Other News In Brief

Minister Meets North West Road Safety Partnership

Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has paid tribute to a group of people who are working to promote road safety having themselves experienced the devastation of losing a loved one as a result of a road traffic collision.

Speaking after meeting members of the North West Road Safety Partnership (NWRSP), Mr O'Dowd said: "When we talk about deaths on our roads, we are all too aware that behind the statistics there are shattered lives; lives which have been forever changed in a split second.

"The'‘Life After' charity has already done invaluable work in supporting families who have lost a loved one as a result of a road traffic collision and the fact that members have formed the North West Road Safety Partnership to further promote road safety education across the region is to be admired.

"No one ever thinks the worst news will come to their door but, sadly, the statistics show that this year, 45 people have left for a journey and have not arrived home safe."

The NWRSP was formed by Christopher Sherrard, who lost his father in a road collision, together with other members of the 'Life After' charity.

The partnership aims to promote road safety education across the north west, including Donegal, to reduce the number of collisions, to create a safer environment and to advocate for effective road safety policies in the North West.

Belfast City Council Launches First Local Area Energy Plan

Belfast City Council has launched its first Local Area Energy Plan – the first to be developed in Northern Ireland. Recognised as the leading method for translating net zero targets into action, the LAEP marks a milestone moment in the city’s transition towards a resilient, low-carbon economy for everyone.

Developed using cutting-edge whole-system modelling and extensive stakeholder engagement, the comprehensive road map capitalises on the city’s unique geographical characteristics and assets. Sitting on top of Sherwood Sandstone, the city has huge geothermal potential while an abundance of rooftops can generate solar energy. Led by local government and developed collaboratively with key stakeholders, the Belfast LAEP presents a pipeline of priority projects including a district heat network, large scale retrofit of buildings, transition of oil households to low carbon heating and deployment of solar panels.

As a primer to collaboration and a catalyst for future investment across the sector and beyond, the transformational LAEP sits alongside other net zero investments such as Translink's net zero bus fleet, Northern Ireland Housing Executive's retrofit programme and the Energising Belfast project. With electricity and gas network operators gearing up to decarbonise at scale, the plan charts a path to net zero that is affordable, and if properly resourced, will create new opportunities for jobs and businesses.

Sisk Secures £500,000 Innovate UK Funding

Sisk, in partnership with a consortium of top low-carbon industry specialists, has announced the successful acquisition of £500,000 from Innovate UK.

The funding, part of the Contracts for Innovation: Decarbonising Concrete competition, will support the development of a groundbreaking scalable low-carbon demonstrator, representing a world-first innovation in low-carbon concrete technology.

The low carbon demonstrator project features a consortium of leading experts including, Sisk, Ecocem, Ramboll, Loughborough University, Creagh Concrete, Capital Concrete and BRE Group.

The innovation aims to revolutionise low carbon cement commercial viability within the construction sector. Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, creating a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations.

The scalable low carbon demonstrator will pioneer the use of Ecocem – ACT low carbon concrete technology in a demonstrator which will be the first structure of its kind.

ACT, is a breakthrough cement technology which combines a range of technical innovations with the use of widely available low-carbon materials to decarbonise the production of cement by as much as 70%, while enhancing the strength and durability of the concrete it is used to manufacture.

The project will conduct technical and testing verification, as well as environmental assessment and validation of the concrete product, both in a laboratory and at a concrete production and live construction site.

The low carbon demonstrator will be based at NE02/NE03, Wembley Park, where Sisk has been working on the redevelopment of Wembley Park for its long-term client, Quintain for the past 20 years.