 17%
LTHW and CHW circuits from the main plant. External walls, doors, balconies 60 13% 23 13%
All of these costs are attributable to MEP shell Internal walls, doors, finishes and fittings 14 3% 12 7%
and core works. In Melbourne, apartments are Superstructure 129 29% 65 36%
typically cooled and heated using “split system” M&E and builders’ work in conn’n with services 47 10% 7 4%
units where the outlet is typically installed in Lift installation 6 1% 4 2%
the living space and in the master bedroom, Services 53 12% 11 6%
with the condenser unit being located either
on the balcony or centrally in a condenser farm Subtotal to shell 194 43% 80 44%
elsewhere within the building.
Apartment fit-out: In London, a far greater Preliminaries, OH&P, contractor’s risk, contingency 66 15% 32 18%
percentage of overall build cost is allocated to Main contractor items 66 15% 32 18%
the apartment fit-out. This would be amplified
further if there was a more even distribution Total to shell 260 58% 112 62%
of MEP costs across shell and core and fit-out
(in Melbourne the majority of MEP costs fall Apartment fit-out: private 180 40% 59 33%
within the apartment fit-out). In reviewing Communal fit-out: incl amenity spaces 10 2% 8 5%
comparable apartments of similar relative Total private residential shell and fit-out 450 100% 179 100%

Figure 5: Elemental cost model – percentage spend of overall cost

London Melbourne
Substructure - piling only

Frame, upper floors, stairs, roof

External walls, doors, balconies

Internal walls, doors, finishes and fittings

MEP and BWIC

Lift installation

Preliminaries, OH&P, contractor’s risk, contingency

Apartment fit-out: – private

Communal fit-out including amenity spaces

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 »

BUILDING MAGAZINE 25.05.2018

 46 / economics / London vs Melbourne

» 07 / PROCUREMENT MODELS 08 / PROGRAMME AND PRODUCTIVITY

The overarching procurement Melbourne will generally have one It is not straightforward to make Another contributing factor to the
models for the two cities across design team for the entire building. like-for-like comparisons, as no difference in speed is the product itself.
the residential sector are generally As a result, the interior design in two residential buildings and site As mentioned, the specification of the
similar in nature, be that design Melbourne generally develops in environments are the same. However, London residential tower is far higher
and build in London or design and step with the shell and core works. our analysis and data suggest that it than that of its Melbourne counterpart.
construct in Melbourne. There are, In London, it often follows behind, is quicker to build residential towers in Practical and less expensive choices
however, more variants and hybrid allowing the developer to make Melbourne, for a number of reasons. of materials and design detailing lend
methods adopted in London, some decisions relating to fit-out Many factors influence speed of themselves to a greater degree of time
perhaps understandably given the much later in the design process. construction. Starting in the ground, efficiency and Melbourne wins in this
scale and maturity of the market. It is not uncommon for the fit-out London buildings are generally built regard, as the focus is on functional
In the current London market, of high-end apartments to be on clay and sand and require deep and repetitive interior choices rather
the most frequently selected model procured as a single package in pile foundations to overcome soil than London’s more opulent and time-
would be a two-stage design and London, opening up the market conditions. This amount of time in the consuming design details.
build approach, utilising stage 4 around choice of contractors. In ground can often be exacerbated by In addition to what is being built and
design information. This two-stage Melbourne, as the fit-out design having to deal with archaeological how, one cannot overlook the impact of
approach is heavily influenced progresses in line with the shell interest. In contrast, a typical climate. London’s weather represents
by contractor appetite, with the and core and the market is smaller, Melbourne tower will be founded on programme hurdles in terms of crane
supply-side market to a large the contractors best suited to more favourable ground, meaning a winding-off and keeping a workforce
extent dictating the nature of such undertake the shell and core works much simpler and quicker foundation both motivated and productive during
arrangements. While Melbourne are the ones also most appropriate solution, where neither water table the cold, winter months.
adopts a similar design and build for fit-out. level nor archaeology represent an The final point relates to project
approach, the current preference is While the supply chain in obstacle. If ground conditions do pose culture, and the attitude of the
for a single stage action using 50%- Melbourne is smaller, it is a challenge in Melbourne, it is not respective construction industries
80% detailed design information. supplemented through access to uncommon for basement space to be in each city. Melbourne leads more
Unlike London, contractors extensive suppliers and trades in sacrificed for equivalent space being by example, displaying a can-do
have not managed to influence South-east Asia and China. It is constructed above ground, in order to attitude to getting things done, and
greater take-up of a two-stage now common for facade panels, house car parking and plant space, in a fewer distractions around contractual
approach. However, in recent joinery, finishes, sanitaryware, light podium level. entitlements and claims. Also, the
times developers have engaged fittings and other components to The next significant factor affecting extent of materials and components
contractors at an earlier stage to be manufactured in Asia, shipped speed and efficiency is city logistics. that come from China in a speedy
give buildability and programme to Melbourne and installed locally. London has become a real challenge manner for projects in Melbourne
advice, the results of which have By contrast, the London market for access and vehicle movements, is significant. This compares with a
been variable. still favours trade contractors and with traffic often coming to a standstill. slightly different pace associated
The other significant difference suppliers from Europe, which Road closures, security management, with European trade contractors
between the two cities relates to the offer high quality standards and the extent of business deliveries, and suppliers servicing the London
procurement of the fit-out, which are within much closer reach. buses, taxis, bikes, pedestrians and construction market.
is influenced by the appointment There has been marginal take-up infrastructure works do not make it Overall, these differences result
of designers for these elements. for key components from Asia easy to service London construction in a considered view that speed
In London, the shell and core and to date, with quality control and sites. While Melbourne has similar of construction for tall residential
fit-out are usually designed by deliverability being the main challenges, they are on a much buildings in Melbourne is some
different consultants. By contrast, concerns. smaller scale. 10% faster.

