Buro Happold expert welcomes continuation of capital spending

22/06/2010

Expert backs government’s decision to uphold capital investment but seeks additional clarity regarding the schools programme

Dr Mike Entwisle, associate director at international multidisciplinary engineering consultancy Buro Happold welcomed today’s Budget announcement that the level of capital expenditure investment is to be maintained.

As details of the government’s emergency budget emerged, Dr Entwisle said “Buro Happold is relieved that capital spending is being substantially maintained, not only for the good of the industry but also to benefit our next generation and UK PLC as a whole.  However this still leaves the industry desperately needing clarification on the status of pending and future BSF and Academies projects to ensure industry confidence is not further dented.

Dr Entwisle added, “We look forward to clearer and more efficient procurement processes to yield better school buildings more quickly at lower cost. The expected increase in reuse and refurbishment will encourage more inventive design solutions and provide greater value for money, but will also place more emphasis on how existing buildings are run.

“Indeed, our Post Occupancy Evaluation work has shown that improvements in the operation of school buildings could save many millions of pounds every year across the country as well as assisting with the UK’s commitment to reducing Carbon Emissions.  This unique knowledge of school building design and operation will enable us to maintain our contribution to guidance and policy, to ensure that more students benefit from schools fit for the future at lower financial and environmental cost.”

Dr Entwisle is involved with providing high level guidance to the DCSF, PfS and other relevant bodies.  He is a member of the DCSF Zero Carbon Schools Task Force, the CIBSE Schools Design Group, the BSRIA Schools Soft Landing Group, and the PfS Post Occupancy Evaluation Group.  He was a contributor to the Westminster Business Forum report on Sustainable BSF Procurement and the DCSF SSLD Programme.

He is a CABE Schools Design Reviewer, and has recently assisted CABE in compilation of the ‘Design Journey’ which will assist schools and authorities through the schools’ procurement processes.  He has lectured for CABE to local authorities and Client Design Advisors, and to the Association of University Director of Estates regarding sustainable refurbishment of 1960s buildings.