With the news of the new super hospital there’s a big question about planning our health facilities. What do we need? When and what will it look like? A new conference asks the questions.

A briefing on integrating planning, active travel and health for practitioners working in local planning authorities and health organisations in Wales will address Planning for Better Health and Wellbeing.

Save the date: Public Health Network Cymru are holding an event on30th November 2016 from 10.00 – 16.00 at Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel, Newport Road, Cardiff. 

The seminar aims to raise awareness and understanding of planning, active travel and health –

• To learn more about the current and evolving evidence
• To identify priorities for both future research and future practice
• The seminar will be opened by Rebecca Evans AM, Minister for Social Services and Public Health
• The following resource will also be launched at the event:
• Briefing on integrating planning and public health for practitioners working
• in local planning authorities and health organisations in Wales 

Speakers include:

• Michael Chang: Town and Country Planning Association
• Liz Green: Public Health Wales
• Stuart Williams: City of Cardiff Council
• Dr Tim Jones: Oxford Brookes University
• Dr Barry Lambe: Waterford Institute of Technology 

To book please use the EventBrite website.

It can sometimes be appropriate for the client to pay for items even though they remain ‘off-site’, for example, where a contractor has themselves made a large payment for plant or materials that have yet to be delivered to site, or if the client wishes to ‘reserve’ key items in order to protect the programme. Such items should be agreed in advance and listed in an annex to the contract bills.

Paying for off-site goods or materials can be useful, however, it does put the client at risk, for example if the contractor becomes insolvent and the items are then not delivered, even though payment has been made. 

Several mechanisms are available to protect the client: 

• The client should check the financial status of the contractor to assess the likelihood of insolvency.
• The client should require proof that the property in the items is vested in the contractor before payment is made. This may include a vesting certificate (certifying that property has passed to the contractor and that the materials will be properly identified, stored and insured), and checking that the suppliers terms and conditions do not include a retention of title clause.
• The items should be set aside, and clearly marked with the client’s details.
• The materials should be "ready for incorporation".
• The client should require proof that the materials are insured against specified perils for the period they remain off site.
• If the contractor is part of a larger group, then a guarantee might be required from the holding company.
• An on-demand bond might be required up to the value of the off-site items, with the value of the bond reducing as deliveries to site are made.
• The client might enter into a contract direct with the supplier. 

However, none of these methods is fool proof. For example, a vesting certificate may be of limited value in practice, as it is difficult to sue an insolvent contractor. Furthermore, despite best endeavours, items may simply be removed or disappear in the event of insolvency, or if there is a rumour that insolvency might occur. This is particularly true for items that have yet to be fabricated, items that have still to be worked on, or items that are abroad. 

In a perfect world, items would be delivered to the site and affixed to the property before payment is made, but where this is not possible, a judgement is necessary to assess the risk to the project, or the potential loss to the client versus the cost of ensuring absolute certainty in relation to off-site goods. 

See also: Materials on site.

Willmott Dixon is further expanding its workload in the science and technology sector with a £20m contract to build Wales’ first science park, located in Anglesey. 

It comes as the builder is about to hand over a new home for the Met office’s supercomputer in Exeter, which is 13 times more powerful than the current system used by the Met Office. 

Willmott Dixon also recently built the world’s leading satellite testing facility at Harwell Science Campus in Oxfordshire and the world’s quietest building at the University of Cambridge. The contractor has now been appointed by M-SParc (Menai Science Park), a subsidiary of Bangor University, to build its science park in Gaerwen. 

Work begins this year, with Willmott Dixon teaming up with Faulkner Brown architects and Pwllheli-based Trawscoed Studio.  When completed in early 2018 the new hub will provide offices, laboratory and workshop space for up to 700 people. 

The project on the 20-acre site came about after Bangor University secured £10.8m of funding from the Welsh Government and £10.2m of European Regional Development funding.

Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the North, said, “The science and technology industry is an important sector for the UK and we are excited about providing cutting-edge facilities for leading businesses and research in North Wales.” 

Arup has just launched a scaffolding system fitted with a green living wall to make building sites healthier and more attractive for local communities. 

ARUP’S new system is being piloted on a Grade I listed Mayfair building project in London with developer Grosvenor. 

The temporary wall, named ‘Living Wall Lite’, has been designed by Arup and manufactured by Swedish living wall specialist Green Fortune, and is fitted with sensors to monitor its impact on noise, temperature and air pollution. It is hoped the temporary living wall scaffolding being used on the St Mark’s building project will reduce localised air pollution by up to 20% and dampen noise pollution by up to 10 decibels. 

Alistair Law, Arup Façade Engineer and the Living Wall Lite’s developer said: “Living Wall Lite has the potential to transform scaffolding and hoardings into much more than just a cover up. By introducing plants and flowers, we can create a more attractive and healthier environment for residents, businesses and workers on site.”

Mark Tredwell, development director of Grosvenor’s London estate, said: “This is a great initiative and is in line with our long-term ambition to improve the environmental sustainability of the buildings across our London estate, reducing emissions by 50% by 2030. 

“As the estate continues to adapt and evolve we want to ensure that the impact on the community is positive. As well as reducing air pollution, we hope the living wall will introduce a rich biodiversity to Mayfair and encourage people to linger in the area.”

A FLEET of new refuse collection vehicles will soon be hitting the streets of Carmarthenshire.

Carmarthenshire Council has taken delivery of 28 new lorries; costing around £4million, including 18 26 tonne Mercedes-Benz and 10 15 tonne DAF trucks with NTM bodies. The vehicles will provide a more efficient service to residents and help to increase the county’s recycling rate.

They have a separate compartment to keep food waste separate from blue / black bags. The vehicles were officially handed over at Llanelli’s Festival Fields with a very special guest, Welsh rugby legend Sir Gareth Edwards CBE.

Sir Gareth, a director with Euro Commercials (South Wales) Ltd, said: “Having come from West Wales it’s great to see such investment in the serious logistics of waste.

“The council is really demonstrating the ability to deliver a first-class waste management programme, with some of the latest cutting-edge technology and innovation from Mercedes Benz trucks.”

Euro Commercials truck sales manager Nathan Black said: “The new Euro VI Mercedes-Benz Econic 2630L 6X2 refuse vehicles are rear-steer models; and the rear steer action and 360° on board CCTV gives them increase manoeuvrability, allowing them to access even the hardest to reach places.

“All vehicles ride on full air suspension, with split-compartment NTM bodies that mean they can be used to collect recyclable waste – paper, plastic and food for example – thereby securing operational savings.”

Euro Commercials managing director Jeff Carne added: “It’s always encouraging to be given the opportunity to partner our local authorities, but to be able to provide the Mercedes brand and the after-sales service excellence that Euro Commercials continue to deliver is very exciting. We’re confident that the new fleet will exceed the council’s expectations in terms of reliability and fuel-efficiency.”

Gareth Rees from Watts Truck & Van Swansea said: “Watts Truck & Van Swansea and DAF are very proud to have supplied the council with 10 new 15 tonne refuse collection vehicles.

"These 15 tonne smaller vehicles have Allison automatic gearboxes and drive very much like a car, they are very manoeuvrable and have a good turning circle, which makes them ideal.”