Electrical Safety: Smoke Alarms

Ensure electrical safety in your london home and keep yourself and your family safe. You should have at least two decent smoke alarms fitted, one upstairs and one downstairs. All new homes and extensions, and changes such as loft conversions must always comply with Part B of Building regulations. It requires mains, interconnected smoke alarms, not just battery only. If you need an electrician in london or require a smoke alarm inspection get in touch with Pukkajob.com today on 07906673169 or fill out a simple estimate form. 

Will our high street become deceased?

Internet shopping is fast becoming to blame for the closing of high street shops. It is estimated that in 2008, the total number of shops on the high street will fall to 220,000, taking 316,000 jobs in a report by Professor Joshua Bamfield. 41% of UK towns could see a rapid decline of closing stores and less visitors. London and the South East are expected 10% of closures, less than the rest of the UK. 

Stamp duty inflation

The increase in stamp duty is being blamed to have a downward affect on the housing market. The average home buyer pays stamp duty of £5,957, 3.7% of their house price. Read full article  

Electrical courses in the UK

Interested in becoming a qualified electrician or need an extra step up to reach your professional goals? Trade Skills 4 U offer a range of electrical courses from PAT Testing courses to Electrical Design. All City and Guilds and NICEIC registered. Find out more here. 

Highest % of mortgage lending since 2009

Mortgage lending in Britain is at its top level of 4% since April this year and £12.1 billion worth was taken out over March 2013. Houses in London and the South East of England are the most expensive in Britain, and if this area was taken out of the stats, the lending figure would only be up by 0.6% or so every year. Read full article here. 

HSE: Important for the UK

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) is an independent regulator that monitors and acts in the public interest to cut down on work related injuries, illness and maintain safety. Read this blog post by Chris Kirk to see just how important the work led and done by the HSE is. 

Independent Inspections

A concultancy service is being provided by OFTEC to check consumers heating systems and installations. An on site inspection will look at building regulations and ensure the installtion complies and overseas all standards. Visit OFTEC.org for more details.

The Shard - An economical transition

The Shard opened this year based at London Bridge after three years of construction and development. It is Western Europes largest building towering at 310 meters tall, has 11,000 glass panels and is home to restaurants, a hotel, offices and private accomodation.
The building has mutiple technical innovations including an underground parking space, energy saving lifts, a heat filtering system and its very own small scale power plant. According to top architects, efficieny is the most imnportant element in a new development. Things change quickly when it comes to design, and efficient, energy saving aspects are always taken into account. Read original article from BBC.

Opposed plans to a new bridge in East London

There is a current proposal for a new bridge to be created over the Thames which links Beckton to Thamesmead in East London. There has been some opposition from London Assembly Members. In 2008 the Mayor of London was against these plans, since then there has been new consultations for the plans and a large amount of support from the public, prompting a different way of thinking from the Mayor. Alot of money has already been spent on proposals and preparation work, over £43 million. Read original article.

 

 

 

 

A dip in the construction industry

There is still an ongoing decline in the construction industry. Housing activity is increasing slightly but there have been drops in commercial activity and civil engineering. The current period of declining new business is the longest since that recorded in 2008/09. There are stable employment numbers in the UK construction sector and optimism is high on looking forward to the future. Survey respondents anticipate a rise in their output over the next twelve months. 

Safer lorries in london

HGV lorries have been working on a project set by Crossrail to ensure the safety of road users in London. Security cameras and sensors have been fitted to a number of lorries contracted by Crossrail. More than 4,700 drivers have completed Crossrail’s lorry driver training course to maintain a high level of safety on the roads. 

The offshore wind industry

Plans have been submitted to make the Port of Ardersier in Scotland a site for the offshore wind industry. The purpose built yard with 340 acres of vacant land is considered to take a share of the £70 billion made by the UK offshore construction market. Read full article here.