Welcome to the PBC Today August 2018 edition. In this issue, we have everything from industry reaction to the Hackitt Review and former housing minister Nick Raynsford’s review of planning to the Centre for Digital Built Britain’s new BIM benefits methodology, the reform of retentions in the wake of Carillion’s collapse and what ‘placemaking’ really means in a project
In our cover story, Paul Wilkins, chair of the Association of Consultant Approved Inspectors, argues that while Dame Judith Hackitt’s review of Building Regulations and fire safety got a lot right, its recommendations on the role of approved inspectors will only complicate the system.
We also have contributions from organisations as diverse as the Centre for Digital Built Britain, the University of Wolverhampton’s Brownfield Research & Innovation Centre, Essex County Council, Enterprise Ireland, Bentley Systems and international law firm Osborne Clarke.
In addition, we have a new video content feature, Site Showreel, showcasing some intriguing projects, from Tottenham Hotspur’s new sliding pitch to Europe’s first Hyperloop test track.
Here’s a selection of what’s on offer:
The Hackitt Review made a number of recommendations that will improve safety throughout the lifetime of a building. However, argues Paul Wilkins, it got it wrong on the role of private approved inspectors.
BIM is championed as the key to leveraging whole-life value to construction projects but how can those benefits be measured? Terry Stocks, head of the UK BIM L2 Programme for the Centre for Digital Built Britain, takes an overview of the recently published BIM Benefits Methodology and Report.
Could the Raynsford Review of Planning, which published its interim findings in June, give England’s much-maligned system an overhaul that everyone can get behind? Gary Stephens of planning consultancy Marrons Planning takes a look.
The Brownfield Research & Innovation Centre will bring together specialist research, detailed data and academic expertise to support the redevelopment of previously used land with capacity for thousands of much-needed new homes. Professor Mohammed Arif of the University of Wolverhampton discusses its development.
Placemaking is central to contemporary planning ethos – but what does it really mean for a physical project? David Edwards takes a look.
A 10-year plan to regenerate Stromness in Orkney was the overall winner of the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Planning for Excellence Awards and can show the way forward for planning and transforming communities across the UK, says the institute’s director of Scotland and Ireland, Craig McLaren.
In the wake of Carillion’s collapse, a new Private Members’ Bill aims to protect retention money set aside in construction contracts. Jonathan Hyndman of law firm Rosling King discusses the need for reform.
With Essex experiencing significant growth, the county’s councils have collaborated with housebuilders and developers to create a Planning Protocol that will support the delivery of more affordable, quality housing. Alethea Evans, principal planning consultant at Place Services at Essex County Council, explains how it came about.
Alexandra Luck, a chartered engineer and member of the Register of Security Engineers & Specialists, argues there needs to be a much greater understanding of the security implications of an increasingly connected supply chain and built environment.
Enterprise Ireland’s John Hunt tells PBC Today that digital transformation is the key to improving productivity and cutting waste in construction – and discusses how BIM technology is opening the door for many SMEs to compete on a larger stage.
