Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for July 2008
31/07/2008
New figures published by the Nationwide today show the price of a typical house is £15,000 lower than this time last year. House prices fell by 1.7% in July, bringing the annual fall to 8.1%. For the past nine months house prices have been continuing to drop, however on average they are still almo
31/07/2008
British Gas has announced that soaring wholesale energy prices have forced it to increase tariffs for domestic gas and electricity, despite its parent group Centrica reporting a massive £992 million profit to 30 June. Although it is a 19% drop on last year, British Gas is blaming wholesale gas pric
31/07/2008
The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has welcomed the Government's announcement setting out £2.5bn of investment in the East of England for housing, regeneration, transport and economic development over the next three years. EEDA and the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) will be wor
31/07/2008
Chesterfield Football Club's new home at Whittington Moor has come a step nearer after Chesterfield Borough Council issued formal planning consent for the development. Permission was officially granted after the Government decided it did not need to "call in" the planning application for considerat
31/07/2008
The owners of Kingsnorth power station have condemned the decision by the Camp for Climate Action to host a video on its website showing mass vandalism and violence. Graham Clarke, Head of Business Resilience, said: "We have said all along that we respect the Camp's right to protest but the scenes
31/07/2008
Schemes shortlisted for a share of a £200m transport infrastructure fund for new housing developments were announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint and Transport Minister Rosie Winterton. The 36 shortlisted schemes are all in locations that are committed to building more homes and are keen to d
31/07/2008
Housing Minister Caroline Flint visited West Sussex yesterday to discuss issues surrounding the proposed eco-town at Ford. During the meeting at Yapton and Ford Village Hall she met with representatives from Arun District Council including the Leader of the Council Mrs Gillian Brown and Chief Execu
31/07/2008
Lincolnshire will benefit from a £3.5m windfall for social care housing which will give more elderly people with long-term disabilities the chance to live in a purpose built home of their own. Lincolnshire County Council's Adult Social Care team led and coordinated a successful bid to Government wh
31/07/2008
The 2008 LABC national 'Built in Quality Awards' are shaping up to be the highlight in this year’s building industry calendar. The high standard of finalists, who were announced this week, demonstrates the difficult and professional work carried out by local authority building control throughout E
31/07/2008
Manchester City Council has been awarded £6.54 million to transform an empty tower block into a state-of-the-art supported housing complex, with a sky lounge and a rooftop jacuzzi. The development, close to Victoria Avenue East in Charlestown will see an existing council owned tower block, Whitebec
30/07/2008
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has set out ten new community commitments to help reduce the impact of construction activity on the surrounding community as work on the Olympic Park moves forward into the 'big build' phase. The commitments include ensuring there are effective communication cha
30/07/2008
Sixty-four families have shown how it's possible to help the UK Government reach its target of reducing CO2 emissions by 20% on 1990 levels by 2010. Five months into Green Streets, the UK's biggest ever energy saving challenge, they also cut their street's energy use by up to 30%, with some househol
30/07/2008
Another major hurdle has been cleared in the effort to give the town of Corby the station it requires. Network Rail has appointed Dean & Dyball to construct the new station and they have now begun work. Corby has been, until now, the largest town in Britain without a railway station. Corby will b
30/07/2008
Faithful+Gould has been appointed to provide due diligence services on a new £77m hospital in Middlesbrough. Faithful+Gould's appointment was initially made by the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust and then novated to the funder - Bank of Scotland. The development involves providing a new menta
30/07/2008
Almost 26,000 fewer vehicles a day will pass through two North West villages after the construction of a £51m bypass was given the go-ahead by Transport Minister Rosie Winterton yesterday. The 5km Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley bypass, to be built with more than £48m of Government funding, will
30/07/2008
Construction contractors are not passing on the full impact of the rising costs of materials and wages, amid fears of a credit crunch backlash from clients unable to secure finance for new orders, according to the latest Tender Price Index compiled by RICS' Building Cost Information Service (BCIS).
