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Construction workers could receive an increase in their wages after unions submitted a claim to boost pay by ten per cent.

They wrote to the Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) to ask if all workers in the sector could be covered by its minimum wage agreement. Currently, it has set a level of pay for workers in civil engineering and the ‘biblical’ trades.

Instead, the unions want all construction employees to be protected by the agreement and for their wage to increase by the same percentage.

Jerry Swain, national officer for construction at Unite, said: “For this industry to succeed and attract new entrants then pay rates must reflect workers’ skills and living costs.”

Without the sector offering competitive salaries, it is at risk of losing potentially valuable workers. This could damage the industry, which is already suffering from a skills shortage.

Unite has put forth the argument that construction output is worth £110 billion per year. Therefore, there is no reason why developers cannot afford to pay workers a salary that helps them keep up with rising living costs.

If the industry fails to offer higher wages for construction workers, it will suffer from the “continuing failure to attract new starters”.

Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, stated: “Construction workers are highly skilled and are essential to the UK’s future prosperity. But they are fed up with years of wage attacks. So with growth across the sector now forecast, we’re simply asking that our members get their fair share of rewards.”

She noted the call for higher wages would simply “restore this workforce’s pay to at least a level that matches inflation”, adding: “We will not accept anything less.”

The Unite spokeswoman stated the union will be taking “radical measures” to achieve fair pay for construction employees, which it believes will not only protect workers but also save the industry.

Mr Swain noted that without such changes, there is decreasing relevance of organisations such as CIJC and its agreement.

If it does not help to create a benchmark for pay and conditions in the construction sector, this will result in “questions being asked about the relevance of the CIJC”. This is despite the CIJC being the largest agreement in the sector, currently protecting the wages and employment conditions of around half a million people.

Following the submittance of the pay claim to the CIJC, negotiations regarding construction salaries will be held throughout the spring. It is expected any changes to pay will then take place at the end of June.

In addition to an increase in general wages, Unite wants improvements to be made to the industry’s sick pay and holiday entitlement.

It has called the CIJC to bring these in line with other construction agreements, as poor terms and conditions, as well as minimal pay, is being reflected in the low number of new employees.

Brexit and Covid-19 have also brought challenges to the sector, with the former resulting in fewer foreign workers being able to bring their skills to the UK. Construction Week argues this is resulting in a skills shortage, as the sector is missing these valuable employees from the workforce, reported Lancashire Business Review.

Additionally, the publication states the pandemic has worsened the skills gap due to the reduction in projects at the height of the lockdowns. As workers with more experience in the field were being prioritised for these roles, there was a lack of incentive for apprentices to pursue a career in construction without jobs at the end of their training.

Furthermore, employers lacked the time, money and resources to train prospective workers, meaning there are now people who want a career in the sector but do not have the knowledge, experience or skills to apply for jobs.

PBC Today noted that “2021 was a turbulent year for the construction industry”, as a result of supply chain problems, shortages of materials, and pressure from COP26 to become more sustainable and environmentally conscious.

However, 2022 could be the opportunity to turn things around by introducing new initiatives that ensure safety, supply chain and environmental problems are avoided.

The publication suggested new technologies could be the answer, helping firms make more informed decisions about their projects by using intelligence from the data. By using digital tools to communicate this information to stakeholders, this can avoid supply chain problems and give construction managers the chance to manage project schedules and clients’ expectations at the earliest opportunity.

When it comes to sustainable practices, project management technologies can help. These would hold construction companies accountable for their energy usage by being easily able to see the data, identifying issues of inefficiency and waste better and highlighting areas where improvements can be made.

Technology can also help support the safety of workers, by giving teams visibility of project safety measures through self-documenting construction platforms.

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A new underwater robot designed to carry out important reservoir maintenance tasks could produce huge savings of time, money, and labour, the New Civil Engineer reports. The robot, known as Valiant, is currently being trialled by the Canal & River Trust on Carr Mill Reservoir near St Helens in Merseyside.

The tracked and remotely operated vehicle allows engineers and contractors to carry out maintenance tasks without draining the reservoir. This will save hundreds of thousands of pounds in fish rescue fees, and means that the existing water levels can continue to be used for water sports and angling activities.

Canal & River Trust project designer Tim Brownrigg said: “The Valiant was developed in collaboration with diving contractor Edwards Diving Services and is set to revolutionise how we manage underwater reservoir maintenance, particularly difficult jobs like replacing old, worn-out valves in locations where it is too dangerous to send divers.”

“The trust cares for 72 reservoirs across its 3,200km canal network so the potential reduction in disruption for local residents, water sport enthusiasts and wildlife is immense and of course, cost savings are likely to be significant,” Brownrigg added.

The Canal & River Trust have undertaken a major repair project to upgrade Carr Mill reservoir, which began in 2020 and is due to be completed in July. It is the biggest inland body of water in Merseyside, situated in beautiful countryside between Manchester and Liverpool.

Carr Hill is in the Blackbrook valley and is popular with locals and tourists alike. It is enjoyed by walkers, wildlife enthusiasts, anglers, and boaters. It was originally a mill pond powering Carr’s Corn Mill, and was expanded on a massive scale during the 1750s to provide water for the Sankey Canal, which was the first English canal of the industrial age.

The reservoir also provided power for the industrial mills of the Gerrard Estate, such as the Carr Corn Mill. It was important in the early industrial development of using water power to process iron. During the 1960s, the site was successfully redeveloped into an Entertainment Park, and now attracts thousands of visitors every year.

