Build Build Build

[V8Druid]

Core Five says worries over who will build major projects have not gone away

Schemes over £250m face dwindling number of firms prepared to take them on

www.building.co.uk

"there is a “reduced pool of willing and able main and sub contractors” for building schemes worth £250m or more."

there will be even fewer if their bills get as scrutinised as BAM's have been on that hospital job

FFS !!!!
thank God someone is actually holding these pr*cks to account

" BAM requested €25million to change the positioning of air conditioning grilles in operating theatres. The contractor told the board the changes would take six months to complete and ‘would impact the substantial completion date’. ‘It cost less than 1% of that. It cost less than €200,000 and it took a few weeks, ....... The hospital was originally scheduled to be completed in 2020 with a budget of €650million. The bill has spiralled to in the region of €2.2billion and has been delayed on 14 occasions. ....... open by the end of next year, but added that it depends on the building firm committing to the completion date of June 2025. ...... €750million of claims have been assessed so far, and that BAM has been found to be entitled to just €30million of this sum ....... " https://extra.ie/2024/10/10/news/irish-news/bam-bill-hospital-work

 

[V8Druid]

Industry has turned stagnant, says Glenigan

The UK construction industry is a state of stagnation according to contracts monitoring outfit Glenigan.

www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

" Glenigan economic director Allan Wilen said: “Many will be disappointed that the hopes of revival, often heralded by the election of a new government, have not yet come to fruition. Confidence remains low in the private sector, not helped by the prospect of the upcoming autumn budget statement, which many see sweeping changes to tax and planning policy. Investors are, understandably, cautious. "

 

[6feetdown]

well this is going down like a lead balloon
" The government today launches its industrial strategy with construction apparently not part of the plan. "

Construction not core to government industrial strategy

The government today launches its industrial strategy with construction apparently not part of the plan.

www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

f****ng Microsoft already in the door

 

[V8Druid]

well here's one Co. that can't see much of a future in earthmoving equipment rental

Ardent profits plummet amid restructuring

Profits fell at Ardent Hire Solutions as the company reorganised.

www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

" Ardent still has more than 2,400 telehandlers and started 2024 with 2,000 earthmoving machines and access platforms. As of last month, 1,400 of the latter had been sold out, and all 2,000 are expected to be gone by the end of December. "

and another BTLs

Nixon Hire completes strategic shift

A year after an initial transition away from mobile plant, Nixon Hire has unveiled step two of the plan.

www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

" ...... by July this year the remaining large plant fleet in the northeast had been sold and all depots have since relied on cross-hire to meet customers’ machinery needs. "

 

[V8Druid]

Planning approvals halved in government’s first 100 days

Latest report from Glenigan, the construction market monitoring business, reveals a 47% fall in planning approvals in the third quarter of 2024.

www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

" a 47% fall in planning approvals in the third quarter of 2024. "

 

[Lancs Lad]

Planning approvals halved in government’s first 100 days

Latest report from Glenigan, the construction market monitoring business, reveals a 47% fall in planning approvals in the third quarter of 2024.

www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

" a 47% fall in planning approvals in the third quarter of 2024. "

"Getting Britain building "

 

[DaveDCB]

Planning approvals halved in government’s first 100 days

Latest report from Glenigan, the construction market monitoring business, reveals a 47% fall in planning approvals in the third quarter of 2024.

www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

" a 47% fall in planning approvals in the third quarter of 2024. "

We have just had one rejected on a site , the only reason being the existing access road isn’t good enough… prior to this application being submitted we tried two times to change the access over to another gateway which was already there - rejected on the basis that the original driveway is completely adequate!! Couldn’t bloody write the crap! Literally 25k down the drain over them 3 planning apps!! Don’t know why we bother tbh?!

 

[Lancs Lad]

We have just had one rejected on a site , the only reason being the existing access road isn’t good enough… prior to this application being submitted we tried two times to change the access over to another gateway which was already there - rejected on the basis that the original driveway is completely adequate!! Couldn’t bloody write the crap! Literally 25k down the drain over them 3 planning apps!! Don’t know why we bother tbh?!

