RICS Modus, Global edition — November 2011

rics.org/modus

DIGGING DEEP The challenges of building below ground p16FREEZING ASSETS Opportunities for mining in the Arctic p28WASTE NOT Creating a sustainable future for landfill sites p36

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11.11 //

THE UNDERGROUND

ISSUE

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WHAT LIES BENEATH

ALASTAIR FORDAlastair has over 10 years’ experience covering the mining and resources industries, and has visited projects around the world. He is currently editor of leading online publication Minesite.com.

CHRISTOPHER IRELANDChristopher specialises in photographic portraits for editorial and advertising, and has exhibited at the Australian Centre for Photography. He photographed Darren Herdman FRICS in Sydney for this issue.

IAN DUTNALLLondon-based illustrator and graphic designer Ian produces the regular Measure page for Modus. He also illustrated the infographic on global groundwater reserves for this edition.

11.11 // MODUS 03

Regulars

04FEEDBACKYour letters, and the latest Modus poll

06INTELLIGENCEGlobal property and construction news, plus opinions, reviews and reactions

33LAW ADVICEThe impact of recent amendments to the Construction Act

41BUSINESS ADVICETips for successfully managing your business cash flow

Features

16UNDERGROUNDDoes it make sense to build below?

2210 OF THE BESTUndergroundprojects worldwide

2610 MINUTES WITH…Darren Herdman FRICS, Sydney

28THE COLD RUSHThe possibilities for mining in the Arctic

34TAPPING RESERVESWater abstraction and replenishment

36WATCHING WASTEReducing reliance on landfill sites

43RICS NEWSNews and updates from RICS worldwide, plus a message from the President

51EVENTSExhibition, training and conference dates for your diary

55RECRUITMENTThe latest job opportunities from across the industry

58THE MEASUREDigging deep into the global mining industry

Traditionally an escape from extreme weather, subterranean structures are enjoying

a resurgence, thanks to sustainability concerns and a shortage of space in urban

centres. But building below brings a host of construction challenges, from spiralling

costs to safety concerns. This month, we consider the pros and cons (page 16), and

round up 10 inspirational underground projects around the world (page 22). Also in

this issue, we meet a chartered surveyor involved in Australia’s booming minerals

industry (page 26), and explore the growing potential for mining in the Arctic (page 28). Finally, we focus on underground reserves of the world’s most important natural

resource – water (page 34) – and look at the challenges of meeting landfill reduction

targets while ensuring the viability of this much-needed method (page 36).

VICTORIA BROOKES EDITOR

Information

Contributors//

Contents//:11.11 //

MODUS_Nov_p03-4_Content & Letters_v2.indd 3 18/10/2011 14:12

FOR SUNDAYEditor Victoria Brookes // Art Director Christie Ferdinando

// Contributing Editor Brendon Hooper // Sub Editor

Samantha Whitaker // Creative Director Matt Beaven //

Account Director Stephanie Hill // Commercial Director

Karen Jenner // Commercial Manager Lucie Inns //

Senior Sales Executive Faith Ellis // Recruitment

Sales Manager Grace Healy // Managing Director

Toby Smeeton // Repro F1 Colour // Printers

Woodford Litho // Cover Corbis; Peter Crowther

Published by Sunday, Studio 2, Enterprise House,

1-2 Hatfi elds, London SE1 9PG sundaypublishing.com

FOR RICSEditorial board Ian Fussey and Jaclyn Dunstan

RICS, Parliament Square, London SW1P 3AD

Feedback//

UNNATURAL SELECTIONI’ve huge sympathy with Stuart Davidson (‘Save our Small Companies’, Modus October), having battled myself against the rising tide of ‘big is beautiful’ since 1993 when the procurement of services by the public sector became regulated. Over the years, I’ve heard politicians promise to make it easier for SMEs to compete, but little has changed except the gulf between large and small fi rms having widened.

There’s one misconception that may be the root of the problem. When adopting the ‘restricted procedure’ (an open pre-qualifi cation stage leading to a restricted tender stage), authorities have no choice but to award a commission to either the lowest tenderer or the tenderer providing the most economically advantageous tender when assessed under various predefi ned criteria. However, at the pre-qualifi cation stage, there is no such requirement. You can search the legislation all day long, but you won’t fi nd a requirement for authorities to shortlist those

04 r ics.org

fi rms that provide the ‘most economically advantageous application to tender’, yet this is precisely what happens in practice.

As a member of the former Association for Regulated Procurement, I attended meetings in the 1990s that debated how authorities might choose fi ve tenderers from 25 out of 50 applicants who all met their minimum requirements. It was even considered likely that some authorities might draw lots. I’d lay bets this has never happened in the UK, as all authorities appear hell-bent on shortlisting the ‘best’ fi rms whom they deem to be those who score highest when PQQs are assessed on a points-scoring basis. Furthermore, there is mainland EU (Denmark) case law dating from 1996 where it was held to be a legitimate criterion to seek to optimise competition through the selection of diff erent sizes of fi rms. Unless the government gets to grips with this issue there appears little point in SMEs competing in the public sector, which simply cannot be right. Graham Stow FRICS, Chippenham

The MODUS team//

JOIN THE DEBATE

:EMAIL YOUR FEEDBACK [email protected]

Views expressed in Modus are those of the named author and are not necessarily those of RICS or the publisher. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. All information correct at time of going to press. All rights reserved. The publisher cannot accept liability for errors or omissions. RICS does not accept responsibility for loss, injury or damage or costs that result from, or are connected in any way to, the use of products or services advertised. All editions of Modus are printed on paper sourced from sustainable, properly managed forests. This magazine can be recycled for use in newspapers and packaging. Please dispose of it at your local collection point. The polywrap is made from biodegradable material and can be recycled.

92,028 average net circulation 1st July 2010 – 20th June 2011

THE MODUS POLL :SHOULD DRILLING IN THE ARCTIC GO AHEAD?Total votes: 385

Visit rics.org/modus now to vote in our next poll: ‘Which renewable energy technology do you think has the most potential?’

CASE HISTORIESI read with interest the September edition of Modus. One of the sections I admit to having a curious fascination with is the conduct section. I believe my interest in seeing how others are penalised or even struck off for fl outing the Rules of Conduct is shared by the majority of members. In my view, the report does not go far enough, and would have a more potent eff ect if it were to elaborate on the type of off ence and the exact level of penalty applied. References to ‘Failure to comply with Rule 8’, for example, mean little to the majority of members who fi nd themselves already far too unfamiliar with the Rules of Conduct.

To my mind, this all-too-brief column could more usefully serve as a sharp reminder that individuals and organisations risk serious disciplinary action if they are found to be in breach of the rules that, at the end of the day, underpin our professional reputation and our hard-earned accreditation. As an APC assessor, I regularly fi nd that candidates struggle to comprehend the justifi cation for these rules. The conduct report could usefully act as a series of case studies, and one or two cases might be reported in greater detail, rather like a law report, which would inform and educate junior members.Robert Paul MRICS, Shrewsbury

As the outcome for one case can run to 1,500 words or more, we don’t have space in Modus to cover the cases in full, since we must be fair to those who have been disciplined. We always include the URL (rics.org/conductcases), which has details of every hearing going back 12 months.

Due to the volume of correspondence we receive, we regret that we are unable to print all letters or respond to every one individually.

* For full terms and conditions of fees (paid only to property professionals on unconditional exchange) please refer to our web-site.

That’s why we are committed

to being as flexible as possible in

agreeing and signing a deal that

works for everyone.

That’s what partnership is all about.

WWW.KFCDEVELOPMENT.CO.UKFind out more online at

or call us today on 01483 717 188 if you know a site

that fits our requirements.

SIGN ABOVE

2 E .indd 1 2 /09/2011 1 :0

No, protect the land

under a global commons

54.3%

Yes, following work to

minimise damage/risk

28.6%

Yes, managed by independent

third party

6.2%

Yes, managed by

neighbouring countries

6%

Yes, to the highest bidder

4.9%

MODUS_Nov_p03-4_Content & Letters_v2.F1.indd 4 19/10/2011 17:05

* For full terms and conditions of fees (paid only to property professionals on unconditional exchange) please refer to our web-site.

That’s why we are committed

to being as flexible as possible in

agreeing and signing a deal that

works for everyone.

That’s what partnership is all about.

WWW.KFCDEVELOPMENT.CO.UKFind out more online at

or call us today on 01483 717 188 if you know a site

that fits our requirements.

SIGN ABOVE

2 E .indd 1 2 /09/2011 1 :0MODUS_Nov_p03-4_Content & Letters_v2.indd 5 18/10/2011 14:12

Intelligence// :NEWS :REVIEWS :OPINIONS :REACTIONS

MODUS_Nov_p06-7_Intel_opener.indd 6 18/10/2011 14:15

Producing around 850,000 ounces of gold each year, operations at the Fimiston Open Pit – ‘The Super Pit’ – in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia, far exceed that of any other mining centre in the country. Originally known as the Golden Mile, the area used to be a collection of privately owned operations until high-profile businessman Alan Bond began buying the individual leases to create one company – and one enormous pit – in the 1980s. Bond’s company failed to complete the takeover but, in 1989, the entire area was combined and is now jointly owned by Newmont Australia and Barrick Gold Corporation, and managed by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines. The Super Pit will eventually stretch 3.8km long, 1.5km wide and go down to a depth of more than 600m – large enough to see from space – and is expected to be productive for another five years. Combining the mines has made it possible to extract gold far more economically, ensuring the continued harvest of the Golden Mile, which has produced nearly 50m ounces of gold since it was first discovered by Irish prospector Paddy Hannan in 1893. The company’s operations will also ensure Australia holds its place, behind South Africa and the US, as the third-largest gold producer in the world.To find out about mining in colder climes, turn to page 28

:THE SUPER PIT KALGOORLIE, AUSTRALIA

MODUS_Nov_p06-7_Intel_opener.indd 7 18/10/2011 14:15

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Intelligence//

08 r ics.org

SMART SOLUTIONCarbon pricing could boost the Australian construction industry, as well as reduce emissions

A government report due to be published later this year will say that climate change is inevitable and requires new building methods to cope with its extreme eff ects, such as heat, fl oods and high winds. The Climate Change Risk Assessment will apply to new commercial buildings, housing, infrastructure and retrofi tting,

and will include strategies such as incentivising the building of green roofs and increasing natural ventilation methods to cool buildings. Overheating is seen as a major future challenge, particularly in cities, where the temperature can be higher than the surrounding region due to the urban heat island eff ect.

With the built environment responsible for more than 40% of global energy use and up to 80% of carbon emissions in cities, impacts at all stages of a project’s life cycle need to be considered, says a new guide from Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) and the Global Reporting Initiative. The Construction and

Real Estate Sector Supplement advises investors, developers and managers on measuring, monitoring and reporting on the sustainability of construction activities, and ‘should bring about a much more level playing fi eld amongst real estate and construction companies,’ said Julie Hirigoyen of JLL.

UK // CLIMATE ADJUSTMENT Europe // SUSTAINABLE LIFE CYCLE

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) believes that an emissions trading scheme, or another carbon pricing mechanism, may be one of

the most effi cient and cost-effective ways for the country to meet its international reduction targets. It would also boost investment in green technologies and stimulate new sectors of the economy, potentially leading to a global competitive advantage. But to capitalise fully on the potential of the built environment, a carbon price must be complemented with a range of integrated measures that support energy and material effi ciency within the property and construction industry.

These complementary measures include investment in research, development and commercialisation of low-emission technologies, mandatory disclosure, and energy-effi ciency incentives such as tax breaks and white certifi cates. Strong collaboration between government, industry and non-government organisations is required to overcome the current market failures and skills gaps.

In June, the GBCA released its paper Putting a Price on Pollution, setting out the rationale and mechanics for pricing carbon and how this will affect property and construction. It is unlikely that these industries will have many direct obligations under a carbon scheme, but they will be affected indirectly by the higher costs of building materials and electricity. The industrial processes sector, for example, will need to pass on the price increases associated with creating emissions-intensive products such as bricks, cement, aluminium, glass and steel. It will also become more expensive to transport these materials around the country.

Increasing energy prices will drive the property and construction industry to demand higher standards of effi ciency and greener materials in an effort to reduce costs. Buildings constructed and maintained to the highest standards will be more desirable for buyers and tenants, whereas older, less energy-effi cient buildings with higher energy costs will be less popular.

Australia is already seeing buildings with Green Star ratings deliver greater returns than those without. The latest IPD Green Property Index, released in June, found that 4 Star Green Star-rated buildings delivered a 10.8% return over two years, compared with a 4% return for non-rated buildings. Similarly, the Australian Property Institute and Property Funds Association’s Building Better Returns report, released in September, found that Green Star-rated buildings are delivering a 12% ‘green premium’ in value and a 5% premium in rent. The report found a green premium was evident for both Green Star-rated and NABERS Energy offices, with 5 Star NABERS Energy buildings attracting a 9% premium in value. Once a carbon price is introduced, we can expect this trend to accelerate.

ROMILLY MADEW is chief executive of the GBCA. Download its carbon price paper at gbca.org.au/carbonpaper.

Romilly Madew Green Building Council of Australia

Insight

SHOULD WE BE SUPPORTING THE CARBON PRICE?

MODUS_Nov_P08-13_Intel.v4.indd 8 19/10/2011 10:39

01.11 // MODUS 09

:ONE BIG QUESTION HOW IS YOUR LOCAL COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MARKET PERFORMING?

11.11 // MODUS 09

Source: RICS Commercial Market Survey Q3 2011

Southampton There has been an increase in enquiries for industrial design and build, but there are a limited number of sites available to develop. Offi ce take-up in Southampton is at an all-time low.

Middlesbrough There continues to be movement in the industrial market, but the other sectors remain diffi cult. Relocation costs, lack of available fi nance and empty rates are stifl ing the market.

Cambridge The occupier and investment market has been quiet over the summer. Many companies and organisations will continue to put off making long-term decisions while the economy is fl atlining.

Russell Mogridge MRICS, Hughes Ellard

David Jackson MRICS, Sanderson Weatherall

Michael Sumpster FRICS, Barker Storey Matthews

UKPERSONAL PODS

Heathrow Airport has launched a world-fi rst personal rapid transit system connecting its business car park to Terminal 5. Designed by Arup in collaboration with Ultra PRT, the 3.8km system uses a fl eet of 21 driverless vehicles, or ‘pods’, that can transport four passengers plus luggage at speeds of up to 25mph. The design team faced numerous construction challenges, such as building structures over busy roads, while complying with stringent height and design codes. BAA believes the new system will save more than half of the fuel used by the public and private transport it has replaced.

London There is still a limited supply for true Grade A space in prime Mayfair/St James’s. After a quiet summer, the jury is still out on market sentiment and likely activity after the summer recess.

Cardiff Still the focal point of the South Wales conurbation and the principal location for investment and development. But, as in other UK regions, development activity recently has been very limited.

Chris Sutton MRICS, Jones Lang LaSalle

Kevin Kemplen MRICS, Kinney Green

14Australia’s construction

industry contracted for the 14th straight

month in July, according to the Australian

Industry Group

GermanyWIND MININGAbandoned coal mines could be used to ‘store’ renewable energy, as part of an ambitious land reuse plan. Lower Saxony is exploring the potential for mines in the Harz Mountains to store water pumped uphill by wind turbines in times of excess power. The water is then released downhill when needed, using gravity to drive the turbines. Though a pilot plant may cost around €200m (£174m), it is predicted it could store up to 400MW of energy, enough to power 40,000 homes a day.New Zealand

SHAKE PROTECTIONSince 2002, Auckland’s Britomart district, a former Maori village and colonial fort, has been undergoing a transformation into a new business and retail district. One of the latest additions is the Britomart East Building, built above the city’s central railway station. Designed by Johnson Pilton Walker, the development has been fi tted with a vibration dampening system to allow for movement during an earthquake, to protect the station below. The building has also been awarded a 5 Star Green Star rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council.