30/07/2008
Construction union UCATT have hailed policy commitments agreed through Labour's democratic internal policy-making process a great success. The union were able to persuade the Government at the National Policy Forum meeting in Warwick last weekend that the construction industry "was a special case"
30/07/2008
Researchers looking at ways British homes can use energy more efficiently and how technology can help cut domestic carbon emissions have been awarded more than £4 million by energy company E.ON and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The research grants are part of a fiv
30/07/2008
Marley Waterproofing has supplied roofing felt to ecology specialist Thomson Ecology to help safely move and monitor protected reptiles from construction sites across the UK before building work commences. During the early stages of gaining planning permission an initial reptile survey must be un
30/07/2008
Pace Developments has used the Guardian reinforced retaining wall system to maximise car parking space at its new residential development in Ashton Under Lyne. The integrated system, consisting of the Guardian retaining wall and BBA approved Secugrid, was installed to build up and level the existing
29/07/2008
Carillion has secured a new contract to manage and deliver a range of property services to Nationwide Building Society. The contract, valued at £7 million per year, has been signed for an initial four year term with the option of a further extension. Carillion's Facilities Management and Planned Ma
29/07/2008
A £6 million package to help bring contaminated land back into use has been announced by Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister Jane Davidson. The available funding - £2 million a year over three years - will go to Local Authorities and the Environment Agency for projects across Wales. Th
29/07/2008
The construction industry could be given a much-needed boost and Britain's poor education standards tackled if government ministers work to get the school rebuilding programme back on track, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has announced. The business group says that ongoing delays to th
29/07/2008
The Housing Corporation has welcomed the publication today of the report of the independent Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the collapse of Ujima Housing Association. Peter Dixon, Chairman of the Housing Corporation said: "The Housing Corporation Board is determined that we should proper
29/07/2008
Network Rail, Yorkshire Forward and the National Museum of Science & Industry (owners of the National Railway Museum) have announced they are seeking a high class development partner to make a significant investment in York, providing a major boost for business, tourism and public transport links.
29/07/2008
A fully-fledged quality mark scheme has been established to give consumers confidence in the standards they can expect from green energy products and installers. Building on a two year development phase, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has approved plans to open up the Microgeneration Certification S
29/07/2008
Lovell has been chosen as a development partner by arm's-length management organisation Hounslow Homes and the London Borough of Hounslow. Lovell will work with the local authority and Hounslow Homes, which manages the London Borough of Hounslow's housing stock, to develop up to 350 new homes for r
29/07/2008
Construction and management specialist Turner & Townsend has opened a new office in Mumbai and has secured its first commissions as project managers and cost managers in India. Work has already started on projects in the commercial sector for Barclays Capital and Deutsche Bank, and in the energy se
29/07/2008
International England rugby star, Jason Leonard kick started work on a major leisure development in Hillingdon, North West London yesterday. Jason undertook the official 'sod turning' ceremony to mark the start of work on the Botwell Green development in Hayes- Hillingdon Council's second new leisu
29/07/2008
Halton will get more about £250,000 Government money to help speed up the delivery of new housing and ensure that suitable land is available. The Housing and Planning Delivery Grant will provide a direct incentive for councils to ensure that new homes are built where they are needed. It is an add
28/07/2008
The average house price in England will rise by 25% over the next five years to reach £274,700, despite fears of a housing market crash - according to a new report published by the National Housing Federation (NHF). The document - researched by independent economists Oxford Economics - forecasts th
28/07/2008
Average house prices in England and Wales fell one per cent in June, taking the average price to £180,781, according to the latest figures from Land Registry. Annual house price growth shows a decline for the tenth consecutive month, with an increase of 0.1%. The most up-to-date figures available
28/07/2008
Government funding for new and affordable housing at the expense of improvements to existing housing stock is having a disastrous affect on some of the most vulnerable members of the community according to the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH). Stephen Battersby, CIEH President, sa
28/07/2008
Housing charity Shelter is encouraging local people to make their voices heard in the debate about the proposed Pennbury eco-town. The charity says that everyone, including those affected by the lack of affordable housing, should get involved in the consultation process on the plans to ensure local
28/07/2008
