EWS | DIGEST IN BRIEF Inner London boroughs face higher heat risk Buildings in inner London boroughs face a higher heat risk than those on the outskirts of the capital, according to a new study by Arup. The report, Properties vulnerable to heat impacts in London, was commissioned by the capitals mayor and was published on 23 January. Arup found a direct correlation between a higher heat risk and areas that are most socio-economically vulnerable, the report states. Attacks threaten materials inflation Escalating attacks on shipping in the Red Sea threaten to fuel building materials inflation, Construction Products Association chief executive Peter Caplehorn has warned. Container prices have quadrupled since early December as attacks by Houthi rebels have forced ships to divert around Africa, adding around 20 days to the typical journey from the Far East to Europe. ARUP BACKS BIRMINGHAM WITH OFFICE MOVE Arup has celebrated the ofcial opening of its new Midlands base in Birminghams One Centenary Way, which is now one of the consultancys largest global hubs, with nearly 800 staff. The ofce is allelectric and has smart technology to optimise energy consumption. Arup says the move into the centre of Birmingham will help reduce its travel emissions by more than 60% and save more than 1,100 tonnes of CO2 a year from staff commutes. The Arup ofce features a public-facing gallery on the ground oor. The Evolution of IT Cooling with Liquid Cooling Technology REGISTER FREE TO JOIN OUR LIVE WEBINAR Wednesday 28th February 13:00 (GMT) Arups new central Birmingham ofce at One Centenary Way Housing association hit by high-rise safety costs Remediation expenses will not be passed on to leaseholders, says Thames Valley Housing Association One of Englands largest housing associations (HA) has revealed a 105m hit to its balance sheet this year because of re and building safety works costs. In a trading update for the London Stock Exchange, released on 16 January, Thames Valley Housing Association said the estimated costs of a ve-year programme of re-safety works to leaseholders properties will be fully provided for in the current nancial year. The association, which owns and manages around 57,000 homes, will be writing down the value of its operating surplus for 2023-24. As part of the same review, Thames Valley has written down the value of its buildings facing a materially reduced future expected life. The trading update says the association will seek to mitigate the 105m cost to its balance sheet by recovering cash from third-party contractors wherever possible. In the previous year, Thames Valley reported an operating surplus of 109m. The group announced last April that it would not be passing on the costs of any remediation works which it is required to carry out under the governments new building safety regime to leaseholders living in ve-storey-plus blocks. The Building Safety Regulator will focus its initial inspections on blocks still clad with the aluminium composite material (ACM) used at Grenfell Tower and built using large panel systems (LPS). A spokesperson for the watchdog, which has been set up to regulate the safety of high-rise accommodation, said it will prioritise blocks still clad with ACM and fast-track LPS blocks built between 1957 and 1973 that have not been remediated and have gas systems. 8 February 2024 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Feb 24 pp08 News.indd 8 26/01/2024 17:03