Welcome to Public Sector Newsline , which is designed to be a source of news, information and comments on the latest developments in the public sector “built environment”.
We will be covering issues around social housing (new build and refurbishment); schools and educational building; the health estate and other central and local Government buildings.
In particular we will focus on issues such as sustainable communities and how low carbon buildings and environmentally responsible products can contribute to energy saving and other benefits, including an improved quality of life for residents.
Public Sector Newsline is sponsored by System 10, a division of WHS Halo, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of profile for the production of windows, doors and curtain walling. System 10 windows are installed in an estimated 0ne in every five social housing refurbishment projects and an increasing number of school developments. For more commercial/product information please visit www.system10.co.uk
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24
Sep 09
The Housing Minister has told Housing Associates to create jobs and apprenticeships for construction works in return for accessing government cash for affordable homes.
John Healey expects all associations to ‘raise their game’ to help people onto the property ladder and keep their homes during the downturn.
In exchange the government has agreed to increase the amount of grant it contributes to the housing association-led mortgage rescue scheme.
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17
Sep 09
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told trade unionists expenditure will be cut on ‘unnecessary programmes’ and ‘lower priority budgets.’
He said the labour party would reduce spending on “unnecessary programmes” and cut out inefficiencies. However, he echoed business secretary Peter Mandelson’s message that frontline services would be protected.
Low carbon solutions — Comments Off
09
Sep 09
As part of the 2009 Budget ‘Building Britain’s Future’, the Treasury housing stimulus package has released £20.96m capital funding for low carbon infrastructure exemplars in ‘Growth Points and Growth Areas.’
With an aim to reduce carbon emissions from housing, the budget refers to existing policies enabling £50 billion of low-carbon investment over the three years to 2011.
Together with announcements made in the autumn 2008, this will enable an additional £10.4 billion of low carbon sector and energy investment over three years.
Educational Building / Social Housing — Comments Off
08
Sep 09
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has confirmed a rise public sector work in the second quarter of 2009, compared to the previous quarter.
The ONS stated a 12 per cent rise in ‘non housing’ projects such as the Olympics project and the restart of the school building programme, together with a more modest 3 per cent rise in social housing work.
The rise has led to belief that the worst of the recession’s ‘adjustment’ is now over and a gradual recovery of the construction sector is now likely.
Low carbon solutions — Comments Off
07
Sep 09
Ten councils have pledged to cut their carbon emissions by a tenth in the next year in what is being seen as the UK’s ‘biggest collective effort’ to tackle climate change.
The local authorities now join pledges made by individuals and organizations nationwide including the Government’s full cabinet. They include Islington LBC, Richmond LBC, Oxford City Council, Kirklees Council, West Sussex CC, Stroud DC, Eastleigh BC, Slough BC, Greenwich LBC and Hackney LBC.
Educational Building — Comments Off
02
Sep 09
The lack of affordable housing in rural areas is causing the local primary schools to close at the rate of one a month.
The figures obtained by the National Housing Federation (NHF) show that 13 village primaries closed in 2006, 14 closed in 2007 and 13 in 2008. Overall, between 2004 and 2008 there were 62 closures, which is the highest number since the 1990s.
The Federation says that Local Councils are ordering the closures in a bid to save money as pupil numbers in rural areas fall due to parents earning below average incomes, compared with above average house prices.
New Build — Comments Off
01
Sep 09
The Conservatives has suggested that if the party gained power, it would establish a new housing bill and cancel regional targets.
The shadow communities secretary, Caroline Spelman, has told colleagues that the Tories would introduce a new local government and housing bill in the first year of office, which would “revoke… in whole or in part” all of Labour’s regional development targets.
New Build — Comments Off
26
Aug 09
The Government has confirmed it will appoint a chief adviser on construction, to be in place by November 2009.
The new position will report to ministers at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Treasury. He or she will also chair a ‘construction category board’ to oversee the development of Government construction procurement.
Working closely with the Strategic Forum for Construction, a ‘sustainable construction strategy delivery board’ will also be chaired by the appointment to the position.
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25
Aug 09
Details of the successful schemes for the second round of funding from the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) low carbon infrastructure initiative, totalling £8.80m, have been announced.
The initiative is a partnership with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and Communities and Local Government (CLG). It will provide funding for schemes across the country to benefit from new and existing low carbon energy plants by creating the infrastructure needed to link them up.
Energy saving / New Build / Social Housing — Comments Off
19
Aug 09
The four successful eco-town proposals have each been asked to submit plans for the developments, to include affordable housing.
The Communities and Local Government department has issued a consultation document, which sets out how the developers should construct a ‘programme of development’ for the sites.
The document is set to determine how much funding each eco-town developer will get over the next two years, from the £60m available.