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NEWS BITES

Gateway is goThe Dartford Gateway masterplan, which will see 1,050 homes constructed over a 175,000m sq site in the Kent town, has been granted planning permission. Designed by Grid Architects for Delancey and Essential Land, the scheme will also include a mix of commercial and retail and a large public park.

Merger probeThe UK Competition Commission is to investigate the proposed £1.8bn merger of quarry companies Lafarge and Tarmac, following advice from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The OFT has warned that the joint venture could have a detrimental effect on the sector by raising commodity prices and costs of the construction industry.

Expansion planTurner & Townsend has launched two new offices in Brazil and Peru, where the firm will provide project and cost management consultancy primarily to the mining sector. The offices have been opened as part of a strategy to achieve 60% of revenue from overseas by the end of the year.

Strait aheadRussia has given the green light for a 65-mile railway tunnel that will link Asia and North America across the Bering Strait. Although the project is not yet funded, the country is keen to pursue fossil fuel and mineral wealth in the Arctic, with predictions that the tunnel service could earn £7bn per year in freight revenues.

10 r ics.org

Opinion

IS THE SHINY ALLURE OF METALS WANING? I DON’T THINK SOSimon Rubinsohn RICS Chief Economist

Metals of both the precious and base varieties have been generally strong performers in recent years,

albeit for very different reasons. The former, most notably gold, are widely viewed as the investment bolt-hole of choice in a sea of uncertainty. The latter, meanwhile, have been underpinned by the healthy growth trend in emerging economies. However, the latest round of turmoil in the financial markets has cast a dark cloud over the commodity market, raising the possibility that the allure of gold may be waning just at the point when the worsening economic climate in the West spreads eastwards.

I suspect this is probably overstating the point. Safe havens will always be attractive and, in the current environment, with US and European policymakers scratching their heads about what to do next to alleviate the threat of a ‘double dip’, this will be even more the case. Even if the immediate risk appears to be that of recession, the temptation to print more and more money in response is likely to provide a ready home among investors for gold.

Meanwhile, at this stage, contagion from the depressed West to the rather more upbeat East appears more possibility than probability. Remember, many of these economies have been hiking rather than cutting interest rates, and so have the scope to respond to any softening in demand. Significantly, China now accounts for around 40% of first-use demand for base metals; by contrast, the combined figure for the US, Europe and Japan is only around the 30% mark. The other supportive influence for many of these markets is the supply side. Disruption has been most visible in copper, but there have been obstacles in delivery in other areas as well.

Whether you see a resumption of the upward pattern in metal prices as a good thing rather depends on where you sit. In any event, after such strong gains, it may be that a period of more moderate growth will follow. However, given the ongoing pattern of economic developments, it would be a brave call to suggest that gold or copper are going out of fashion any time soon. rics.org/economics

SingaporeRETROFIT PILOTSingapore’s Ministry of National Development has launched a pilot scheme to encourage the retrofitting of commercial buildings. The Building Retrofit Energy Efficiency Financing Scheme will enable building owners to obtain loans for retrofitting to the minimum Green Mark standard. Run by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority in association with United Overseas Bank and Standard Chartered, it is hoped the scheme will encourage mainly small or medium-sized businesses to retrofit their premises, as they are usually deterred by high upfront costs.

10,000The US Green Building Council

awarded its 10,000th LEED certification in August

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USGREEN GIANT

The Empire State Building has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the US Green Building Council following a two-year, US$100m renovation. Everything from the windows to the bathroom fittings were upgraded as part of a retrofit model created by the Clinton Climate Initiative, Johnson Controls, the Rocky Mountain Institute and Jones Lang LaSalle. The team reduced the building’s energy consumption by 38% – saving US$4m in annual costs – and now plan to replicate the model on other properties around the world.


01.11 // MODUS 09

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ZERO WASTEBales of crushed and compacted recyclables at Bywaters recycling plant in London, where several tons of waste are processed every day

Opinion

NORTHERN IRELAND MUST DO MORE TO BOOST RECYCLINGMichael Doran MRICS Action Renewables

RICS recently issued a press release in Northern Ireland supporting the challenging recycling targets proposed by the Northern Ireland Executive

Minister of the Environment, Alex Attwood. However, the press release also highlighted the fact that, realistically, it is unlikley that these targets will be met if the current trends continue. So what is being proposed for Northern Ireland? And how does it contrast with what is currently being achieved in the rest of the UK?

Attwood proposes to increase the amount of municipal waste sent to recycling and composting to 60% by 2020. The rate currently sits at 33% for the period to the end of December 2010, with household recycling currently at 36%. The Department of Environment (DoE) in Northern Ireland is predicting that the rate of increase for 2011 is likely to be just 2%.

In the rest of the UK, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for compiling the statistics from data provided by councils and government agencies. For the year ending 2010, the household rate for the UK was just below 40% (a 3% increase on the previous year). This is heading toward the EU Waste Framework Directive target of 50% by 2020. In a recent development in England, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles agreed to provide an additional £250m to ensure weekly bin collections for households are reinstated. This has generally been welcomed as another incentive that will encourage householders to recycle.

However, if Northern Ireland is starting from a lower level of recycling than the rest of the UK, and is increasing

at a slower rate, how will it manage to reach a higher target by 2020? The DoE in Northern Ireland has rejected claims from RICS that the country is not on target. A press release issued in August states that, ‘This year’s fi gures, which will not be confi rmed for a few months yet, are likely to show that that increase is continuing at around 2% over last year’s fi gures.’

It is diffi cult to see how the challenging 2020 target will be achieved without some additional initiative. The ‘Rethink Waste’ campaign has been instrumental to get Northern Ireland to where it is now, but RICS believes that much more is needed.

MICHAEL DORAN is managing director of Action Renewables in Belfast and sits on the RICS Environment and Resources Board. actionrenewables.orgrics.org/environment

10 r ics.org12 r ics.org

Top 5 surveyors ON TWITTER 1. Avalon Built Environment @AvalonBE2. Geoff Wilkinson Wilkinson Construction Consultants @Geoff Wilkinson3. Marie Hodgson@MarieHodgson4. Michael Stephen Day Integra Property Services @integraps5. Nicholas Handslip Franklin Project Management @NFranklinPM

UKBILLION POUND TOWN

Plans have been submitted for a £1bn new town to be built 10 miles south of Aberdeen. Based on similar new urbanist principles to the Prince of Wales’ Poundbury scheme in Dorset, the Chapelton of Elsick will eventually be a sustainable community of seven neighbourhoods on a 8,000m sq site, with around 9,000 homes, a school, shops and offi ces. Miami-based architecture fi rm DPZ is working in conjunction with a number of local architects to ensure the scheme refl ects the vernacular style of northeast Scotland.

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Intelligence//


01.11 // MODUS 09

BelgiumWORLD BELOWUS-based architecture graduate Jon Martin has come up with an intriguing plan to make an abandoned network of streets beneath the city of Antwerp useful again, by transforming it into a ‘subterranean museum’. Taking inspiration from WG Sebald’s melancholic novel Austerlitz, Martin’s thesis project aims to explore the architectural and archaeological foundations of Antwerp, with galleries and digital media exhibitions located within excavated spaces in the underground streets.

Books :REVIEWS

Essential reading for chartered surveyors who accept instruction where the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is relevant.18960 // £40

Order from ricsbooks.com

Covering all the major and commonly used building contracts, this considers the legal basis of claims.18995 // £87.50

A self-contained book on the logic and institutions of project fi nance, supplemented by a series of case studies.17235 // £65.00

Details valuation principles and practice in the residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, leisure and offi ce sectors.17051 // £36.99

11.11 // MODUS 13

TurkeyBIO BUILD

Davis Langdon has been awarded a contract to advise on the construction of a £2bn eco-town in Turkey. Bio Istanbul, designed by Atkins, is a masterplan for a hospital and science park to accommodate around 50,000 health workers, as well as housing for 10,000 people. The quantity surveying consultancy, whose parent company Aecom is aiming to grow its European business by 30% in three years, will advise the developer Bio City Development Co on costs and construction planning. The scheme is expected to complete in 2018.

GlobalLAND GRABS

Oxfam has warned that the rush to acquire land in developing countries is larger than previously thought, and may be fuelling confl ict and human rights abuses. The charity has identifi ed more than 2m km sq of land – the size of northwest Europe – as being sold, leased or licensed, mostly in Africa, to international investors in thousands of secretive deals over the past decade. This estimate is more than four times as much as that identifi ed by the World Bank earlier this year. Though justifi ed for growing food and biofuels, the land rush can be to the detriment of local people’s rights.

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$81bnThe amount of preliminary projects (US$)

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63%The percentage UK home ownership is set to fall to

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“ WE CAN’T AFFORD TO TAKE RISKS WHEN WE’RE APPOINTING OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS”

Robert Marsh, Director (Electrical), Johnathan Hart Associates

ECA electrical contractors must undergo a thorough examination of their financial, commercial and technical skills

To find an ECA contractor that’s right for you:

www.eca.co.ukONE LESS THING TO WORRY ABOUT.

ECA Robert 274x404.indd 1 15/09/2011 10:54MODUS_Nov_p14-15_ECA_Adindd 6 18/10/2011 14:17

“ WE CAN’T AFFORD TO TAKE RISKS WHEN WE’RE APPOINTING OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS”

Robert Marsh, Director (Electrical), Johnathan Hart Associates

ECA electrical contractors must undergo a thorough examination of their financial, commercial and technical skills

To find an ECA contractor that’s right for you:

www.eca.co.ukONE LESS THING TO WORRY ABOUT.

ECA Robert 274x404.indd 1 15/09/2011 10:54MODUS_Nov_p14-15_ECA_Adindd 7 18/10/2011 14:17

16 rics.org

DOES IT MAKE

SENSE TO BUILD BELOW

GROUND?FROM TRANSPORT TO LUXURY HOMES,

ROXANE McMEEKEN WEIGHS UP THE PROS AND CONS

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Building below//

11.11 // MODUS 17

THERE IS A HUGE PREMIUM FOR BUILDING UNDERGROUND. IT CAN ADD 50-150% TO THE COST PER SQUARE METRE, BUT AS A GENERAL RULE IT’S DOUBLE THE COST

Hitting groundwater during underground works is a common challenge, such as with the current building of London’s ‘Walkie Talkie’ at 20 Fenchurch Street

says McNamara. Of course, the most likely thing you’ll find is water. ‘Wherever you build below you may encounter groundwater – keeping it out of your site is the biggest problem, both during construction and for the rest of the structure’s life,’ says Ken Watts, principal consultant at the Building Research Establishment (BRE). ‘It’s also a major issue because groundwater levels determine the strength of the soil and how you treat it.’

Any substructure can be waterproofed, says McNamara. ‘Some basements are even below the water table, feasible with good walls and pumping systems.’ Again, though, this adds to the cost, especially as you need ‘absolute experts on this type of job – whether it’s a basement extension or the Channel Tunnel’. >>

An array of amazing subterranean ruins around the world, from the intricate 11th-century Sun Temple at Modhera in India to

the sunken 13th-century churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia, shows that building below ground has long been thought a good idea. In the UK, subterranean projects have been widespread since the Industrial Revolution. Tunnels are a critical part of the transport network, from the opening of the world’s first underground railway in London in 1863 to today’s ambitious Crossrail project. Basements, meanwhile, were fitted as standard in many Victorian and Edwardian homes, and are now seeing a retrofitting resurgence.

So what does building beneath the surface entail? First, serious quantities of money. ‘There is a huge premium for building underground versus building above,’ says Patrick McNamara MRICS of Davis Langdon, an expert on subterranean work. ‘It can add 50-150% to the cost per square metre, but as a general rule it’s double the cost.’ These high costs are partly due to the need to excavate – as Duncan Wilkinson of Arup puts it, ‘Every teaspoon you take out costs you money.’

Exactly how much depends on the material you’re working with, whether digging in London clay, lifting out Singapore’s ‘cream cheese-like’ sand or blasting New York rock. But while rocky ground is more difficult to tunnel through, the resulting hole needs relatively limited support. In contrast, London clay is easy to dig through but notorious for shifting around and filling with water, so substructures here need expensive and complex support.

The existing built environment can add to the bill, too. ‘For instance, if there is an old church at the end of the street with shallow foundations, your activity underground could shake it severely,’ explains McNamara. If you are also taking out old piles, the complexity of the process makes it ‘expensive and slow – and particularly painful if you find a whole blanket of little piles to remove,’ he adds.

Whatever the conditions, building below ground will always take longer than the equivalent construction above the surface. ‘In the time taken to build two stories underground, you could do 10 on top,’ McNamara says. ‘It’s always harder to build below. The technical challenges multiply by the metre – in fact, they mushroom.’ This means the building process must be methodical. ‘You have to follow a set number of steps, so you can’t really fast-track things.’

Then there’s the risk of finding something unexpected, which can be not only costly but also dangerous. ‘You never know exactly what you’re going to find, however well it’s been surveyed – it’s a murky world down there,’


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Building below//

either digging a tunnel or building straight down among a forest of structures in a city. ‘Essentially you have to hold back the ground to stop it falling on to you, and you must also stop the building next door falling – which is all hugely challenging,’ says Watts.

As for the impact of subterranean construction on the wider environment, there are pros and cons. ‘Every storey of a building underground adds to your carbon footprint – it grows exponentially,’ says Watts. ‘Foundations are one of the most carbon-heavy elements of a building.’ The BRE is currently running a project, Sustainable Substructures, looking at how to make underground construction as green as possible. Watts expects it to recommend a number of approaches, including using piles made from recyclable steel and designing new buildings on existing foundations.

Dealing with excavated material can be a problem, too. ‘It’s not always possible to reuse it, especially if it’s clay, which is difficult to use for anything because it expands,’ explains McNamara. ‘A lot of material can go to landfill and we need to find a better approach.’ >>

Archaeologists preparing for Crossrail tunnelling in London unearthed skeletons on the site of a historic hospital

Discovering an archaeological site, as fascinating as it can be, is another potential nightmare. A significant Roman settlement – a relatively common find, as they tend to be around six metres below today’s surface – could delay a project for a year and a half, or stop it altogether. ‘You may even have to redesign the building to allow it to be built while the archaeological work is going on,’ says McNamara. More alarming still is the risk of stumbling across an unexploded bomb – a particular risk in London, where bombs were buried easily in the clay. As a result, all underground works in the UK begin with checking whether the site was bombed, before a survey is carried out. ‘Some will pick up the bomb, some won’t,’ McNamara says, adding that he has seen sites where bombs were hit during drilling for foundations. ‘It’s always a big worry when you’re working underground how many people could be hurt if something went wrong.’

Collapse is a very real danger. During the construction of the Heathrow Express rail link in 1994, a tunnel collapse at Heathrow Airport caused a huge crater among the runways, forcing hundreds of flights to be cancelled and halting work on the Jubilee Line extension. An inquiry later found that ‘luck more than judgment’ had prevented people using the adjacent Piccadilly Line from being crushed to death. The incident took two months to clear up and led to a record £1.2m fine for the contractor Balfour Beatty and £500,000 for Austrian engineer Geoconsult, both of which were found to have breached health and safety regulations. More recently, in December 2010, a builder working on a basement extension in West London was killed when a floor caved in. Only two months earlier, a skip in nearby Belgravia fell through the street due to excavations beneath it.

