In today’s news, we will look into whether the labour available in the British construction industry is insufficient to achieve home-building ambitions. Meanwhile, the price tag for constructing the HS2 railway station at London Euston has nearly doubled to £4.8 billion, and it will be completed 16 years after it was originally scheduled. On the other hand, in response to rising construction site safety concerns, the Waverley school has been awarded funds for lollipop crossing patrols.
British construction workforce insufficient to satisfy home-building targets
Original Source: British construction workforce too small to meet home-building targets
A survey cautioned that the government’s goal of building 300,000 homes a year and modernising the UK’s housing stock will require roughly a million more construction workers without approach improvements.
According to a Make UK Modular research, the UK’s construction industry would need to increase its labour force or adapt its building processes to reach the government’s 300,000 new home objective.
The organisation determined that the workforce is not large enough to meet housing demand, replace retiring workers, and convert homes for net zero.
The COVID-19 pandemic reduced net additional houses from 242,700 in 2019-20 to 216,490 in 2020-21.
The traditional housebuilding sector requires 137,000 extra workers to reach the 300,000 new dwellings objective by 2030, triple the current rate, according to the analysis. The manufacturers’ organisation reported that only 11,000 construction apprentices graduated last year, and the majority did not work in housebuilding.
360,000 construction employees will retire by 2030, requiring new labour. Remediating dangerous cladding on high-rise structures nationwide will take 24,000 workers, while upgrading households to meet the government’s net zero targets will require 220,000 workers by 2030.
To meet these demands, the construction industry must recruit 950,000 workers by 2030.
Make Britain Modular said that this labour shortfall cost construction £2.6bn and housebuilding £263m in 2022. The research also cited “cumbersome” planning laws, a lack of funding, and a shortage of competent labour.
Make UK Modular needs government support for low-energy modular homes to fulfil their goals.
“To solve the issue of labour shortages which is now at critical point, the government must encourage modular to grow at speed and take advantage of the fact that modular can build homes rapidly but also homes which are efficient to heat and run,” said Steve Cole, Make UK Modular director.
“Dedicating a large piece of the affordable housing plan to modular would not cost any extra money, but it would help drive way faster growth in the industry and mean modular factories could function at optimum productivity to produce the homes Britain so sorely needs.”
The organisation claims modular homes are 40% more productive than traditional structures and require 50% less labour from a different pool.
HS2 London Euston station costs £4.8BN and will be 16 years late
Original Source: Cost of building HS2 railway station at London Euston soars to nearly double at £4.8BN… and it will be 16 years late
2020 planned £2.6bn for 10-platform London terminal.
This has increased by £2.2bn to £4.8bn, and Euston HS2 will open in 2041.
Today’s analysis indicated that the troublesome London Euston High Speed Two train station’s cost had nearly doubled to £4.8billion.
HS2 Ltd’s April 2020 budget for the 10-platform London terminus was £2.6billion, however it has now increased by £2.2billion.
In October 2021, Euston was revised to have ten platforms instead of 11 and be built in one stage.
The National Audit Office has decided that ‘the 2020 reset of the station design has not succeeded’ and that current high inflation has also produced concerns.
Yesterday, Michael Gove said he didn’t know where HS2 will end in London, therefore he couldn’t guarantee Euston.
The Levelling-Up Secretary said there was a “discussion” regarding whether it should be Euston or Old Oak Common, a new £1.7billion 14-platform station planned for Acton.
HS2 will shorten London-Birmingham travel to 52 minutes, although it won’t reach Euston until 2041, instead of 2026.
Euston’s approaches and land purchases have cost £1.5billion. HS2 costs £100billion.
Phase One (London to Birmingham) costs £44.6billion, 2a costs £7.2billion, and 2b costs TBC (Crewe to Manchester).
The delays are worse than Crossrail’s, which was supposed to open in 2017 but won’t until May and is £4 billion over budget.
Today, the NAO warned that HS2 delays will increase expenses.
A near-50-page assessment on the Euston section of the delayed high-speed line found that a 2020 “reset” had “not succeeded”.
The Government confirmed earlier this month that it will prioritise HS2 services between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street by 2033 to minimise expenses.
The Government also delayed HS2’s Birmingham-Crewe portion by two years.
Due to excessive inflation, services will no longer stop at Euston for years, forcing customers to take the Elizabeth line for 30 minutes.
“The deferral of investment to mitigate inflationary pressures will lead to additional expenses and potentially to higher spend overall for the project that will need to be handled closely,” the NAO said.
HS2 Ltd’s latest estimate for Euston’s 10-platform design was £4.8billion.
‘A successful reset will need DfT and HS2 Ltd to have a clear understanding of the costs, risks and benefits of their chosen design for the HS2 station within the wider Euston programme, supported by a realistic budget, clear and effective governance and integration arrangements, and long-term certainty on the scope of the project,’ the report warned.
The NAO stated that “the prerequisites are in place to assure value for money” have not been met.
By December 2022, HS2 Ltd had spent approximately £2 billion on the HS2 Euston station and its approaches, including design, land, and preparation.
“Government is once again having to rethink Euston HS2 plans,” said NAO chief Gareth Davies. The 2020 station redesign failed.
Despite their focus on prices and governance since 2020, DfT and HS2 Ltd have failed to produce an economical scope that integrates with other Euston activity. High inflation complicates matters.
The Transport Secretary’s March 2023 decision stopping further construction should give DfT and HS2 Ltd time to place the HS2 Euston project on a more realistic and solid foundation.