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has released new aerial photos of the venues in the Olympic Park as construction progresses ahead of schedule. The photos show the Aquatics Centre site taking shape as construction started last week. The Olympic Stadium site now clearly shows the outline of wher
28/07/2008
Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister, Jane Davidson, has confirmed further allocations of funding to support improvements in the delivery of the planning service in Wales. Ms Davidson said: "The Welsh Assembly Government previously announced specific funding for all 25 local planning au
28/07/2008
Essential pre-construction investigative work to drive forward the regeneration of Pontypridd town centre has begun. The preparatory work to identify underground supplies is critical to any successful town centre scheme and must take place in order to secure future funding for investment in the are
28/07/2008
From today, school leavers from Carlisle are being given the chance to get some free construction training. Carlisle City Council, Construction Skills, Carlisle College and Connexions have joined forces to provide a specialist week-long 'Construction Experience' course. Twelve young people who have
28/07/2008
Arts Council England (ACE) and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) will provide £8 million towards a visionary arts and cultural centre to be built on Margate's seafront. Designed by internationally renowned architect, David Chipperfield, the Turner Contemporary is a world-class desig
28/07/2008
Kier Build Operations Director Louisa Finlay has won the Inspirational Leader category at the Atkins Inspire Awards, organised by Construction News. The awards encourage, recognise and reward exceptional women in construction, architecture, engineering and quantity surveying. Around 400 people att
25/07/2008
Housing Minister Caroline Flint has set out the Government's latest proposals for the UK's toughest ever green standards for new housing as she unveiled a progress report on eco-towns. Underlining the Government's determination that only the best quality schemes with very high sustainability standa
25/07/2008
News that the Local Government Association (LGA) are considering a legal challenge to the Government's plans for up to 10 so called eco-towns on the grounds that they bypass normal planning procedures should really cause the Government to think again according to the Federation of Master Builders (F
25/07/2008
As plans emerge to encourage Registered Social Landlords to buy the properties of struggling private developers, Sir Edward Greenwell, new Chairman of the Rural Housing Trust and past President of the Country Land & Business Association (CLA), says that villages will lose out if Government does not
25/07/2008
Energy regulator Ofgem has today moved to clear away confusion surrounding social tariffs - energy deals for vulnerable customers and fuel poor customers. The move is part of the regulator's new guidelines on the types of initiatives that energy suppliers can include towards the social spending com
25/07/2008
The Construction Confederation (CC) has challenged Government figures which claim that changes to the Construction Act could achieve savings of £1bn - and suggests it is more likely to actually impose a regulatory burden. CC Chief Executive Stephen Ratcliffe said: "These proposed changes are disap
25/07/2008
Advanced ventilated façade technology from Hunter Douglas has been used to construct a new hi-tech research building at Liverpool University. The new £1.3m Liverpool NMR Centre for structural biology houses one of the largest Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers in the UK, a machine which
25/07/2008
Cherwell District Council is concerned the Government proposals to increase the number of houses required to be built in the District will present a challenge of identifying more suitable sites for housing. Modifications to the South East Plan show proposals to increase Cherwell's housing requireme
25/07/2008
The National Housing Federation (NHF) has welcomed the report by Matthew Taylor MP on rural housing - and urged ministers to implement the recommendations as quickly as possible. The Taylor report sets out to tackle the growing problem of house price unaffordability in rural areas - which is destro
25/07/2008
Raychem HWAT temperature maintenance systems have been installed on single pipe hot water systems at four new PFI schools and colleges currently being built in Bristol by Skanska in partnership with Bristol City Council and Partnerships for Schools. Manufactured by Tyco Thermal Controls, the Rayche
25/07/2008
Lovell has been chosen by Family Mosaic Housing to build a £17 million housing regeneration development in Basildon. Lovell is set to start work in September on the scheme which will involve the creation of 91 new affordable apartments and houses, for rent and shared ownership for the housing assoc
24/07/2008
Mats Williamson has been appointed new President of Skanska UK. He assumes his position immediately and succeeds David Fison, who has decided to leave Skanska after ten years. Mr Williamson joined Skanska in 1981. He has held several positions including the roles as Project Executive of the Öresu
24/07/2008
The Government has welcomed Matthew Taylor MP's report into rural economies and affordable housing saying that his core proposals support and extend the commitments we have already made to boost affordable housing and ensure that every rural community can share in the nation's prosperity. The revie
24/07/2008