The extensive measures that need to be taken to avoid such disasters all have cost implications, of course. ‘If you’re digging a hole in an open field, the solutions are relatively simple – you simply cut the hole so it has gently sloping slides which won’t collapse, build in the middle and then back fill,’ explains Ken Watts. Few projects enjoy this luxury, however, which means you’re

THE TECHNICAL CHALLENGES MULTIPLY BY THE METRE. IN THE TIME TAKEN TO BUILD TWO STORIES UNDERGROUND, YOU COULD DO 10 ON TOP


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At 20m deep and requiring 6.5m m3 of earthworks, the project to build Heathrow’s substructures as part of the creation of Terminal 5 was the UK’s largest ever basement excavation.

‘The three terminal buildings at Heathrow are connected by an underground track transit system (TTS), which shuttles passengers to their boarding gates in driverless trains. There are also stations, running tunnels, pedestrian walkways and a maintenance base. As well as the underground TTS, there are around 14km of bored tunnels under the terminal to provide road and rail links, drainage

provisions, and also house facilities to store and sort baggage. The tunnels vary in length from 1.3km to 4.1km, and from 3 to 8.1m in diameter.

‘The design of the basements mitigates the effects of buoyancy from the groundwater and heave of the underlying London clay. The basements are supported by large-diameter piles, which were designed using extensive testing and 3D geotechnical modelling.

‘Early on, we had to decide on our excavation strategy: retained vertical excavations or open-cut? The basements and TTS, along with baggage and pedestrian tunnels, were constructed in open-cut using “cut-and-cover”

methods. Although this increased the volume of earthworks on an already constrained site, it offered significant cost and programme savings. The Lasershell tunnelling method – a circular cross-section with an inclined domed face and rapid shotcrete ring closure – was used for constructing short-length complex geometry tunnels, such as cross-passages and shaft intersections.

‘One of the biggest challenges was the existence of sensitive rail infrastructure on site. At 25m below ground there are four rail tunnels, three shafts and three cross-passages. At one location, the proposed basement was only 7m away from the existing rail tunnel. So we had to undertake detailed geotechnical soil-structure analysis to model the behaviour of the rail tunnels and understand the impact of the design and construction on them. We then continued to

monitor the tunnels extensively throughout the project.

‘Another challenge was the extent of excavation in London clay, which was unprecedented. The short- and long-term behaviour of the surrounding ground following such a large volume of excavation had to be carefully modelled and understood. From a management point of view, co-ordinating thousands of workers – 6,000 at peak and 60,000 over the course of the project – within a busy airport site was also one of the most demanding aspects.

‘But I was delighted and proud to work on this once- in-a-lifetime project. Added excitement was from seeing large excavations close to live aircraft stands, and flow of aircrafts taking off and landing not far from the construction works. It was an immensely satisfying project.’terminal5.mottmac.com

Insight

‘T5 WAS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME PROJECT’Haresh Shanghavi Project director, Mott MacDonald

The construction of T5 at London Heathrow included a complex network of tunnels

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Tunnelling for the £16bn Crossrail project will begin in early 2012 with six tunnel boring machines from Germany

Rather than being sent to landfill, the material from excavations at Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 will be recycled

Rock and sand can, however, be used for filling golf courses, pipe trenches and road foundations. Richard Walker of EC Harris, who is working on Heathrow’s new Terminal 2, says that material from the 16m-deep excavations will be reused in future airport jobs. Crossrail is also setting a good example, with some of the five million tonnes being dug out of central London being used for a 1,500-acre nature reserve at Wallasea, Essex.

Subterranean buildings also require less energy to run, as a rule. ‘The temperature is easier to control as they don’t overheat in summer or get excessively cold in winter,’ explains McNamara. Indeed, building below is an excellent solution for extreme weather conditions. Hence whole cities in Canada, such as RESO in Montreal, have been built underground to shelter from the cold, while subterranean structures have been favoured

in one of the hottest places in the Australian desert, the mining town of Coober Pedy. Even in central London, building underground can bring sustainability benefits. ‘In the long term it maximises your building and means you’re getting the best use of space, so that efficiency makes it sustainable,’ says McNamara.

Maximising space is just one of the advantages of building underground. ‘Often, even if it’s more expensive, height restrictions – for instance if you must avoid blocking a London viewing corridor – mean it makes sense to build downwards,’ says McNamara. A basement is also the ideal place to put plant – as long as it can be sufficiently ventilated. ‘You don’t want plant occupying the best floors of your building. Too often it goes at the top, which is prime property.’

Some plant is so heavy that it makes more sense to place it in the basement rather than trying to support it above ground. Basements are also reasonable places to locate a building’s water tank, post room and computer servers. At Heathrow, says Walker, the requirement not to block visibility for the flight control tower or interfere with the radar systems of aeroplanes necessitates large basements.

A substructure was also the perfect solution for some of the British Library’s collection, on which Arup worked. ‘They had millions of books and a limited site,’ explains Wilkinson. ‘They didn’t want to build a huge tower, so we went downwards on either side of the Tube line. The building is well insulated and it’s actually easier to keep conditions constant to protect the books down there.’

So while subterranean building can make sense, the costs, complexity and dangers mean it should only happen when absolutely necessary. As McNamara cautions, ‘Don’t build down there unless you have to.’

EVERY STOREY UNDERGROUND ADDS TO YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT. FOUNDATIONS ARE ONE OF THE MOST CARBON-HEAVY ELEMENTS


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Retrofitting a basement creates extra space and has become a viable alternative to relocating

David Cameron, Ricky Gervais, Roman Abramovich and Jemima Khan all have one. Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has planning permission for one, and footballer Frank Lampard is facing opposition from his neighbours because he wants one. It seems that, these days, anyone who is anyone has a basement extension.

These ‘mega basements’ are in a different league to the customary loft extension. Some actually double the size of the house above. And, while they may sound like a private matter for the homeowner, they are causing a public furore.

Basement excavations are becoming popular throughout the UK, particularly in cities such as Bath where terraced houses leave little room for extensions. But the nation’s retrofitting hotspot is the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) in London, which has reportedly received some 600 planning applications for basements since 2006.

‘Families are growing but people don’t want to spend money on moving due to the financial climate,’ says Maggie Smith of specialist builder London Basement. ‘Also, many want to stay in the area because of schools, so they decided to extend what they’ve already got.’ It’s also about keeping up with the Joneses. ‘We have built 10 basements in a single road before because after one person did it, the others wanted it.’

Retrofitting a basement can boost the value of a house hugely – even double it – and buyers are increasingly interested in properties that offer the potential for extension. And it need not be dark and cramped, thanks to light wells and engineering techniques that allow rooms of up to 3m in height, says Smith.

So why the controversy? Fears about the overall stability of land due to the digging frenzy have been allayed by a 2009 report by Ove Arup, commissioned by RBKC

council. It found that the basement trend did not pose a risk, pointing out that the area had survived the construction of the significantly bigger Tube network. ‘Very few of these basements cause problems to other buildings,’ agrees Alistair Redler FRICS of Delva Patman Associates. ‘The main problem is disturbance by the general building project, which applies to all work.’

Residents are launching campaigns, such as the Considerate Basement Development Group, against specific proposed projects. ‘It can be truly horrific . Existing buildings are being shaken to pieces and huge conveyor belts are set up to transport earth to the street and into skips. Then you have the skips and lorries,’ says Terrence Bendixson, secretary for planning at residents’ association the Chelsea Society. ‘Frequently, the owner of the house sees reason to move out but the neighbours are left to suffer.’

While campaigners concede that banning retrofitting would be unworkable, they are calling

for a number of improvements. ‘We would like to see scrupulous care taken over engineering to prevent deaths and collapses, and stronger controls over the construction methods used,’ says James Thompson of the King’s Road Association of Chelsea Residents. He adds that party wall agreements, which require compensation in case of damage to a neighbouring house when a house is ‘laid open’, can be applied to basement retrofit jobs. ‘Often surveyors are unaware that this facility can be used, so we would like them to start using PWAs,’ he says.

‘The Party Wall Act is an excellent piece of legislation, and its unique dispute resolution mechanism deals very well with the structural design and execution of works,’ adds Redler. ‘The new RICS Party Walls Guidance Note focuses on best practice to ensure that high standard is maintained in the future.’

The RICS Party Walls Guidance Note 6th Edition was released in October. Visit rics.org/partywalls.

:ICEBERG HOMESBASEMENT EXTENSIONS CAN DOUBLE THE SIZE AND VALUE OF A PROPERTY


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GOING UNDERGROUNDCompiled by Tim Abrahams

GOTTHARD BASE TUNNEL SWITZERLANDThe drilling of the world’s longest rail tunnel may have been completed in October 2010 after 14 years, but the high-speed trains it is designed for won’t be running through it until the end of 2016. Some 7km longer than the Channel Tunnel, the 57km Gotthard Base Tunnel will revolutionise transport across Europe. Journey times between Zurich and Milan will be cut by at least an hour, with trains travelling through the tunnel at around 250km per hour. The main purpose of the

new rail route – which is part of the AlpTransit project – is not for passengers, however, but for freight, which currently must travel along slow, dangerous alpine roads. Although there are already tunnels in this area of the Swiss Alps, they are not at base level, which prevents the laying of high-speed track. The new tunnel, which cost around £6.5bn to construct and necessitated the excavation of some 24m tonnes of rock, will take around 300 trains a day, providing a vital connection in the pan-European high-speed network.

JOE AND RIKA MANSUETO LIBRARY CHICAGO, USIts reading room may sit above ground level, but the bulk of the University of Chicago’s new Joe and Rika Mansueto Library is beneath ground. A fi ve-storey chamber houses the collection, along with an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). The books and journal volumes are densely packed

into metal bins measuring around 45cm high, 60cm wide and 1.2m deep, which allows them to be compacted into seven times less space than conventional library shelf space. About 35,000 bins in all are stacked into racks around 15m high. The ASRS consists of fi ve robotic cranes that move along a track between the racks, retrieving the requested bin and

depositing it into a container at the library desk. A staff member can then open the bin, scan the barcode on the book and hand it to the student. The system makes Mansueto’s collection of around 3.5m books immediately accessible, and the process should take the same amount of time as it does for a student to walk from his or her desk to the main library desk.

Ten ambitious subterranean constructions around the world

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GOING UNDERGROUND

20TH CENTURY CASTLES KANSAS, USThe decommissioned nuclear missile launch facility where Edward Peden has lived for 16 years is the headquarters of a thriving real estate business. ‘We sold our first missile site in 1995. As of January 2011, we have sold 55 of these properties,’ he says. 20th Century Castles currently has 11 sites for sale, such as a facility in Upstate New York’s Adirondack State Park with its own runway and 20 acres of land, on the market for US$4.6m (£3m). Cheaper is a site near Tuscon in Arizona, previously used for firing the Titan II ballistic missile. It cost US$20m to build in the early 1960s, and can now be yours for US$540,000 (£350,000). While Peden is having trouble finding any more sites, the existing ones are appreciating in value. ‘These properties are rare, collectable real estate that have continued to grow in value over the years, despite the current economic conditions.’

WIROA STATION WINE CELLAR BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALANDSet in an extraordinary development in the far north of the country, the Wiroa Station Wine Cellar is part of an ambitious project to combine a working sheep farm with a luxury residential beach scheme. Although the development, which stretches over 500 hectares, has 25 plots for different owners, it also features several shared facilities, including the wine cellar. Part of the

developer’s plan is to ‘underbuild’, keeping this working in perpetuity by obliging owners to sign up to ongoing conservation covenants. The area is also protected by strict planning regulations – an issue that is inspiring an increasing amount of underground construction all around the world. Restricted to 25m sq, and set into the hillside to reduce the presence on the skyline, this simple building houses wine stock and provides a scenery-viewing platform.


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SHANGHAI CULTURE PLAZA THEATER SHANGHAI, CHINAAlthough huge swaths of Shanghai have been demolished over the past decade, this project respects the city’s historic preservation by going underground. The Shanghai Culture Plaza is within the former French Concession on a site that previously housed a dog-racing track, then an auditorium for political and cultural events and, finally, a central flower market. Its main feature is a theatre that covers 570,000m sq of the total 650,000m sq of

subterranean floor space, qualifying it as the largest underground theatre in the world. Although, generally, anything goes with development in Shanghai, digging down was the only way to get around height limitations in this sensitive area of the city. The surrounding buildings are six stories high, but this is still too low for the kind of stage needed to put on musical performances. Asia’s Broadway is therefore below ground, with the flowing entrance acting as a centrepiece for a park with paths and water flowing around it.

RAMBAM HEALTH CARE CAMPUSHAIFA, ISRAEL A new underground parking facility is being built for the 1,500 employees at Rambam hospital, which is home to one of the world’s best trauma centres, treating injured Israeli soldiers in wartime and mass-trauma casualties following acts of terrorism. In the event that the hospital comes under sustained attack, the new structure can be rapidly transformed into a 2,000-bed hospital capable of withstanding conventional, biological or chemical weapons. Construction began in October 2010 with an enormous 7,000 cubic metres of concrete poured over 36 hours. As well as being underground, the emergency hospital will sit 8m below sea level and is designed to be able to generate its own power, and store enough oxygen, drinking water and medical supplies for up to three days.

PATH TORONTO, CANADAThe first tunnel to connect commercial properties in downtown Toronto was built in 1900. Now, according to Guinness World Records, PATH is the largest underground shopping complex in the world, with 28km of arcades. So far, the subterranean labyrinth connects around 1,200 shops, as well as 50 offices, 20 parking

garages, five subway stations and a railway terminal. Each segment of the walkway is managed by the owner of the property through which it runs, with about 35 corporations co-ordinated together under one signage system. The complex is effectively a means to keep Canadians shopping during the Toronto winter, where temperatures average around -5˚C in January. Im

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NO 7 SUBWAY LINE EXTENSION NEW YORK, USAThe New York City subway is the busiest underground transport system in the western hemisphere, providing more than five million rides a day. The extension of the No 7 line from Times Square towards the Jacob Javits Center will not only boost the capacity of the network, but is an integral part of a redevelopment plan drawn up by New York’s Department of City Planning for the west of Manhattan. The construction of the tunnel, plus a new

station at 34th Street, will provide public transport access to the Jacob Javits Convention Center, the lack of which has been a problem for the facility since it was completed in 1986. In addition, it provides huge opportunities for the redevelopment of the Hudson Yard area, which was rezoned in 2005 from industrial to commercial and residential. As a result, a plaza of 16 towers providing 1.1m m sq of office space is now proposed. The subway extension is 2km long and is expected to be operational by the end of 2013.

HEBRIDEAN EARTH HOUSE SOUTH UIST, SCOTLAND Situated in Askernish on the island of South Uist off the north-west coast of Scotland, the earth house is one of only eight registered underground residences in the UK. It was built by excavating a cavity from an existing hill and then constructing a cube inside the hollowed-out space. Three sides were built from Polarwall, an insulating concrete formwork, with the fourth glazed. The house, like traditional Scottish stone cellars, has a barrel-vaulted ceiling, but here it is lined with wood. Inside, it combines traditional features such as ledge and brace doors with the conveniences of a modern detached house. Subsurface temperatures are stable, so it’s cool in summer and warm in the winter, and the issue of light is dealt with by the glass façade and prisms built into the roof. The result is energy costs that are 20% of the average for a conventional house.

EARTHSCRAPERMEXICO CITYBunker Arquitectura’s subterranean skyscraper addresses the need for new office, retail and living space in Mexico City without falling foul of laws that prohibit the demolition of historic buildings and building above eight stories. The earthscraper would sit

beneath the main plaza, which at 57,600m sq is one of the largest in the world. The inverted pyramid would have a central void to give all habitable spaces natural light and ventilation. The first 10 stories are dedicated to a museum, followed by 10 stories of retail and housing, and a further 35 of office space.


