News

This year's Building Excellence Awards Grand Finals took place on Friday 9 November 2018.

A record-breaking 860 attendees from the world of building and local authority building control attended our biggest ever event, held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge and hosted by Jon Culshaw, comedian and impressionist best known for Dead Ringers on Radio 4.

Driftways, Lower Drift, Penzance, constructed by AMJ Renovations was awarded the title of Best Extension or Alteration to an Existing Home at the Grand Finals of the LABC Building Excellence Awards – one of the most recognised events on the building industry’s calendar.

The site at Fern House, Bingley, West Yorkshire, constructed by Bardsley Construction Ltd, designed by Brewster Bye Architects for The Abbeyfield Society and nominated by the building control team from Bradford Metropolitan District Council was awarded the title of Best Social or Affordable New Housing Development at the Grand Finals of the LABC Building Excellence Awards – one of the most recognised events on the building industry’s calendar.

LABC launched its independently verified quality management system earlier in January and 11 months later 186 local teams have joined the formal accreditation process.  

Over three years in the making, the LABC Quality Management System is an independently audited approach to consistency and performance in local authority building control.

Following nationwide consultation, a set of standards and competencies was agreed and those authorities that sign up are now independently audited by Alcumus ISOQAR – an independently audited, UKAS accredited body.

The typical low rise domestic foundation detail to the left might be familiar to you. It's taken from the ​Building Construction Handb​ook 10th Edition, written by Roy Chudley & Roger Greeno.

Most properties in the UK have battery-operated smoke alarms, but mains powered smoke alarms interlinked between floors are the most reliable method of giving early warning in case of fire and must now be installed in all new homes.

Mains-wired smoke alarms are also required in certain types of alteration and extension work. Mount them in the circulation space at every floor level:

(From left to right: CEO of the British Board of Agrèment (BBA) Claire Curtis Thomas, CEO of LABC Paul Everall and Richard Beale of the BBA, at the 100% Hackitt Parliamentary Reception)

Watch LABC’s Lorna Stimpson’s speech at a Policy Connect event with BBA in the Houses of Parliament on Monday 22 October. In it she speaks about her experience in building control and why we should all support the 53 recommendations made in the Hackitt Review.

CGI above shows how the village might look (courtesy of Birmingham City Council) 

A funding boost of £165 million has been announced to help deliver the 2022 Commonwealth Games Village, provide necessary transport improvements to create a legacy after the games has ended.

The government will provide a £165 million funding boost to unlock up to 5,100 homes in Birmingham and support wider regeneration of the Perry Barr area through major infrastructure projects.

Judging has just finished for this year’s LABC Grand Final Building Excellence awards. Our panel of judges, made up of industry experts, had a tense day of debate - but emerged with the winners of the 14 categories from our shortlist of regional winners. 

Our awards showcase buildings and design teams that have had to tussle with complex technical or construction issues and building site constraints. They highlight innovative and creative solutions and building control professionalism that leads to safe, sustainable and high quality construction projects.