For more information on the Construction Employers Federation, T: +44 (0)28 9087 7143 - E: mail@cefni.co.uk visit: www.cefni.co.uk
CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS FEDERATION UPDATES MEMBERS ON ONGOING ISSUES… As the certified representative body for the construction industry in Northern Ireland, the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) represents the interests of not only its member companies but those of roughly 65,000 skilled workers engaged within the wider construction sector. In the below ‘Work in Progress’ update, CEF Managing Director, Mark Spence, discusses some of the issues the Federation is currently working on: Work in progress
Mark Spence, Construction Employers
Federation (CEF) Managing Director.
MAJOR CHANGES COMING ON LOCAL BUILDING REGULATIONS The Department of Finance has taken forward two consultations recently with respect to NI’s Building Regulations. The first relates to the long-awaited and welcome fire safety changes which have already been implemented in GB. Once approved, this will mean that all new buildings which contain flats and are more than 11m above ground level would require sprinkler systems. All residential care premises, including residential care homes, nursing homes, children’s homes and family resident centres, irrespective of storey height will also be included. The proposals do not include a requirement to retrofit existing buildings – although that will likely be considered at a later date. The second is a Discussion Document and Pre- Consultation on the next steps with regard to Building Regulations in line with the DfE Energy Strategy of 2021 and the decarbonisation of our housing stock. The Building Regulations direction is clear and industry-supported. Prior to the mid-November consultation deadline, our focus will be on key topics: • Considering advancing the cut-off for conventional oil heating in new dwellings. • Assessing the impact of ‘coming into force’ timeline changes on homebuilders. • Examining how proposals affect homebuilding costs amid economic conditions and housing shortage. • Addressing interconnected changes, especially PV and EV charging infrastructure, ensuring affordable grid connections. Additionally, housebuilding members await NIE Networks’ Standard Connection Charge consultation and engage with Utility Regulator and DfE for new build connection charging policy.
CONSULTATIONS ON NEW PROCUREMENT BILL With the Procurement Bill shortly to complete its journey through the UK Parliament – likely now to take legal effect in late 2024 – the Cabinet Office conducted two technical consultations over the summer on its provisions. What was clear from both consultations is that most of the existing Public Contracts Regulations will be maintained under UK law with some modest tweaks. The only substantive elements of the consultations that are of slight concern are the proposed provisions around authorities being able to reserve contracts for ‘local’ firms for under threshold procurements – ‘suppliers that are UK-based or located in a specific county or borough.’ Given the success of local firms in GB over the last 10-15 years, we have sought clarity on the intent of the proposed changes given that they can be construed as being counter to the principles of the UK internal market. ENGAGEMENT WITH NI AUDIT OFFICE The CEF recently met with representatives of the NIAO to discuss their follow up report to their 2019 report into Major Capital Projects. This discussion focused on current market conditions for contractors as well of the role and impact of the Procurement Board since it was re-constituted in 2020. Their report is likely to be published around the end of the year.
www.nibuilder.co.uk
FOLLOW US ON:
NI BUILDER | 7
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online