A report has been set out to uncover whether the needs for support and guidance of small housing associations are being met. The research, commissioned by the Housing Corporation and undertaken by Campbell Tickell, makes many recommendations and also identifies key areas associations believe need a
24/07/2008
Council leaders are calling for the Government to enter discussions about a new approach to environmentally friendly housing development. This follows publication of advice by leading lawyers arguing that the Government's current approach is open to serious legal challenge. John Steel QC and Jam
24/07/2008
The Government's drive to deliver much needed new affordable homes and safeguard higher housing standards for eight million social housing tenants took another step forward as the Housing and Regeneration Act gained Royal Assent. The new Act, will: help address the shortage of affordable housing fo
24/07/2008
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has welcomed the package of proposals in the Taylor Review and believes that together they offer a strong way forward to ensure better planning in a way that is sensitive to local needs. CIH Chief Executive Sarah Webb said: "It is crucial to get a balance be
24/07/2008
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) yesterday published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2007 - 2008, following a year when the ODA has delivered virtually all, and exceeded some, of its 'Dig, Demolish, Design: Milestones to Beijing'. Publishing the report, Chairman John Armitt said: "Thanks to
24/07/2008
Energy company E.ON has given an £8,500 grant under its SOURCE community initiative towards the cost of installing air source heat pumps at The Christie Hall in Wansford. The Hall is a registered charity which provides community facilities to the villages of Stibbington, Thornhaugh and Wansford, an
24/07/2008
Work on the largest civil engineering project in Europe is to get under way shortly. Crossrail, the largest addition to the transport network in London and the South East for more than 50 years, has completed its Parliamentary process, with the Crossrail Bill receiving Royal Assent last night. Fol
24/07/2008
British Energy, owner and operator of Sizewell B nuclear power station, received a good level of response from the community during the six initial public meetings on potential new nuclear build at Sizewell. More than 250 people in total attended the six meetings over the last three weeks, which fo
23/07/2008
The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) has welcomed the news that Dover district has been successful in its bid for Growth Point status. The major announcement by the Department for Communities and Local Government recognises the contribution that Dover can potentially make to the econom
23/07/2008
Experienced Poundbury-based sustainable development company Zero C has been appointed by the South West RDA to build a new 'green' community at Osprey Quay, Portland it has been announced. The 4.61-acre site at Officer’s Field, adjoining Victoria Square, will be redeveloped to include 55 new eco-ho
23/07/2008
International construction and management consultants, Turner & Townsend have announced their continued involvement on the redevelopment of The Bowes Museum, with works due to commence later this month. The museum has just revealed that a bid to secure over £2 million of funding from One NorthEast
23/07/2008
The detailed criteria and process for assessing where new nuclear power stations could safely and securely be built across England and Wales have been set out by the Government. The consultation on the Strategic Siting Assessment outlines the process the Government will use for identifying suitable
23/07/2008
Major construction work is now well underway to repair the Middlewood Road North (A6102) in Sheffield following the landslips caused by the floods in June 2007. Councillor Sylvia Dunkley, Sheffield Council's Cabinet member for Culture, Leisure and Streetscene, visited the site with some local ward
23/07/2008
Children at two Plymouth schools and a nursery will be able to wave goodbye to their tired 1930s and 1940s school buildings and share brand new facilities. The 'Pavilions in the Park' design comprises five main blocks plus sports facilities within heavily landscaped grounds designed to be part of t
23/07/2008
A new £350,000 extension to Parkside Community School, Derbyshire, has been completed. The extension was built as part of work following the school achieving status as a specialist maths college. The extension includes two teaching rooms, one of which is used as a computer suite and the other as a
23/07/2008
The Conservative Party's pledge to offer employers a £2,000 bonus, on top of the money they already receive, for taking on and training apprentices is a welcome kick-start to provide more apprenticeship places in this country, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The FMB warns tha
23/07/2008
An £11.6m Highways Agency safety scheme on the A66 near Stockton-on-Tees is nearing successful completion with help from Faithful+Gould. The scheme comprises a new bridge over the A66 and slip roads to allow traffic to join this major northern road more safely. The slip roads will also provide a c
23/07/2008
Guidance is being issued by Carmarthenshire planners ahead of expected applications to develop wind farms in the Brechfa Forest area. At a meeting, the full council approved supplementary planning guidance on the issue. Members discussed a report prepared by the Council’s Planning Services Section
22/07/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning construction firms to check the safety of gas flues, following roofing work, after the occupants of 11 bungalows in Birmingham were put at risk of carbon monoxide entering their loft spaces. Every year, approximately 25 people die from carbon monoxid
