CEW published its latest annual report last week and the figures look good – Welsh construction is performing well and more industry is engaged with best practice than ever before. 

Welsh construction is now one of the best performing economic sectors in the UK. CEW can’t claim any credit to the actual output but we can argue strongly that as a result of our work, the industry is engaging with best practice and reaping the benefits in terms of output, growth and value. Last week we held our AGM and published our annual report. In the figures outlined at the meeting and on every page of the report itself, it is clear that best practice, as championed by CEW and our stakeholders, is building a better Welsh environment. 

Adherence to principles such as collaborative procurement and team working is helping Welsh construction to save money and maximise value. Every £1 we spend in construction doubles in value, providing enormous benefits for local communities and the country as a whole – so long as we continue to deliver projects in the right way. 

The evidence is contained in our successful Exemplar programme and showcased each year in our CEW Awards. The projects entered for the 2015 awards are worth over £400 million to Wales but the value in terms of benefits to communities and the environment go much further. From the shortlisted schemes alone, CEW estimates that almost 800 jobs or placements were created, 30 charities supported, five car parks created, 150 sessions delivered at local schools and colleges and 130 International Baccalaureate qualifications facilitated. 

Educating, informing, influencing and cajoling everyone in the Welsh built environment supply chain to embrace the principles of Constructing Excellence never ends. It is why in 2016 CEW will continue to challenge procurement processes, highlight how low carbon homes can be built cheaply and effectively and demonstrate that waste management has to be an integral element of planning and site management. As construction in Wales continues to grow and thrive, our best practice message needs to be louder and more coherent than ever before.

Find out more details about our own performance and ambitions by reading the CEW Annual Report by clicking on the report below:

The CEW waste team had their first meeting and site visit with Coatech of Rhyl yesterday who are participating in CEW’s Enabling Zero Waste Scheme.

Coatech is a family run contractor based in North Wales who specialise in resin based floorings and paving systems. They will be working with us on the West Rhyl Sea Defence Works as a subcontractor to the principal contractor Dawnus Constuction and their clients Denbighshire County Council. Coatech will be providing the surfacing for the new pedestrian walkway as part of the scheme and we will be exploring viable solutions for achieving zero waste to landfill. Further details to follow @EZWaste_Wales

Working on the delivery of new schools in Wales? Then we need your data returns to help with our work driving value for 21st Century Schools.

For those who joined us in May at our 21st Century Schools update conference, you’ll see we’re busy making use of various datasets from the phase one pilot school sites. Response rates have improved but we’re still awaiting data returns from six authorities providing their completed cost breakdown, drawings and BREEAM reports. If we’ve been chasing you / your design teams in the recent weeks, we’d really appreciate your contribution. Any queries please get in touch with Amy Hutchinson, CEW who can let you know what information we’re missing.

We urgently need your data as it is only with hard evidence that we can make as strong an argument as possible for improving the value of the 21st Century schools investment.

The Isle of Anglesey County Council Highways in collaboration with Horizon Nuclear Power will be establishing a Framework Contract with suitably experienced Highway Construction and Civil Engineering Contractors to procure and implement the highway improvement works that may be associated with the Wylfa Newydd project. 

For more details and to register for the “Meet the buyer” event on 9^th July follow this here.

House builders and designers who operate in Wales will today benefit from new guidance by the NHBC Foundation on how to meet the challenges of Part L.

With the zero carbon standard for new homes coming closer, house builders are ever-more focused on achieving energy efficiency. Complying with Part L – conservation of fuel and power in new dwellings – is one of the most complex challenges faced by the house-building industry.

The NHBC Foundation is publishing two guides: ‘Part L 2014 - where to start: An introduction for house builders and designers - masonry construction - for Wales (NF64)’ and ‘Part L 2014 - where to start: An introduction for house builders and designers - timber frame construction - for Wales (NF65).’ Similar guides are also available for Part L 2013, England.

Since last year new Approved Documents for conservation of fuel and power have been in operation in Wales, which have stepped up the level of performance required. For the first time, they differ from the Approved Documents in England.

Aimed at SMEs in particular the new guides will help house builders understand the variety of approaches that can be used to achieve compliance with Part L, as well as the types of floor, wall and roof constructions that can be specified.

The guides include detail on the topic of thermal bridging, such as the heat loss which occurs around window openings and at the junctions between building elements. In recognition of the amount of energy that can be wasted through thermal bridging, the guides include good practice details which show clearly the critical features of good design and construction.

Neil Smith, Head of Research and Innovation, NHBC, said: "Many in the industry struggle to get to grips with the complexities of Part L and we hope these new, clear and simple guides help will help to build an understanding.

"Presented mainly as tables and construction details, this guidance should be of particular use to smaller builders operating in Wales who may not be as aware of the range of options available to them to satisfy Part L."

