In today’s news, we will look into the Wildlife Trusts are urging the government and developers to make the recovery of wildlife a major priority when it comes to the construction of new structures. On the other hand, Carsebridge House in Clackmannanshire sustained significant damage as a result of intentional torchlight on August 29. During the time that the owner Advance Construction (Scotland) was waiting for approval, the listed structure was damaged and destroyed. Furthermore, according to a new analysis, the next great opportunity for the building sector is the ability to retrofit buildings and improve energy efficiency.
Construction Industry Urges Nature Recovery Priority
Original Source: Report urges prioritising nature recovery in construction
In a new report, the Wildlife Trusts call on the government and developers to make wildlife recovery a top priority when building.
In a new paper titled Swift and wild: How to build houses and restore nature together, the Wildlife Trusts have brought attention to the significance of environmental recovery in the building industry.
Planning measures that could help with sustainability challenges are outlined in the paper.
Questions of environmental degradation and global warming are addressed in the study.
In order to meet environmental goals and the 1.5 million homes that need to be built by 2025, the paper recommends a strategic approach to homebuilding.
By 2030, we aim to have preserved 30% of our land for natural purposes and achieved net zero emissions.
Housebuilding and conservation goals might work together with these changes to speed up the delivery of more reasonably priced, well-designed homes while simultaneously bolstering sustainability, green energy, and nature recovery in the building industry and the economy at large.
Plans that are both strategic and centered on nature are among the suggested changes.
Coupling housebuilding with natural recovery and balancing competing demands on land requires a planned and integrated approach in the UK. Sites of Particular Scientific Interest and Special sites of Conservation are examples of legally protected sites that the planning system must always endeavor to spare.
Wildbelt, a new land category, would save low-biodiversity-valued property for the express purpose of natural recovery, thus placing nature at the center of the planning process. Local nature recovery strategies and the implementation of legislative biodiversity duties are two areas that Wildbelt would back.
Addressing climate change through development
In the United Kingdom, buildings contribute significantly to the country’s carbon footprint. Home energy efficiency upgrades that include solar panels, rainwater collection systems, and green roofs can lessen financial burdens and environmental impacts while improving quality of life for people and animals. The UK could be able to reach net-zero if any of these measures were broadly implemented. Inexpensive, small-scale modifications – such as using fast bricks in new developments – can help nature recovery and contribute to wildlife corridors.
Neighborhoods abundant with natural beauty
There are several environmental, social, and health benefits of incorporating nature into new constructions. Impacts on people’s health and wellbeing, less air pollution, and improved flood protection are all part of this. More active, mentally robust, and generally healthier people are those who have easier access to natural environments, according to the research.
Everybody should be able to reach greenspace within a fifteen-minute walk or drive, and new developments should aid in linking nature reserves and other crucial locations for animals.
Nature recovery and building should collaborate, according to the research.
There can be no longer any separation of concerns pertaining to housing, climate change, and environment, according to Becky Pullinger, head of land use planning at The Wildlife Trusts. Together, we can overcome these obstacles and construct houses that are inexpensive, energy efficient, and contribute significantly to the restoration of nature by incorporating nature recovery into the planning system. Habitat loss and pollution, brought about in part by inappropriate historical development, have led to significant drops in animal populations. Although the UK government should be justifiably proud of its green energy and housing initiatives, it should be just as proud of its efforts to restore nature.
According to Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, “the latest calculations show we’re heading in the opposite direction.” This is despite the fact that the UK has committed to protecting 30% of its territory for nature by 2030. Even in densely populated regions, new construction must contribute to the expansion of existing habitats for animals. It is the duty of governments and developers to ensure that all communities have access to environmentally friendly neighborhoods. Preserving the little bit of nature that we have left isn’t nearly enough. We are proposing a new land designation, Wildbelt, to rehabilitate our natural and constructed infrastructures simultaneously by making more room for nature. This has the potential to revolutionize the recovery of nature in the UK.
Building Company Promises to Rebuild Alloa’s Carsebridge House
Original Source: Construction company pledges to rebuild Carsebridge House in Alloa
Deliberate torchlight on August 29 severely damaged Carsebridge House in Clackmannanshire. While waiting for approval, owner Advance Construction (Scotland) demolished the listed building.
The building company that bulldozed a historic Georgian country house has promised to reconstruct it, therefore the police have begun an investigation into the illegal demolition.
On August 29, Carsebridge House in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, was set on fire and severely damaged.
The fire caused the roof of the 18th-century structure, which is locally known as the Dolls’ House and is on the B-list, to collapse.
Advance Construction (Scotland), the house’s owner, has requested demolition approval. However, the company tore it down as they waited for approval, claiming safety concerns.
The planning officers from Clackmannanshire Council were notified the day before the demolition and went to the site to try to halt the activity, but they were unsuccessful.
The local council has stated that it is contemplating many potential courses of action, one of which is to report the firm to the procurator fiscal for prosecution.
Deputy council leader Graham Lindsay acknowledged the building’s poor condition after the fire, but he emphasized that “Those responsible should be held fully to account.”
The council has decided that the planning committee needs a report outlining potential next measures.
The deliberate fire is still under investigation, according to Police Scotland.
