The 12 Labours of Demolition
Why I am starting to believe that there is a global conspiracy against the demolition industry.
Even if it is only via the Disney movie, it is likely that you’re aware of the 12 Labours of Hercules. The illegitimate son of mortal woman Alcmene and Greek god Zeus who was playing away from home, Hercules was blessed with supernatural strength that was put to the test across 12 trials. Those trials included slaying the Nemean lion and the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra, capturing the Ceryneian Hind and the Erymanthian Boar, obtaining the girdle of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazon, and capturing Cerberus. I have no idea what any of those things are, but they do not sound like a fun way to spend an afternoon. The trials also included cleaning the Augean stables in a single day which, while strenuous and probably quite smelly, probably felt like a day off compared to slaying nine-headed mythical beasts.
But Hercules’ Labours are as nothing compared to the trials that are currently testing the strength, resilience and will of the demolition industry, particularly here in the UK.
In the space of a few short years, the sector has endured a global pandemic; the removal of the subsidy on its primary fuel source; a hike in accidents and fatalities; the fallout from a massive financial scandal; and an ongoing attack from the environmental lobby over embodied carbon.
Then, just when it appeared that demolition might make it through these endless trials, along comes another. And while to might not rank alongside the slaying of the Stymphalian birds, the latest labour to beset the UK demolition industry could be troublesome for some, and seriously problematic for others.
There is now evidence that around 50 percent of England’s local authorities are staring into the financial abyss. According to a report from the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU), as many as half of English councils could be filing for S114 notices within the next five years. In layman’s terms, that means that those councils are broke; skint; potless. While local authorities do not go bankrupt in quite the same way as individuals or commercial companies, an S114 notice means they will concentrate only on “core services”.
Many local authorities have already pulled the plug on demolition projects either through genuine embodied carbon concerns or through Net Zero virtue signalling. The issuing of S114 notices could see demolition projects pushed even further towards the back burner. Furthermore, this could impact demolition companies indirectly as well. Think of the local authority housing and public building projects that would begin with demolition but that could now hit the buffers because those local authorities are all out of cash.
Demolition came through the pandemic, battered but unbowed. It demonstrated its resilience by shaking off the loss of the red diesel subsidy. Although some are still licking their wounds, the sector has largely recovered from the financial scandal uncovered by the CMA. If I were a betting man, I would back demolition to survive the threat of the embodied carbon lobby and the potential failure of some English councils. But, clearly, demolition’s trials are far from over.
Hercules emerged from his 12 Labours as a divine hero. If the demolition sector survives all of its trials, it too shall be nothing short of heroic.
This time next week, DemolitionNews and Demolition Insider will be in Paris for the much anticipated and hugely significant Intermat 2024 exhibition.
The show will bring together ALL of the biggest names in the global construction equipment sector including Bobcat, Caterpillar, Kobelco. Komatsu, Liebherr, LiuGong and Volvo and many more besides.
And you could be there too! Working in partnership with the show organisers, we have 50 FREE tickets to the show which runs from 24 to 27 April.
To secure your FREE ticket, just click THIS LINK and use the code PMPRDI18. These exclusive tickets will go fast so click that link as soon as you can to be a part of the biggest construction equipment exhibition this year.
If you love diggers, come and see them in the city of love. And if you are attending, please look out for Mark Anthony who will be there for the duration of the exhibition.