My dad's been working on one for 2 and bit acres. Got a mway on one side .. literally. Bypass on the other and major 2 lane road on the third side. The 4th is a field between it and a new Lidl.
The amount of wildlife surveys/,bat and noise surveys etc has been bonkers. I flailed it a bit back for him and all you can hear is cars and sirens ...how have we got to this situation? Common sense went out the window with all this educated bullsh*t
Oh and the app has just cost him 8k.

 

[DaveDCB]

they have no idea what they are on about!!

Another app I’ve got in, had to do a BNG for it as it was genuinely within the parameters - Enviromental officer comments were BNG not required! Another waste of 2grand!

Then within the same app we submitted very detailed Structual surveys , councils ‘building inspector’ commented saying there wasn’t enough details on how we were going to fix all the problems… the design plans shows the building with a roof and on floors put back in, planning apps don’t need a method statement on how we are going to fix a collapsed roof!! They are all stupid student graduates who have never left the office!
If I didn’t have to sell everything I’d not bother with planning at all!

 

[Smiffy]

they have no idea what they are on about!!

Another app I’ve got in, had to do a BNG for it as it was genuinely within the parameters - Enviromental officer comments were BNG not required! Another waste of 2grand!

Then within the same app we submitted very detailed Structual surveys , councils ‘building inspector’ commented saying there wasn’t enough details on how we were going to fix all the problems… the design plans shows the building with a roof and on floors put back in, planning apps don’t need a method statement on how we are going to fix a collapsed roof!! They are all stupid student graduates who have never left the office!
If I didn’t have to sell everything I’d not bother with planning at all!

My opinion of building inspectors is very low tbh. Either they are in the pocket of the developers or they are trying to justify there existence. 3 emails I sent to one asking for clarification if he wanted to inspect in person the reinforcing before a garage floor was poured or inspect the finished slab and three time I got the reply " we want to inspect the slab"

Another took great offence when I suggested he read the drawings that he had make a great fuss about being sent over, rather than expect me to remember of the top of my head every technical detail of a 2 million pound house.

 

[V8Druid]

We have just had one rejected on a site , the only reason being the existing access road isn’t good enough… prior to this application being submitted we tried two times to change the access over to another gateway which was already there - rejected on the basis that the original driveway is completely adequate!! Couldn’t bloody write the crap! Literally 25k down the drain over them 3 planning apps!! Don’t know why we bother tbh?!

I'd've thought you have a pretty fair case for a solid appeal there Dave - and a retrieval of costs

 

[DaveDCB]

I'd've thought you have a pretty fair case for a solid appeal there Dave - and a retrieval of costs

Another two apps to be decided on this site then whole lot will go into appeal.. 29weeks is current back log for appeals

 

[V8Druid]

well this is going down like a lead balloon
" The government today launches its industrial strategy with construction apparently not part of the plan. "

Construction not core to government industrial strategy

The government today launches its industrial strategy with construction apparently not part of the plan.

www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

" The government’s much-vaunted industrial strategy, published for consultation yesterday, has left the construction industry distinctly underwhelmed. "

https://www.theconstructionindex.co...dustrial-strategy-falls-flat-for-construction

" Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy proposes a plan “to ease the investor journey and create long-term, inclusive, secure and sustainable growth”. The final industrial strategy will be published in spring 2025 alongside a spending review.

The strategy* concentrates on eight favoured industrial sectors, including clean energy, creative industries, defence, ‘advanced’ manufacturing and digital technologies. Construction – whether of the advanced sort or otherwise – is not on the list.

Somewhat inevitably, this has not gone down well within the construction industry. "

yet more gobbledyspeak sh1t

 

[V8Druid]

yet more bollox .... on the same subject

Government outlines industrial strategy plan as ministers hail £63bn of private funding for projects

Data centres and airport expansions among projects planned as Starmer pledges to deregulate

www.building.co.uk

" Data centres and airport expansions among projects planned as Starmer pledges to deregulate
Ministers have pledged to boost eight ‘growth-driving’ sectors as part of the government’s industrial strategy.
The government today published a consultation paper on its strategy which is called ”Invest 2035” and aims to “ease the investor journey and create long-term, inclusive, secure and sustainable growth.” "

"airport expansions" ?????? thought there were only 'sposed to be 3 airports left in the UK by 2030, in the fight, 'to decarbonise'/against global warming ..... anyone told Smarmer ????

