Collapses, collaboration and cladding remediation: PBC Today’s top news of 2024

Politics, environmentalism, and health and safety all featured in PBC Today’s top ten articles of 2024

It’s that time again when we can wind down and reflect on the year behind us and prepare for the new year ahead. It has been a hectic year in the construction industry, to say the least, and we have collated your top news of 2024.

This year saw a general election in July, sending the country into a somewhat optimistic uncertainty as we waited to see what our new Labour leaders would do first, followed by an initially worrying Autumn Budget.

ISG fell into administration in September, sending shockwaves throughout the industry, and the effects are still catching up to many firms and projects. As a result, many in the industry are still worried about the high rates of insolvency, with ISG proving that no-one is safe from the risk.

In November, HS2 hit a milestone in the West Midlands where over half of the required concrete was officially poured, and in July the NAO predicted that the cancelled second phase of HS2 would cost £100m to reverse the prep-work that had already been undertaken.

Here’s your top news of 2024:

10. First UK company to follow Australia with high-silica quartz ban

March’s headline regarding the ban of high-silica quartz countertops and the dangers they present to the stonemasons working with them caught many people’s attention. After Australia banned their sale outright, kitchen company Herringbone became the first UK company to follow suit.

9. Building control system collapse imminent, warns LABC chief

The Local Authority Building Control published a warning in February regarding the new Building Safety Regulator and professionals in building control struggling to get registered in time. As a result, fears arose of a huge number of professionals no longer being able to work in building control, and how the industry would suffer as a result.

8. Administrators appointed at Readie Construction

While likely the highest profile case, ISG was far from the only firm to fall into administration this year. Readie Construction had administrators appointed in February, and the company immediately ceased trade after just 17 years in operation.

7. Barratt Redrow to close nine regional offices

In a move that drew much attention, Barratt Homes and Redrow Homes merged this year to form Barratt Redrow. They made their first major move in October, after sorting out some issues with local competition, that announced the closure of several offices, and make roughly 800 workers redundant.

6. Wooldridge Contractors files administration notice

More administration news, this time from Wooldridge Contractors, who fell into administration in February after nearly 50 years. Another reminder of how tough it is to keep a construction firm going in the current climate.

5. Quarter of cladding remediation projects in England complete

2024 also saw the completion of the Grenfell inquiry and its final report. The aftermath of the fire meant that thousands of buildings across the UK would undergo remediation work to remove unsafe cladding.

Little surprise then that at the half-way point of the top news of 2024, we have the news in June that the quarter-mark milestone had been achieved, reflecting a slow but steady progress.

Plenty of work ahead, but with events such as the Dagenham blaze taking place this year, the discussion with Peter Wilkinson and Neil Gibbins remains poignant: are things moving quick enough, or with the right attitude?

4. MoU boosts UK-Hong Kong collaboration in architecture

In August, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) and the UK Architects Registration Board (UK ARB). The agreement promised that both organisations would recognise each other’s qualifications for architects, making it easier for ARB-registered architects to find work in Hong Kong, and vice versa.

In November, the UK ARB announced a reform to its awarding powers, which the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) criticised heavily as “elitist” and “ill judged.” 

Ups and downs, one supposes.

3. Rachel Reeves plans to increase social rents

In August, while most were still recovering from the election and trying to muddle through what to do next, chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves announced a controversial plan to steadily raise social rent over the next decade, in order to accrue more money for more social housing to be built. A positive for housing associations, but the impact on those living in social housing will need to be carefully monitored.

2. World’s largest luffing tower crane returning to Hinkley Point

On a more light-hearted note, can anything beat the simple joy of witnessing a large crane in action? Marr Contracting’s M2480D, the largest luffing tower crane in the world, made a comeback to Hinkley Point to continue work on Hinkley Point C, the first nuclear power plant in the UK since 1995.

The crane boasts 130m of hook height, making it perfect for the huge buildings required at a project like Hinkley Point C.

1. UK’s first ever 100% BREEAM score achieved

In a huge milestone for the UK, the first ever 100% BREEAM score was awarded to Wrenbridge and Buccleuch for their Nova Science scheme in Oxford.

The scheme is fully low-or-no carbon, utilising solar panels, heat pumps, solar shading, natural lighting, and more to claim a 100% BREEAM score. BREEAM, or the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, is one of the most established and longest-standing methods for rating building sustainability.

In a time where the world is full of uncertainty and, let’s face it, can be quite disheartening, it’s news like this that can renew a sense of hope and make us feel a little better about the direction things are going.