In an update about its Strategy for Sustainable Construction, the Department for Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform stated that the country is on target to reduce emissions by 34 per cent under the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan.

Construction minister Ian Lucas, said: "I am pleased to see we are making steps towards reaching these targets, but there is further work to be done to build on these achievements and reach the overarching goals of the strategy."

Ian Pearson, economic secretary to the Treasury, added that the challenge will now be ensuring that the Climate Change Act targets for 2020 and 2050 are met.

Recently, the UK Green Building Council revealed that it is to start a new Sustainability Training and Education programme.

Speaking to BD Live, Paul King, chief executive of the body, claimed that the scheme was designed to address an "unmet need" in the sector.”

Source: ECA, September 2009

The scheme petition on the Downing Street website now has 816 signatures and the campaign website features supporting messages from Martin Horwood MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Minister, who says: "What a brilliant idea. As a green counter-recessionary measure this is far more likely to save significant carbon emissions than a car scrappage scheme.

"We urgently need to tackle emissions at local and household level and this would make a real difference while helping to protect threatened jobs as well."

Mark Lazarowicz, Labour MP for Edinburgh North & Leith is also supporting the campaign: "Rising fuel prices and the need to help families heat their homes affordably are serious issues that I have worked hard to address, as well as pressing for more rapid progress against climate change," he says.

"I’m supporting the Reheat Britain campaign because a boiler scrappage scheme would not only help the plumbing and heating industries through the recession, it would help tackle these urgent problems as well."

Sian Berry, 2008 Green Mayor of London candidate says: "As soon as I saw this petition, I knew I had to sign it straight away. There’s no downside to the boiler scrappage idea – it’ll help small and medium-sized businesses across the country, boost UK manufacturing and help homeowners cut their bills and their carbon."

The petition was set up by plumbers merchant Mick Williams, managing director of Portsmouth-based Williams & Co. He says: "As soon as the car scrappage scheme was announced I thought how much more successful a ‘boiler scrappage’ scheme would be.

"It is estimated that there are still 4.5 million old boilers that are rated at less than 70% efficient. Replacing these with modern condensing gas boilers and controls could save millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide pouring into our atmosphere each year.
"This scheme would also stimulate demand for gas boilers and help manufacturers, plumbers merchants and Gas Safe heating engineers, boosting thousands of small businesses just when the economy needs it."

Industry supporters include Mark Kelly, CEO Baxi Group UK & Ireland, Charlie Mullins, MD of Pimlico Plumbers and Alan Ball, managing director of PTS who was interviewed for the BBC TV programme Working Lunch about the campaign.”

Source: Builders Merchant Journal, September 2009

According to analyst Glenigan, the year-on-year decline in public spending on construction projects was nine per cent last month, an improvement on the 30 per cent annual decline in May.

Project starts during the three months to August increased in the east of England, the north-west and Yorkshire and the Humber, although London and the Midlands experienced falls in August.

Glenigan’s economics director Allan Wilen commented that in the coming months the pace of decline in the private sector is set to slow, while, in contrast, the recent increase in public sector project starts is likely to lose momentum during the second half of 2009.

"More encouragingly new renewable energy projects and spending on rail and road infrastructure will sustain the increase in civil engineering project starts throughout the remainder of 2009," he concluded.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply’s construction purchasing managers index rose to 47.7, an improvement on July’s 47 points and June’s 44.5.

However, it remained below the 50 mark, which represents the point which divides contraction from growth.”

Source: ECA, September 2009

This is one of a number of major trends impacting the UK pipes and fittings market, according to the AMA Research report.

The report on the ‘UK Pipes and Fittings market for 2009-13′ states the market is estimated to be worth £729 million, at manufacturers selling prices in 2008.

The market being analysed in the document, includes domestic and light commercial plumbing pipe systems, rainwater goods and soil & waste products.

Within this sector there has been a consistent shift away from copper pipe and fittings, which have traditionally dominated these markets. The report says flexible plastic pipe systems have now obtained a reputation for reliability, with improvements in manufacturing technology and ongoing material development.

Push-fit and press-fit fittings are also more popular, with considerable savings made on installation time. The shift to more use of modern methods of construction is driven by an increased demand for greater numbers of flats and smaller properties.

The new report notes the switch from housing to flats during the last eight years, from around 19% of total completions in Great Britain in 2000 to over 48% in 2008, has been key. A government forecast that 5 million new homes will be needed in Britain in the next 20 years is set to influence the type of plumbing, pipe and fittings used, with a reduced demand for rainwater goods driven by the increased number of flats and apartments, while there may well be more demand for waste pipe and fittings.

Growing off-site and other modern manufacturing methods are likely to influence the greater use of push-fit and modular products.

With a greater focus on sustainability and the environment throughout the production and distribution chain, pipes and fittings manufacturers are looking for materials and processes that are not harmful to the environment and that will be available for future generations to use.

2009 estimates indicate a decrease in the market of 12%, reflecting the impact of the UK recession on the housing and construction market. AMA’s report states that although the market is likely to remain depressed in 2009/10, it should develop positively in the medium to longer term.”

Source: Heating & Ventilating, August 2009