Housebuilding valued at £1.8 billion in February off the back of Help to Buy

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housebuildingHousebuilding continued to grow in the UK in February, according to a report released today. It follows announcements in the Chancellor’s Budget statement on 19 March that revealed the Help to Buy equity loan scheme will now be extended until 2020.

Residential construction accounted for over a third of all UK contracts awarded by value in February, totalling more than £1.83 billion – a huge increase of 72% on the same month last year.

These most recent figures, taken from Barbour ABI’s Economic & Construction Market Review, also reveal that London is still THE country’s house building capital, with 17.5% of all residential construction contracts located in the city.

Trading updates from most of the UK’s major house builders reflect the residential construction sector’s resurgence over the past twelve months. Bovis and Taylor Wimpey both posted full-year profit increases of 3% , Persimmon is up 49% and Barratt Homes has reported a 162% increase in profit for the six months to the end of December 2013.

Michael Dall, lead economist at Barbour ABI, commented:

“As expected, the residential construction sector experienced year-on-year growth for a third consecutive month in February. Importantly, the number of units associated with residential contracts awarded increased by 1.8% on January and were 51.5% higher than February 2013, confirming the scale of the upturn in the market over the past year.

“It’s clear that stimulus packages such as Help to Buy are having a significant and sustained impact on house building, with strong evidence of increased profits across the industry. The Chancellor’s commitment to providing a further £500 million of finance to small house builders, as well as £150 million to help people build their own homes will also be widely welcomed by the construction industry.

“However, there are still concerns that these prolonged initiatives will drive up house prices and make homes in some places, particularly London, unaffordable for first-time buyers looking to get their foot on the property ladder.”

The Economic & Construction Market Review is a monthly report designed to give valuable, current insight into UK construction industry performance. It is compiled from the Barbour ABI’s records of construction data for every UK planning application, and key indicators, such as the Office for National Statistics’ Construction New Orders data.

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APHC offer one-day water disinfection accreditation course

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APHCAPHC isoffering a one-day BPEC Cold Water Risk Assessment and Disinfection Course at its offices in Solihull or at employer premises for groups of 10 or more. 

The courses in Solihull will run on 7 May, 16 July, 3 September and 5 November in 2014 and cost £200 per person for APHC members and £250 per person for non-members.

The course demonstrates how to design and maintain water systems to minimise the risks from Legionella and is aimed at plumbers and domestic heating installers, especially those employed by local councils and housing associations, who are responsible for the physical maintenance of water systems.

Graeme Dryden, APHC technical manager commented:

“The plumbing and heating industry is always evolving. Investment in training is vital for you and your employees in order to acquire new skills, develop existing ones and to keep up-to-date on new legislations, new technologies and to run a professional and successful business. “

As the course meets the requirements of HSE’s revised Approved Code of Practice (ACoP): Legionnaires’ disease: the control of Legionella bacteria in water systems, successful completion forms part of the membership criteria of the recently launched PHCA Legionella scheme which allows members to demonstrate to property owners that they are dealing with a professional and competent plumber, able to implement a risk assessment and carry out remedial action where necessary.

Philip O’Dwyer, a member of APHC, recently attended the course said:

“I’m careful by nature to be informed, so that I’m armed when I go into properties and I can confidently give the property a clean bill of health or take the required corrective action. I found the course to be very informative to the point where I am now notifying estate agents of their responsibilities.”

Plumbing and heating companies can apply for a £100 grant to help cover the cost of the course from APHC’s sister company APHC Training Ltd. For more details on this and on the BPEC Cold Water Risk Assessment and Disinfection Course, or the PHCA Legionella scheme, contact the APHC on 0121 711 5030 or emailinfo@aphc.co.uk.

The PHCA Legionella scheme is run by APHC and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) and is open to their members as an extension to current membership.

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Energy secretary says Scottish renewables may falter alone

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scottishEnergy Secretary Ed Davey said Scotland could face a difficult task in supporting its renewable energy ambitions if it breaks from the United Kingdom, UPI has reported.

Scotland holds a September referendum for independence from the United Kingdom. The government in Edinburgh said it could support itself economically through oil and gas reserves in the North Sea.

Davey told an energy conference in Edinburgh that while the Scottish people could endure alone, unity was better in terms of energy policies.

Scotland, he said, is developing its renewable energy sector at a record pace. Scotland accounts for 10 per cent of all households in the U.K., but gets 25 per cent of all support for renewable energy generation.

