Jo blogs
Confusion over Suds definition scuppers sustainable development
A veil of confusion and mystery still surrounds the new sustainable drainage systems (Suds) regime implemented by the Flood & Water Management Act, making it difficult to have useful and productive discussions on the subject.
Carbon footprints: lies, damned lies, and statistics?
You may have heard the old joke that says that the third type of lie, after lies and damned lies, is statistics. Environmental experts would probably propose a fourth type: carbon footprinting.
Civils in danger of missing out on women graduates
Attending civil engineering conferences and industry events as a woman often gives me the distinct feeling of being the odd one out. It was therefore gratifying to see a room filled mostly by female engineers and infrastructure professionals this week at the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) summer reception.
Flood prevention is not all about new defences
Portsmouth City Council said this week that it plans to impose a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) on new developments in the city to raise money for much-needed coastal flood defences (see News). It’s a clever way of making new developments work for the city.
Jo's stories
Thames Tunnel: Mega-sewer row continues
The row about the proposed Thames Tunnel mega-sewer escalated last week after the start of a new consultation period brought the revelation that project costs had risen again to £4.1bn.
Thames Tunnel mega-sewer a ‘rushed’ decision
Independent report blames “rushed” and “overzealous” interpretation of directives.
Recovery is three years away, say infrastructure chiefs
Industry leaders fear that UK civil engineering workloads will stagnate next year and that the negative effects could be felt for up to three years.
Renewables projects face further planning battles
Planning hurdles for locally opposed renewable energy schemes look set to remain, despite government efforts to speed up the planning process experts warned this week.
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Suds loophole triggers row
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Row over Suds loophole
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Renewables deadline warning
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Thames Water to discuss Binnie’s tideway fears
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Shell oil leak scrutinised
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Croydon tram damaged in riot
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Bournemouth counts the cost of flash flooding
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Network Rail battles to cure Croydon lines after mudslide
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Croydon railway mudslide clear-up underway
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Water industry told to fix “boom and bust” culture
NCE Water and environment news
Africa water reserves need care
Water experts have reacted cautiously to news that huge reserves of groundwater have been identified in Africa.Scientists from the British Geological Survey (BGS) and University College London last week published a report claiming that there is between 0.36M.km3 and 1.75M.km3 of underground water in Africa, more than 20 times the amount stored in its lakes.
Government considers backing flood insurance
Ministers are considering an insurance industry proposal to avert a crisis that could leave up to 200,000 households without flooding cover
Fehmarnbelt bidders could be compensated
Joint venture partners seeking work on the €5.5bn (£4.6bn) Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link immersed tunnel between Denmark and Germany could be compensated for tender work if their bids are unsuccessful.
Fehmarnbelt crossing on hunt for bidders
Scheme promoter Femern has kicked off a scramble for work on Europe’s €5.5bn (£4.6bn) Fehmarnbelt mega project that will link Germany and Denmark via a vast 18km long, 42m wide immersed tube tunnel.
Hyder wins contract to design 50 Qatar reservoirs
Hyder has scooped a giant deal to design up to 50 massive reservoirs for the Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa).
Thames gets desalination plant ready to supply
Thames Water is readying its new desalination plant in east London to supply water during the drought.
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Water firms face threat of competition breach
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Drought pipeline proposal for HS2 route
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Drought summit stops short of recommending dramatic measures to save water
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Special report: Prince Charles on rethinking the way we work
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Businesses urged to adopt risk based approach to dealing with climate change
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Suds guidance sits on fence
Jo Stimpson
Jo Stimpson is a Reporter at New Civil Engineer.
Follow me on Twitter or Linked In, or email me.
I am NCE's reporter for water, environment and local government stories.
I cover issues such as water supply, wastewater, flooding, water regulation, low carbon construction, local transport projects and local planning.
I also edit NCE's biannual careers supplement for students aged 14-18, which you can read online here.
Writing for NCE has taken me from the top of a snow-covered CHP plant in Stockholm to standing knee-deep in effluent in one of Bazalgette's Victorian sewers beneath London.
I write news and features for both the magazine and nce.co.uk and am interested to hear about any stories.
Email me at jo.stimpson@emap.com
NCE Insite
Administrative side of apprenticeships to be cut down
Skills minister John Hayes today announced measures to encourage employers to take on large numbers of apprentices, by making the bureaucratic process easier and less time-consuming.
New apprenticeships to include unpaid trial period
Following the launch of a new government scheme, businesses across the UK will soon be able to “try before they buy” to find their next apprentice.
Civils in danger of missing out on women graduates
Attending civil engineering conferences and industry events as a woman often gives me the distinct feeling of being the odd one out. It was therefore gratifying to see a room filled mostly by female engineers and infrastructure professionals this week at the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) summer reception.
