Eleanor Eaton is managing director at health and safety consultancy CQMS Ltd As the construction industry faces ever-growing demands and pressures, the mental health of its workers is a rising concern. Health and safety procedures – typically focused on preventing physical injury – are critically linked to safeguarding the mental…
Author Archives: Contributor
Post-Grenfell we need less contract trading and more regulation
Stuart Green is a professor in the School of Construction Management and Engineering at the University of Reading The phase two report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry offers little comfort for those who work in construction. The report also highlights systemic failings on the part of the state, not least…
Before making a jurisdiction argument in court, assess the possible outcomes
Alex Delin is a construction partner at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors The Technology and Construction Court (TCC) has released a decision, Bell Building Ltd v TClarke Contracting Ltd [2024] EWHC 1929 TCC, concerning the supply and installation of sub and superstructure works (subcontract works). The works were carried out by Bell…
Two-year-old Henry tower needs ‘extensive’ remediation
A south London skyscraper built by collapsed contractor Henry needs “extensive” remediation work to fix a leaking roof, only two years after completion. Henry Construction completed The Fold, a 35-storey residential tower in Croydon, in July 2022, a year before it collapsed into administration. The building contains 251 flats and…
New or renew? The global debate on building reuse
Last month, the global construction community gathered at The Barbican Centre in London for the 2024 Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) International Conference to address a key question – should we continue to build new buildings, or should we focus on renewing the ones we already have?…
How contractors can realise the value of soil
Marc Perry (pictured above left) is principal geoenvironmental engineer and Tom Henman is sustainability director at RSK Geosciences Soil is an undervalued and finite resource. At government level, its importance is somewhat understood and recognised alongside the benefits of carbon reduction, waste reduction and the delivery of biodiversity net gain…
Build UK publishes ISG FAQs for suppliers
Suppliers impacted by the collapse of ISG have been warned by Build UK that they are unlikely to be paid. It has published a four-page document of frequently asked questions for suppliers affected by ISG’s collapse. The guidance, which was written with law firm Wedlake Bell and the Construction Leadership…
Contractors need to prepare for employment law changes
Emma McGrath is a professional support solicitor at Citation The Labour government hasn’t wasted any time in taking action on its manifesto pledge to “make work pay”. It has promised to introduce the Employment Rights Bill to parliament within its first 100 days, so before mid-October 2024, but it will…
What’s next for gender equality now Women into Construction has gone?
Beth Bundonis is regional managing director for the East Midlands at Lovell Last month’s news of the closure of Women into Construction was met with understandable dismay across the sector. Over 16 years, the organisation championed gender equality in our industry. It leaves a massive gap, and we’ll now need…
The data-centre market is heating up – but can we keep up with demand?
Alister Grey is managing director of technology and manufacturing at Mace Construct When we think about the cloud, generative artificial intelligence or 5G, we think of abstract things in a digital world. We don’t think of the huge physical infrastructure required to support them. “The demand for data centres exceeded…