Police are collaborating with other agencies to “establish the full circumstances” and are looking into the unauthorized demolition, the department said.
In relation to the subject, Advance Construction (Scotland) stated that it will maintain its cooperation with the police, the council, and relevant partner organizations.
Following “repeated vandalism and unlawful entry” and the site’s long period of abandonment (since 1984), the company claimed to have acquired it from beverage company Diageo in 2020.
“In April 2022, we had a terrible accident while we were working. An adolescent broke into the building without permission, fell from the roof, and lay in a coma for many days,” stated a representative.
“This, as well as the number of individuals entering the building, has made us acutely aware of safety issues.”
In the aftermath of the fire, the business allegedly had an impartial structural expert produce a report stating that the building posed a “immediate health and safety risk” and could not be preserved.
Companies often hear the phrase “safety takes precedence” after consulting with the HSE, which the companies claims it did.
The decision to proceed was carefully considered and driven by a commitment to safety and the elimination of any potential threat to human life, the spokesperson emphasized.
We were also cognizant of the fact that the time it would take to receive the council’s approval to tear down the building may increase the danger.
“We have made an offer to rebuild in the footprint of the building in a similar style and use the façade stone which we have retained.”
A commemorative Doric column, the Napoleon Pillar, has been offered for relocation by the firm to a site decided by the council.
Stay updated with the latest news from Sky News: Historic manor receives financing boost after fire
The house was rented to John Bald to construct and run a distillery from the Earl of Mar circa 1799, according to Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
According to HES, the house was occupied by Bald and Bald-Harvey family members until at least the late 1930s, according to census statistics.
Grain whisky was still being made at Carsebridge Distillery throughout through the 1900s.
Although it shut down in 1983, the cooperage was nevertheless operational under Diageo until 2011 when it relocated to neighboring Cambus.
While HES was waiting for more information regarding the possibility of retaining the remaining walls, it confirmed that it had received a listed building consent consultation for the structure’s demolition.
One representative from HES stated, “Had the building been judged as safe to retain, then we would have objected to its loss.”
Energy Efficiency: Construction’s Big Opportunity
Original Source: Energy Efficiency – a Big Opportunity for Construction
The building industry’s next significant potential is energy efficiency and retrofit capabilities, according to a new report.
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and TrustMark produced the report to prepare the industry for retrofit growth.
The UK must reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 by law. Four out of five of the 27 million current homes will need energy-efficient retrofitting by then. Installation of insulation, solar panels, and other measures presents the biggest chance for construction employers this century.
The research outlines how retrofitting will help government solve several problems, including upgrading low-quality homes and rentals. It will boost local economies and supply chains and lower NHS expenses from cold, damp, substandard housing. It will also lower energy expenditures and improve home health.
Large Construction Opportunity
The paper explores construction companies that refit and the skills they need to prepare for the ‘refit Revolution’.
Retrofitting requires qualified construction workers, highlighting the necessity for training and competency. Construction employers, governments, and trade and employer associations can use its findings and advice.
CITB will invest in net zero solutions through the Industry Impact Fund, offer clear career pathways, and promote collaboration and knowledge exchange through the CLC’s retrofit hub to help industry build retrofit capabilities.
Marcus Bennett, CITB Head of Industry Analysis & Forecasting, said: “Retrofitting the UK’s built environment to be cleaner, greener, warmer in winter, cooler in summer, more energy efficient, and carbon net zero is the biggest construction opportunity this century. The building sector must rethink and train for a new future to take advantage of this potential.
This paper is just the beginning of spotlighting the construction industry’s prospects and showing what’s achievable as Britain becomes net zero.
Trustmark Registration
Businesses must be TrustMark-registered to get government-funded home improvements. TrustMark is the only government-endorsed home improvement quality scheme.
TrustMark Chief Executive Simon Ayers said: “Making Britain’s homes more energy efficient is a big challenge for the construction industry. We need qualified, trained, and competent tradespeople across the industry to deliver this job at volume and speed to meet the deadline. We must include careers in the skills debate to achieve long-term delivery and create jobs.
As retrofit work increases, we hope more businesses will join engaged. Working together, we can find the correct answers to those difficulties and maximize the opportunities for everyone.”
Summary of today’s construction news
Overall, we discussed the Wildlife Trusts have highlighted the importance of rebuilding the ecosystem in a new article called Swift and wild: How to construct homes while simultaneously restoring wildlife. The report details potential planning steps that might aid with sustainability issues. Meanwhile, the developers who illegally demolished a historic Georgian country house have now pledged to rebuild it, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into the incident. The owner, Advance Construction (Scotland), has formally requested demolition authority for the house. To make matters worse, while waiting for approval, the business tore it down, citing safety issues as their justification. The planning officers from Clackmannanshire Council were informed of the destruction the day prior and attempted to stop the work at the site, but were unsuccessful. On the other hand, the research was also prepared to help the industry get ready for retrofit growth by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and TrustMark. It is a legal requirement that the United Kingdom achieve zero net carbon emissions by the year 2050. This means that by that point in time, 27 million homes—or 80% of the total—will require upgraded energy systems. In this century, the greatest opportunity for construction employers will be the installation of insulation, solar panels, and other mitigation measures.