09 / SUMMARY

London and Melbourne offer an intriguing unprecedented levels of foreign investment. residential towers over 100m high, compared with
counterpoint in their contrasting residential The downsides are perhaps most acutely felt just 21 in London, perhaps evidence that it has
markets and products, in the face of some by the residential sector. The focus on the luxury made significant efforts to attract people at more
common global trends. market, underpinned by international buyers, is affordable price levels to a city that offers a more
The backing and leadership of government have, ratcheting up concerns about affordability and even balance of business, sport, arts and culture.
over the past two decades, provided London with social cohesion (due to absent owners). Against Compared with London, Melbourne represents
a strategic plan to densify its real estate and the backdrop of a chronic housing shortage, it is value and relative affordability (aided by a more
improve its infrastructure – as evidenced by an prompting the question: “Who is London actually conservative residential product). The average
eye-watering pipeline of towers and transport for?”, while at the same time the UK’s property apartment price in inner Melbourne is 12 times a
projects such as Crossrail, Crossrail 2 and industry is grateful for the kindness of strangers. worker’s average annual salary, compared with a
extensions to the underground network. In contrast, Melbourne has made great strides staggering 30 times in London – but its challenges
This builds upon the capital’s standing as a over the past 20 years to develop in a balanced are felt to be just as serious.
global financial centre, helped by its inherent way. While it still sits in the shadow of Sydney as a The reality is both cities could learn from one
benefits in terms of time zone, language, law and business destination, it has taken the Economist’s another: cross-fertilising ideas is critical in
ease of business (notwithstanding Brexit-induced Most Liveable City award for the past seven addressing global challenges, despite (or perhaps
uncertainties), which have all helped encourage years. Since 2000, Melbourne has completed 65 because of) growing protectionist rhetoric.

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

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 49
Construction Project Management
Established and Full Time (36 hours per week)
Tower of London, Kensington and Hampton Court
Palaces (with travel to other palaces) Project Manager
These palaces need the greatest of care and we are
now recruiting professionals to deliver high quality Estates & Facilities Directorate
conservation, re-presentation and maintenance Band 8A, £44,956 - £53,042 pa inc.
projects across all of our sites.
(additional discretionary payment may be made
As a Project Manager, you will develop building
dependent on experience)
conservation plans, policy, strategy and works, and
provide high-level construction technical advice. One year fixed-term contract initially

