Builder breaks back in fall from work platform
A building contractor and roofing specialist have been fined after an employee fell five metres from a first-floor extension breaking several vertebrae in his lower back.
Liverpool Magistrates Court heard that on 11 June 2018, Grayton Building Contractors Ltd was undertaking a first-floor extension to a residential bungalow in Aughton.
An employee was fitting fascia boards and soffits to allow roofers employed by Thomas Dean, who had arrived on site a week early, to commence work.
While stepping across a gap in the incomplete working platform to descend from the roof, the ladder, which was not tied, slipped sideways, causing him to fall. As a result of his injuries he was unable to work for eight weeks.
An HSE investigation found that both Grayton Building Contractors Ltd and the roofing contractor Thomas Dean failed to properly plan the work, to assess the risks and to provide appropriate supervision. Subsequently the work at height equipment selected was not suitable and the work was not carried out safely.
Grayton Building Contractors Ltd of Southport pleaded guilty to safety breaches and was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,742
Thomas Dean of Merseyside also pleaded guilty and was fined £400 and ordered to pay costs of £3,000.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Andy McGrory said: “The risks from working at height are well known. Those in control of the work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working, which should include ensuring the use of suitable work equipment and adequate supervision.
“The incident could have easily been prevented with simple precautions including properly planning the work, undertaking a suitable risk assessment and by selecting, erecting and using suitable work at height equipment for the job.”
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Barratt ramps up MMC homes target to 30% by 2025
Britain’s biggest house builder is raising its target to build homes using modern methods of construction to 30% by 2025.
The firm previously targeted one in four homes using MMC by 2025 but delivered this early this year following the roll out a series of new housing types to allow a switch to greater use of offsite production and standardised product use.
Its success in switching to greater offsite production was revealed as it reported construction activity returned to near normal production in strong end-of-year results.
Over the year to June 2021, home completions returned to 17,243, just 3% down on 2019 levels and 37% higher than the 2020 shutdown impacted total.
This saw revenue return to £4.8bn, delivering a £812m pre-tax profit, 11% down on 2019.
David Thomas, chief executive of Barratt, said that during the year Barratt delivered 4,393 homes using MMC, equating to 25% of its total home completions (2020: 2,652 homes and 21% of total home completions).
“MMC provides opportunities to address the skills shortage facing the industry, diversify the types of materials we use and build with greater speed and efficiency.
“We will accelerate our roll out of MMC to deliver 30% of completions from MMC by 2025.
He said Barratt had now applied one or more MMC solutions to over 100 sites giving it confidence it could gear up to accelerate the rollout in the face of building costs expected to rise by 5% this year.
“This accumulation of knowledge and experience has allowed us to define the criteria needed to unlock the benefits of MMC and deliver a successful site in terms of build efficiency and sales.”
Thomas added: “As a result, we are now able to use MMC on the right sites to compete with traditional brick and block construction, mainly due to the time savings we have been able to obtain.”
Units delivered using MMC used during the year.
MMCFY21FY20Timber frame3,0032,031Roof cassettes696269Offsite ground floors360143Large format block334209Total4,3932,652Percentage of completions25%21%He added that timber frame homes were a key aspect of Barratt’s MMC and carbon reduction strategy.
Barratt aims to lift timber frame production after buying offsite specialist Oregon in 2019
“We recognise that there remains more research to be done in exploring the advantages of MMC, in terms of design, construction, and use through the whole life of a building.
“We recognise it is critical that the whole sector takes on MMC and delivers robust solutions, and the importance of knowledge sharing.”
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Surging demand sees JCB “sold out until next year”
JCB said most of its products are now sold out until next year as demand hits historic highs.
The machinery giant is recruiting another 100 new welders for its Staffordshire factories in a bid to keep up with orders.
So far this year JCB has recruited 1,350 new shop floor employees and handed permanent contracts to 1,000 agency employees.
The firm said “demand for JCB machines has reached historic highs with most products now sold out until next year.”
Mark Turner, JCB Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are delighted to be building on that success with the creation of 100 permanent new welders’ jobs.
“We offer some of the best conditions and pay rates in the region and with opportunities for nightshift work and overtime, this is great news for welders in the area looking to join a successful global company.”
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Vistry bags share of £5.2bn affordable homes funding – list
Homes England has selected its 31 new strategic partners to deliver grant-funded affordable homes over the next five years.
Under the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26, Homes England is committing almost £5.2bn in affordable housing grant to 31 strategic partnerships.
