Joint developers Canary Wharf Group and Qatari Diar have got the planning green light to redevelop the Shell Centre siteon the banks of the Thames in London.

The Tower will remain the centrepiece of the new site, occupied by Shell, which is taking a further 245,000 sq ft of space in one of the new buildings.Existing buildings around the famous Shell Centre Tower will be demolished to make way for eight new high rise buildings offering a mix of offices and 790 apartments.

Architect  Squire & Partners drew up the masterplan for the 1.45m sq ft mixed use scheme, which includes two office blocks, three residential blocks, two ‘slender’ towers and a new public square.

Because of the scale of the plans the scheme will need to go before the London Mayor for final clearance.

So far he has rubber stamped all major London development plans referred to the Greater London Assembly.

The construction project, which will continue over an anticipated six-year period, will employ an average of 700 workers on-site rising to 1,630 at the peak of construction.

Sir George Iacobescu, Chairman and Chief Executive, Canary Wharf Group, said: “We are delighted that Lambeth Council has approved these plans for us to work on such an important and historical site.

“We will continue to work with the London Borough of Lambeth and the local community as we move to the next phase of planning and development to ensure that all involved in the area get the best possible opportunities from this new development.”

Qatari Diar Group Chief Executive Officer Khaled Al Sayyed, continued: “Our development will be a unique place to live and work in the centre of London, providing locals and visitors alike with much needed public space, entertainment and culture.”

WHAT: Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) is expanding AutoCAD 360 (formerly AutoCAD WS), a line of easy-to-use web and mobile drafting and documentation applications that let users view, create, edit and share drawings—anytime, anywhere.

WHY: The success of AutoCAD WS to date with more than 12 million downloads worldwide and over two million monthly active users revealed the pervasive market demand for sophisticated mobile design capabilities. The expansion of the AutoCAD 360 product line helps improve collaboration and deliver new and simplified ways to work with CAD on mobile devices and web browsers.

“What used to take us days of communication back and forth and lag time is now taking us hours and minutes with being able to instantly and in real-time update drawings”

AutoCAD Pro Mobile App Plans

New AutoCAD 360 Pro mobile app plans, available in three options, will help users to get more out of AutoCAD software on the go than ever. Capabilities include:

• New Drawings Creation – In addition to uploading existing drawings, users can now start new projects from scratch within AutoCAD 360 mobile.
• Large File Size Support – The ability to work with increased file sizes allows users to open and work with more complex drawings and designs.
• Connectivity to Third Party Storage – Directly connect AutoCAD 360 with popular third-party storage options such as Dropbox, Box, and more.
• Block Palette – Easily drag and place blocks into drawings from the drawing’s block collection.
• New Tools – Users can take advantage of advanced layer management, properties and attributes, drawing coordinates, additional storage space, and much more.
• Priority Support – Top priority support offers faster responses to questions.

AutoCAD 360 Web App

The introduction of a new AutoCAD 360 web app beta will deliver the power professionals need to access drawings from any computer to view, edit, and share with others, while also benefitting CAD novices involved in projects. A simplified user interface improves sharing and collaboration so that critical data can be accessed by anyone involved in a project regardless of expertise with design tools.

WHERE: AutoCAD 360 mobile is available in English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish; AutoCAD 360 mobile app and AutoCAD 360 Pro mobile app plans are available at the iTunes App Store or Android markets—including Google Play. AutoCAD 360 web app is a free* beta which can be accessed at www.autocad360.com.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 21, 2013, 9am ET

WHAT EXPERTS ARE SAYING:

“What used to take us days of communication back and forth and lag time is now taking us hours and minutes with being able to instantly and in real-time update drawings,” said Jim LaPier, Designer and IT Manager for Chesapeake Design Group. “With AutoCAD 360, we are able to accomplish what a larger firm would do, but with a much smaller workforce.”

Autodesk, AutoCAD are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. Autodesk is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

© 2013 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

Construction legal disputes have skyrocketed in average value and now take a third longer to resolve than they did in 2011.

According to an EC Harris study dispute values jumped from £6.6m in 2011 to £17.7m last year and now drag on four months longer than they did in 2011.

The firm said the sudden jump was likely to be been influenced by its team working on an unusually high number of disputes on major programmes of work.

Construction disputes now take on average 12.9 months to be settled compared to 8.7 months the year before.

The extended time it takes to resolve rows was put down to construction courts
now ordering mediation in the first instance in the majority of cases.

The most common cause of dispute was a failure to properly administer the contract.

Taking the top five as a whole, disputes tend to be attributable to parties taking a less collaborative approach to projects than in other parts of the world.

For example, the employer imposing change and conflicting party interests feature highly.

One of the highest profile disputes last year involved the construction of the Shard in London. 

