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Housing Forum Demonstration of The Month- March

Project Name: SmartLIFE

Project Number: 1183

Region: East of England

Team: Overarching European partnership between- UK (Cambridge), Germany (Hamburg) and Sweden (Malmö) UK Partnership between, Learning and Skills Council, Cambridge Regional College, Building Research Establishment, CITBConstructionSkills, Community Self Build Agency, Fenland District Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, JobCentre Plus, English Partnerships, Warden Housing

Value: Roughly £10.5m

Sector: Social/ Commercial

Type of Work: New-build

Type of Site: Brownfield

Number of Units: 80 for affordable housing

Completion date: 2007

Background: Cambridgeshire County Council worked with partners in order to identify a project that would investigate practical solutions to sustainable growth.

Description of Innovation: The project was split into 5 work packages being delivered in all 3 countries:

1 SmartLIFE Business Training- centre developed offering professional and vocational training in MMC, a visitors' centre, conference facility and SmartLIFE team offices. Bluestone have been appointed as the Main Contractor and WS Atkins as the Employer's Agent. Four types of off-site construction will be used: Timber Frame Open Panel in a Gluelam structure; Leno Tec solid timber panel; Closed Panel Timber Frame and composite panel roof. Construction will start in April 2005, expected completion date January 2006.

2 Training and Education- training programme developed to promote modern methods of construction in the specification, design and construction and renovation of buildings. The programme will include tutor and student exchanges between countries, and a vocational qualification in MMC to be developed by 2006. International skills and training audits have already been completed.

3 Planning, Policy and Practice- a report comparing economic, legislative and technical factors influencing the construction industry and research into different kinds of MMC in each partner country. Events such as a stakeholder conference and expert panel seminar have taken place to date.

4 Communications and Marketing- communications and marketing initiatives including a website- www.smartlife-project.net, opinion polls and focus groups, newsletters, leaflets and the media.

5 Housing/Manufacturing Capacity - initially a site for 80 affordable housing units being constructed in Cambridgeshire, 3 different MMC systems and one traditional type of construction to be used to compare and bring clarity to their performance. Aiming at minimum Eco-Homes target of "very good". PIN notice for the OJEU has been submitted, for appointment of the main Contractor for 80 affordable houses. Packs have been sent out to 30 MMC manufacturers with 18 responses received. 10 manufacturers were chosen to be interviewed representing concrete, timber, steel and volumetric methods of construction. For the future sites, are being identified to demonstrate up to 40 MMC houses to the private market; one of the main objectives is to encourage MMC manufacturers to relocate to Cambridgeshire.

The Chartered Institute of Housing Conference and Exhibition, Harrogate, 21-24 June 2005

The annual CIH conference and exhibition attracts around 5,000 key decision makers and is seen as the UK's leading housing event. On the 22nd June, 9.30am -10.45 am, The Housing Forum is holding a seminar entitled "Modern Methods of Construction- the art of the possible" drawing on lessons learnt from innovations achieved in housebuilding in other countries and in other industries together with successful case studies of modernising housing production in the private and social sectors. Chaired by Dennis Lenard, Chief Executive of The Housing Forum. The speakers will be:

• James Woudhuysen, Professor of Innovation and Forecasting- De Montford University and Housing Forum Board member.
• Nick Whitehouse, Chairman and Managing Director, Terrapin Ltd
• Stuart Gee, Head of Operations, WAVE Homes Ltd
• Dr Ashley Lane, Director, Westbury Partnerships

As usual The Housing Forum will also be at the Exhibition, come and see us and catch up with what's new on stand number 435 in Hall Q. Watch this space for information on further Housing Forum involvement in the CIH conference.

For further information on the CIH conference please click here www.cih-housing.co.uk

The Housing Forum Addresses the Glazing Industry

The Housing Forum aims to address all areas of the housing industry including the whole supply chain. It was therefore a major step forward when we were invited to participate in a conference focussing on a key sector for suppliers and manufacturers.

Judith Harrison, Director of The Housing Forum, gave the key note presentation at the Glassex "Glazing in the Public Sector: Focus on Housing" conference on the 15th March. The one day conference was aimed at social housing specialists in the glazing industry. Judith discussed some of the key issues and initiatives that will affect the public sector housing professionals during the next 12 months including: Collaborative Procurement Groups, Key Design issues, Building Standards and MMC.

The Housing Forum Executive Steering Group

At the meeting of Housing Forum Executive Steering group on the 17th March a discussion took place on EU Procurement Regulations for the RSL sector. It was proposed that a small working group convene to produce a document setting out simple guidelines to clarify the major areas of confusion. This document will then be circulated to Housing Forum members. In the mean time the Housing Forum Partnering Toolkit has been updated to include guidance on EU Procurement Regulations. To view these updates click here

Membership News

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Events

Regional Events
The Housing Forum are planning to hold regional events to raise the profile of housing construction in each RDA region, reinstate housing regional networks and link up with regional Constructing Excellence centres and the government Centres of Excellence. If you would like to participate please contact Zoe Le Grand

MIPIM

The Housing Forum as part of Constructing Excellence was represented at the International Property Conference, MIPIM, in Cannes this year, by Dennis Lenard Chief Executive, Judith Harrison and Peter Cunningham, Commercial Services Director. The conference attracts some 16,000 delegates and exhibits of financiers, developers, consultants and clients from all over Europe.

The team was based on the BURA stand along with several other regeneration and construction organisations, including Crest Nicholson Homes.

During the three days, the activities included the launch of the Constructing Excellence joint project with Kent Thameside, and of the Housing Forum CD Rom on Modern Methods of Construction.

The networking events hosted by Constructing Excellence included a dinner for 40 guests sponsored by Tribal, a drinks reception for 60 guests sponsored by Arup on their boat, and a drinks on the BURA stand sponsored by Crest Nicholson.

Contact details

The Housing Forum has moved to Constructing Excellence's new offices. They can now be found at 25 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0PP.

The following people can be contacted through the switchboard number
020 7592 1100:

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