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1o minutes with…

Mining, minerals and waste, SLR Consulting, Sydney

DARREN HERDMANInterview by Cherry Maslen Photograph by Christopher Ireland

‘I wrote to RICS about how to become a mine surveyor, and they suggested that I become a chartered mineral surveyor and then specialise’

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Profile//

Mining is in my blood. I grew up in Neath in South Wales where my father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all coal miners – my father first took me down a mine when I was just nine years old. I was fascinated by geology and decided I wanted to be a geologist, but when I was looking at degree courses I was advised that there weren’t enough jobs for the geologists already qualified, so I had to think again. I wrote to RICS about how to become a mine surveyor, and they suggested that I become a chartered mineral surveyor and then specialise. I studied minerals estate management at Sheffield University, then worked for several companies in the UK, ending up as a principal with SLR Consulting, before heading out to Australia in 2005.

Rugby is another of my passions. I used to play in the UK, and in 2001 my wife and I went to Australia for the British Lions tour. We loved the country and, inspired by university friends who had emigrated, decided to move to Sydney four years later. I headed up resource valuation at CB Richard Ellis for four years, but when SLR decided to set up in Australia and asked if I’d work for them, I decided to make the move because the role they offered, working in mine and quarry valuation and landfill site waste management, was more aligned with my environmental skill set. I’m very interested in sustainability issues.

My job takes me all over Australia, which is fantastic. The country is so vast, so getting to a site can involve two flights and a drive of several hours. I’ve travelled right into the outback to visit mines and seen the most amazing scenery. You drive along dirt tracks in a four-wheel drive and see kangaroos and snakes, and you stay at cattle stations, so it’s a real experience. Australia is commodity-rich in iron ore and other industrial minerals, which I specialise in. The Australian economy is underpinned by the resource sector, and there’s huge demand at the moment from the growing infrastructures of China and India, so it’s a good industry to be working in right now. Doing business in Australia isn’t the same as in the UK, though – there is a cultural difference. People are less interested in your qualifications and background, it’s more about whether you can do the job on the day.

It’s a great life here for families – we live 10 minutes from one of the best beaches in the world. Our two children love the beach and the outdoor life, and I try to keep fit by running and cycling – the mountain biking around Sydney is second to none. The only downside is missing family and friends, although my parents come out regularly and I’ve been back to the UK twice. We are all Australian citizens now and, as work is going well and we all love the lifestyle, I think we’re here for the long haul.slrconsulting.comrics.org/mineralsandwaste

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‘They’re dropped off by helicopter,’ says Lori Walton, chief executive of Canadian mining company

Firestone Ventures. She’s talking about the surveyors who take the first pass at any new mining claim in Canada’s frozen north. ‘These guys are in their snowshoes, and they are in top condition. Every day they go out and do their lines in 20 below, and every day

they do staking. A lot of them are First Nations guys.’ Walton should know. Her father ran a surveying company in northern Canada, so it’s in her blood. She was also a mining policy adviser to the government of the Yukon. But more to the point, she recently created a spin-off company from Firestone, Northern Tiger, which was involved in a staking rush for gold exploration ground in

the Yukon, the vast territory to the extreme northwest of Canada.

The Yukon isn’t like other Canadian states, where ground is staked simply by making marks on a map and notifying the relevant authorities. Here, explains Walton, you have to hire a staking crew. Or do it yourself. ‘You have to traipse through the bush with an axe and chop down trees for markers.’ And it’s not

THE COLD RUSHAS THE GLOBE WARMS, THE ARCTIC PROMISES TO YIELD UP ITS ABUNDANT MINERAL TREASURES. BUT GETTING HOLD OF THEM

IS NO EASY FEAT, FINDS ALASTAIR FORD

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easy work. The topography can be difficult, there’s the occasional bear to contend with, and the expectations of the guys who drew the lines on the maps back in the office in Dawson, Whitehorse or even Vancouver don’t always match up to the reality on the ground.

Carl Schulze, who runs All-Terrane Mineral Exploration Services in the Yukon capital Whitehorse, is one man with direct experience

of marking out ground in the frozen north. He was involved in the gold rush around Northern Tiger’s ground, which took place in the west of the territory, and has worked up beyond the Arctic Circle, too. ‘It’s fairly hard,’ he says. ‘Physically you need to be in good shape. It’s generally done by younger and leaner people. It’s pretty aerobic. You can do about six or seven claim lengths in a day, depending on

what condition you’re in. The best time to work is between mid-February and late April when the light is returning, but when the ground is still hard. Early winter you sink into the ground. By early March it’s hardened up, and the whole terrain becomes easier.’

Not that the work is without its pitfalls. In the old days, says Walton, most was done by compass, and that led to frequent >>


discrepancies. With the advent of GPS, accuracy has improved immeasurably. ‘There are a lot fewer problems with claims going at odd angles,’ says Schulze. But it’s still not a flawless process. Sometimes the GPS deviates. Sometimes a straight line on a map can be difficult to translate directly on to extremely mountainous terrain. ‘Or,’ says Walton, ‘in a staking rush, if there’s a whole bunch of people heading out, you may get some sloppy work done.’ When that happens, land surveyors come in later to tidy up and close off any gaps.

Still, that sort of discrepancy pales into insignificance compared to the argument that erupted recently between HarperCollins, the publishers of The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World, and the international scientific community. The latter, headed by a group of scientists at the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, took issue with the atlas’ most recent depiction of the polar ice caps in Greenland. These, claimed the atlas, had diminished by 15% over the past couple of decades; not so, said the scientists. The actual figure is closer to 1%. A brief stand-off ensued, but eventually the scientists forced a discreet retreat from the publishers.

FUTURE VISIONThe issue is a sensitive one, and not just in the pursuit of scientific accuracy. The retreat of the polar ice cap, at whatever rate, is opening up opportunities in the Arctic in relation to shipping and the exploitation of the region’s abundant natural resources. Back in the early part of the last decade, Robin Andrews was the driving force behind Angus & Ross, a company that owned a small but moribund underground zinc mine on the west coast of

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Greenland, which, at 71°7’N, lies several hundred miles inside the Arctic Circle. As the man responsible for getting the company financed and back into operation, Andrews needed to be able to pitch a convincing story of growth to the men with the money.

His first pitch was that the old mine could be resuscitated, because there were still resources in place and the old kit was in relatively good condition, preserved up to a point by the cold. But his second proposition – in some ways shocking to a world still coming to terms with the idea of global warming – was that there was an opportunity to stake out huge swaths of ground for zinc and other metals that was gradually becoming available as the glaciers retreated, and on which exploration had previously been impossible. Andrews remembers well the appetite that built up in the City of London for the story, and the enthusiasm of bankers for the financing of new staking operations. ‘It’s now looking like a very huge zinc province,’ he said at the time, ‘much like Ireland did in the 1960s.’ That’s still true today, though the small matter of the global financial crisis has intervened between then and now, and the Black Angel mine still hasn’t quite been put back into production.

Across the Greenland Sea in northern Sweden, Patrick Foster of Northland Resources has a slightly different take on why the Arctic is opening up. Northland is well advanced in the construction of a new iron ore mine at Kaunisvaara, and is also heavily involved in the construction and expansion of railway lines across mountainous regions into Norway and out to a port on the Norwegian Sea. While it’s true that there is now a

heightened awareness of opportunity in the Arctic as a result of all the publicity around global warming, and in light of recent attempts by Russia to assert sovereignty in the region, Foster believes that what has really changed the way miners operate is technology.

GPS is a case in point. But there have also been plenty of advances when it comes to the business of actually constructing and operating a mine. One example cited by Foster involves the development in Russia of a type of concrete that can be poured in freezing conditions. A decade or two ago, he points out, the window of opportunity for pouring concrete north of the Arctic Circle amounted to only a few short weeks. Now, if not exactly a year-round proposition, the opportunities for companies to undertake serious construction work are that much greater.

The trailblazer in the trend towards opening up the north to miners was initiated back in the Yukon, in a place called Faro, which was prospected in the 1950s and 1960s by Al Kulan. Following on from his work, a company called Cyprus Anvil built it up into Canada’s largest lead-zinc mine in the 1970s, but in the face of heavy scepticism. Naysayers doubted that the ships that were due to take the company’s product to market from ports in Alaska would make it through the ice. Icebreakers were less sophisticated in those days, and ships less geared up for the Arctic trade.

So when Foster is asked by investors and other stakeholders in the US and Europe, ‘How on earth do you do it north of the Arctic Circle?’ his answer is that nowadays everyone’s used to it. ‘Will we work 365 days a year? No,’ he says. ‘But we will work 350. And we only lose those days because of wear and tear to the

The Yukon territory in northwest Canada (previous page) was the first area in the frozen north to be prospected in the 1950s and 1960s. The Arctic Circle (below) encompasses Canada, the US, Russia (right), Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland

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Arctic mining//

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trucks when it goes to 30 below.’ In no way is Kaunisvaara one of those old pick-and-shovel operations from the 19th century. Rather, as with all the new mines now opening up in the Arctic, it’s a highly mechanised undertaking involving hugely expensive equipment. Apart from anything else, these bits of kit all have heated cabs, which means that, providing the hardship pay is right, workers are quite prepared to stomach the extreme climate.

GREEN LIGHTGovernments are in favour, too. The new government in Greenland is slowly rubber-stamping most of the major mining projects inherited from its former Danish masters. The Canadian government has long been pro-mining, as long as due respect is paid to First Nations. And the Russians have built up one of the world’s greatest operations, Norilsk Nickel, from a hub deep inside Arctic Siberia. In Europe, attitudes are changing, too. ‘Mining is now entering the mainstream,’ says Foster. A decade or two ago, mining was, he says, ‘a four-letter word’. But no longer. ‘In Sweden, the support we’re getting is tremendous.’ He cites a recent, rapidly taken

government decision to invest in additional rail capacity to allow for the more efficient transport of Northland’s ore to the coast. ‘And,’ he adds, ‘there’s going to be a lot more development in the Arctic north because that’s where the deposits are.’

Still, not everyone is quite as organised as Northland, which looks likely to go into production at Kaunisvaara on time and budget sometime in early 2013. The team at Black Angel is still tinkering with the cable car that will transport the ore down from the mine entrance halfway up a cliff. It’s not an easy engineering feat to get that right, and especially not north of the Arctic Circle, where temperatures are hostile and there’s only the right amount of light at certain times of year.

Another project inside the Arctic Circle that’s been moribund for years is Malmbjerg in Greenland, formerly owned by a company called International Molybdenum but more recently under the control of established Canadian copper miner QuadraFNX. Reaching Malmbjerg is no easy undertaking, and from the UK involves a flight to Iceland, a connecting flight across to the other side of the country, a flight to a coastal camp by the

WILL WE WORK 365 DAYS A YEAR? NO. BUT WE WILL WORK 350. AND WE ONLY LOSE THOSE DAYS BECAUSE OF WEAR AND TEAR TO THE TRUCKS

Left: A nickel foundry at Norilsk in western Siberia, one of the world’s greatest mining operations. Below: Northland Resources’ construction of a new iron ore mine at Kaunisvaara in northern Sweden

sea, and then a 20-minute helicopter flight inland. And that’s only if you’re a visiting journalist or investor. Miners, surveyors and other lesser mortals gain access by crossing miles and miles of an eerie and lifeless dirty white landscape, filled only by grey boulders and the strange sounds of creaking glaciers.

Work parties are usually accompanied by the Danish army, rifles at the ready in case any polar bears get curious. To get around the logistical complexities of the journey, International Molybdenum was at one stage considering blasting a 27km tunnel through solid rock, though not surprisingly that idea came to nothing. The official literature from QuadraFNX says that Malmbjerg is one of the highest-grade molybdenum projects amenable to open-pit mining currently being considered for development. But the reality is somewhat different.

Like another famous Greenland project, Skaergaard, which is studied by geological students the world over as a classic example of a mineralised geological intrusion, Malmbjerg is interesting more as an intellectual exercise than as a likely near-term development. Some operations, such as Kaunisvaara, will make commercial sense in the immediate term – where access is relatively easy, where the relevant commodity price makes mining economic, and where the technology is available. But even so, the Arctic is likely to give up its wealth only slowly, by degrees and one step at a time.rics.org/geomatics

FOR MORE on improving the accuracy of GPS in the Arctic, see p44


UK mining//

32 rics.org

For its size, the UK is fortunate in having a wide range of indigenous minerals to support a quarrying and mining industry worth £5.7bn.

There are more than 2,000 mines and quarries currently in operation in the UK, run by more than 1,000 companies. As well as coal, the sector produces a wide range of construction materials including aggregates, industrial minerals such as potash and china clay, and metals such as iron, lead and gold.

The UK has a rich history of mining. There is evidence that Bronze Age Britons were mining copper ore on the Great Orme promontory overlooking Llandudno, North Wales. This ore was likely to have been smelted and alloyed with tin from Cornwall to make bronze. Later the Romans mined gold, silver, tin and lead, and there is also evidence of Roman iron mines in the

Weald and the Forest of Dean, where plentiful supplies of wood fuelled the smelting process. The presence of iron ore, and the availability of coal as a result of new techniques for mining underground, were significant factors in the development of the Industrial Revolution.

Two centuries later and coal is still an important product of mining. In fact, of all the materials currently mined in the UK, coal has the highest total value, even though output has been in steep decline since the closure of uneconomic deep mines in the 1950s. As a result, there has been a shift to opencast mining, which accounted for almost half of the UK’s coal production in 2009.

Current environmental concerns make coal an unpopular fuel for electricity production, but developing technologies may change opinions in the future. Carbon sequestration, for example, involves

capturing the carbon dioxide at the power station and storing it in geological features underground rather than releasing it into the atmosphere. There are still substantial coal resources underground, and new technologies may eventually allow these to be recovered economically, or even exploited in situ in the form of gas. Following the privatisation of the coal industry in 1994, the ownership of nearly all coal now resides with the Coal Authority, which grants licences for exploration and extraction.

The UK mining and quarrying sector also produces a huge amount of construction minerals such as sand and gravel, used to make concrete, crushed rock for road construction, brick clay, cement-making minerals and gypsum, which is mainly used in the manufacture of plasterboard and plaster. In fact, aggregates account for approximately 80% of the non-energy minerals extracted in the UK.

Industrial minerals are another important quarried product. China clay and ball clay are both used in the production of ceramics, for example. Rock salt is mined for de-icing roads, potash for use as a fertiliser and silica sand, which is used in the manufacture of glass and to make moulds for metal casting. Fluorspar is quarried in the Peak District for use in the manufacture of fluorine-bearing chemicals, which are used in air-conditioning systems, for example.

While the mining of minerals and aggregates in the UK continues to be strong, the mining of metals has virtually ceased. Most ores are now imported; however, according to the British Geological Survey, there is still one gold mine in operation in Northern Ireland, three lead mines in the East Midlands, two tin mines in South West England and seven iron ore mines, mostly in South East England. With so many mines and quarries in operation, domestic mineral production continues to be of economic importance. The old adage ‘if you can’t grow it you have to mine it’ is as true for the UK today as it has ever been.

LOCAL WEALTHDESPITE MULTIPLE CLOSURES, THE UK MINING AND

QUARRYING INDUSTRY REMAINS STRONG

conserc hilluptae nihit, ilit volupicat perum hica

Words by Andy Pearson

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Law advice//

Payment changes to

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTSIllustration by Cristobal Schmal

Since the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act and Scheme for Construction Contracts came into force in 1998, the industry has made good use of the legislation’s adjudication provisions – perhaps more so than intended. But payees (contractors and construction professionals) have lamented loopholes that leave their clients in a position to use the absence of payment certificates to delay payment, or avoid it altogether.

