In March, HSE launched a new campaign, ‘Asbestos and You’, to remind people working in construction trades to manage the risks they face. Despite it being banned in the building industry since 1999, figures show that 5,000 people a year still die from asbestos-related diseases. It didn’t disappear when it was banned in the UK, […]
The UK Government has confirmed developers must achieve 10% biodiversity net-gain at all large domestic, commercial and mixed-use sites from this November 2023, as reported in edie. It has, however, delayed the implementation of this mandate for smaller sites. Ensuring biodiversity net-gain at all developments was a key facet of the Environment Bill, which received […]
An innovative low-carbon asphalt is in use for the first time in work to resurface the A30 Cutteridge to Alphington near Exeter in Devon. The work is taking place as part of Hanson Contracting’s pavement framework agreement with National Highways. It is the first time Hanson has run a trial of its CarbonLock asphalt, which […]
Road-building projects across Wales have been halted as part of a ground-breaking policy. It assessed more than 50 schemes against a series of tests on their impact on the climate emergency. The planned third Menai bridge will no longer go ahead. Nor will the controversial “red route” in Flintshire. The move is part of the […]
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has published a toolkit to enable the construction industry to accelerate the shift from a linear to a regenerative, circular economy. Published in January this year, the toolkit is called ‘System Enablers for a Circular Economy’. It highlights systemic barriers and the policy and market-based solutions to enable the built […]
The Wildlife Trusts have released a report detailing ‘fundamental flaws’ in nature assessments by HS2. The revelation was in the environmental journal in February. The report says HS2 undervalued natural habitats. Plus, it says the company underestimated the impact the railway’s construction will have on biodiversity. What’s more, HS2 also missed watercourses, ponds and trees […]
TfL has launched a scrappage scheme to support the replacement or retro‐fitting of non‐compliant vehicles. This comes ahead of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) being expanded across all London boroughs from 29 August 2023. Micro‐businesses can apply for grants of up to £9,500 to replace vehicles not meeting the ULEZ standard. The scheme, launched […]
Safety Groups UK (SGUK) is making arrangements for the 2023 SGUK Awards. This follows the successful awards process and judging in 2022. The awards are open to entries from 1st February 2023, with a closing date of 31st May 2023. The provisional date for the awards ceremony is Tuesday, 19th September 2023. About the Safety Groups […]
The 10th Edition of the ‘fire code’, Fire Prevention on Construction Sites, launched in 2022. Now, there is a revised version incorporating Amendment 1. As well as the main amendments, the Working Party has also taken the opportunity to incorporate a number of minor textual changes throughout the document. The objective of the fire code […]
A construction company received a fine of £146k after a 20-tonne excavator crushed and killed a joiner. Philip McDonald was working with Birch Brothers (Kidderminster) Ltd. The project involved the construction of a concrete overflow weir structure at Monks Pond, near Ashbourne in Derbyshire. The 48-year-old, from Alfreton, was with colleagues on a road above […]