Welcome to PBC Today May 2024. In this issue, we look at a report calling for action now to meet the housing needs of 2040, efforts to develop crucial housebuilding skills, the state of office and MMC, and much, much more
In our cover story, Dan Usher of design, planning and development consultancy Marrons discusses the Housing 2040 report, which has used ONS census data and population projections to build a national and regional picture of England’s future housing need.
Juliet Smithson, head of employer engagement and delivery in England at the Construction Industry Training Board, looks at how it has helped to shape the Homebuilding Sector Skills Plan, as well as leading regional engagement teams to ensure that employers are aware of, and engaged with, CITB’s Levy-funded products and services.
Elsewhere, Alison Ogley of law firm Freeths explores the High Court’s ruling to quash secretary of state Michael Gove’s decision to block the proposed redevelopment of Marks & Spencer’s flagship store on Oxford St, London, calling it a “tour de force” of planning law principles.
Prof Adam Boddison of the Association of Project Management argues that social value must be “baked in” to infrastructure projects; Nathan Hooper of Hollis examines the new landscape of building safety regulations; and Magdalena Arent of architect Holmes Miller makes the case for putting neurodiversity-friendly design into practice in the built environment.
Hugh Simpson, chief executive and registrar of the Architects Registration Board, discusses the revision of the Architects Code of Conduct & Practice to ensure it continues to hold the profession to the highest standards of integrity.
There’s much more besides, across our Planning & Development, BIM & Digital and MMC & Offsite sections.
Here’s a selection of articles from this edition:
1. No time to waste: Meeting the housing stock needs of 2040
By 2040, England’s 16+ population is set to grow by 6% and the country is estimated to have lost at least an additional 385,800 social homes.
Dan Usher, economics director at Marrons, discusses why short-termism in politics and NIMBYism need to be put aside to ensure the housing stock needs of the country’s future inhabitants are met.
2. Homebuilding Sector Skills Plan paves the way for a flourishing future
Juliet Smithson is the head of employer engagement and delivery in England at the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
Juliet directs CITB’s work to shape the Homebuilding Sector Skills Plan, as well as leading regional engagement teams to ensure that employers are aware of, and engaged with, CITB’s Levy-funded products and services.
3. Marks & Spencer, the minister and a “tour de force” of planning law principles
The Marks & Spencer planning row proves that politicians do not have carte blanche to ignore planning law principles, says Alison Ogley, planning and environment partner at national law firm Freeths.
4. Baked in or bolted on? Social value in infrastructure projects
Prof Adam Boddison OBE of the Association for Project Management on why social value needs to be built into infrastructure projects from the outset, amid increasing risk of it becoming window dressing.
5. Neurodiversity-friendly design: Creating spaces where everyone can flourish
How do we put the conversation around neurodiversity-friendly design into practice? Magdalena Arent, building performance consultant at Holmes Miller, says architects must drive good design and ensure the built environment is more accommodating and welcoming to neurodivergent individuals.
6. Supply Chain Engagement Toolkit: Driving innovation in the construction sector
Leeds Beckett University is working with public procurement framework YORhub to create a Supply Chain Engagement Toolkit to drive innovation and boost opportunity for small businesses.
7. Addressing the urgent need for sustainable coastal management in the UK
A new report conducted by Aggregate Industries has laid bare the true cost and impact that coastal erosion is going to have on the UK. Aggregates Division managing director Lee Sleight examines the findings.
8. Upholding excellence: The Architects Code of Conduct & Practice
Hugh Simpson, chief executive and registrar of the Architects Registration Board, discusses the revision of the Architects Code of Conduct & Practice to ensure it continues to hold the profession to the highest standards of integrity.
9. What’s wrong with UK construction?
A roundtable discussion with business leaders from across the UK offsite sector was recently hosted by networking facilitator Anna Whiting and chaired by reputation management specialist Joanne Bridges to look at some of the key issues and drivers for change in the modular sector and the wider construction industry.
10. Building the future: Using AI in structural engineering
With the recent news of the Chancellor doubling funding for the UK’s AI sector, many businesses will be pausing to consider how they can harness the tool to improve processes within the structural engineering sector.