The £2m upgrade scheme was delivered in two phases, and thanks to the innovative underwater robot, water levels had to be lowered only slightly below the usual level.

The first phase of the work was carried out at the dam wall by the railway viaduct. It involved the removal of an asbestos concrete pipe and the installation of a new gauging weir, plus a security grill, safety railings, ladders, steps, joint sealant, and other safety and access enhancements.

During phase two, two existing underwater valves in the dam embankment next to the A571 Carr Mill Road were replaced with four new ones, complete with supporting networks. The original valves dated back to the 1860s and were in poor condition.

One of the original valves will be displayed within the Entertainment Park as a monument to the ingenuity of the Victorian engineers who built the reservoir and canal system.

A range of improvements and repairs were also made to increase the resilience of the crest road embankment and repairs to the valve hut building. Extensive repairs were also carried out on the old spillway and its bridge was strengthened to enable it to withstand modern traffic loads.

Meanwhile, the Canal & River Trust’s plans for the permanent repair of the Toddbrook Reservoir Dam, which partially collapsed in the summer of 2019, have been put forward for a second public consultation.

Daniel Greenhalgh, Canal & River Trust North West Director, said: “More than 300 people submitted feedback at our first public consultation last September and this played a significant role in helping to shape the chosen repair plan we now put forward. We would love to hear from people, either online or in person with their feedback.”

The final plan involves a new side channel weir, a tumble bay, a spillway channel, and stilling basin being built on the northern side of the dam. The Trust have said the repair project will cost up to £16m, which they will fund themselves.

The reservoir, which formerly supplied water to the Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals, has been disused since the incident in 2019, which led to Whaley Bridge residents being evacuated from their homes as it was feared the dam could burst and flood the town. The damaged spillway has been made safe ahead of the planned new construction works.

If planning permission is granted for the new weir and stilling basin, they will connect with the River Goyt via a channel through the park, and the old slipway will be decommissioned and grassed over.

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Landscaping a garden is potentially expensive and it can be difficult to get right. However, with some careful planning, there is no reason why you can’t hire some landscaping equipment yourself and transform an overgrown plot into an attractive outdoor space. Here are some useful pointers to help you get going.

Decide what elements you want to include

There are a huge variety of ways to transform a garden, so decide which features will be most important to you. Do you need to create a flat area of lawn for the kids to play? Do you want a nice patio area for dining and socialising? Maybe a sunken seating area or a wildlife pond could be created to add some extra interest.

Think about the location

If you want a sunny patio to relax on in the afternoons, check out the position of the sun on your garden at that time of day. If you want an outdoor cooking area or firepit, decide which is the prevailing wind direction, and build it in a good sheltered spot.

Make some rough sketches

Get a plan down on paper before you begin, to help you envisage a well-proportioned garden that isn’t overwhelmed by any one element, and fits well with the size of the house. It can be a good idea to create a focal point to draw the eye, which could simply be a tree or seat.

The trick is to create a space which feels ‘pulled together’, yet isn’t too repetitive and monotonous. You could contrast linear fencing with curved flower beds, and add different levels of lawn and patio linked by a few steps, for example.

Consider the problems of the plot

If you are starting with a new-build or neglected garden, there are bound to be some problem areas. You may need to remove overgrown trees which are too near the house, or are dead. (Check with the local authority that they are not subject to a protection order first.)

Old tree stumps can be removed with a stump grinder, and branches and other garden waste can be put into a garden shredder. This will make the waste much easier to remove and dispose of, and shredded leaves and weeds can be reused as garden mulch and composting material.

If the plot is completely choked with weeds, it may be necessary to finish the clearance with an application of weedkiller.

Check out the soil

Once the plot has been cleared of unwanted trees and weeds, check out the quality of the soil. Is it sandy and full of pebbles and builders’ debris? Does it drain properly after heavy rainfall? Is it heavily compacted by building machinery? Does it need levelling?

You may not need workable soil on the whole site if you are putting in a lot of paths and patios, but you will still need to think about levelling and drainage. To level out sloping land, you may need to hire a mini excavator. Even if you don’t want a flat lawn, it is a good idea to build in some terraces to stop the topsoil washing away, and for ease of mowing.

Heavily compacted soil will need turning over to improve drainage and plant growth. Digging over hard soil is tough work, so consider hiring a rotavator, which will make the job much quicker and easier. If the loosened soil still looks fine and gritty, it may be worth having a delivery of good quality topsoil to help new plants and turf grow well.

Consider the drainage

If the site takes a long time to drain after rainfall, you may need to install drains. If you are creating a lot of planting areas, a lot of this excess moisture will be soaked up. However, if the space will consist mainly of paved areas, extra drainage provision should be made.

Lay foundations

Once you have the site cleared, levelled, and have corrected any issues with the soil and drainage, you can start the building work. Lay out foundations for the paths, patios, and garden structures. Install fences and raised beds, and any electricals that are required. If you are including sunken areas or ponds, dig these out now.

Planting beds and borders

Start with bigger plants such as trees, shrubs and hedges first. Check out the final height and width each plant will achieve in ten years, as you don’t want to end up with overshadowed areas, and smaller specimens being hidden by larger ones. Leave sowing or laying the lawn until last, to avoid unwanted traffic which will damage the new grass.

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