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Construction Daily — 3 November 2026: Hot Works Controls, Framework Awards and a Cautious OutlookSuggested slug: construction-daily-2026-11-03Categories: Safety, Contracts, MarketTags: temporary works, BS 5975, CDM, construction newsHot works controls, major framework awards and a cautious short-term outlook.An HSE prosecution following a roof fire on a high-rise under construction underlines the need for planned hot works controls. Several large frameworks have named contractors. CPA forecasts show continued contraction in 2026 with only limited recovery in 2027.Safety: Hot works on a tower block roofOn 29 October 2026 Staines Magistrates’ Court fined C Watkins Plumbing Limited £20,000 plus £8,270 costs after it pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 15(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The incident occurred on 26 July 2024 at the Old Telephone Exchange development in Staines-upon-Thames. Four subcontractors were installing an air source heat pump on the roof of a 14-storey apartment building under construction. Sparks from welding ignited uncovered rigid foam insulation. The fire spread rapidly across the roof space. The workers escaped through a single floor opening and down a ladder to Level 14. There was no alternative escape route, no means of raising the alarm and no fire extinguishers on the roof.HSE found that, despite the company having policies requiring them, no risk assessment or method statement had been prepared and no permit to work had been issued for the welding. HSE inspector Stephanie Hickford-Smith noted that the men were lucky to escape and that the outcome could have been different if the fire had started closer to the only exit.The case is a reminder that temporary conditions on high-rise roofs — including limited access, combustible materials and hot works — require the same planning, supervision and coordination as other construction activities. Principal contractors and those controlling the work remain responsible for ensuring risks are assessed and controls implemented before work begins. HSE guidance HSG168 (Fire Safety in Construction) emphasises that fire safety must be considered at design and procurement stages and reviewed throughout construction.Framework awards and company winsManchester Airports Group has appointed 20 contractors to its Small to Medium Construction Works Framework covering Manchester, East Midlands and Stansted airports. The framework has a published value of £600m including VAT and runs to 30 November 2031 (with possible extension to 2034). Individual projects are capped at £5m. VolkerFitzpatrick secured places on multiple lots, including civils at all three airports and building work at Stansted and East Midlands. Galliford Try Construction was selected for M&E work at Stansted. Other appointed firms include WH Good (strong representation across lots), CK Rail Solutions, BAM Facilities Management and NG Bailey.LHC Procurement Group has appointed 155 contractors to its new £2.34bn Public Buildings Construction and Infrastructure (PB4) framework. The four-year framework covers new-build, refurbishment, civil infrastructure and, for the first time, a dedicated hard facilities management workstream across England, Scotland and Wales. SMEs account for 75% of the appointed contractors. It runs until 2 November 2030.Thames Water has selected nine contractor teams for its AMP8/9 Major Projects Framework, valued at approximately £4bn excluding VAT (£4.8bn including VAT). Appointed firms and partnerships include BAM Nuttall, Barhale, Costain, Galliford Try, Kier, Murphy, Mott MacDonald Bentley, Binnies/Cadagua/Ferrovial Construction, and Amentum/Taylor Woodrow. The framework covers major water and wastewater capital projects during AMP8 with provision for AMP9. Standstill ends on 3 November 2026; contracts can be signed from 4 November.These awards provide pipeline for civils, building, M&E and specialist temporary works support on infrastructure and public-sector projects. Temporary works coordinators and designers should expect design briefs, registers and independent checks to feature in the associated project procedures.CAS Version 6 reminderBuild UK’s Common Assessment Standard Version 6 took effect on 1 November 2026. Scaffolding and temporary works are not within the Building Regulations definition of “building work” unless they form part of the completed structure. Companies whose activities fall outside the Building Safety section must actively opt out and provide a confirming statement. Competence questions have moved to the Quality section and still apply. Temporary works contractors should maintain their BS 5975-1:2024 procedures, design control and competence evidence for both pre-qualification and site use.Market projectionsThe Construction Products Association’s Autumn 2026 forecasts point to a 4% fall in UK construction output in 2026, followed by only 0.4% growth in 2027. Private housing is forecast to contract by 10% in 2026 and a further 3% in 2027. Infrastructure is expected to grow modestly (around 2.5% in 2026). Glenigan’s earlier Summer 2026 outlook projected a small dip in 2026 before stronger growth from 2027. The short-term picture remains challenging for privately financed work, while public infrastructure, water, energy and defence-related activity continue to offer relatively better opportunities.For temporary works practice this means continued demand on infrastructure and public-sector schemes, alongside the need to maintain rigorous design and coordination standards even when project volumes are under pressure.Educational briefing only. Not for construction. Subject to project-specific information, competent appointment, independent checking where required, and the project temporary works procedure with reference to BS 5975:2024. Temporary Works Consulting & Design Ltd does not assume CDM dutyholder roles by publishing this note.For design briefs or quotes: https://www.temporaryworksconsulting.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@temporaryworksconsultingWordPress draft created: No (no WordPress publish tool connected).Email draft created: Yes — Gmail draft to david@Temporaryworksconsulting.com and david@dmtecs.com with subject “WP draft — Construction Daily — 2026-11-03”. The draft contains the full plain-text article plus a paste-ready HTML version. Paste into WordPress → Posts → Add New → publish after review. The draft is saved and not sent.Source list:https://press.hse.gov.uk/2026/10/30/pictured-aftermath-of-apartment-roof-blaze-workers-lucky-to-escape-from/https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/buildings/building-safety/contractor-fined-20000-after-four-workers-escaped-tower-block-fire-sparked-by-welding-02-11-2026/https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/600m-manchester-airports-group-winners-announced/https://www.total-contractor.co.uk/lhc-procurement-group-appoints-155-contractors-to-2-34bn-public-buildings-framework/https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/civils/thames-water-picks-nine-teams-for-4bn-framework-26-10-2026/https://specificationonline.co.uk/articles/2026-10-28/cpa/cpa-downgrades-2027-growth-forecasthttps://cisrs.org.uk/resource/nasc-welcomes-common-assessment-standard-changes-bringing-clarity-for-scaffolding-contractors.htmlLinkedIn-ready paragraph:Today’s Construction Daily covers an HSE fine after a high-rise roof fire caused by uncontrolled hot works, major framework awards including Manchester Airports Group’s £600m package and Thames Water’s AMP8/9 Major Projects Framework, the effective date of CAS Version 6 for scaffolding and temporary works, and CPA’s cautious outlook of a 4% output fall in 2026. Read the full briefing at https://temporaryworksconsulting.blog/ once live.
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