 

[V8Druid]

this made me laugh .... this guy obviously doesn't know what a buy out is ......
" Liberty managing director Ray Jones said: “By joining Wates, we enter the next stage of our growth and development. Our combined service provision brings a stronger offer to both existing and potential clients, especially in property and renewable energy decarbonisation; services to which Liberty and Wates are strongly connected. This new step forward will ensure continued high-quality services for Liberty's current clients and their tenants, as well as an exciting future for Liberty and Wates and our people.” " .......... wake up Ray ... you have a new boss

Wates acquires property services business

Wates Group is taking over Liberty, the property services business of northwest social housing provider ForHousing.

www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

 

[V8Druid]

this is scandalous ......

" local authorities in England and Wales are sitting on more than £8 billion of infrastructure payments made by developers, including more than £6bn from Section 106 agreements and almost £2bn raised through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).................... on average, councils hold £19m in unspent Section 106 infrastructure contributions. The research is based on a freedom of information (FOI) survey that received responses from 208 local authorities "

" Developer contributions are paid to local authorities in return for planning permission "

" The estimated £8bn of unspent money includes:

• £817m in unspent affordable housing contributions that could support the delivery of around 11,000 affordable homes
• £1.1bn in highways and roads contributions across England and Wales
• £2bn in unspent education contributions that could support 126,000 new school places
• £873m in unspent social infrastructure contributions that could fund around 1,000 sports halls and 4,700 community games areas . "

£8bn of developer contributions sat in local authority bank accounts

Billions of pounds paid by builders to boost local services remains unspent, according to new research.

www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

and still council taxes increase year on year by 'stupido' amounts - 'cos they're broke

 

[V8Druid]

Why are we building homes when so many are standing empty?

Bringing empty homes back into use can be tricky, but campaigners say a lot more could be done to help.

www.bbc.co.uk

because no one wants to have tenants they can not get rid of ..... and getting worse - by the week !!!
same with employment ... virtually impossible to get shot of wasters

as for this ..... " “We (HMGov) are committed to building 1.5 million homes and delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation. This will unlock thousands of homes and make the dream of homeownership a reality for more people across the country.” "

WTF does their plan for social and affordable have to do with ownership ???????

 

[TiltyShaun]

Why are we building homes when so many are standing empty?

Bringing empty homes back into use can be tricky, but campaigners say a lot more could be done to help.

www.bbc.co.uk

because no one wants to have tenants they can not get rid of ..... and getting worse - by the week !!!
same with employment ... virtually impossible to get shot of wasters

as for this ..... " “We (HMGov) are committed to building 1.5 million homes and delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation. This will unlock thousands of homes and make the dream of homeownership a reality for more people across the country.” "

WTF does their plan for social and affordable have to do with ownership ???????

Sound bite politics.

 

[bobthebuilder]

this is scandalous ......

" local authorities in England and Wales are sitting on more than £8 billion of infrastructure payments made by developers, including more than £6bn from Section 106 agreements and almost £2bn raised through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).................... on average, councils hold £19m in unspent Section 106 infrastructure contributions. The research is based on a freedom of information (FOI) survey that received responses from 208 local authorities "

" Developer contributions are paid to local authorities in return for planning permission "

" The estimated £8bn of unspent money includes:

• £817m in unspent affordable housing contributions that could support the delivery of around 11,000 affordable homes
• £1.1bn in highways and roads contributions across England and Wales
• £2bn in unspent education contributions that could support 126,000 new school places
• £873m in unspent social infrastructure contributions that could fund around 1,000 sports halls and 4,700 community games areas . "

£8bn of developer contributions sat in local authority bank accounts

Billions of pounds paid by builders to boost local services remains unspent, according to new research.

www.theconstructionindex.co.uk

and still council taxes increase year on year by 'stupido' amounts - 'cos they're broke

already spent it

 

[V8Druid]

already spent it

you're probably not far wrong ..... Herefordshire (I'm told) received in the order of £10M 'contribution' from the WAG many years ago towards constructing a bypass 'round Hereford to improve 'connectivity' to Wales -- they've spent it without ever striking a blow towards anything to do with a by pass
Hereford is utter carnage at most times of the day .... 2hrs 25m is my record to cross the city .... which is not very far, distance-wise