Part 8 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 requires that construction contracts entered into on or after 1 October this year comply with a new set of payment rules and procedures. Adjudications under those contracts will be subject to new statutory provisions.

CHANGES TO PAYMENT PROCEDURES Construction contracts entered into from 1 October

are still required to contain an adequate payment mechanism as before, but a client’s failure to issue payment notices/certificates can now empower the payee. In the absence of a timely payment notice or subsequent pay

less notice from the payer, the sum notified by the payee must be paid.

Payment notices must be issued, even if the sum due is nil.

Pay less notices replace withholding notices. The emphasis has shifted so that a pay less notice must state the amount that the payer

considers due and how it is calculated rather than the amount to be withheld and the associated ground(s), as previously required for a withholding notice.

If the payee has already confirmed the sum it considers due and how it is calculated in a payment application, no additional default notice is required.

‘Pay when certified’ clauses are prohibited, meaning that the release of subcontract retention monies can no longer be made conditional on certification of practical completion under the main contract. This promotes a more reliable cash flow to subcontractors.

An unpaid party can now suspend ‘any or all’ of its obligations in the event of non-payment, and this right is bolstered by an entitlement to costs and expenses reasonably incurred as a result (the amended Act avoids the term ‘loss and expense’).

CHANGES TO ADJUDICATION The application of the Act is no longer restricted to

contracts in writing. If the adjudicator decides that a sum greater than that

certified is due, it must now be paid within seven days of the decision or by the final date for payment, if later.

The contract must now provide for the adjudicator to correct his decision in order to rectify errors arising by accident or omission.

Be alert to the fact that sub-contracts and professional appointments entered into from 1 October may be out of step with main contracts entered into before that date. If you enter into a non-compliant contract, the Act’s provisions will override non-compliant terms. This includes pre-2011 versions of the standard forms (such as JCT 2008). JCT’s new suite of contracts (JCT 2011) has been written to comply with the changes (visit jctltd.co.uk/stylesheet).

The prevailing opinion is that the amendments fail to close one loophole in the 1996 Act, as famously exploited by Tolent (Bridgeway Construction Ltd v Tolent Construction Ltd). The amendments fail to prohibit ‘Tolent’ clauses effectively. ‘Tolent’ clauses require one party to pay all costs of the adjudication regardless of who wins. We anticipate that the TCC judges will be keen to put an end to this encroachment on the right to adjudicate. So if you are relying on this loophole, beware: you may just ensnare yourself when the first Section 108 (A) case comes to trial.

LAURA PHOENIX is an associate in the construction team at Thomas Eggar LLP. thomaseggar.com

Order the new JCT 2011 contracts at ricsbooks.com/jct2011.

11.11 // MODUS 33

CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO ON OR AFTER 1 OCTOBER THIS YEAR ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH A NEW SET OF PAYMENT RULES

MODUS_Nov_P32-33_UK_Mining+Law_v2.indd 33 19/10/2011 11:00

19%of global water withdrawals are from groundwater (as opposed to surface water).

Worldwidegroundwaterusage

48% 18%

13%

Energy and Industry

Other uses

Agriculture

Drinking water

30%Groundwater is renewed globally at a rate about equal to 30% of the rate of renewal of surface water.

TATAT PPING RESERVESRESERVESRESERVESIllustration by Ian Dutnall

Groundwater is the world’s most extracted raw material

34 rics.org

21%

Nubian SandstoneAquifer System,Africa

373,000billion m3

Covers 2.2m km sq, under Chad, Egypt Libya and Sudan, and is the world’s largest ‘fossil’ water aquifer system, meaning that the water is ancient and non-renewable.

35,000,000bn m3The total volume of fresh water on Earth.

97%of the planet’s accessible fresh water is stored as groundwater in underground aquifers.

PERCOLATION

EVAPORATION

TRANSPIRATION

100,000+Groundwater renewal periods vary from 10 years to more than 100,000. Aquifers with a renewal rate of less than 0.2% are classed as ‘non-renewable’.

Undergrounddams in Kenya, Africa

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is the process of adding a water source to aquifers for

withdrawal at a later date. Since 1995, more than 400 sand dams have been

constructed in the Kitui District of Kenya. Each dam provides at least 2,000 m3 of storage so that there is less travel

time to obtain water, and supplies are more readily available in

the dry season.

Stormwateharvesting in

Salisbury, AustraliaThe Aquifer Storage Transfer Recovery project uses urban

stormwater harvested from a residential and industrial catchment, which is treated

in a reedbed wetland and injected into a limestone aquifer 160-180m below

ground. The system secures continuity of supply in dry seasons and is

a sustainable solution to stormwater processing.37

The world’s 37 great aquifer systems cover just under a quarter of the entire land surface.

SOURCES: UNESCO (Non-renewable Groundwater Resources; Groundwater Resources of the World and their Use); RICS Water Scarcity Report; groundwateruk.org; waterwise.org.uk; mstbrazil.org; futuredirections.org.au; rainwaterharvesting.org; nwc.gov.au; igcp-grownet.org; gwrsystem.com

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11.11 // MODUS 35

OgallalaAquifer, US

4,070billion m3

Covers 450,000km sq, under the states of South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas.

The Chalk,South EastEngland

6.65billion m3

Covers approx 13,000km sq andprovides 55% of all UK groundwater-abstracted drinking water. The individual boreholes can yield more than 10m litres per day.

The Great ArtesianBasin, Australia

64,900billion m3 Covers 1.7m km sq, (22% of the Australian continent). The water is up to 2m years old and is estimated to be enough to fi ll Sydney Harbour 130,000 times.

Guaraní AquiferSystem, SouthAmerica

37,000 billion m3

Covers 1.2m km sq – 70% of it below Brazil, 19% Argentina, 6% Paraguay and 5% Uruguay. Around 70m people have access to the aquifer.

Agriculture as a proportionof groundwater use

PRECIPITATION

Water breakdown

Freshwater

Saudi

Arab

ia 90%

India

89%

Tunisia 85%

South Africa 84%

Spain 80%

Bangladesh 77%

Argentina 70%US 68%Australia 67%Mexico 64%

Groundwater as a source of drinking water

Austria and

Denmark

Italy Hungary Germany,

Switzerland

and Poland

Greece,

Belgium and

Netherlands

France

100% 90% 88% 70% 60% 56%

600-700billion m3

Global withdrawal of groundwater per year, making it the world’s most extracted raw material.

Rainwaterharvesting in

Chennai, IndiaChennai gets an average of

1,300mm of rainfall every year, but nearly 65% is lost through evaporation

and surface runoff to the sea. Most offi ces and residential buildings now have

rooftop rainwater harvesting systems. The collected rainwater can be stored

for direct non-potable purposes or pumped into groundwater

aquifers for later use.

Indirectpotable reuse in

Orange County, USThe Groundwater Replenishment

System (GWRS) takes highly treated wastewater and purifi es it using a three-step treatment process of microfi ltration,

reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light with hydrogen peroxide. The GWRS replenishes the groundwater basin with 265,000m3 of drinking water

per day, which also prevents contamination by

seawater.

Oceans 97.5%

Glaciers 68.7%

Groundwater 30.1%

Permafrost 0.8%Surface and

atmosphere 0.4%

Freshwater 2.5%

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MODUS_Nov_P36-39_Landfill.v2.F1.indd 36 20/10/2011 10:13

Landfill//

WATCHING OUR WASTETHE UK MUST REDUCE ITS RELIANCE ON LANDFILL WHILE ENSURING THE VIABILITY OF A MUCH-NEEDED RESOURCE

Vast underground burial sites filled with the detritus of our society, landfills are places we would rather forget, yet we all continue to use them. Despite a

huge improvement in recycling rates and a 30% drop in the amount of waste sent to landfill in the past decade, more than half of the UK’s municipal waste is still disposed of in this way, compared to the EU average of 40%. Unless more waste is diverted to alternative disposal methods, there are fears that the UK could reach its landfill capacity in 2018. So what is being done to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, and what challenges do site owners face as we phase out this environmentally damaging habit?

Buried waste not only pollutes the surrounding landscape, but also increases greenhouse gas emissions as the biodegrading material releases large amounts of methane. The European Environment Agency recently estimated that 78m tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions could be saved by 2020 by imposing a Europe-wide landfill ban. As part of the EU’s 1999 Landfill Directive, which seeks to reduce reliance on dumps by encouraging the reuse and recycling of waste, the UK’s Environment Agency (EA) has closed around 800 sites since 2001. But, while the EA estimates that the landfill capacity of London alone could run out in 2013, the OECD predicts that we could be generating 45% more waste in 2020 than we did in 1995. So there is an urgent need to reduce the strain on the dwindling number of sites, not only by phasing out the age-old

method of burying waste and escalating the recovery and reuse of materials, but also by increasing the efficiency and commercial viability of existing sites.

The property and construction industry has a large part to play, as it is responsible for around a third of all waste in the UK. Good progress has been made in the past decade: according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, between 1999 and 2008 the proportion of construction and demolition waste sent to landfill decreased from 37% to 22%, while the proportion of waste recycled by crushers and screeners increased from 35% to 61%. Much of the good work stems from a greater awareness of the financial, social and environmental benefits of reducing waste to landfill, through schemes such as RICS’ Ska Rating environmental >>

Words by Brendon Hooper

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Landfill//

38 rics.org

assessment method, and Designing out Waste and Halving Waste to Landfill from the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

The Halving Waste to Landfill initiative helps clients and developers, contractors, designers and consultants make more efficient use of material resources at all stages of a project. By reducing waste and developing the use of recycled materials, firms can increase their operational efficiency, save money and improve their corporate social responsibility. In the past two years, more than 670 firms have signed up to the initiative, which WRAP says resulted in a 28% decrease in construction waste sent to landfill in 2009.

One of the best examples is B&Q’s new headquarters in Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire. Designers Building Design Partnership employed WRAP’s Designing out Waste principles to identify nine design changes that would impact on waste reduction, including reusing raised-access flooring panels from the previous building, prefabricating toilets off site and installing pre-cast concrete stairs. In all, the project reduced waste to landfill by 47 tonnes while making significant cost savings.

Meanwhile, RICS has been encouraging sustainable waste management in the commercial sector through its flagship Ska Rating method for office fit-outs. At Camomile Court in the City of London, the fit-out project for the offices of the Westpac Banking Corporation had a target to divert 80% of construction waste from landfill – and actually achieved 99%. Westpac chose Ska Rating to guide and benchmark the environmental performance of the fit-out, and the project team also met 80% of good practice measures set out by the Ska assessors. ‘Fortunately, with fit-out and refurbishments

the majority of waste produced is recyclable and a high percentage can be diverted from landfill,’ says Mark Francis, an environmental and sustainability manager with BW Interiors and a Ska Rating assessor. ‘The key to exceeding the 80% target, such as we had with the Westpac project, is to segregate everything on site so that separate loads can be removed to achieve a higher recycling rate at the transfer station. Ska also helps a project start with the mindset that nothing should be disposed of.’

From the outset the project team ensured disposal of old materials was the last resort. As well as using high-quality recycled products for worksurfaces and sustainably sourced timber, suspended ceiling panels and hard surfaces were reused where possible, and work station chairs, fixtures and fittings were all restored instead of being thrown away.

Reducing our reliance on landfill is vital, but what about the operational effectiveness of the hundreds of sites around the UK? The Landfill Directive states that the UK must reduce its biodegradable municipal waste to 50% of 1995 levels by 2013, and to 35% of 1995 levels by 2020. If targets are not met, local authorities will face fines of up to £180m a year – penalties that could eventually be passed on to taxpayers. A steadily increasing landfill tax acts as a deterrent and encourages businesses and

industry to use alternative methods of waste treatment, such as recycling, composting and incinerating. However, the tax that is helping to wean us off landfill could be having a detrimental effect on the operation of sites – places that should be ideal for the efficient disposal or recovery of waste. ‘It’s a bit of a myth that we’re running out of landfill capacity,’ says Mick Sherratt MRICS, a minerals and waste specialist with MTS Consultancy, who advises site owners in the Somerset area. ‘It’s more that it’s not economic for many sites to be operational now, mainly because there is such an economic burden for the owners.’

In April, the UK’s landfill tax went up to £56 per tonne – a figure that will rise again in 2013 to £72 per tonne. Sherratt argues that although the increasing taxation and high entry fees have been rightly designed to deter people, it could be making many sites inefficient and unviable. ‘In some cases it has become more difficult to operate, extend or start new sites,’ he says. ‘I’ve had clients come to me and say, “I own a disused quarry, it’ll be ideal as a new landfill site, what do I need to do?” Once I tell them about the amount of legislation and high taxes involved, they have second thoughts.’

To operate at their optimum level, landfills need to be reasonably priced to use and be fed with a consistent volume of waste. But with greater taxes, reduced volumes and higher running costs, owners are feeling the financial pressure. Sherratt believes the rising tax burden is also decreasing the asset value of sites, leaving landowners with already reduced incomes facing the prospect of closing them prematurely. Not only is this bad for the sector, but it may also have the effect of diverting sustainable waste management solutions away from an existing site that may be the most suitable place for such a development. Because closed landfills already comply with stringent regulations and have been accepted by the public over a long period of time, they are still the most economic and efficient place to deal with waste.

In his 25 years in the sector, Sherratt says he has never seen so many owners considering prematurely closing sites or not starting new ones. He believes we should not be treating a

497The number of operational permitted UK sites that meet the EU Landfill Directive, according to the Environment Agency

45.9mtonnes were landfilled in England and Wales in 2010, of a total 140m tonnes of managed waste Im

ages

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With hundreds of closed sites and many others nearing the end of their lifespan, many companies are seeing the potential of landfill as a readily available resource, be it through recovering materials for recycling or tapping methane to generate electricity.

CAPPING LANDFILLThe UK power industry produces around 6m tonnes of coal ash per year. Although half of it is recycled for concrete production, the rest is sent to landfill. Quinton Richards, an environmental scientist and planning barrister, sees this as a needless waste of a resource that could help give a new lease of life to old, unregulated sites that are producing harmful greenhouse gas emissions – the EA estimates that a third of all methane released into the atmosphere comes from such sites. Cheltenham-based company Lichen Renewal is developing an innovative system to ‘cap’ old landfills with coal ash to prevent methane from escaping so that it can be extracted in a controlled way for use in electricity production. ‘Our aim is to turn a liability into a resource,’ explains Richards. ‘We see Lichen Renewal as a symbiotic relationship with the coal industry – using a by-product of a polluting industry to help capture a gas that contributes to climate change and using it as an energy source.’ He believes up to 1,500 landfills – or ‘gasfills’ – in the UK could be suited to the process. Once safely capped, the restored sites could also be re-landscaped and used for recreational or agricultural purposes. The company is aiming for planning permission and delivery on around seven sites next year, with an eventual aim of introducing the process to more than 30 sites per year. lichenproperties.com

LANDFILL RECYCLINGThe regulated landfill at Avondale is one of the largest in Scotland, taking non-hazardous and some compliant hazardous waste from the Forth Valley near Edinburgh. Recognising the need to divert more waste from burial, operator Avondale Environmental is constructing the first phase of a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), pictured below, with advance enabling works by I&H Brown that will recycle around 200,000 tonnes of ‘black bag’ mixed waste per year. Following completion in December, Avondale Environmental expects recycling rates to be as high as 60% in the first year, with a later aim of diverting 90% of material from landfill. The operator is also planning to use the methane that is already being efficiently captured at the site to generate electricity to power the MRF. avondalelandfill.co.uk

:A NEW LIFE FOR LANDFILL INVESTIGATING ALTERNATIVE USES FOR CLOSED AND CAPACITY SITES

necessary land use like a ‘bad habit’, but one that should be revolutionised and enhanced, and suggests this could mean reducing the landfill tax for a period of time to help owners complete or extend unfinished sites. Extending a site’s life to allow the operator to develop alternatives such as materials recovery or energy from waste facilities also makes good financial and planning sense, considering the time and effort that has already been put into obtaining planning permission and permits. ‘Most landfill sites are very well managed in this country,’ he says, ‘so we must make existing sites more viable, while increasing alternative waste reduction processes.’