Carl Sargeant, Welsh Government Minister with responsibility for Building Regulations: said: "The Welsh Government recognises the technical challenges that builders face in this area, which is why we welcome the National House Building Council’s move to publish new guidance on Part L in Wales."

To read and download the guides, please click here.

The NHBC Foundation, established in 2006, provides high quality research and practical guidance to support the house-building industry as it addresses the challenges of delivering 21st Century new homes. To date the NHBC Foundation has published over 60 reports on a wide variety of topics, including the sustainability agenda, homeowner issues and risk management.

NHBC Media Contacts

James Hall | 01908 746738 | 07435 786851 Nadia Bedra | 01908 746734 | 07501 226656

Conservation and regeneration are often linked and the Nature Action Zone is no exception. Its final focus is on the South Wales Values.

The final Nature Action Zone has three projects sited in the South Wales valleys with stakeholders collaborating to build resilient ecosystems and provide a range of multiple benefits for communities. 

In the eastern valley uplands, the Forgotten Landscapes project brings together three local authorities (Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly) to work with farmers, Gwent Wildlife Trust and the emergency services to sustainably manage the uplands. The uplands are dominated by urban commons which are typically used for hill farming and recreation such as walking, horse riding and mountain biking. The uplands are also at risk from environmental crime such as arson, fly tipping and off-roading. 

The project is dealing with these issues by restoring the upland to ecological health and diversity for example through sustainable grazing and bracken control whilst also protecting the area from environmental crime through community outreach and the development of best practice guidance . These actions will help provide multiple benefits for communities such as providing more productive farmland, better and safer access for communities, more resilient habitat for wildlife to thrive as well as stimulating carbon capture and water storage in the uplands. 

The project is also developing a natural resource management plan to set out the evidence and the decisions making process for the sustainable management of resources of the area. The project covers the uplands of northern Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen covering 200 km². 

Meanwhile, the Pollinators for Life project is engaging with communities across Torfaen, Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly council areas to enhance public sector green spaces and their connectivity for pollinating species and wildlife whilst also enhancing these green spaces for people to enjoy. This includes planting orchards and hedgerows and transforming roadsides into a blaze of wildflowers. There is a strong emphasis on training and education working with schools and community groups to improve habitats across the four counties. The project is also developing a long term Green Infrastructure Action Plan for land owned by the public sector and 3 other key stakeholders which will provide the medium to long term natural resource work programme for the areas. 

In the Llynfi Valley, Natural Resources Wales are working with the local Health Trust, local authority, schools and communities to implement a woodland creation project that will transform a former washery site into 30 hectares of woodland creating accessible green space for the community to use.

Construction projects always need a great team, sound organisation and centre forward to lead the line – often the lead contractor. 

When Wales defeated Belgium the same night as the CEW Awards much of the match winning preparation could be credited to the construction team and its client behind the Client of the Year in the 2014 CEW Awards: Football Association of Wales – National Football Centre. 

The new National Football Development Centre demonstrates the Football Association of Wales (FAW) commitment to delivering a sustainable future for Welsh football. Built as part of a joint venture between FAW and stakeholders such as UEFA, FIFA, the Welsh Government, Sport Wales and Newport Council, the project had strong leadership from the FAW and onsite support from ISG (the centre forward).

There was a strong emphasis on communicating what was important and good use of publicity and high profile football figures such as Ian Rush to underline key issues such as health and safety. The client (Kevin Moon-Welsh Football Trust) led the whole team, right through from concept and planning, design and detailing, material section and site operations. Throughout the scheme the clients drive and vision had a positive impact. Indeed, whilst it might be fair to say the client was not an expert, they knew what was wanted and the finished centre – opened by Michel Platini and Carwyn Jones – is an example of collaboration with a client with clear objectives. Indeed, the centre is central to the future development and success of Welsh football – hence the client team’s vision. It is a purpose built facility providing top class training, playing, sports science and education facilities as well as HQ administrative accommodation for its coaching and development operation for the Welsh Football Trust. 

There were also great lessons to be learned by the contractors with sporting psychology and a team ethos being played out across the scheme and the Best Play Team Play theme connected very well with the principles championed by CEW. This was a clear cut client, contractor relationship and worked exceptionally well because the client was clear about what he wanted and needed. The contractor site team spokesman from ISG commented that: "The client was made in heaven - they knew what they wanted and what they needed. They worked tirelessly to achieve their vision, but involving and listening to every member of the team: truly inspirational."

Housing associations have been leading the way with the adoption of energy-efficient and water-saving technologies. The NHBC Foundation has now compiled a report of these experiences. Based on focus groups and telephone surveys with 200 people, representing 174 different housing associations, the report identifies the technologies that have worked well, those that have been less successful and the reasons why.

Download: Report