Vistry is one of the new private sector partners bagging £83m to build nearly 1,500 affordable homes. Retirement specialist McCarthy & Stone and new modular housing entrant Legal and General are also among the new faces securing direct funding.
Homes England’s strategic partners will deliver nearly 90,000 grant-funded affordable homes across the country. London has decided its own extra £3.46bn funding allocations focused on councils and housing associations to deliver nearly 30,000 affordable homes over the next five years.
It is the first time that councils and for-profit providers have been able to access strategic partnership funding after a change to the rules that previously allowed only housing associations to apply.
Homes England Affordable Homes Programme grantsOrganisationGrant fundingNumber of homesAbri£250m3,218Accent£210m3,305Aster£114m1,550Bromford£240m4,000Clarion£250m4,770Curo & Swan£160m2,425EMH & Midland Heart£172m3,551Flagship£93m1,500Great Places£241m4,920Greensquare Accord£213m3,755Guinness & Stonewater£250m4,180Hyde£250m3,000Karbon£132m2,200Legal & General£126m2,121LiveWest£124m2,550Longhurst & NCHA£230m3,935McCarthy and Stone£94m1,500Metropolitan Thames Valley£623m1,500Onward£152.m3,208Orbit£104m1,500Places for People£250m4,403Platform£250m4,680Riverside£81m1,530Sage£74m1,750Sanctuary£100m2,000Sovereign£167m3,338Thirteen£191m3,270Together£250m4,047Torus£140m2,736Vistry£83m1,474Vivid£106m1,550
Peter Denton, chief executive officer at Homes England, said: “These strategic partnerships give our new partners the funding, flexibility, and confidence they need to build much needed affordable homes across the country, it also establishes a large network of organisations looking to share their skills and capabilities to expand the affordable housing sector and transform communities.
“By forming strategic partnerships with a wide range of public and private organisations, we are creating the conditions needed for institutional investment to catalyse affordable housing supply and in future give local authorities more of the tools they need to plan and act strategically, shaping their communities and building new homes.”
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KPMG facing formal complaint over Carillion audit
Accountant KPMG is facing allegations of providing “false and misleading information” during audits of collapsed contractor Carillion
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has delivered a disciplinary Formal Complaint against KPMG LLP, a former KPMG partner and certain current and former KPMG employees.
The FRC’s investigation was opened in November 2018 after KPMG had self-reported certain matters relating to the review of the 2016 Carillion audit.
A Disciplinary Tribunal has been convened to hear the Formal Complaint and determine whether or not the respondents have committed misconduct.
The hearing is scheduled to commence on 10 January 2022.
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Wernick buys Danzer to boost site cabin production
Modular specialist Wernick has bought smaller Manchester-based rival AVDanzer to boost production of site cabins in the face of rising demand from contractors.
The new acquisition means that Wernick will add additional manufacturing capabilities and increase its fleet with more than 2,000 cabins and modular bays.
AVDanzer, also known as Danzer, supplies major infrastructure and development projects including the London Power Tunnels Project and the nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset.
Following the acquisition, Danzer will continue to operate as usual from its sites in Manchester and Langley Mill.
Danzer 60-unit welfare complex for Barking Riverside development
The manufacturing of anti-vandal steel that is currently based at Langley Mill will continue trading as AVDanzer. But its Brentwood depot will merge and become a part of Wernick’s depots in Essex and Kent.
Wernick’s Group Chairman, David Wernick, said: “We have strong admiration for Danzer’s manufacturing capability and products, and after initial discussion it quickly became apparent that both family-owned businesses share the same values of excellent customer service, outstanding product quality, focus on safety, and keeping things simple.”
McAvoy names head of strategic development
Offsite construction specialist McAvoy Group has appointed Neil Stanley as head of strategic development to expand the business.
He brings 35 years’ experience in construction, having worked with a variety of clients, consultants and contractors.
Most recently his roles included director positions with London and south east fit-out firms, Camino Interiors and Square Metre.
Stanley will focus on supporting McAvoy’s growth strategy in its targetted healthcare, education and commercial markets.
Stanley said: “I join McAvoy at an exciting time for the business – I look forward to working with the management team to deliver an ambitious growth strategy with a focus on leading innovation in MMC and supporting Carbon Net Zero targets.”
Last month McAvoy Group reported a return to profit in the first six months to April 2021 after a 30% revenue uplift in the first half to £24m.
The McAvoy Group has secured all its budget revenues for 2022 and significant progress has been made in securing forecast revenues for 2023.
