CEWales E Bulletin March 23

We are delighted to have received so many award entries, thank you for taking the time to write your submissions! You will have seen the shortlist already but there is also a reminder within the newsletter. We really look forward to your presentations during April. The very best of luck!

There was a huge amount to ponder, following the MPA Wales’ annual seminar and planning workshop, where we discussed Future Wales – The National Plan 2040, Welsh Government policy priorities for energy in Wales and our pathway to net zero; policies on hydrogen and floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. All presenting exciting opportunities within our sector.

Swansea Council welcomed CEWales South West Wales Best Practice Club members to their West Cross new build scheme. Where we got to see the fantastic bungalows and learn about the ‘Swansea Standard’, a carbon conscious whole systems build approach which reduces operating energy and CO2. I particularly liked this quote: “Building to minimal standards today, leaves a costly decarbonisation hangover for tomorrow”.

It has been encouraging to have conversations with the Welsh Government Waste Strategy team on the circular economy and resource efficiency in the construction sector in Wales and then to input CEWales insight and intelligence into a research project jointly commissioned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and DEfRA, looking at the potential benefits from increasing resource efficiency across UK industry.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Tilbury Douglas kindly gave us a site visit, tour and presentation of phase 2 of a £130 million design and build of Prince Charles Hospital. So much best practice was shared but some outstanding stats include: For every pound invested in the project, it returns £1.94 to the Welsh economy, circa 1.3 million person hours have been expended on the project and Tilbury Douglas have spent 92% of the construction value in Wales!

I had the pleasure of attending Siderise Innovation Centre opening by First Minister Mark Drakeford and then on to the Construction Cross Party Group, CBI Wales political briefing and post budget discussion, collaboration scoping with the National Infrastructure Commission Wales, an update from Faithful & Gould on the implementation of the Value Toolkit and explored partnership opportunities through the Built Environment Alliance Cymru (BEAC). We also held CEWales’ Procurement Steering Group meeting and SW Wales Best Practice Club and AGM. Which leads me on to give huge thanks to the outgoing long serving Chair of the CEWales SWW Best Practice Club, Geoff Wildman from Wildman Associates and we welcome the new Chair Karen Green from Alpha Safety. 

CEWales were delighted to be asked to represent the Welsh Construction sector at the Climate Change and Adaptation Committee last Friday. Thank you to all our members who provided me with your thoughts. I was able to take this rich information to the forum where they will use it to help shape their priorities on delivery of adaptation and Net Zero in Wales.  Your insights are crucial as they continue to deliver their role as the independent adviser to the Welsh Government and Parliament on climate change. I will keep you updated on any outputs from the forum.

There are lots of great things to engage with on the horizon, so please keep an eye out as we'd like as much participation with our members and those in the construction sector in Wales.