Alun Oliver FRICS, managing director of E3 Consulting in Southampton, has also witnessed the rising landfill tax hinder a client’s redevelopment plans. ‘Taxing can promote good behavioural change, but in some instances it impedes more than it helps,’ he says. He recalls an example where a client planned to regenerate his site, a former quarry, at the end of its life. However, the site is unable to meet its waste capacity quota because of declining volumes. This has had the effect of driving waste to rival sites with tax exemptions that are cheaper for developers to use. Unfortunately it is also a question of timing: had the site ceased operation by 1 October 1999, it would have been possible to operate on a tax-exempt basis. ‘Particularly at a difficult economic time when the UK needs businesses to grow and develop, more needs to be done to help operators get the best out of their site,’ Oliver says.

‘Reduced inputs to landfill is creating a trend for reduced gate prices and margins as some look to complete sites within a defined timescale,’ says Steve Haymes MRICS, Chair of RICS’ waste working group. ‘Clearly the dynamics have changed as a result of society’s decision to resort to alternatives. There will be a period of hiatus within the landfill sector, and planning authorities and society should be aware and sympathetic to these impacts. Also it should be remembered that not all waste can be recycled from a commercial and practicable viewpoint, and therefore there will be a continued need for landfill in the years to come.’

There’s no doubt that remarkable progress has been made in reducing our reliance on burying waste in the long term, but only by encouraging more households, authorities and companies to divert waste, and by meeting the changing needs of those who manage it, will the UK achieve the challenging landfill reduction targets that loom ahead. rics.org/ska-ratingwrap.org.uk

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MODUS_Nov_p40-41_Bus+adv.indd 40 18/10/2011 14:53

Managing your

BUSINESS CASH FLOW

Having cash allows a business to operate. So managing your resources and making sure you have enough to meet your needs is absolutely critical. Cash – which includes credit balances at the bank and any unused loan and overdraft facilities – is needed to pay wages and buy supplies, for example, as well as for meeting your own personal financial requirements. Problems with cash flow often start when a business takes on an employee or a sub-contractor who requires regular payment, or when it buys assets on credit or offers credit to customers.

The key is a regular cash flow forecast, which can highlight when the business might run low on cash and prompt an action plan to remedy the situation before it happens. Start with reliable accounting records. This might be a manual cashbook, a computer spreadsheet or accounting software, or a simple paid/unpaid system for bills. Whichever method you use, it is essential that your accounting records allow the business to see instantly what monies are owed from customers and the amounts unpaid to suppliers.

The accounting records provide the basis to prepare a cash flow forecast. Start with invoices outstanding from customers and owing to suppliers, and known weekly or monthly expenses, such as payroll, rent, and leasing or hire purchase payments. You can then build in predictions

of receipts and payments from future sales and purchases over the forecast period, which can be anything from three to 12 months ahead.

Managing cash flow is, in part, a mirror image of the businesses investment in working capital. Generally, the higher the value of stock, work-in-progress or monies owed by debtors, the more difficult it is to keep control of cash flow. Maintaining a tight grip on stocks and debtors should help to free up cash to use elsewhere in the business.

RECEIPTS FOR CUSTOMERS For big-value sales on credit, check the customer’s

credit rating first. Agree the terms of payment before starting work. Invoice as soon as services are rendered or the goods

have reached the customer. Regularly progress payment, starting after a few days. If payment is not received within the agreed period,

progress payment higher up the customer’s management, and consider how quickly you will stop supplies or services.

If the invoice remains unpaid, use a solicitor’s letter and threaten court proceedings.

If the invoice still remains unpaid, consider whether to go to court, or is this throwing good money after bad?

PAYMENTS TO SUPPLIERS Agree payment terms with a supplier at the start of

trading, and always try to stick to them. If you think you might not be able to pay, contact the

supplier concerned as soon as possible and ask for more time. Provided that you usually pay on time, they will probably agree to delay payment.

Letting suppliers down will reflect in your credit rating and affect future supplies.

ALTERNATIVE FINANCING METHODSBank loan or overdraft. These are the most popular forms of business finance, but be aware that you may be asked for personal guarantees for security. Also consider the interest rate and charges, as well as any covenants with the finance. Factoring or invoice discounting. This type of lending can offer financing of up to 90% of the value of an invoice, which is likely to be a much larger percentage of the asset value than on an overdraft. It requires a more disciplined approach to credit checking and only business-to-business invoices can be covered. Business angel. Potential high-growth businesses may be able to attract investment from a business angel, who can provide valuable expertise as well as capital in return for a share of the business. In the current environment, where banks are reluctant to take risks, more businesses are considering this option.

CLIVE LEWIS is head of enterprise at The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which offers a free advice service for small and medium-sized businesses. businessadviceservice.com

A CASH FLOW FORECAST CAN HIGHLIGHT WHEN THE BUSINESS MIGHT RUN LOW ON CASH AND PROMPT AN ACTION PLAN

11.11 // MODUS 41

Illustration by Mitch Blunt

MODUS_Nov_p40-41_Bus+adv.indd 41 18/10/2011 14:53

42 r ics.org

the logo is intended to bleed off the top left hand corner of the page. the dots should line up withthe page edge, allow 3mm bleed and pull in the picture box to hide the dots.

PASSIONATE ABOUT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT?We are … and we have been for 90 years. Our industry expertise allows us to provide specialist courses for property and construction professionals, by supported distance learning.

We offer diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Degree courses are awarded by the University of Reading and the Open University, and accredited by RICS, CIOB and other professional bodies.

• BSc(Hons) in Building Services Quantity Surveying, Building Surveying, Construction Management, Estate Management, Property Management and Quantity Surveying

• Diplomas in Construction Practice, Surveying Practice and Shopping Centre Management

• MBA in Real Estate and Construction Management

• MSc in Real Estate

• Postgraduate Diploma in Adjudication

• Postgraduate Diploma in Arbitration

• Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Conservation of the Historic Environment

• Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Facilities Management

• Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Property Investment

• Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Surveying (Graduate Development Programme)

• RICS Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management

To further your career call 0800 019 9697 (quoting ref. MD11), email [email protected] or visit our website.

MODUS_Nov_P43-53_Info_v2.indd 42 19/10/2011 11:18

01.11 // MODUS 09

INFORMATIONUSEFUL NUMBERSCONTACT CENTRE+44 (0)870 333 1600

General enquiriesAPC guidanceSubscriptionsPasswordsLibraryBookshop

REGULATION HELPLINE+44 (0)20 7695 1670

CONFIDENTIAL HELPLINE+44 (0)20 7334 3867

DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES+44 (0)20 7334 3806

SWITCHBOARD+44 (0)20 7222 7000

:RICS NEWS :DIARY :BENEFITS :RESOURCES

RICS has donated three volumes of records to the London Metropolitan Archives, whose ‘Mapping the Blitz’ exhibition is on until 23 December in the City of London. The records, kept by chartered surveying company Dyer, Son and Creasey, who assessed and recorded the costs of work done to repair bomb damage under the War Damage Act 1941, off er a fascinating insight into how surveyors contributed to the Second World War recovery. For more surveying history, visit or contact the RICS Library at rics.org/library.

MAPPING THE BLITZCONFIDENCE IS CLEARLY CRITICAL FOR THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR. ANY RECOVERY IN RENTS IS LIKELY TO PROVE ELUSIVE

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist, on the RICS UK Commerical Market Survey Q3

11.11 // MODUS 43

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the logo is intended to bleed off the top left hand corner of the page. the dots should line up withthe page edge, allow 3mm bleed and pull in the picture box to hide the dots.

PASSIONATE ABOUT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT?We are … and we have been for 90 years. Our industry expertise allows us to provide specialist courses for property and construction professionals, by supported distance learning.

We offer diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Degree courses are awarded by the University of Reading and the Open University, and accredited by RICS, CIOB and other professional bodies.

• BSc(Hons) in Building Services Quantity Surveying, Building Surveying, Construction Management, Estate Management, Property Management and Quantity Surveying

• Diplomas in Construction Practice, Surveying Practice and Shopping Centre Management

• MBA in Real Estate and Construction Management

• MSc in Real Estate

• Postgraduate Diploma in Adjudication

• Postgraduate Diploma in Arbitration

• Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Conservation of the Historic Environment

• Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Facilities Management

• Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Property Investment

• Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Surveying (Graduate Development Programme)

• RICS Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management

To further your career call 0800 019 9697 (quoting ref. MD11), email [email protected] or visit our website.

A map showing bomb damage to central London


08 r ics.org

RICS news//

44 r ics.org

RICS research has found that housing-related expenditure remains the biggest component of consumer spending at an aggregated European level. The report, written by Peter Parlasca FRICS and published on 2 November, provides a statistical overview of all 27 EU

member states, as well as other key European countries. With 22.9% of total consumer spending in 2009, compared to 20.4% in 2000, the importance of housing continues to increase, and is now the largest share of consumer spending in 21 of the 27 EU

countries. While the increase is mainly due to the rise in owner-occupied housing, increased spending on energy shows that efforts to make the (existing) building stock more energy efficient remain vital for a sustainable future.rics.org/eu

Household consumption in Europe

How do we use water, and what are the driving forces behind changes in patterns of water use? RICS has published a new report on water scarcity, with a focus on land use planning. It also provides a context on the competing demands on water resources in order to understand the relative impact land use development has on demand compared to other uses, particularly agricultural production, and examines the range of interventions that may be possible to improve supply and manage demand. These interventions may be delivered at the catchment scale (looking at the river basin as a whole), the urban scale (including city-wide responses and strategies), and the building scale (exploring building or more local responses, which may often link into city-wide approaches).

The report author also make a number of recommendations for effective water management across five key themes: societal, technological, environmental, economical and political. Coping with scarcity as an isolated issue is likely to be counter-productive given the trade-offs required to manage energy and food security in conjunction with guaranteeing water supply and sanitation. One of the report’s key recommendations is that urban infrastructure and public realm should be planned through a partnership approach between urban planners, the water sector and other sectors together to meet sustainability and livability objectives set by the community. Water management must be integral to the design of our urban spaces.rics.org/waterscarcity

GPS is used throughout the world for navigation and positioning. With funding from the RICS Education Trust, Peter Dare and Reza Ghoddousi-Fard of the University of New Brunswick have explored how to improve positions determined from GPS in the Arctic region of Canada, following growing interest due to a reduction of ice coverage in the area. There are many factors that have an influence on the accuracy obtained from GPS, especially for high-accuracy users. The influence of the Earth’s atmosphere on the GPS signals as they pass through the atmosphere is potentially a major source of error in the derived position of the GPS receiver. In the report Assessment of Atmospheric Errors on GPS in the Arctic, enhanced algorithms for dealing with the effect of the lower part of the atmosphere have been developed to improve GPS results for high-accuracy users in the Canadian Arctic. rics.org/geomatics

GPS IN THE ARCTIC

WATER SCARCITY


01.11 // MODUS 09

arents go to great lengths to teach their children to share – it is a fundamental life skill that is demanded in all aspects,

from personal relationships to business and politics. Despite its importance, however, as adults and professionals we often underestimate the importance of maintaining and developing our collaborative skills – ironic given the fact that the world is becoming a more complex place in which to do business.

The importance of collaboration is not a new concept; after all, it is more than 300 years since Sir Isaac Newton said, ‘If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.’ But just think of a few of the realities of working life that have become the norm these days: the abundance and availability of multiple information and data sources; the existence of a multinational and multicultural marketplace; the increased sophistication of our clients; an increasingly complex regulatory environment… the list goes on. But the simple fact is that now, more than ever, effective collaboration is the key to success and, often, to survival.

In the construction and property world it is clear to see how this multidimensional

landscape touches us, especially chartered surveyors, who play such a key role in measurement and management throughout the property life cycle. Our clients expect us to be able to provide detailed and information-rich reports and analysis at speed. This is sobering when you consider the estimate that there will be more new information generated in the course of the next 12 months than there has been in the past 5,000 years.

Yes, this means mastering the technology available to us, but perhaps more importantly it is about ensuring we have the processes in place to draw upon reliable information and synthesise it in a meaningful way. And this means that there is a need for professionals to collaborate through multidisciplinary teams and external partnerships. In this environment, it is becoming more and more difficult to be a jack of all trades and a professional at the same time.

There are, of course, many challenges to effective partnering, which is why we often place collaboration in the ‘too difficult’ pile. They say that politeness is the poison of partnership, and in my 35 years’ experience the biggest difficulty comes down to not being honest and negotiating firmly. Whether negotiating the terms of a PFI contract or planning a joint venture, the seed of future success is planted on day one.

Whether acting as a primary project integrator or as a specialist firm within a wider contract, effective collaboration provides a chance to leverage greater opportunity. Across every aspect of the profession, from planning and property advisory to building surveying and construction, there are opportunities to deliver new service streams and to extend our professional reach into new areas. We must learn to adapt and embrace or risk losing ground to others.

See Lian Ong FRICS is an executive director of Davis Langdon & Seah (Malaysia).

‘Across every aspect of the profession, there are opportunities to extend our professional reach into new areas’See Lian Ong FRICS, RICS President

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

P

11.11 // MODUS 45

15%more surveyors reported that overall available space rose rather than fell*

+30Available space picked up fastest in the retail sector, which also saw the largest drop in demand for space*

-11Overall tenant demand moved into negative territory for the first time in a year*

+20Inducements rose as landlords looked to entice tenants into deals, increasing at their fastest pace since Q2 2010*

-15Falling demand and rising availability impacted on rental expectations, which moved deeper into negative territory*

27%more surveyors reported a rise rather than fall in investment demand in London, due in part to the appetite of foreign investors*

*Highlights from the RICS UK Commercial Market Survey Q3 2011. rics.org/economics


RICS news//

46 r ics.org

BUILDING CONSERVATIONTown Hall Hotel & Apartments, LondonAn unoccupied Grade II-listed former council headquarters in the heart of London’s East End has been transformed into a luxurious, contemporary 98-room hotel and conference facility. The sensitive, holistic design approach preserves the building’s original features while incorporating contemporary additions. ‘Exemplary conservation, inspirational design, attention to detail and dedicated teamwork combined to achieve a stunning result… a truly outstanding project.’David Tuffin FRICS, Chairman of judges

CATEGORY WINNER

RICS Awards 2011The RICS Awards showcase the most inspirational regional developments in land, property, construction and the environment. The 2011 winners were announced at the grand final ceremony on 21 October

Sponsors

PROJECT OF THE

YEAR


11.11 // MODUS 47

For more information on the 2012 RICS Awards, visit rics.org/callforentries

SUSTAINABILITYNew GRAHAM Headquarters, HillsboroughGRAHAM wanted to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable construction in its new headquarters. The development reused existing buildings on the site, and much of its energy-saving features were achieved through intelligent passive design with little or no additional cost. ‘GRAHAM resisted the temptation to include token renewable technologies. The project is an excellent example of a logical approach to sustainability.’Jim Ure, Sustainability judge

COMMUNITY BENEFITRSA Academy, TiptonThis pioneering flagship project for the RSA houses its new Opening Minds curriculum and provides facilities for 1,100 students. ‘The development of this school should be a model for any education authority endeavouring to use public money to great effect. The team have adopted many of the attributes traditionally associated with exemplary education: longer hours, high expectations of behaviour and respect for authority. The results are spectacular.’Michael Wyldbore-Smith FRICS, Community Benefit judge

REGENERATIONGranary Wharf, LeedsDesigned to create a sustainable mixed-use community, this development has made a considerable improvement to the area and enhanced the Leeds skyline. ‘The development team’s approach was exemplary as regards their unshakeable belief that good design, innovative features and high-quality finishes would create better long-term value for money and a commercially more sustainable investment.’David Tuffin FRICS, Chairman of judges

CATEGORY WINNER

CATEGORY WINNER

CATEGORY WINNER


08 r ics.org48 r ics.org

Advertorial//

To view all the latest offers, new partners and monthly and seasonal promotions, visit rics.org/benefitsplus

Benefitsrics.org/benefitsplus

We are living in challenging times, and 2011 has seen another year of volatile investment markets. Going back to basics, investors may consider following a series of simple but robust principles. Here are five key rules for personal investment, which take into account the impossibility of predicting what may happen in the short term.