22/07/2008
A scheme to deliver more affordable homes for young families and first-time buyers has been set out by Housing Minister Iain Wright. Under a new radical amendment to the Housing and Regeneration Bill which was debated in Parliament yesterday, new Community Land Trusts (CLT) will be able to cut the
22/07/2008
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is expecting to get a record number of bidders for a plant hire and builders merchant facility contract following a high turn out to the ODA's Olympic Park Plant Hire and Builders Merchant Facility procurement Industry Day. Nearly 150 people from nearly 100 comp
22/07/2008
Over a quarter of young people from the South West of England surveyed at the Glastonbury festival last month told researchers that the housing they needed was not available in the area and almost 28% of them were still living with their parents. Figures from the survey underline the concern of hou
22/07/2008
More than 100 Tyneside businesses were visited in a recent crackdown on industrial estates by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local council inspectors. On 14 occasions, they were so worried about what they saw, they issued an official "improvement notice" requiring action to be taken as a ma
22/07/2008
Approval will be sought from Cabinet next Monday (28 July 2008) for Birmingham City Council to enter into negotiations with major city centre developer Targetfollow, to examine the potential for a new exclusive development at Baskerville Wharf. The request follows an approach by Targetfollow to wo
22/07/2008
Expansion in offshore wind power could create up to 30,000 new jobs in manufacturing and bring £3 billion of investment to the North East, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks will say during a visit to Gateshead and Northumberland. Californian energy giant Clipper Wind has already been attracted to inves
22/07/2008
More than £2 million pounds will be spent on Longsight Library in Manchester as part of a major refurbishment to improve and expand services in the area. A £2.3 million state-of-the-art library and brand new learning centre will be delivered under one roof in 2009 with contributes from Manchester C
22/07/2008
A £25 million housing development at the heart of Birmingham's Cadbury community started on site yesterday. Unprecedented demand for social housing in the Midlands has prompted Bournville village Trust to seek funding from the housing Corporation for the development of 167 new social renting and o
22/07/2008
Eastend Homes has chosen United House to redevelop and refurbish 200 apartments in the Island Gardens Estate in Tower Hamlets. The project, with a value of £2.5m will see the transformation of the estate as part of the first joint project for the two organisations. Due to previous under-investmen
21/07/2008
Crane companies must ensure they properly plan their work to help prevent crane overturns the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned. The warning comes after Cheshire Crane Hire Ltd of Nant Road, Connah's Quay, Flintshire was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £8,842 at Wirral Magi
21/07/2008
The locations of six new "enablers" to develop affordable housing in rural Wales have been revealed today. At an event with the WLGA and Community Housing Cymru in the Royal Welsh Show, the Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies, announced more details on the extension of the 'Rural Enabler'
21/07/2008
Health and Care Minister Ivan Lewis has announced the sites that will benefit from £80 million of Government funding to build extra care housing, enabling more older people and those with dementia and long-term conditions to live in a home of their own. He will today be presenting the successful B
21/07/2008
DCD Media-owned documentary producer West Park Pictures has been commissioned by Channel 4 and Discovery Networks EMEA to produce 'Tallest Tower', a two-part documentary which will document the construction of Europe's tallest habitable building, London Bridge Tower, also known as the 'Shard of Glas
21/07/2008
The opening of the iconic Pontypridd building illustrates Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's commitment to regenerating the market town and transforming it into one of South Wales' top shopping destinations. The £10m scheme is the first part of the Council and the Welsh Assembly Government's improvement p
21/07/2008
A series of further measures and reforms designed to help alleviate the current challenges in the housing market and to support the vital delivery of more homes over the long-term, have been announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint. The measures are part of a new update, published today, on pro
21/07/2008
Construction union UCATT have described the BERR select committee's report into the construction industry as patchy. UCATT welcomed the committee's recognition that the Government as the largest construction client should be playing a far more active role in regularising the industry. In particular
21/07/2008
E.ON, one of the UK's leading renewable generators, has joined with Danish utility DONG Energy to buy out Shell's stake in the London Array offshore wind farm for an undisclosed sum. The two companies will now become 50:50 partners in the project, which, when built, could generate enough power to s
21/07/2008