The dispute between steelwork companies Cleveland Bridge UK and Severfield-Rowen Structures first came to light in early 2010, but was only resolved in January 2013 following a lengthy dispute that ended up in the High Court.  

Cleveland Bridge was ultimately ordered to pay o £824,478 in damages to Severfield-Rowen for delays and defects which were estimated to cause a delay of 42 days on the Shard’s construction.

This year’s report Global Construction Disputes: A Longer Resolution also found greater joint venture working was leading to more disputes within project teams.

On the international stage, one in five disputes were driven by conflict within a joint venture team.

Gary Kitt, head of Contract Solutions, UK at EC Harris said: “Joint venture agreements are becoming more prevalent, particularly where a project is of such a large size and scale or there is a need because of licensing requirements for a local JV Partner.

“These JVs are causing a significant number of cases, so more needs to be done in order to ensure that the JV itself does not end up in dispute.”

Despite the increase in dispute values, the UK is still below the global average which stands at £20.4m.

The Middle East continued to experience the highest value disputes at £41.8m, whilst disputes in the US had the lowest value at £5.8m.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Tinkercad, an easy-to-use browser-based 3D design tool. The addition of Tinkercad to Autodesk will help broaden the popular Autodesk 123D family of apps and supports Autodesk’s vision to help anybody imagine, design and create anything. The acquisition will also revive the Tinkercad service and community, despite a previously announced shutdown by its founders and creators.

“We look forward to welcoming the Tinkercad community to Autodesk and to continuing their mission of accessible 3D design for all.”

“We are excited to have reached an agreement with Autodesk that will provide a solid home and bright future for Tinkercad,” said Kai Backman, founder of Tinkercad. “We found in Autodesk a shared vision for empowering students, makers and designers with accessible and easy to use software, and with their global reach and expertise in democratizing design, we’re confident in their ability to introduce Tinkercad to new audiences around the world.”

Autodesk intends for the Tinkercad service to remain available as part of its consumer portfolio. The company also intends to incorporate elements of the Tinkercad technology and user experience into the Autodesk 123D family of products as part of its ongoing effort to make 3D design easier and more accessible to everyone. The transaction is expected to close within the next 30 days.

“Tinkercad is a natural extension of the Autodesk 123D family as well as our other apps and services for consumers, as it is already used alongside Autodesk products,” said Samir Hanna, Autodesk vice president, consumer products. “We look forward to welcoming the Tinkercad community to Autodesk and to continuing their mission of accessible 3D design for all.”

Business Outlook

This transaction is expected to have no impact on guidance issued on May 16, 2013.

About Autodesk

Autodesk helps people imagine, design and create a better world. Everyone—from design professionals, engineers and architects to digital artists, students and hobbyists—uses Autodesk software to unlock their creativity and solve important challenges. For more information visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.

Autodesk and 123D are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

© 2013 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

Balfour Beatty is understood to be in pole position to take Sheffield University’s striking new engineering faculty building job.

The firm is up against a tough field of bidders including BAM Construct, Bowmer & Kirkland, Interserve, Miller Construction and Sir Robert McAlpine Construction.

But according to project sources it has swooped in with a ‘highly competitive bid’ that puts it ahead of rivals on cost.

The project award is due shortly and comes as Balfour Beatty’s senior management team reviews its bidding criteria on jobs after being forced into a £50m profit warning because of problem projects in several of its regions.

The University of Sheffield gained planning approval to build the engineering faculty late last year despite some local opposition because the project will see the Edwardian wing of the former Jessop Hospital for Women demolished.

But problems with the site look set to rumble on as national heritage charity SAVE has vowed to launch legal action against the council to halt the clearance of the site.

It could take months for any case to be heard by a judge, delaying demolition.

The university said it examined potential alternatives to demolition, and considered several other locations, but the preferred choice was the best for the university, the city and the region.

Architect RMJM designed the building and is joined on the project team by cost consultant Turner & Townsend and Arup as M&E consultant.

Click here to watch a view related to this article posted by ConstructionEnquirer.com

Five major engineering and consultancy firms have been signed up to develop plans to build a £25bn renewable energy barrage across the Severn estuary.

Arup, Bechtel, logistics expert DHL, Mott MacDonald and URS are drawing up the business case and delivery model for the 11-mile long electricity generating project.

Hafren Power, the consortium behind the ambitious plan, brought the consultants on board to deliver the plan to manage the consent and environmental approval processes and nine-year build strategy.

The proposed barrage between Brean in England and Lavernock Point in Wales would be the biggest single infrastructure project since the Channel Tunnel.

If built it would generate on the ebb and flood of the second largest tidal range in the world at 14m – an energy source capable of meeting some 5% of the UK’s annual electricity needs.