Global job vacancies

We are also seeking Quantity Surveyors to provide Oxleas is a successful Foundation Trust offering a wide range
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To complete the new team we are also looking for
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whole estate, dealing with a wide range of property The Trust requires a Project Manager to support the estate
management tasks. transformation of Queen Mary’s Hospital. This development
Excellent communication and organisational skills, focuses on the delivery of estate changes that will enable a
along with the ability to work independently are essential high quality patient experience whilst driving estate efficiency.
to achieve completion of our significant projects.
To apply and to find out more about the experience
The post requires solid experience of developing briefs,
and qualifications required for each role, managing complex projects and commissioning; all undertaken
please visit www.hrp.org.uk/recruitment whilst maintaining close communication with clinical staff and
Closing date: 10th June 2018 stakeholders. Remuneration will be dependent on experience,
Salary: £32,000 - £60,000+ depending on experience qualifications and current seniority.
To discuss this post informally, please contact Colin Cope,
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of their background. application, please visit www.jobs.nhs.uk quoting the
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Closing date for applications is 10 June 2018.
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providing commercial oversight and management of the end to end client side surveying
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programme delivery managers, developing key client relationships and/or retail experience
and utilising key data to ensure governance protocols are followed. ƽ )IKVIIUYEPMǻIHSVIUYMZEPIRX
ƽ 27.(SVIUYMZEPIRXHIWMVIH
In addition, you have opportunities to support the development of
XLI[MHIV524WIVZMGISǺIVMRKEWWMWXMRFYWMRIWWHIZIPSTQIRXERH ƽ Experience with Occupier/
winning work. The role requires ambition and the capability to feature *RH9WIVGPMIRXW
25.05.18 BUILDING MAGAZINE

MRXLIFYWMRIWWƶWYGGIWWMSRTPERRMRKWXVEXIK]JSVXLI(SQQIVGMEPXIEQ Experience of PMO/client side

ƽ
role desirable
To apply...
If you can see yourself shaping the future of this www.capstone-recruitment.com
business and have the right background, please get in
touch with Sarah Davenport on 020 3757 5000 or email
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 50 / back page

Last look

Most read Sketch of the week

What you read on www.building.co.uk last week

This week’s multimedia #buildingdoodle sketch is by associate director Martin
Douglas at Pad Design. He says: “This view jumped out at me on a recent trip to
1 Interserve: Waste not, want not Manchester. It shows the The Principal Manchester, a landmark grade II*-listed
building on the corner of Oxford Street and Whitworth Street. Designed by
2 CPD 8 2018: Cradle to Cradle and the circular economy
Alfred Waterhouse for the Refuge Assurance Company, and built in red brick and
terracotta during the 1890s, its 66m tower was designed by his son Paul and added
3 Private building control banned from high rise inspections, says Hackitt
just before the First World War.”
To submit your sketches for publication please email [email protected]

4 Aecom and Mace among consultants to score spots on UCL framework

or post via Twitter using the hashtag #buildingdoodle

5 Ex-Carillion FD and MPs in war of words over inquiry findings

Building webinars

Go to www.building.co.uk/webinars to watch on demand:

Q 22 Bishopsgate – structural challenges

Designing for sustainability and efficiency, in association with Bentley Systems

Q JCT Training
Find out about all aspects of the JCT’s new range of training courses

All Building webinars are free to attend and are CPD accredited, so
you can earn CPD points by attending

Archive 2008

International salary guide 2008: Run!

Our international salary survey this year shows that UK workers are less likely to
venture abroad, despite the rewards, and that companies in some locations are less
concerned about recruiting Brits, writes Helen Burch.
However, a decade ago there was an edge of desperation for workers desiring
international positions as the recession loomed. Close examination of the figures
actually showed that regions such as Australasia and the rest of Europe paid less for
experienced project managers and QSs than the UK, but there were still the honeypots
of the UAE and Hong Kong, which paid 50% more on average.
But it was the lifestyle that strained Brits really hankered for. Mace project manager
John Jones was working on a five-star resort in the Maldives. “Outside of work, there’s
just nothing on your to-do list,” he said. “You never think at the weekend, ‘Oh, I’ve got to
get down to B&Q.’ You can’t spend money if you try, either. I’ll go out for dinner tonight
and it’ll cost me £2. I surf as much as possible …”
I’m sure the novelty wore off after a while and he began to miss the traditional British
EPICSTOCKMEDIA

summer pastimes of purchasing Ronseal products and trying to barbeque in the rain.
To read the full article from 18 July 2008, go to www.building.co.uk

