1. Chinese win race to print houses as 10 produced in a day
The Shanghai WinSun Decoration Design Engineering Co has released images of a its new type of printed house, of which it made 10 in a day. Read more…
2. Construction begins on world’s tallest timber framed building
Finance for “Treet”, or The Tree, a 14-storey, 49m high structure in Bergen, Norway, got bank approval in April after Bergen and Omegn Building Society (BOB) announced it had sold half of the 62 apartments in its pioneering £22m project. Read more…
3. 33 contractors set to receive BeFair accreditation
At least 33 contractors will be awarded with a new standard due to be launched in the second week of June that demonstrates that they treat their staff, job applicants and their supply chain fairly. Read more…
4. Payment charter needs strict referee and red card system
The success of the new Supply Chain Payment Charter announced in April by the Construction Leadership Council rests on how well it is enforced, says Rudi Klein, chief executive of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group. Read more…
5. CIOB to press for reform on Qatar immigrant workforce
The CIOB has confirmed that its 2014 Members’ Forum and annual conference is to be held in the Gulf state of Qatar, putting the CIOB at the heart of efforts to drive forward reform on workers’ welfare in the World Cup 2022 host country. Read more…
6. Industry cautious on DECC’s ambitious solar strategy
A government strategy to boost the uptake of solar panels on commercial properties has been welcomed – but with the proviso that it is supported by an effective Feed-in-Tariff (FIT), changes to planning policy and other measures. Read more…
7. Drone takes to the skies on Costain project
An unmanned flying drone has been recruited to the surveying team by a Costain-led joint venture working in a £130m road expansion scheme in Northern Ireland to shoot detailed footage of the route. Read more…
8. CDM 2015 consultation: clarification and industry reaction
New proposals have broken with the CDM 2007 system that links notification of projects to the HSE via F10 notices with the CDM requirements. Read more…
9. Balfour Beatty MCIOBs to form new training squad
Balfour Beatty is planning to recruit members of its staff who have MCIOB status to become in-house assessors as part of its drive to upskill its workforce. The move comes on the back of a £4.4m government training grant which has also helped the UK’s largest contractor set up a new training academy. Read more…
10. Solar cell coating set to outperform PV panels
A thin film solar cell coating for glass could soon achieve over 20% efficiency, enabling it to compete directly with regular silicon-based solar PV panels, its inventor Oxford Photovoltaics has claimed. Read more…
Top in Management
CDMCs have got their work cut out
Richard Thorne MCIOB outlines the key changes in the forthcoming revisions to the CDM regulations and the implications of cutting out CDM Coodinators. Read more…
Top in Agenda
London’s towers are the height of fashion
Hundreds of towers of more than 20 storeys are being planned for London. Elaine Knutt investigates why height is a growing trend and what the impact will be for the capital and contractors. Read more…
Top in International
Affordable prefabs come to London
The YMCA in London has teamed up with architect Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners to develop a solution to London’s acute housing shortage using prefabricated residential pods, reports Rod Sweet. Read more…
Top in Comment
Three routes to procurement nirvana
Vaughan Burnand MCIOB outlines the new approaches to be ‘encouraged’ by the Cabinet Office. Read more…
