Weekly round-up - 30 November 2015

ICE signs up to develop global ethics standard, drivers say “patience” key to road safety, research cash for modular nuclear plants and M1 smart motorway stretch prepares to launch.

Jackie Whitelaw
29 November 2015

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1. ICE has joined an international coalition that will develop the first set of globally-recognised ethics standards for real-estate and built environment professional organisations. The International Ethics Standards Coalition which was created at the United Nations last year. ICE is the 60th organisation to join the coalition. It is hoped that the new International Ethics Standard will be ready by early 2016.

2. Balfour Beatty’s ECI work has led to it being confirmed as contractor for the the £104M Norfolk Northern Distributor Raod. The new 19.5km dual carriageway will serve Broadland in Norfolk and improve access to North Norfolk international airport and  Great Yarmouth.

3. Amey, is investing almost £1M in innovative fleet technology that has the potential to save lives by making its drivers more aware of cyclists and pedestrians. The company is starting the rollout of the technology on its fleet of over 100 refuse collection vehicles in London. They will be equipped with Cycle Safety Shield technology created by Israeli firm Mobileye. The system uses smart cameras and sensors to act as a driver’s third eye to monitor blind spots round the vehicles. The system also provides drivers with real-time visual and audible alerts as the risk of a collision increases.  When the rollout is complete, Amey will have around 200 vehicles equipped with this technology – making it one of the largest fleets in the UK to be fitted with this advanced system.

4. Venson helped to highlight BRAKE Road Safety Week last week with its latest research aimed at understanding drivers’ approach to road safety. When asked what one thing they would do to help with road safety while driving, the top answer from respondents was ‘be more patient (24%), with ‘giving themselves more time for journeys’ coming second (20%). Driving slower in bad weather conditions was the third highest answer (15%) in the Venson research.   Sticking to the speed limit came in fourth (13%), followed by staying further back from other vehicles and paying more attention to other road users – each receiving 12% of motorists’ votes. Surprisingly, giving cyclists more room when overtaking only got 1% of the vote.

5. The UK could build one of the world's first small modular nuclear reactors after ministers announced support for the technology through a £250M research package. A competition to identify the "best value small modular reactor design for the UK" will be launched in the new year, which will "pave the way towards building one of the world’s first small modular reactors in the UK in the 2020s", the Treasury said.

6. A group of 32 British regional airports have called on the Government to back plans to expand Heathrow. The Regional & Business Airports Group which represents airfields in towns and cities including Exeter, Newquay and Southend, has written to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin to voice support for a third runway at Heathrow.

7. A new section of smart motorway is being soft launched on 5 December on the M1 near Wakefield. A 50mph speed limit will remain in place while for Highways England test the technology before the first phase of the system goes live on a 7.5 mile stretch between junction 39 (Denby Dale) and junction 41 (Morley) on Saturday 12 December. An extra lane will also open on the northbound carriageway between junction 41 and junction 42 (Lofthouse). Contractor for the section is bmJV and designers are Hyder Halcrow joint venture.

8. House builder Persimmon has said it is to build over 80,000 homes and create 1,000 jobs over the next five years. Around 1,000 new employees will join the developer’s existing 4,500-strong workforce.

9. Kier-owned Mouchel Consulting has won the contract to provide consultancy services for North Yorkshire County Council. The four year, £40M sole provider framework starts in April 2016 and relates to a range of services including estates management, property projects and highways services.

10. Tram trains are on the way. The Department for Transport approved a transport and works order submitted by Network Rail and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) for the Tinsley Chord. The scheme will see 160m of new track built in South Yorkshire to link existing rail and tram networks. When the scheme is completed, European-style tram-trains will be able to run between Britain’s rail and tram networks for the first time. They will provide a direct service between Rotherham Central railway station, Parkgate retail park and Sheffield city centre.