Invest for the long term. As the short term is so unpredictable, you should always plan your investments longer term. Planning investments with the expectation that they are going to do well over a one, two or three-year time frame may lead to disappointment.

Make sure you always have sufficient money on deposit to meet your short-term needs. Keep adequate liquidity so that you can always access funds in a short-term

emergency. You should never have to sell long-term investments at a bad time, for example after a sudden sharp fall in market values.

Never ignore the risk that you are going to have to live through a period of significant inflation at some point. The effects of inflation can present a risk just as severe as a sharp fall in markets. However, where market falls are almost always followed by recoveries, inflation permanently reduces the value of your savings. In real terms, by doing nothing with your money, there is a significant risk to its value.

Diversify your investments as widely as you can. Diversify by type of investment (ie shares, bonds and commercial property) and then diversify further within each type, spreading your money widely rather than investing in just six

or seven companies. Also, choose funds that invest across different sectors of the economy and geographic regions. Choose investment managers with different styles – many managers invest in the same way, so even spreading your money between managers may not give you real diversification.

Find the best managers you can for your investments. There are a huge number of investment managers in many different countries. You should take advice to ensure you are selecting the best investment managers and continually monitor their success, changing managers if necessary.

Managing your wealthThe award-winning* St. James’s Place Wealth Management Group has been built on developing strong, lasting, face-to-face relationships with clients and a distinctive approach to investment management. Whether you are looking to minimise your personal taxation, invest for income, plan for your retirement, mitigate Inheritance Tax or successfully exit your business, St. James’s Place is well placed to help you achieve your desired lifestyle and financial goals, whatever the economic climate.

For a complimentary financial review or a copy of our investment guide How can you get the best return on your money?, call 0800 953 3030, email [email protected] or visit sjpp.co.uk/rics.

*The Daily Telegraph Wealth Manager of the Year 2007, 2008 and 2010

Investing in volatile markets


01.11 // MODUS 0911.11 // MODUS 47

MembershipGRADUATE SURVEYIn February, RICS conducted its annual graduate intake survey, gathering top-line information about the number of graduates starting at firms later in the year. While there were responses from fewer firms this year (46, down from 63 last year), the results render a qualitative picture of cautious optimism for graduate recruitment.

Top-line results speak of a higher number of firms recruiting now compared with March 2010. The 26 firms recruiting in March expected to take on just over 400 graduates, of which 76% were planning to start their APC this year. This is an increase in the number of graduates being recruited per firm from 11 in 2010 to 15 in 2011. The proportion of graduates that then plan to start their APC in 2011 has not changed significantly, as this stood at 72% in 2010.

Overall, this represents a moderate improvement, but the ad-hoc approach to recruitment is still present among firms, and salary policies remain prudent. Use of the ‘milk round’ (visits to universities) as a source of recruitment has decreased over

the past year, with more firms using the ad-hoc methods of recruiting on their own and recruiter websites.

In line with previous years, the decision to recruit aims to meet several needs, from filling in vacancies to supporting the firms’ strategic succession planning. Reasons given include:

‘Strategic organic growth and longer-term succession planning.’

‘Bringing in talented individuals to drive business forwards. Investing in talent is paramount to our success.’

The structure of the remuneration packages being offered is changing: graduates are being offered lower basic starting salaries and there is a shift from inclusion in general benefits schemes to offering other perks such as free travel, rewards and sign on schemes, with most offering non-APC-related training and learning support.

Finally, perceptions of the APC continue to show it is still a relevant qualification that is a benchmark of competence across a range of business sectors.rics.org/employers

11.11 // MODUS 49

18 NOVEMBERCommercial agency and brokerage standardsDeveloped for the UK and aimed at commercial real estate agents, this guidance note provides advice that will help agents meet relevant legal requirements, the requirements of the Real Estate Agency Code and the global Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Standards, and to adopt best practice. It is also useful as a reference tool for clients and other stakeholders worldwide.

23 NOVEMBER The management of facilities data and information Information is one of the key aspects of management. Almost all daily workplace activities involve production, consolidation and conversion of information into recognised organisational formats. Using information, organisations aim to create business rules, make decisions and learn from the consequences of their actions. This RICS paper helps chartered facilities management practitioners generate, analyse, use and report on management information for organisational success.

16 DECEMBERPublic sector asset managementThe guidelines provide direction and assistance to those involved with public sector property asset management, including how to formulate a property asset management plan, deliver a portfolio of space in accordance with that plan and track the post-occupational results. It also provides insight to those on the fringes of the process. rics.org/standards

Consultations open for comment in November:

Managing mixed-use developments guidance note

Valuation of renewable energy installations information paper

A valuer’s guide to Japanese knotweed. rics.org/standardsconsultations

RAISING STANDARDS

OFFERING LEGAL SERVICESRICS members and other professionals in England and Wales are now able to set up Alternative Business Structures (ABS), which allow non-lawyer organisations to provide legal services. This provides clients, who are interested in buying property for example, with access to all the professionals involved in the process under one roof. The one-stop-shop approach is expected to be subject to the oversight of more than one regulator, and RICS is working with the Legal Services Board to clarify the role of regulator. ABS represents a major shift in the way legal services are managed and delivered, and provides new opportunities for RICS members to work with other professionals to develop new customer services.rics.org/abs

Awards success for ModusA year after launch, Modus has been shortlisted for four industry awards. The annual APA Awards have shortlisted the magazine in three categories, for best membership title, best use of illustration, and designer of the year for Christie Ferdinando. The Association of Publishing Agencies (APA) is the representative body

for customer publishing, and its awards are hailed as the industry’s finest. Meanwhile Modus editor Victoria Brookes has been nominated for editor of the year for a business readership title at the prestigious British Society of Magazine Editors awards. Winners of both sets of awards will be announced in November.


50 r ics.org

rics.org/awards

Call for entries now open!The RICS Awards celebrate excellence in the built environment and showcase the talent of property professionals behind the most ground breaking projects. Entries for the 2012 Awards are now open.

All finalists will enjoy unparalleled public recognition at one of the industry’s most prestigious annual events.

Entry categories include Building Conservation, Community Benefit, Design & Innovation and Regeneration.

Shortlisted entries are entered into the Grand Final with a chance to win the coveted Project of the Year 2012.

Entry to the Awards is free and open to all property professionals.

For more information and to download an entry pack, visit rics.org/callforentries or contact RICS Awards Administrators on 02476 868 400

Closing date: Friday 20 January 2012

Specialists in Remedial Structural Repairsand now EWI Cladding and Render Systems

EWI installations.

bersche rolt new pic, green:Layout 1 29/3/11 12:18 Page 1


01.11 // MODUS 09

ENGLAND

RICS subsidence seminarsNovember to December, various locationsIntroducing the new RICS Subsidence Guidance Note, and a breakdown of the process for a subsidence claim.£150 + VATrics.org/ subsidence2011

Infrastructure in urban areasNovember to December, various locations An opportunity to look at green infrastructure options and understand their impact on cost and how they might contribute to value.£199 + VATrics.org/ greenurban infrastructure

RICS expert witness workshopsNovember to December, various locations Three modules on expert evidence: law and practice; advanced report writing; and witness familiarisation: court skills for experts.£250 + VAT per module; £650 + VAT for three modules; £450 + VAT for assessment dayrics.org/expert witnessworkshop

RICS building regulations seminarsNovember to December, various locationsOverview of changes to the building and construction regulations (parts L, F, G and J).£150 + VATrics.org/buildingregs2011

RICS Northern CPD programmeNovember to January, various locationsTopics include lease renewals, dilapidations, dispute resolution and specification.£26 + VATrics.org/northernevents

RICS neighbourly disputes seminarsNovember to January, various locations How to handle common disputes between neighbours as a result of party walls, boundaries or rights of light.£150 + VATrics.org/neighbourly disputes2011

RICS telecoms forum conference 3 November, London Update on rural broadband, mobile internet access and recent case law.£190 + VATrics.org/telecoms2011

RICS Yorkshire & Humber CPD Day10 November, LeedsTopics focusing on the land, property and construction sectors. £125 + VATrics.org/yorkshirehumber

RICS innovative methods of construction conference28 November, LondonExplores recent trends, applications and methods for off-site construction. £250 + VATrics.org/innovative methods2011

RICS legal issues in construction conference 29 November, LondonOverview of the major kinds of contracts, with key information on FIDIC. £220 + VATrics.org/legalissues2011

RICS Northern commercial landlord and tenant update29 November, ManchesterA review of the developments to commercial property management.£70 + VATrics.org/northernevents

RICS insolvency and distressed property conference 20111 December, LondonOverview of the latest trends, case law and best practice for valuers, insolvency practitioners and estate distress professionals.£250 + VATrics.org/insolvency2011

SCOTLAND

RICS Scotland lunchtime CPD seriesNovember to February, Glasgow and EdinburghPresentations on resolving disputes effectively, reducing the pain of professional indemnity insurance and the National Housing Trust.£26 + VATrics.org/lunchtime

Top 20 defects: identification and solution15 November, EdinburghGuidance on common defects in Scottish buildings.£75 + VATrics.org/top20

Rural mid-session 17 November, Perthshire Covering Scotland’s property market and natural environment.£60 + VAT rics.org/midsession

Scottish building contract committee annual update seminar

24 November, EdinburghGuide to building contracts and construction law.£185 + VAT sbcconline.com

EUROPE

15th real estate market conference22-23 November, WarsawFocus on effective business models and investment forecasts, supported by RICS [email protected]

AUSTRALIA

RICS global valuation symposium 18-20 January 2012, Adelaide The RICS Foundation will bring together leading global academics and practitioners for a global symposium on property valuation and investment in conjunction with the University of South Australia. david.parker@ unisa.edu.au

EventsNORTHERN IRELAND

RICS NI managing relevant events under JCT 23 November, BelfastDiscussion on how to claim extension of time and loss and expense.£25 + VATrics.org/northernireland

RICS NI issues with MEAT for employers and tenderers 24 November, Belfast This seminar covers invitation to tender, and quality/price award (most economically advantageous tender).£25 + VATrics.org/northernireland

WALES

RICS SE Wales renewable energy seminar3 November, CardiffInsight into the prerequisites for fundable and successful renewable energy projects.£10 + VATrics.org/events

FOR RICS EVENTS BOOKINGS AND ENQUIRIES [email protected] // +44 (0)20 7695 1600

RICS VALUATION CONFERENCE 10 November, London

Provides commercial valuers’ insights into innovative approaches to valuation in the current lending and

commercial market. This one-day conference is an opportunity to network with speakers from Lloyds, RBS, Deka Bank, Savills, the GLA, Jones Lang LaSalle, IPD, RICS and more. Join leading experts at RICS’ flagship event to discuss the mounting pressures around UK market valuations and debate possible solutions. £220 + VAT rics.org/valuation2011


52 r ics.org

January 2012 or September 2012 start

Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/dl for more details.

To apply, contact the admissions team on +44 (0) 191 227 4453 or [email protected]

Online timetabled modules in a virtual student learning environment, guiding you through your MSc,enabling you to study flexibly.

RICS partnership programmesby Distance Learning

� MSc Building Surveying� MSc Construction� MSc Housing

� MSc Minerals Surveying� MSc Quantity Surveying� MSc Real Estate

Go further with a Masters from the UK’s premier School of the Built EnvironmentFull-time, part-time and distance learning study options available. All assessment is by coursework.

Construction related Programmes:

MSc Quantity Surveying* – For aspiring new entrants

MSc Quantity Surveying (M&E)*

MSc Construction Management*

MSc Project Management in Construction*

MSc Construction Law and Practice* (LLM also available)

Property related Programmes:

MSc Corporate Real Estate and Facilities Management – Think strategically about property investment and building performance

MSc Real Estate Development* – Learn sustainable development appraisal techniques

MSc Real Estate and Property Management* – For aspiring, new, property industry entrants

Design related programmes:

MSc Sustainable Building Design – Explore environmental sustainability and performance in relation to buildings, including the role of digital technologies

MSc Urban Design and Regeneration – Combinesexploration of Urban Design processes and community based Regeneration practice

MSc Digital Architectural Design – Learn to apply state ofthe art, Digital and Media technologies to design

MSc Accessibility and Inclusive Design – How to improvelife for all building users

MSc Building Information Modelling and Integrated Design – Explore the full potential of BIM technologies

APPLY NOW for September or January start. PgCert and PgDip options available. We welcome applications from students without formal qualifications but significant relevant experience.* Professionally accredited

For more information contact: Brian Meichen, Director of Marketing, School of the Built Environment,[email protected] or see www.sobe.salford.ac.uk


01.11 // MODUS 09

EASTERN

Kingsley Guy Jones Arrowsmith Trainee1963-2011, Studham

Garry Eric Ball MRICS1955-2011, Woodford Green

Stephen Ronald Bevan MRICS1961-2011, Ipswich

Richard Frederick Lewsley FRICS1940-2011, Huntingdon

John Edward Martin FRICS1946-2011,Huntingdon

Clifford Alfred Pilgrim MRICS1949-2011, Clacton-On-Sea

James Donald Rennie FRICS1923-2011, Watford

LONDON

Keith Charles Needell FRICS1927-2011, London

NORTH EAST

Clifford Elliott Hedley FRICS1928-2011, Whitley Bay

Richard James Manley MRICS1958-2011, Ferryhill

NORTH WEST

William Mackenz Fraser MRICS1922-2011, St Bees

Angus Richard Hossack FRICS1959-2011, St Helens

Robert Dunn McGlynn FRICS1948-2011, Leigh

Michael John Shepherd MRICS1944-2011, Southport

SOUTH EAST

Andrew Harry Barber MRICS1927-2011, Otford

William Reuben Betts FRICS1924-2011, Ashford

Harold Raymond Bown MRICS1930-2011, Hove

Peter Donald Gresswell FRICS1922-2011, Oxford

Terence Roy HaleyFRICS1933-2011, Reading

Bedford John LenoFRICS1926-2011, Felpham

Norman Conrad Lloyd Miller FRICS1925-2011, Tonbridge

Frank Leslie MoonFRICS1921-2011, Hove

Simon Henry OdlingFRICS1939-2011, Winchester

Kenneth Ernest Parker FRICS1926-2011, Seale

Kent Claydon Pinglaux MRICS1963-2011, St Helier

Jonathan James Seymour MRICS1970-2011, Ashford

Michael John SmithFRICS1933-2011, East Molesey

Peter Leslie SmithFRICS1939-2011, Reading

Peter Francis StokesFRICS1922-2011, Southampton

Frank Wood FRICS1918-2011, Canterbury

SOUTH WEST

John West HolmesMRICS1927-2011, St Austell

Henry Uvedale Antrobus LambertHonRICS1925-2011, Taunton

David Mullins AssocRICS1930-2011, Bristol

Andrew J Phillips MRICS1946-2011, Bristol

John Hugh RidpathFRICS1926-2011, Teignmouth

Idwal Prichard Williams MRICS1921-2011, Buckfastleigh

EAST MIDLANDS

Bryan Arthur Charnley FRICS1948-2011, Kettering

Keith Anthony Richardson FRICS1952-2011, Kettering

Rodney Matthew Smout FRICS1941-2011, Grantham

YORKSHIRE & HUMBER

Donald Alan Anderson AssocRICS1939-2008, Harrogate

ObituariesAFRICA

Olufemi Ilori FRICS1933-2011, Ibadan, Nigeria

AMERICAS

David Anthony Glover FRICS1924-2010,Bartlesville, US

Geoffrey Alan Stuart HadleyFRICS1931-2011, Victoria, Canada

Charles Ben Atkinson MRICS1939-2011, Otley

John Michael CalamMRICS1930-2008, Wakefield

Steven Graham Clift FRICS1956-2011, Sheffield

Alan James Holt Scholefield MRICS1912-2011, Harrogate

Graham AH Thorpe MRICS1937-2011, Sheffield

Jason Alexander Trotter MRICS1929-2011, Sheffield

SCOTLAND

Charles Deuchar Ferguson FRICS1933-2011, Alloa

Irving Hyman MRICS1951-2011, Glasgow

Derick James McColgan MRICS1956-2011, Glasgow

Simon Alastair Stodart FRICS1941-2011, Haddington

Robert Gillon Watson MRICS1937-2011, Prestwick

WALES

Keith William Mills FRICS1937-2011, Ludchurch Narberth

Ivor Edward Nathaniel Williams FRICS1935-2011, Cardiff

OCEANIA

William Dyson FRICS1915-2011, Roseville, US

John William Rawlinson HonRICS1918-2011, Claremont, US

11.11 // MODUS 53

DISCIPLINARY PANEL, 6 JULY 2011

David Stout, GloucestershireSummary of finding: contrary to Bye-law 5.2.2Penalty: expulsion/costs


