Business

Impressive award nominees point to ongoing recovery of local construction sector

The Asia Supermarket on Ormeau Embankment in Belfast is among those nominated in the RICS Awards 2019
The Asia Supermarket on Ormeau Embankment in Belfast is among those nominated in the RICS Awards 2019 The Asia Supermarket on Ormeau Embankment in Belfast is among those nominated in the RICS Awards 2019

WE all know that Northern Ireland has some fantastic buildings. We perhaps tend to think of older period properties when reflecting on our built environment, but we also have some truly impressive new ones too which help improve people’s lives and reduce our impact on the environment.

Through the development and enhancement of schools, hospitals and clinics, sports hubs, community facilities, tourism projects and commercial buildings, for instance, the skills of property industry professionals truly enhance the lives of people in local communities.

Spanning all counties of Northern Ireland, the recently released list of 36 innovative projects on the RICS Awards 2019, Northern Ireland shortlist highlights all of this. The year-on-year rise in the number of projects entering the awards also points to the ongoing recovery of our construction sector, as well as the growing calibre of work being undertaken by Northern Ireland’s property professionals.

The shortlist provides examples of city centres transformed, churches restored, historic landmarks rebuilt, and castles and townscapes protected. Projects that serve to improve local infrastructure as well as our retail and residential offerings are also shortlisted. Those behind them must be commended.

But whilst we reflect on the success and positive impact of our property industry, we must also ensure that we continue to strive for world-class standards into the future – in the projects undertaken, the tools used to complete them, and in the skills and standards of our professionals.

One such step would be leading the way in widespread adoption of global standards, such as ICMS (the International Construction Measurement Standard). ICMS has introduced a standard structure and format to bring greater consistency in classifying and reporting capital costs for construction projects. Potential benefits of using ICMS include improved investment and funding decisions; improved cost prediction and management; more consistent accounting; consistent and transparent benchmarking; and improved ability to identify the causes of differences in costs between projects.

From a Northern Ireland perspective, adopting ICMS would make this place more attractive to international investors – providing greater transparency, consistency and certainty for them. And we all know that investors like certainty.

Adoption of new technology is another way the industry can lead the way into the future. Advances in digital technology are already changing?the way the industry plans, builds, maintains and use?buildings for the better. However, this process and our adoption of such tools needs to accelerate. Such technologies and innovations are not yet implemented to their full potential in Northern Ireland, despite the power being within our reach to design and develop creative?projects?that are more sustainable, less costly to run?and serve their purpose more effectively.

And future talent is of course key. We must encourage young people into the sector to carry forth the legacy that is being established. Initiatives such as the RICS Awards shine a light on the impact the industry has in all aspects of society and should serve to expose surveying as a hugely valued and attractive career opportunity.

With continued efforts to not only maintain but improve upon our local industry’s excellence, we should be well placed to welcome many years of record-breaking shortlists and RICS Awards filled with outstanding building projects.

:: Susan Mason is the regional manager for RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) in Northern Ireland. RICS is the principal independent body representing professionals employed in the land, property and construction sectors. In Northern Ireland, the organisation represents over 3,000 cross-sectoral members comprising of chartered and associate surveyors, trainees and students.