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Go-ahead given for $1bn replacement of George Washington Bridge hangers

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All 592 of the suspender ropes on the George Washington Bridge are to be replaced as part of a US$1.03bn (£623m) project approved this week by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.

The project on the 82-year-old suspension bridge will also rehabilitate all of the span’s main cables, replace the walkways and provide improved pedestrian and bicycle access ramps.

“The George Washington Bridge is a national asset and the world’s busiest bridge, and the Port Authority is committed to making needed investments that ensure this vital transportation artery for the region thrives for another 100 years,” said Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye.

Construction is expected to result in 4,900 jobs, US$365 million in wages and US$1.7bn in economic activity for the region.

As part of the project, construction crews will also include smart technology to monitor the condition of the new suspender ropes and will fit a dehumidification system on the main cables.

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HS2 report sets out prospect of northern construction boom

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railsThe construction opportunities of the proposed £50bn high speed rail network extend far beyond the rail tracks to the wholesale regeneration of England’s northern cities, a government-backed report today suggests.

The government’s HS2 Growth Taskforce has called for local authorities to work together to create growth in cities along the route of the proposed high speed rail network. And it suggests a government minister should be specially assigned to overseeing these local and regional growth plans.

The taskforce, which includes, Laing O’Rourke owner Ray O’Rourke as well as local council leaders and other vested interests, is chaired by Lord Deighton, commercial secretary to the Treasury.

The taskforce’s report, called HS2: get ready, recommends steps needed to maximise the economic benefits of the £50bn scheme. Its publication comes in the same week as HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins’ own report on out how HS2 might be built sooner.

The Growth Taskforce calls for action now to simplify and join up funding to deliver construction fast around HS2 stations sites. By accelerating regeneration and development of brownfield land on the route, big benefits will be seen in just a few years, the report suggests. It also calls for city regions to work together to integrate local transport networks.

The taskforce’s recommendations include:

  • new local bodies to create tailored growth plans for cities along the HS2 route
  • local leaders and business use HS2 to boost their city regions by creating new transport links and promoting urban regeneration schemes
  • work to begin now to ensure young people understand and capitalise on the career opportunities HS2 will open up
  • help given to British firms to bid for HS2 contracts
  • ensuring HS2 contracts lead to local job creation, skills development and apprenticeships.

Lord Deighton, who was previously chief executive of London 2012, responsible for building infrastructure for the Olympic Games, said:

“Like the Olympics, HS2 has the potential to be a great British success story, bringing jobs and growth to the whole country. Our report sets out the common sense steps that we need to take now to achieve this.”

Manchester City Council CEO Sir Howard Bernstein said:

“HS2 is not just a railway. It is the opportunity to re-balance Britain and kick-start regeneration in my city and others across the Midlands and the north of England. It is imperative that we work together to do all we possibly can to get the country ready.”

The report also recommends that stations are designed to accommodate potential expansion, an idea particularly welcomed by the Institution of Civil Engineers.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) also put its weight behind the report. Director for business environment Nicola Walker said:

“HS2 offers an opportunity to regenerate local economies, provide jobs and boost growth across communities in the UK.  Government, local authorities and businesses must work together to ensure the potential of this project is realised.

“Lord Deighton’s taskforce rightly challenges local areas to get their HS2 growth strategies in place. It is essential these plans complement and enhance other local initiatives, such as the Local Enterprise Partnerships’ Strategic Economic Plans and Local Authorities’ development plans.

“A highly skilled workforce will be critical to delivering HS2 and we welcome the taskforce’s call to put in place measures to make this a priority.”

Jeremy Blackburn, head of policy at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, said:

“The report is exactly what RICS has been calling for. It accurately explains the economic growth benefits of HS2, which go beyond the arguments around transport capacity, emissions reduction and shorter journeys.

“More than any other project, HS2 has the potential to redress the imbalance between North and South that has characterised the UK economy for decades. Its size and scope are visionary. And that’s why we have to get it right. High speed rail should be used to support economic growth by linking major economic centres, driving office, commercial and industrial property based growth in Northern and Midland cities. Without high-speed connections international, and indeed domestic, companies simply won’t look north of London, making HS2 vital to increased investment in the regions and improving regional competitiveness.

“It’s very symbolic that the budget was bookended by both the Higgins report on managing costs and delivery, and the Deighton report on using HS2 to drive economic growth. It’s good to see this sustained political support and explanation.”

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