Wayne Tieken MRICS, PenzanceSummary of finding: failure to comply with Rule 4 of the Rules of Conduct for Members 2007Penalty: not provedSummary of finding: failure to comply with Rule 3 of the Rules of Conduct for Members 2007 Penalty: reprimand/£1,000 fine/costs


Ronald McLeod & Partners, GlasgowSummary of finding: failure to comply with Rule 9 of the Rules of Conduct for Firms 2007 Penalty: reprimand/condition/costs

Ronald McLeod FRICSSummary of finding: failure to comply with Rule 9 of the Rules of Conduct for Members 2007 Penalty: caution


Christopher Jarvis, West MidlandsSummary of finding: contrary to Bye-law 5.2.2Penalty: expulsion/costsrics.org/conductcases

Conductrics.org/regulationenews


Department of the Built Environment

Qualifications to build a careerWe offer high quality professionally accredited programmes in a caring and friendly environment.

For further information:

Click: www.anglia.ac.uk/rics Email: [email protected] Call: 0845 271 3333

UndergraduateBSc (Hons) Building SurveyingBSc (Hons) Quantity SurveyingBSc (Hons) Real Estate Management

PostgraduateMSc Project ManagementMSc Construction ManagementMSc Sustainable ConstructionMSc Conservation of Buildings

Professional Doctorate and PhD research programmesThese can be studied full or part-time, with intakes in September and January.

These can be studied full or part-time.

Formpave Aquaflow delivers

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Complying with CSH, BREEAM, the Flood & Water Management Act and the

Water Framework DirectiveRecycle and Re-use, call 01594 836999

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Patented permeable paving system

Water management Rainwater recycling

Pollution removal

TM

RICS Modus- Quarter page Aquafow Ad-B_Aquaflow RIBA 09/09/2011 16:03 Page 1

When you specify any size of Fire Alarm System you need tobe sure that it meets the latest standards, using approvedequipment and that your contractor is competent.

There are now over 450 BAFE SP203-1 registered contractors from all parts of the UK who are certificated so that they meet your requirements.

This key third party certification scheme is backed by UKAS accreditedCertification Bodies thus ensuring you get theproducts and systems your fire risk assessmentrequires.

You need BAFE

Bridges 2, Fire Service College, London Road, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 0RHTel: 0844 3350897 • Fax: 01608 653359 • Email: [email protected] www.bafe.org.uk

It’s no good burying your head in the sand

BAFE.... Independent – National – Quality!

54 r ics.org

MODUS_Nov_P54-57_Classified.v3.indd 63 19/10/2011 11:50

DIRECTORYFor directory advertising please contact Lucie Inns +44 (0)20 7793 2477 [email protected]

92,028 average net circulation 1st July 2010 – 20th June 2011

RECRUITMENTFor recruitment advertising please contact Grace Healy +44 (0)20 7793 2491 [email protected]

11.11 // MODUS 55

Business services

CHEGWIDDEN & Co Chartered Accountants

Mergers & Acquisitions Department

ARE YOU PLANNING TO SELL YOUR PRACTICE?

We are the leading broker for Surveyors and have many buyers registered with us looking to expand throughout the

UK and the ROI. We can also assist you with a valuation, partnership change advice and MBO/MBI’s

Contact:Paul Beason FRICS - [email protected] Harris FCCA - [email protected]

Tel: 020 8597 2531 Fax: 020 8599 6273 www.chegwidden.uk.com

Advertise in Modus and recruit from a pool of more than 95,000

chartered surveyorsThe Dec/Jan issue will be published on 7 Dec

Recruitment booking deadline Wed 9 Nov

Recruitment copy deadline Wed 16 Nov

RESIDENTIAL VALUATION SURVEYORSSuperb opportunities exist with major residential surveying firms, premier financial services organisations and leading panel management companies.As the jobs market for Residential Valuation Surveyors continues to improve, several of the industry’s very best employers are recruiting. You must be MRICS and a registered valuer. Local knowledge and a proven track record of undertaking residential mortgage valuations, Homebuyer reports, and preferably building surveys is essential.

FULL TIME PERMANENT POSITIONS Basics to circa £55k, + commission etc. Harrow/Watford, Enfield/Winchmore Hill, Islington /Stoke Newington, St Albans, Luton, Romford/ Ilford,Twickenham/Kingston, Epsom, Wandsworth, Putney, Sevenoaks/Maidstone, Reading/Maidenhead, Kent, SE London, C London, SW London, NW London, Herts, E London, Sth Essex, Norwich, Brighton/Eastbourne, Bristol/Bath, Dumfries, Aberdeen, Dundee, Northants, Coventry/Warks, Bradford, Grimsby, Wakefield, Liverpool.

ZERO HOURS &CONSULTANCY (full and part time). Most areas of M25/Home Counties, Reading/Slough, Luton, Milton Keynes, St Albans, Kent, E Sussex, Bexhill/Rye, Brighton, Crawley, Guildford, Southampton, Norwich, Gloucester, Sth Birmingham/M42, Cornwall.

REGIONAL MANAGER London/M25 - with prestige lender/panel manager.

OFFICE MANAGER Twickenham - well known regional company.

SENIOR DIRECTOR /BOARD APPOINTMENT M/FRICS Outstanding person needed for key role in premier firm. Existing senior level experience involving strategy, risk, technical and operational matters vital. If you feel unsettled or undervalued in your current position, call Jeff Johnson on 07940 594093 for an confidential discussion. Or email your CV with contact number to: [email protected]

Register now to be kept advised of opportunities in your location.

QUANTITY SURVEYING PRACTICE WANTED

We are interested in the purchase

of a quantity surveying practice in

the U.K. and Bahamas either as

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PLEASE REPLY IN CONFIDENCE TO:[email protected]


56 r ics.org

To view more jobs online visit ricsrecruit.com

ricsrecruit.com

TO VIEW THESE JOB DESCRIPTIONS in full and to apply online, please visit ricsrecruit.com and enter the reference number in the keyword box.

T +44 (0)20 7793 2491E [email protected]

BUILDING SURVEYING Head of Building Surveying LondonNegotiable Ref: RICS0032Award winning Property Company seeks Building Surveyor (8-10 years PQE) young in spirit, and good with I.T.This is an immediate Board position, with modest guaranteed basic & bonus structure to obtain 25% shareholding with no cash injection. You will need to be risk savvy and able to read/understand/act upon the risk management tools we’ve got in place.

BUILDING CONTROLBuilding Control Surveyor London£30,390 - £38,070 Ref: RICS0033Are you an enthusiastic, customer orientated, forward thinking surveyor with a commitment to local authority building control? If so you may be the person to join this modern, progressive building control service.

VALUATIONChartered Surveyor LeicestershireNegotiable Ref: RICS0034A Long Established Multi-discipline Firm with Offices in Warwick, Coventry and Market Harborough seeks a Chartered Surveyor. Preferably with two years post qualification experience to assist Partner with Commercial/Residential Property Valuations, Surveys, Management & Strategic Planning.

INTERNATIONALDevelopment/Project Managers Saudi ArabiaNegotiable Ref: RICS0035We are one of the leading real estate developer in Saudi Arabia. We currently have vacancies for senior project and development managers to join our existing team of professionals to deliver hospitality projects in various parts of the Kingdom.

Rural Surveyor/AssociateLichfield, StaffordshireWe are seeking an experienced rural surveyor to join our busy,multi-disciplinary team managing estates for a range of highprofile clients across the West Midlands region.

Working with a Partner, but with direct client contact andhigh levels of management responsibility, the demanding rolecarries excellent career potential for the right candidate.

You will be articulate and self-motivated, able to prioritise abusy workload and have a good eye for detail. You will also beable to demonstrate an ability to communicate effectivelywith clients and tenants alike and to identify opportunities toadd value and improve performance.

Please apply in writing with your CV to Stephen Spencer atSmiths Gore, Sherbrook House, Swan Mews, Lichfield,Staffordshire WS13 6TUFor an informal discussion call 01543 266403

Lichfield office t 01543 266403 [email protected] smithsgore.co.uk

Henry Boot Developments requires a Project Manager to ensure the efficient and effective administration of development contracts. Reporting to a Senior Project Manager, you’ll both assist and take sole responsibility for meeting costs, programme and quality targets.

You’ll be professionally qualified (RICS or equivalent) with at least 3 years’ post-qualification experience (ideally with experience working as an employer’s agent or developer’s project manager) and be able to sustain our reputation for business integrity and lasting quality developments.

Based at our Head Office in Sheffield, the successful applicant will enjoy a competitive salary, company car/car allowance, stakeholder pension, private health care and profit related bonus.

Please send your CV and covering letter (with your current remuneration package) to [email protected] date: 30th November 2011.

henrybootdevelopments.co.uk

DWA Solar are Chartered Surveyors at the forefront of the renewable energy market. We require 6 field based building

surveyors to undertake solar surveys throughout the South and South West of England. Ideal candidates will also have experience

of Mortgage valuations, Homebuyers and building surveys.

Preference will be given to those who can develop an area or bring in clients/Work.

Building Surveyors x6 SOUTH & SOUTH WEST

Please e-mail CV and covering letter to [email protected] SOLAR


09.11 // MODUS 65

ricsrecruit.com

Missing an experienced surveyor or graduate?

RICS’ recruitment advertising solutions – Modus, ricsrecruit.com and our specialist journals – offer an unrivalled surveying audience for all your recruitment needs.

RICSRecruit.com• Reaching 30,000 candidates• Covering more surveying specialisms than any other jobs board• Access to RICS members and the ‘new up and coming’ talent• Tailor made recruitment campaigns.

To reach these candidates contact Grace Healy today:+44 (0)20 7793 2491 or [email protected]


3.9km

12.26km

2,400km0.0000004%

The deepest mine in the world is TauTona in Carletonville, South Africa.

The largest underground

mine system is El Teniente in

Rancagua, Chile.

The percentage of gold in the Earth’s crust.

19xSilver occurs in nature 19 times as frequently as gold.

The deepest borehole in the

world is the Kola Superdeep

Borehole in Russia.

100,000The number of quarries in the world producing aggregates for construction purposes.

60,000The approximate number of employees in mining and quarrying in the UK.

6.185bn tonnes Global hard coal production (2010)

6.316bn tonnesGlobal hard coal consumption (2010)

US$80bnThe annual global cost of mining and processing.

US$450bnThe average annual total value of global mine production – US$200bn attributed to coal/lignite, US$150bn to metals and gems and US$100bn to industrial minerals and aggregates.

PREDICTED ORE RESERVES (2010)

Bauxite 200 years

Gold 20 years

Copper 30 years

Sources: nma.org; worldcoal.org; mining-journal.com; reuters.com; wikipedia.org; unido.org

20,000The number of prospectors active in the world.

5,000The number of mines in the world producing industrial minerals.

The most important metals/gems (ranked by the average annual value of mined production over recent years/US$bn per annum).

Aluminium 32Gold 30Copper 23Iron ore 15Diamonds 10Zinc 9Nickel 6

Number of coal mines (2010)

China 18,557US 1,458India 562UK 46World (est) 24,000

400The number of mines under construction at any one time.

58 rics.org

Illustration by Ian Dutnall

Measure//

DIGGING DEEP GLOBAL MINING OF NATURAL RESOURCES

15,000MtThe number of mega tonnes of rock moved every year. Two-thirds are waste.

MODUS_nov_P58_measure_v3.indd 58 18/10/2011 14:54

This wasn’t in our plansOur friends laugh at us because we do everything together. We never thought losing our jobs would become part of this routine though.Having just found our new home, we thought we were finally on the way to finding a place where we could live the life we wanted.We’re committed to each other with everything we have, it’s just that in three months time that could be nothing at all.

Which is why LionHeart, the registered charity for RICS members and their families, offers a wide range of support and services to help those affected by and dealing with ill-health, disabilities, unemployment and bereavement. From legal advice and financial support to counselling and befriending, we endeavour, with the help of many volunteers, to help make everyday lives a little easier.There are several ways you can easily donate to LionHeart. Personal donations can be made directly via our website. Or if you prefer you can simply include a donation with your annual RICS subscription – a generous, yet affordable way to help us continue to help as many RICS members and their families as possible.

Registered Charity No. 261245Company Registered in England No. 980025

for more information on ways to donate and how we can help, visit lionheart.org.uk or call us today on 0845 6039057 Thank you.

for RICS members and their families

MODUS_Nov_P59_Lionheart_ad.indd 58 17/10/2011 14:33

The 10% online discount is applicable in the � rst year of your policy only and will be taken from your premium before application of the 12.5% saving. The offers only apply to Hiscox 505 Home Insurance available via speci� c telephone number and website and are subject to minimum premiums. Cases that do not meet Hiscox’s underwriting criteria may be referred to a Hiscox recommended specialist insurance broker, where these offers will not apply. Policies are underwritten by Hiscox Underwriting Ltd on behalf of Hiscox Insurance Company Ltd both of which are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is an Appointed Representative of Hiscox Underwriting Ltd. Reference to standard policies is based on a typical level of non-high net worth cover as de� ned by the independent � nancial research company Defaqto Ltd. For UK residents only. 9342 10/11

As good as our word.At Hiscox we believe that relationships are based on trust.So if you do need to make a claim, we always start by assuming it’s valid. That’s just one of the reasons why Hiscox is RICS’ preferred partner for home and contents insurance.

RICS members receive a 12.5% saving on Hiscox’s standard rates, and a further 10% discount in the � rst year of your policy when you buy online (subject to minimum premiums).

HOME INSURANCE 0845 365 1734 hiscox.co.uk/rics

(subject to minimum premiums).

To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.

Hiscox, sponsor of the 2011 Building Conservation Award, would like to congratulate this year’s category winner and Project of the Year, Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, London

MODUS_Nov_P60_Hiscox_ad.indd 1 17/10/2011 14:18

RICS Modus, Global edition — November 2011

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