Focus on safety, sustainability, and long-term delivery

A six-storey mass-timber office, Paradise SE11, has opened in Vauxhall, South London. Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley and developed by Bywater Properties, the building is constructed almost entirely from cross-laminated timber and glulam, storing around 1,800 tonnes of CO₂. Its prefabricated structure not only cuts embodied carbon but also enables faster construction and long-term flexibility, with demountable features that support future reuse.

Paradise SE11 runs on renewable electricity and includes rooftop solar panels, air quality sensors, and regenerative lifts. It also incorporates affordable workspace and wellness-focused design principles, making it a landmark example of how sustainable architecture can meet both environmental and social goals. The project has been described as the UK’s lowest-carbon commercial office and a bold blueprint for future city-centre workspaces.

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero has launched a Retrofit System Reform Panel to overhaul the quality and oversight of UK retrofit schemes.

The move follows major concerns over substandard insulation installations, principally under ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, and aims to set robust standards for installers, audits, compliance, redress and consumer protection.

Labour’s first Spending Review since taking office sets out a 10-year plan to drive economic growth through housing, infrastructure, and decarbonisation. For the construction sector, it provides renewed confidence and policy clarity, particularly around the long-term funding needed to deliver safer homes, net-zero targets, and more modern methods of construction.

The review also includes £6 billion for net-zero infrastructure, focused on retrofitting public buildings, heat network expansion, and upgrades to the energy grid. A further £13.2 billion has been earmarked for the Warm Homes programme, which aims to cut household energy bills and rapidly scale up the installation of low-carbon heating systems.

An updated version of the Joint Code of Practice (JCoP) on fire prevention was published this month, tightening guidance on high-risk construction activities and temporary buildings. The revised document reflects lessons learned from recent investigations and encourages stronger collaboration between main contractors, subcontractors and insurers.

Technical director for the Fire Protection Association (FPA), George Edwardes, said “We are pleased to be releasing this updated edition of the Joint Code of Practice for fire prevention on construction sites. Reflecting the changes in standards and practices, whilst also acknowledging the more prevalent use of modern materials and construction methods, we hope the amendments will help users ensure adequate detection and prevention measures are in place on construction sites and in buildings undergoing refurbishment”.

The government has published an update to its Remediation Acceleration Plan, setting out progress against three key objectives: to fix unsafe buildings faster, identify all residential buildings with cladding risks above 11 metres, and support affected residents.

At the heart of the new Remediation Bill is a requirement for buildings over 18 metres to be fixed by 2029, and those between 11–18 metres by 2031. Landlords who fail to comply without good reason could face unlimited fines or jail.

As funding flows toward modern methods of construction, Net Zero delivery and safer building standards, there’s space for bold, timely storytelling.

Whether it’s reframing your role in the supply chain, showcasing sustainability credentials, or responding to policy with thought leadership, July’s headlines give construction businesses the chance to lead the conversation.