However, deferring investment to handle inflationary pressures may increase costs and possibly make the project more expensive, so that will need to be managed properly.
“Attempts to reset the High Speed 2 Euston Station have failed,” said Labour’s Dame Meg Hillier, chairperson of the Committee of Public Accounts.
It’s still pricey and hasn’t improved in three years.
She said the report showed that the renovated station would have cost nearly double what was estimated. Delays in fixing this will hurt taxpayers and Harm businesses.
The Department for Transport and High Speed Two Limited have squandered enough time and money. They must get Euston right next time or lose what benefits remain.
HS2 has gone from farce to farce, said TaxPayers’ Alliance digital campaign manager Joe Ventre today.
‘Euston’s overruns bode poorly for the project. Ministers should eliminate this white elephant for taxpayers.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove refused to promise HS2 will end at Euston on Sunday.
“There is a disagreement about whether or not it should be Old Oak Common or Euston,” the senior Conservative told Channel 4’s The Andrew Neil Show when asked if the rail route will conclude in central London.
‘Old Oak Common is likely to be an important area for regeneration, but we want to make sure as many people as possible can benefit from HS2’s regeneration and train infrastructure. So north-west London’s Old Oak Common needs levelling up.
‘I don’t know where the endpoint will be,’ the Cabinet minister said when asked if HS2 would go to Euston.
Despite preparation work around Euston, reports appeared in January that the high-speed line may never be constructed.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt quickly denied such rumours.
HS2 would reach Euston under “all conceivable conditions,” Mr. Hunt added.
High-speed services were already scheduled to originate and end at Old Oak Common, using the Elizabeth line to reach central London due to Euston site complications.
The DfT’s April 2020 “complete business case” for HS2 claimed that services between Old Oak Common and Birmingham would open in 2029-2033, while trains between Euston and north-west England would launch in 2031-2036.
Mark Harper’s statement earlier this month that Old Oak Common to Birmingham services would be prioritised meant that line may not enter central London until the 2040s.
Mr. Gove’s comments threw doubt on the Euston connection’s approval.
Mr. Harper’s announcement also delayed HS2’s Birmingham to Crewe leg by two years.
Mr. Gove said the Government would build the line to Manchester in northern England.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘We remain committed to building HS2 from Euston to Manchester in a way that gives the best value for money to the taxpayer.
That’s why we recently stated we will rephase the Euston leg of the project to control inflationary pressures and construct an economical station.
‘We will carefully study the National Audit Office recommendations and will formally react.’
Construction site safety concerns lead Waverley school to fund lollipop crossing patrols
Original Source: Waverley school receives funding for lollipop crossing patrols amidst construction site safety concerns
When students go through a big building site, LOLLIPOP ladies and men are even more significant.
Waverley, a new development, is building 4,000 homes over two decades, including near the 2020 juniors.
Landowners Harworth will fund crossing patrols before and after school for a year.
“The roads around here are extremely busy and we still have construction lorries coming past as they are still building new houses at the back of school,” said Waverley Junior Academy active travel coordinator Jaimie Milner.
We can’t control parking and traffic outside the school unless Rotherham Council adopts these.
We contacted Harworth and explained the scenario, with the roads still owned by them and lots of construction vehicles. We inquired whether they could help.
“We are grateful to them for keeping our children and parents safe going to and from school.”
The academy has won many honours for promoting walking, biking, and scooting to school.
Shortly after it opened, records indicated that the number of pupils arriving by car was just a third of the 46 per cent national norm.
“We have a lot of children coming off the estate and we’re doing quite well with the minimal amount who arrive by car,” added Jaimie.
“But parents still drop their kids off on their way to work.
We have our Wow! program.
We reward youngsters who write on a board how they got to school.
If they drive, we recommend dropping them off deeper into the estate and walking the rest.
“The prizes are stuff like badges students get for their blazers.
“They won’t want their friends to have a bigger collection than them.”
Barratts, Waverley Community Council, and RMBC ward members funded bike racks and scooter pods for the kids’ eco-friendly arrival methods.
Rother Vale Cllrs Amy Brooks and Firas Miro used community leadership cash for bike marking kits.
Cycle North, which loans bikes and helmets, allows all Waverley students to learn to ride.
New schools and communities present challenges and opportunities.
“It’s difficult because we don’t know what kind of vehicles will come through here,” added Jaimie. “People have visited schools to discuss building site safety.
The lake near school has prompted water safety assemblies.
It’s wonderful, yet there are obstacles.
“They’re finishing the bike track at the school park.
“Our kids love it.”
Summary of today’s construction news
Overall, according to the findings of a study conducted by Make UK Modular, in order to meet the government’s goal of constructing 300,000 new homes, the construction industry in the United Kingdom would either need to grow its workforce or modify its building procedures.
On the other hand, according to new estimates released today, the price tag for the beleaguered London Euston High Speed Two train station has ballooned to £4.8billion. The April 2020 budget of HS2 Ltd for the 10-platform London terminus was £2.6 billion; the current budget is £2.2 billion higher. The original plan for Euston had 11 platforms, but in October 2021 it was changed to have only 10.
On top of that, the importance of the LOLLIPOP ladies and gentlemen increases when students are required to traverse a massive construction site. Near the junior class of 2020, a new development called Waverley will construct 4,000 homes over 20 years. Harworth, the property owners, will pay for a year’s worth of crossing guards before and after school.