25.05.2018 BUILDING MAGAZINE

 Movement/Expansion Joints
Design to be Watertight, to accommodate Thermal Expansion
& any other Movement, maybe to be Trafficable, to provide
Thermal and/or Acoustic Insulation, plus to be
Fire Resistant for up to 4 hours?
ALL No Problem with EMSEAL Joint Systems
EMSEAL provide solutions for sealing all types of movement/expansion joints in
all kinds of materials for buildings and other structures.
Ideal for new construction, refurbishment and retrofit projects.
EMSEAL has provided wa[LY[PNO[HPY[PNO[ZLPZTPJHUKÄYLYH[LKTV]LTLU[QVPU[Z[VWYVQLJ[ZHSSHYV\UK[OL
^VYSKMVY[OLSHZ[`LHYZ;OPZOHZPUJS\KLKQVPU[ZLHSPUNZVS\[PVUZMVYHSS[`WLZVMKPLYLU[TV]LTLU[QVPU[
YLX\PYLTLU[ZPUHSS[`WLZVMI\PSKPUNZHUKJP]PSLUNPULLYPUNZ[Y\J[\YLZ,4:,(3WYV]PKLZTV]LTLU[QVPU[
Z`Z[LTZMVYHSSRPUKZVMZ\IZ[YH[LZHUK[OL`HYLLHZPS`PUZ[HSSLK^P[OHJJLZZMYVTVULZPKLVUS`PU[VKLJRZ
WVKP\TZPU[LYUHSHUKL_[LYUHS^HSSZOLHKVM^HSSZYVVMZHUKIHZLTLU[ZSHIZ¶,]LY`^OLYLPUHUK^P[OPU[OL
)\PSKPUN,U]LSVWL[OH[K\YHISLHUKZLJ\YLTV]LTLU[L_WHUZPVUQVPU[ZLHSPUNPZULJLZZHY`VU`V\YWYVQLJ[Z

(JJYLKP[LK*7+WYLZLU[H[PVUZH]HPSHISL!
*HSS [VHYYHUNL`V\YZ

Available throughout UK/ROI from

NCC Materials Consultants and Distributors
Common Bank Industrial Estate, “Watertight by Design”
Ackhurst Rd, Chorley PR7 1NH
Tel: 01257 266696 Email: [email protected] www.emseal.com
 YOU DELIVER FOR OTHERS.

WE DELIVER FOR YOU.

T O G E T H E R W E G O F U R T H E R.

£181 P E R M O N T H
F ORD TRANSIT CONNEC T TREND OVER 4 YE ARS. ADVANCE OF
6 MONTHLY RENTAL S ON F ORD CONTRAC T HIRE . BUSINESS USERS ONLY.

FORD TRANSIT CONNECT TREND 200 L1 1.5 TDCi (75PS). FROM £181 PER MONTH OVER 4 YEARS ON FORD CONTRACT
HIRE FROM FORD LEASE. ADVANCE OF 6 MONTHLY RENTALS. BUSINESS USERS ONLY. TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT
FORD.CO.UK
Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the Ford Transit Connect 200 L1 1.5 TDCi Trend (75PS) shown: urban 62.8
(4.5), extra urban 70.6 (4.0), combined 67.3 (4.2). Official CO2 emissions 109g/km.
The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results (EU Regulation 715/2007 and 692/2008 as last amended), are provided for comparability
purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience.
Finance subject to status. Guarantees/indemnities may be required. You will not own the vehicle at the end of the agreement. Examples exclude VAT and are based
on 48 month non-maintained agreements, profile 6+47 payment in advance of 6 monthly rentals, followed by 47 monthly rentals, with a mileage of 10,000 miles
per annum. Vehicles must be returned in good condition and within agreed mileage, otherwise further charges will be incurred. Prices correct at time of going to
print and are subject to change without notice. Subject to availability at a Ford Authorised UK Dealer for vehicles with finance accepted and vehicle contracted
between 1st April and 30th June 2018. Not available with any other promotion. Ford Lease is provided by ALD Automotive Ltd, trading as Ford Lease, BS16 7LB