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CPA Weekly Notes Issue No. 746 20th January 2017

23/01/2017

January 23 2017 Cathie Clarke Geen categorie

CPA Weekly Notes Issue No. 746 20th January 2017
  Issue No. 746 20 January 2017 FOR MEMBERS ONLY  
  Top News

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Industry bodies agree single process for BIM product data The Construction Products Association (CPA), the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) have announced a new standardised process for developing product information. The new LEXiCON tool will provide governance and defined parameters to create Product Data Templates, allowing industry to share product data consistently, using a plain language dictionary.   Find out more                        

                             
                        

            
                     

Theresa May outlines her Brexit plan Theresa May outlined the start of Brexit negotiations this week in a speech setting out 12 objectives, including leaving the single market, a new negotiation on the EU customs union and a parliament vote on the final deal.   Commenting on her speech, Noble Frances, Economics Director of the Construction Products Association, said: “There was little uncertainty over the prime minister’s hard Brexit strategy. Markets had largely expected this and there was a fall in the value of Sterling the day before to take account of the expected announcements, and risk of further unexpected announcements. But missing details on how it will be delivered will add speculation and continued volatility in Sterling with a consequent impact on already rising materials, product and fuel costs. The CPA will be publishing a piece of research looking at the effects of exchange rates on costs in summer 2017.”                          

                             
  Association Activities
                     

CPA Representation on BSI Committee B/555 Due to the present incumbent having to step down because of heavy work commitments, the CPA is looking for a new volunteer to represent the Association on the B/555 technical committee – Construction design, modelling and data exchange. The purpose of B/555 is to deliver clear guidance to UK industry dedicated to providing and operating built assets. It also supports the reduction in whole life costs, risk, carbon and the timely delivery of buildings and infrastructure. This description also covers Building Information Modelling (BIM), the most well-known standard being BS 1192 and also PAS 1192. If anyone is interested in taking on this role, please contact duncan.king@constructionproducts.org.uk.                        

                             
                        

            
                     

CPA Workshop – Digitalisation and Sustainability Information, 8th February 2017, 10.30 to 13.00. This half day event will look in more depth at the issue of including sustainability information (EPD, responsible sourcing etc) in Product Data Templates (PDT), a key element of the digitalisation of product information.  There will be a presentation explaining the whole digitalisation concept and process and then three short presentations from members describing their thinking on the topic as they have considered what and how to include sustainability data in the PDTs.  There will be the opportunity for a lengthy discussion and query session.  This event is an action emanating from the SCC December 2016 meeting.  If you would like to attend the meeting please rsvp to Julie.Mills@constructionproducts.org.uk.                          

                             
  Economy
                     

Economy

                             
                     

  • Annual CPI inflation was 1.6% in December, up from a 1.2% recorded in November, according to the ONS. This was the highest rate since July 2014 and was underpinned by rising air fares, food prices and motor fuels. Annual RPI inflation was 2.5% in December, up from 2.2% recorded in the previous month. The latest figures reflect the effects of past falls in commodity prices fading away, but also the impacts of the Sterling depreciation, which has started to filter through into consumer prices.
  • According to the ONS, output prices of manufactured goods rose 2.7% year-on-year in December, up from 2.4% in the previous month. This was the largest increase since March 2012 and was primarily driven by an increase in the price of petroleum products. The input price index for manufactured goods rose 15.8% year-on-year in December, compared with an increase of 13.3% in November, reflecting the pass-through of the weaker Sterling into higher costs for imported raw materials and fuels – which together account for around two thirds of the input price index.
  • The unemployment rate was 4.8% in the three months to November, down marginally from 4.9% in the three months to August and lower than a rate of 5.1% recorded a year earlier, according to the ONS. Similarly, the employment rate was 74.5% in the period September to November 2016, broadly unchanged compared with June to August 2016, but higher than the same period a year earlier (74.0%). 
  • Average total weekly earnings across the whole economy increased 2.8% year-on-year in November, according to the ONS. Earnings in manufacturing increased 2.0% year-on-year and in construction, earnings were 5.0% higher on an annual basis.
  • According to the ONS, the volume of retail sales increased 4.3% year-on-year in December, but fell 1.9% month-on-month, the largest fall since April 2012. ONS reported that the largest contribution to the fall came from non-store stores. Monthly figures tend to paint a volatile picture and are likely to have been influenced by ‘Black Friday’ discounts in November. By value, retail sales rose 5.4% in annual terms, but were 1.3% lower over the month. 

                             
                        

            
                     

Housing

                             
                     

  • In November, according to the ONS and Land Registry, UK house prices rose 6.7% year-on-year, up from 6.4% in October. By nation, house prices grew 7.2% in England, 4.1% in Wales, 3.3% in Scotland and 5.4% in Northern Ireland. According to region, annual house price increases in England were driven by rises in the East of England (10.5%), South East (8.6%) and London (8.1%). Overall, the average UK house price in November was £217,928. The lowest was £124,093 in Northern Ireland and the highest was £481,648 in London. 