Tony Pryor, chief executive, Hafren Power, said: “Government has an open mind on our proposal and we are working hard to provide further details of construction, environmental and business impacts and mitigation.

“These companies have successful track records in delivering large infrastructure projects and are bringing considerable expertise and momentum to the process.”

He added: “As part of the energy mix, tidal power is greatly under-utilised. As a sustainable energy source the Severn estuary barrage will help the UK meet its renewable energy requirements. The engineering could also become the standard for schemes elsewhere in the world.”

The barrage’s 1,026 turbines would generate 6.5GW, making it one of the biggest power stations in the world.

Backers claim it would have a minimum lifespan of 120 years – far longer than any coal, gas or nuclear power station – and will probably operate for much longer than this.

On this argument Hafren power said its whole-life cost is lower than any known renewable or fossil fuel source.

Government approval is needed for the proposal, together with an agreement to support the electricity price in the first 30 years.

Click here to read the original article from ConstructionEnquirer.com

Britain’s biggest house builder has launched a major training drive to rebuild the industry’s skill base after years of decline.

Over the next three years Barratt aims to recruit around 150 graduates, 30 paid interns and 400 apprentices as the industry shifts into recovery.

Barratt also plans to put 100 people through a unique house building foundation degree programme which is to be delivered in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University.

Mark Clare, group chief executive of Barratt Developments, unveiled the new training targets as he delivered an upbeat trading statement.

Since the start of the year average net private reservations have risen 7% in line with other volume house builders.

He added that since the Government announced plans for its Help to Buy scheme the level had spike 18% as home buyers returned to the market.

“Our improved performance is being underpinned by stronger market conditions and the operational changes we have made to every aspect of our business.

“Help to Buy has seen a strong start and we are investing in land and bringing it through planning to meet increasing consumer demand.”

Since the equity loan scheme was launched on 1 April 2013 Barratt has taken 400 reservations.

He also said the house builder had seen positive effects from the Government’s new planning regime, particularly the need for local authorities to demonstrate a five year land supply.

Forward sales excluding joint ventures were up 29% at £1,3bn, equating to 7,155 plots compared to 6,052 plots a year ago.

Click here to read the orginial article from Construction Enquirer.

Galliford Try is part of a joint venture which has lodged plans for the first phase of a £350m housing project on Tyneside.

The plans have gone in to Gateshead Council for the first 472 new homes on sites in Saltwell & Bensham, Deckham and Birtley.

The Gateshead Regeneration Partnership wants to build a total of 2,400 homes in a £350m scheme which will transform the area.

The partnership comprises Gateshead Council, Home Group and Galliford Try.

In total, 2,400 brand new, high-quality sustainable homes will be built across 19 sites over the next 15-20 years. Around 25% of the homes built will be affordable or social housing with the remainder being privately owned.

All land for the scheme is being supplied by Gateshead Council with financial investment to develop the land provided by Galliford Try and Home Group.

If approved by the council’s Planning and Development Committee, work on the new homes is expected to start in the summer.

This project has received significant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency to help with land assembly and site preparation works.

Cllr Mick Henry, leader of Gateshead Council, said: “This is a hugely significant milestone in housing regeneration here in Gateshead.

“We embarked upon this ambitious venture with an aspiration to bridge the gaps between the public and private sector housing industry, to work together to revitalise communities at their very heart, and to tackle the shortage of family and affordable housing.”

The first hard evidence that house building activity has turned the corner has emerged from latest NHBC registration figures.

A surge in affordable homes and new homes in the capital helped to lift registrations in the first three months of 2013 by 22% compared to a year ago.

Across the UK 31,739 homes were registered, 5,741 more than in 2012 first quarter and the highest quarterly level since 2008.

The rise has been fuelled by an increase in public sector registrations of 43% in Q1 this year compared to the same period last year.

The main driver for this rise has been the Government’s £2.2bn Affordable Homes Programme which aims to deliver 170,000 new homes by April 2015.

2013 Q1/2012 Q1

• Private registrations rise 16%  to 23,608
• Public sector registrations soar 43% to 8,131

The NHBC figures also reveal an enormous 61% increase in new houses being registered in London in the first quarter.

The landmark Battersea Power Station redevelopment helped boost the figures as more than 800 new properties were registered during the first phase of the project.

Over the next 15 years, more than 3,000 new homes will ultimately be built on this iconic London site.

As the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK, NHBC’s housing registration statistics are a key leading indicator of activity in the new homes industry.

NHBC commercial director Richard Tamayo said: “These figures may be an indication that much-needed confidence is returning to the industry, although they should be viewed in the context of overall new homes volumes remaining significantly below historic levels.”