Health & Safety

Glen Small, head of VAT and construction & property at Johnston Carmichael, argues that developers and contractors should make VAT decisions before construction work begins. The post Laying the foundations for better VAT decisions appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a worker sustained severe, life-changing injuries when he was crushed by a reversing recovery truck. The incident, which occurred on 13 June 2025 at the company’s Highworth premises, left employee Simon Pedder with multiple fractures and a punctured lung, The post Vehicle Recovery […]

Payapps brought together customers, construction professionals and team members for its annual summer experience day at Mercedes-Benz World, combining networking and driving experiences with discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing the construction industry. The post From the racetrack to construction technology: Payapps brings industry together at annual event appeared first on […]

Construction skills in Scotland need investment if they are to deliver a potential over £100bn pipeline of energy and infrastructure projects in the Highlands and Islands, according to new analysis from the Construction Industry Training Board. The post Construction skills investment needed to unlock Scottish net-zero goals appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

A new carbon-neutral fire station has opened in Reigate, strengthening Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s emergency response, improving firefighter wellbeing, and providing a modern facility for the community. The post New carbon-neutral Fire Station opens for duty in Surrey appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

As the consultation for the draft London Plan closes, Chris Wheaton, senior director, and Niamh Lockwood, economic analyst, at Pegasus Group, analyse whether our lack of housing ambition is crippling the capital’s growth potential. The post Why the draft London Plan could cost the capital £41bn a year – and how to plug the gap appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

Britain’s new build drought presents a major obstacle for the prime minister’s pledge to first-time buyers, writes Andy Morrison, director of UK Property Development. The post Britain (and Burnham’s) new build drought appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is strengthening its presence in China following formal recognition as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), alongside growing recognition of its professional qualifications across mainland China. The post CIOB qualifications recognised in major China cities as Institute expands presence in China appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction […]

With a third reading scheduled for later this month, the government’s proposed ban of cash retentions in construction contracts is edging closer to becoming law, scheduled for 2027. Given that trajectory, it is ever more important to review and implement practical and commercial/risk management considerations now. The post Proposed ban on cash retentions: Cash remains king and the drive for […]

It’s time to put product-level carbon data into the BIM model while design decisions are still open, says Phanos Hadjikyriakou, co-founder of 2050 Materials. The post From averages to answers: Why BIM still needs product-level carbon data appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

Tom Butler, policy and places adviser at the UK Green Building Council, discusses its new Regenerative Places Framework for Housing. The post Housing can be a catalyst for thriving places appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

Warehouses and distribution centers combine very complex HSE challenges; forklift and pedestrian interaction, loading docks, damaged racking, manual handling, conveyor systems, PPE requirements, fire protection equipment, housekeeping and a workforce operating across multiple shifts all need effective risk management and control. The warehouse sector also continues to record a higher occupational […]

A Staffordshire-based manufacturing company, E H Hassell & Sons Limited, has been fined £300,000 after a worker sustained severe, life-changing injuries when he was struck on the head by a one-tonne metal hopper. The incident, which occurred on 24 March 2025, left 63-year-old Gary Taylor with multiple fractures and a prolonged period of recovery, profoundly The post Manufacturing Firm Fined […]

The devastating ‘chimney effect’ that contributed to the rapid spread of smoke and fire at London’s Grenfell Tower in 2017 is being tackled by a research project between specialists at the University of Hertfordshire and construction firm Ambar Kelly. The post Industry and academics partner to help overcome Grenfell ‘chimney effect’ appeared first on Planning, Building & […]

UK households are open to adopting heat pumps, but significant barriers around knowledge, trust and installer training could make it harder to translate that appetite into widespread heat pump adoption. The post Trust and training gaps create barriers to heat pump adoption, research finds appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

Cornerstone is sharing its evidence-based knowledge through a unique FREE Property Health App covering the key factors behind damp, condensation and mould. The post Awaab’s Law compliance requires a consistent approach appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

How construction teams can test AI assistants against real project records, check sources, control actions and measure useful work after human review. The post AI in construction needs a test that goes beyond a convincing answer appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

Héléne Watson, safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) manager at Watson, argues that construction needs to broaden its definition of safety, moving beyond immediate incidents to consider what repeated exposure to risk could mean for someone’s health years from now. The post The health risks we cannot see are still putting construction workers at risk appeared first on Planning, […]

Artificial intelligence is steadily reducing paperwork, supporting planning and helping teams spot risks earlier When set up correctly, it applies assessments consistently and holds a detailed working knowledge of Building Regulations and standards. The aim is faster, better-informed work, with people responsible for decisions. The post AI in construction: consistency, speed and better decisions […]

The government’s Strategic Sites Accelerator will help tackle obstacles that leave promising locations waiting for industrial development, says CECA. The post Infrastructure key to Britain’s industrial development success, CECA says appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

SOCOTEC UK & Ireland has expanded its engineering and asset inspection services with the acquisition of critical infrastructure inspection experts, Inertia Consulting. The post SOCOTEC UK & Ireland adds to its growing portfolio with latest acquisition, Inertia Consulting appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

DataForm Platform generates volumetric modules that are 100% configured and costed, and carries that information through to the factory floor. The post Beyond production drawings: Configuring volumetric modules that leave the factory complete appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

Glenigan has announced the launch of Building Materials Forecast, a new subscription service that forecasts future demand for construction products and materials across the UK. The post Glenigan’s Building Materials Forecast predicts future product demand appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

The Future Homes Standard is a keystone of the government’s emissions reductions strategy – and timber frame construction is recognised as a prime route to compliance. The post Impact of Part L and the Future Homes Standard on timber frame housebuilding appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Transport for Greater Manchester to carry out Phase 1 of Bury Interchange’s regeneration, worth £17.9m. The post Phase 1 of Bury Interchange redevelopment to deliver huge improvements for the town appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

Colin Bell, digital and data director, Kier Construction, asks what happens when we stop thinking about digital as a separate initiative and make it part of how construction projects are delivered every day. The post What changes when digital is naturally the way construction works? appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.