For further information contact amandeep.bahra@constructionproducts.org.uk.                          

                             
  Parliamentary and Government Update
                     

Parliamentary update

                             
                     

Westminster weekly business The finalised Westminster business document for the week commencing Monday, 23 January 2017 can be viewed here.                        

                             
                        

            
                     

Plans, Reports, Consultations and Statements

                             
                     

NAO Report re “Housing in England” The National Audit Office has today published an overview of the housing market in England, the Department for Communities and Local Government’s housing strategy and the overall housing policy landscape. The report can be read here.   House of Commons Report re “Tackling the under-supply of housing in England” This House of Commons briefing paper considers key trends in housing supply in the UK and goes on to focus on some of the of the key barriers and potential solutions to increasing supply in England. The full report is available to view here.   Consultation:  Apprenticeship Levy HMRC has opened its second consultation on the Apprenticeship Levy.  This consultation “seeks comments on the draft regulations made under the powers contained in the legislation to provide for the payment, collection and recovery of the apprenticeship levy, as well as other matters relating to its operation.”  The CPA will be responding, and asks for input from members, addressed to Jeff.May@constructionproducts.org.uk. To learn more or respond directly to HMRC, click here. The consultation runs until 03 February 2017.                         

                             
  Industry News
                     

UK Green Building Council green paper proposes more powers for cities on new-build housing CPA Associate the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) published a green paper proposing a key leadership role for cities and local authorities in supporting the delivery of sustainable new homes and communities.  The paper can be read here.                          

                             
  CPA in the News
                     

Industry Agrees Single Process for BIM Product Data Three leading construction industry bodies have moved to clear up growing confusion over the process of standardising product information for use in Building Information Modelling (BIM). The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), and the Construction Products Association (CPA) have agreed on the respective roles of the ‘LEXiCON’ and ‘BIMHawk’ tools in developing standardised product data parameters and structures. This should resolve the apparent confusion over whether the two initiatives compete or complement each other. The Manufacturer | Friday 20 January 2017 | Online Roofing Today | Friday 20 January 2017 | Online    House building defies construction decline ONS figures published last week show that construction output declined 0.2% in November 2016 but private house building output reportedly rose to highest level since 2010. Rebecca Larkin, Senior Economist at the Construction Products Association, said: ‘Overall weakness in official construction output data looks to have persisted in the final three months of 2016, which stands in contrast to other industry surveys. One common theme reported in recent months, however, is the outperformance of private housing relative to other sectors such as commercial, industrial and repair and maintenance. Activity has no doubt been sustained by government support measures such as Help to Buy, strong growth in house prices and the availability of low-interest mortgages.” Glass and Glazing Products | Tuesday 17 January 2017 | Online   Construction must not be left out Wring in Building Magazine, Lord Stunnell, a former minister with responsibility for building regulations, calls on Theresa May to reassure construction that the government understands the industry’s concerns. He writes: “After six months of the new government, the prime minister has only this week offered a hint of how these contradictions are intended to be resolved, and the construction industry has been left with little detail to be able to assess the impact on the sector. No surprise that last autumn the Construction Products Association republished its standard 10-year forward review with a three-year horizon instead.” Building | Thursday 19 January 2017 | Online   What kind of Brexit? In a comment piece for Building Magazine, Editor Sarah Richardson asks readers to complete their survey about the industry’s priorities for the sector in the negotiations ahead. She adds: “For the construction industry – those who trade in products in particular – the explicit withdrawal from the single market is likely to cause concern. Although only 20% of construction products used in the UK are imported, 61% of these come from the EU, according to the Construction Products Association. Over time, of course, the UK could seek to develop greater internal capacity; but one key function of these imports is that they act as a buffer in periods of rising demand while UK product manufacturing capacity increases.” Building | Thursday 19 January 2017 | Online   Mind the gap The RIBA Journal reports on Hilti’s recent CPD seminar ‘From design to build – taking control of fire safety’, chaired by Peter Caplehorn, Deputy Chief Executive and Policy Director at the Construction Products Association. RIBA Journal | Friday 6 January 2017 | Online   Ecobuild overhauls floorplan with exciting new format as architectural collective assemble bring Turner Prize winning art to 2017 show Turner Prize-winning architects Assemble are to headline Ecobuild 2017, bringing their award winning Granby project to the show as part of an immersive new experience. Bringing the event’s theme of regeneration to life, Ecobuild 2017 will see ExCeL London transformed complete with main street, distinct destinations and special feature attractions. Ecobuild also announced key collaborations with Lead Partner UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC), the Construction Products Association, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). Home Designer and Architect | Thursday 19 January 2017 | Online                        

                             
                     

                        

                                 

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