The UK Construction Blog

Architects can expect much work in east London after Boris Johnson announced 10,000 new homes will be built on the Greenwich Peninsula.

The mayor revealed the ambition following an agreement with secretary of state Eric Pickles and the Homes and Communities Agency to facilitate the next phase of development, which includes 1,350 homes by the end of 2015 delivered by developer Lend Lease.

Johnson said: “This latest phase of regeneration will seal its future as a thriving, well-connected new district, combining vibrant new residential areas and fantastic leisure facilities.”

Progress on a number of other key sites in the capital was also announced, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Tower Hamlets. Housing association Family Mosaic won a competition for the project where 180 homes are planned following the demolition of the hospital. Family Mosaic’s team beat a bid from developer Igloo and Ash Sakula which would have retained the building.

And in Southwark an Ojeu competition will be launched to find a developer for the Newington site in Elephant & Castle, which will include a 43-storey tower and 470 homes.

The news follows last week’s announcement that a new road tunnel between Greenwich Peninsula and Silvertown in the Royal Docks will be built.

Numbers of female architects working for UK practices has fallen 7% since 2009.

The RIBA Future Trends Survey reported 21% of architectural staff in December 2011 were female, compared to 28% in January 2009.

Architects also reported a decrease in confidence over future workloads for December 2011.

The RIBA’s monthly workload index for last month stands at -11, down from -4 in November.

Practices in the south-east of England and in London showed the most optimism about future demand for services, while those in Northern Ireland are the most pessimistic.

The private housing sector shows the most promise for future workloads but public sector and community work remains under pressure.

Adrian Dobson, RIBA director of practice, said: “Our respondents and practices continue to report intense fee competition, restrictions in bank lending and uncertainty over the general economic outlook as their main challenges.

“Of ongoing concern is the disproportionate impact of the recession on employment levels for women working in architecture. The RIBA remains committed to addressing these inequalities through initiatives including the Architects for Change and Women in Architecture groups”

The number of architects in GB on the dole has fallen to the lowest level since July 2011.

According to figures released today the number of architects receiving jobseekers allowance in December 2011 was 905, compared to a 12-month high of 1,035 in August 2011.

The figures show that overall 2011 was a better year for architects than 2010, which ended with 1,010 architects claiming a jobseekers allowance.

The latest data from the Office of National Statistics shows that the number of architects in full-time employment is 25,000, with another 17,000 in full-time self-employment. Overall, there are 45,000 architects working in the UK.

The long drawn out saga of Liverpool’s plans to build a new stadium are back on again with the Premiership club’s US owners believed to be looking at plans first drawn up nine years ago.

Their owners, Fenway Sports Group has been working with specialist Manchester practice AFL on a brand new ground for the club in the city’s Stanley Park next door to the club’s current Anfield home.

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, the news will mean that futuristic designs (pictured) unveiled by US firm HKS in 2006 will now be scrapped for good. The £400 million plans were already in limbo after the previous Liverpool board said they were too expensive.

AFL, which declined to comment, first drew up plans for a new stadium in the early 2000s. These were put forward for planning in 2003 and given the all-clear a year later.

The new plans are dependent on the club raising the £300 million required to build the 60,000-seat ground, with at least half of this required before construction can begin.

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The government must respond positively to the National Planning Policy Framework if the house building industry is to improve in 2012.

This is according to director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders Brian Berry, who claimed it could be some time until the UK starts to feel the positive effects of the initiative.

He explained that the coalition is due to respond to planning proposals in March, although it could take until the second half of the year for the economy to see any improvement as a result of this.

“Definitely with the first six months, we are not very optimistic – and that depends on the government sticking to the original proposals,” Mr Berry continued.

The expert added that the current difficulties many people face when trying to obtain a mortgage means confidence in the housing market is at a low.

At the beginning of the month, the Construction Products Association predicted workload within the construction sector will decline by around five per cent in 2012, with a recovery not expected until 2014.

Planners at the London Thames Gateway have recommended that a regeneration project at Canning Town and Custom House is given detailed approval, the Construction Enquirer have reported.

Phase one of the huge development includes 179 residential units of private and affordable housing, retail units and a Morrisons supermarket, which will cover over 70,000 ft². Bouygues Development is hoping to start work on site in the first quarter of 2012.

The development is part of a wider Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Project, a £3.7bn project which aims to transform the borough in the next 15 years.

The fate of the scheme will be decided on 16th January, before going to the Mayor of London to be approved.

The role of bathrooms in British households is changing, it has been asserted.

Lesley Taylor, interior designer and design director at Taylor’s Etc, said this room will “never return to its purely practical existence”.

It is now “even more apparent” than it used to be that the function of this space has evolved, with it now utilised as a retreat following a hard day.

Renovation and self build schemes are putting more effort into ensuring the location has “the highest level of aesthetic appreciation”, she remarked, suggesting people intend for the area to bring them comfort and solitude.

Although previously the functionality of this room took precedent over style, nowadays these two elements are working together “in harmony”, the designer continued.

Hi-tech fittings are also increasingly commonplace in this space, such as Jacuzzis and top-range showers or baths, interior design specialist George Bond recently claimed.

Ms Taylor argued people currently intend to have a bathroom that looks attractive and fulfils all of their needs and desires while bathing.