The business recently secured new education projects totaling £39m to be delivered for the Department for Education, including one of the UK’s first low carbon school buildings.
The £23.7m Merstham Park secondary school in Redhill, Surrey forms one of the DfE’s Pathfinder Low Carbon projects.
£3.46bn London affordable housing grant awards – list
The London Mayor has secured £3.46bn to deliver 29,456 homes with councils and housing associations in first round of bidding for a new five-year affordable homes programme.
This latest grant bidding round cements the council housing comeback in London, with more than four in 10 of the homes being built by councils, totalling 12,024 homes.
More than half of the social rented homes will be built by councils, and 57% of all homes will be for social rent.
A further £5.2bn was announced by the Government today for affordable homes to be delivered outside London by Homes England, but details have yet to be released.
The Mayor’s new 2021-26 programme – running alongside the extended 2016-23 programme – will see 79,000 new homes started over the next five years.
Affordable homes programme 2021-26 allocationsOrganisationTotal
HomesSocial Rent
HomesAHP
FundingHavering395161£35.2 mEstuary Housing Association3016£1.3 mRichmond Housing Partnership13180£13.9 mCity of Westminster Council230106£24.1 mParagon Asra Housing1,455930£181.7 mHammersmith and Fulham394186£32.3 mPoplar HARCA227145£21.2 mA2Dominion Homes500300£56.0 mBarnet217105£23.5 mPlaces for People Homes4444£4.0 mEaling1,032561£109.6 mHarrow – Housing411219£44.4 mThe Guinness Partnership300150£32.7 mTBG Open Door Homes4810£3.8 mNewlon Housing Trust12080£15.8 mBromley535535£38.0 mOptivo1,500825£180.8 mWandsworth289138£23.4 mHyde Housing Association1,476590£163.8 mLewisham456285£70.0 mCroydon Churches Housing Association12050£12.5 mKingston upon Thames105105£13.1 mCity of London200150£16.5 mSouthern Housing Group300100£33.5 mLondon Legacy Development Corporation825149£67.7 mBrent701701£111.7 mCamden569569£86.6 mOne Housing Group386252£41.7 mHexagon Housing Association18090£24.9 mRiverside Housing Association15190£18.8 mPhoenix Community HA7348£10.0 mLambeth311212£28.2 mHounslow540540£93.2 mGreenwich230230£38.1 mLondon & Quadrant539154£55.1 mCromwood Housing7575£11.3 mNewham550500£91.7 mSutton6554£10.1 mWaltham Forest7777£15.4 mHackney100100£17.5 mHaringey647647£127.5 mBarking and Dagenham1,757573£171.0 mEnfield1,119824£166.6 mTower Hamlets194194£32.0 mMetropolitan Housing Trust1,035538£128.8 mCatalyst Housing1,000535£118.9 mNetwork Homes1,000500£122.5 mNotting Hill Genesis1,265577£126.8 mOctavia Housing450225£55.1 mReSI Homes1,250£56.3 mClarion Housing Group2,0001,250£240.0 mSouthwark852664£126.5 mPeabody Trust1,000500£120.0 mTotal29,45616,739£3.46bn
In total, almost six in ten of the homes (16,739 homes) funded by the first round of this affordable homes programme will be made available at the cheapest social rent.
The remainder will be for shared ownership and London Living Rent which can help Londoners on average incomes move into homeownership.
The Mayor has set ambitious targets for London to be a zero-carbon city by 2030 and expects homes built with funding announced today to be environmentally sustainable.
New standards introduced in the Mayor’s New London Plan include requirements for all developments of ten or more homes to be net zero-carbon and to incorporate sustainable urban green spaces.
Housing providers building homes funded by the new AHP will also have to meet new conditions on building safety and design.
HP funding project conditions
1. The installation of sprinklers or other fire suppression systems in new blocks of flats
2. A ban on combustible materials being used in external walls for all residential development, regardless of height
3. Minimum floor-to-ceiling heights and a requirement for private outdoor space
4. A ‘sunlight clause’ requiring all homes with three or more bedrooms to be dual aspect, any single aspect one- or two-bedroom homes to not be north-facing and at least one room to have direct sunlight for at least part of the day
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I am delighted that we have been able to come to a deal with the Government to get started on nearly 30,000 genuinely affordable homes.
“Today’s funding is good news but I know we can still go further, faster, working with ministers, housing associations and councils to deliver more of the homes Londoners so desperately need.”
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