Welcome to PBC Today November 2023. As summer turned to autumn, the UK’s built environment and infrastructure found itself in the headlines, with RAAC forcing the full or partial closure of hundreds of schools and colleges
A complete U-turn on net zero targets was also announced by Rishi Sunak, as well as a new Long-Term Plan for Towns and the PM scrapping the northern leg of HS2 – a project originally confirmed back in 2012.
In our cover story, Patrick Hayes, technical director of the Institution of Structural Engineers puts RAAC in the spotlight, looking at how the material came to be so widely used, the red flags raised about it and how to conduct investigation, assessment and management.
In light of the row-back on net zero, the Heat Pump Association calls for a firm commitment from the government on the decarbonisation on home heating, while Vicky Fowler and Rachel Martin of law firm Gowling discuss what happens with land already purchased for HS2.
Leading off our MMC & Offsite section, Mark Beirne of the Offsite Alliance looks at the challenges facing the sector and asks if there may be important opportunities in a crisis.
We also look at the highlights of the Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure & Construction’s Distinguished Lecture by Professor Lord Robert Mair and the unveiling of a green flatpack home prototype at the University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0.
In BIM & Digital, Professor David Wagg discusses the Alan Turing Institute’s new Turing Research & Innovation Cluster in Digital Twins.
We also hear from Hema Ramamoorthy, data and AI lead at Digital Catapult, about the potential of artificial intelligence in solving some of the biggest challenges facing construction, while James Bowles of Freeform explores the growth of large language models, such as ChatGPT and Bard.
Here’s a selection of what’s in PBC Today November 2023
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) has hit the headlines after hundreds of schools, as well as hospitals, courts, theatres and leisure centres, were forced to partially or fully close due to the presence of the material.
Patrick Hayes, technical director of the Institution of Structural Engineers, looks at how RAAC came to be so widespread and how it can be managed.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a £1.1bn Long-Term Plan for Towns designed to empower 55 towns to tackle rundown centres, half-empty high streets and anti-social behaviour.
Architect Alex Cragg says creating sustainable urban centres means addressing a lack of individuality and embracing our heritage.
The UK government has recently published a document that recommends landlords work with professionals to tackle damp and mould. James Berry, deputy CEO of the Property Care Association (PCA), discusses some of the key issues relating to the new guidance.
David Edwards, architect, urban planner and designer, petty cyclist, car owner and definitely someone that would definitely never leave children unattended to go on a city break, asks why the 15-minute city is encountering hostility in the UK at a time when the rest of Europe seems happy to embrace it.
Following Rishi Sunak’s recent announcements on net zero, the Heat Pump Association digests the pledges and calls for a firm commitment on the policy surrounding decarbonising home heating to reaffirm installer and consumer confidence.
RICS head of professional practice Amit Patel discusses the launch of a new global edition of the Whole Life Carbon Assessment Standard, which aims to support greater consistency and transparency in the push to decarbonise construction.
Amid economic uncertainty and global turmoil, offsite construction is seemingly facing a bleak outlook. However, Mark Beirne of Cara EPS and a director of Offsite Alliance, argues that the crises besetting the sector can also prove a tipping point to go mainstream.
The Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure & Construction Distinguished Lecture by Professor Lord Robert Mair reflected on the past 13 years of the CSIC’s work. Dr Fiorella Dell’Olio looks at some of the highlights.
Professor David Wagg explains the role of the Alan Turing Institute’s new Turing Research & Innovation Cluster in Digital Twins.
Hema Ramamoorthy, data and AI lead at Digital Catapult, discusses how artificial intelligence can help construction tackle some of its biggest challenges and how organisations of all sizes can embrace innovative new solutions.