Outline planning permission has been granted by Liverpool City Council for the new £25 million King David School campus in Childwall. The Childwall Road scheme is part of Liverpool's £400 million Building Schools for the Future project which is replacing or refurbishing every secondary school in th
21/07/2008
Site managers working for Barratt Group have won a record 72 Quality Awards in this year's Pride In The Job competition for quality workmanship - the highest number ever claimed by one housebuilder in the 28-year history of the awards. The honours are the most coveted in the industry and are awarde
18/07/2008
Energy giant Centrica has warned that gas prices could soar by as much as 70% in the next few years. An independent report commissioned by the company, which owns British Gas, warned that soaring gas prices will remain high for the forseeable future. Jake Ulrich, Managing Director of Centrica Ener
18/07/2008
A £24 million project underway in Carlisle will help to improve the city's flood defences. Faithful+Gould has been appointed, as part of its framework agreement with the Environment Agency, to act as ECC project managers for the second phase of a project which will ensure that the flood damage whic
18/07/2008
A scheme by the city council has seen homeowners in Bristol receive over £1/2 million in subsidised loans to enable them to carry out essential repairs and maintenance to their properties. Bristol City Council has been working in partnership with not-for-profit organisation, Wessex Home Improvement
18/07/2008
New tough planning rules will help councils better protect small shops through the current economic difficulties and create more vibrant town centres, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears announced. The new proposals strengthen Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for town centres (PPS6) - the Gover
18/07/2008
Construction union UCATT have reservations that the Government's proposals of providing financial aid to pleural plaques victims are adequate. However the union welcomes the Government's decision to consult on the issue. Pleural plaques are scarring of the lungs caused by heavy and prolonged exposu
18/07/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning employers to ensure they have safe systems for working at height in place after a worker was seriously injured in a fall from a loft, while he was changing a water tank at a flat. Homes for Haringey Ltd, was found guilty of breaching section 2 of the
18/07/2008
Construction work has started on a new £6 million state-of-the-art primary school in Honicknowle, Plymouth. The new Shakespeare Primary School is due to open in September 2009, replacing West Park and Chaucer primary schools. The project forms part of a £47 million PFI capital expenditure programm
17/07/2008
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has selected a consortium of Carillion and Igloo to deliver the International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre (IBC/MPC) for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and its legacy development. The British consortium will transform the 1.3 million squa
17/07/2008
A report by MPs on the Business and Enterprise Committee has called for the Government to create a new post of 'Chief Construction Officer', to tackle the problem of fragmentation in construction policy and procurement across Government. Chris Blythe, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of B
17/07/2008
It is now almost impossible for a low income couple to become home owners in Great Britain according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) accessibility and affordability indices. A first time buyer couple, earning lower quartile earnings (totalling £27,516 after taxes), will now hav
17/07/2008
Energy regulator Ofgem has proposed an overhaul of the governance of gas and electricity industry codes. The codes set the rules for industry players to participate in the market and connect to the energy networks. The proposed reforms aim to speed up the process for making changes to codes and to
17/07/2008
One of the biggest social housing schemes in England which will provide people in Bolton with more choice finding their future home has been launched. Ten Greater Manchester authorities and 13 housing associations have joined up to launch Pinpoint, a choice based lettings scheme pilot, which will m
17/07/2008
ZEDHomes has welcomed the decision of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, to approve its outline planning application to develop an environmentally sustainable development project in Ashford. The development will create over 1,000 new homes, as well as 90,000
17/07/2008
Centrica plc, the parent company of British Gas, today announced it has reached agreement to acquire interests in a package of non-operated gas and oil assets in Norway for $375 million (£190 million) in cash, including its first gas production in the Norwegian sector. The agreement, with Maratho
17/07/2008
NHBC, the UK's leading standard-raising and consumer protection body for new homes, has joined forces with John Callcutt to launch a new initiative aimed at supporting the house-building industry in its quest to make further improvements in the standards of finishing and customer service it offers t
16/07/2008
Lending for house purchase increased slightly from April to May, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. Loans for house purchase increased by 4% in volume to 52,700, and by 2% in value to £7.9 billion; although both were 44% lower than May last year. However, there was a steep decline i
16/07/2008
A £60million 'rescue' package to tackle the capital's empty homes problem was announced by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to help deliver his manifesto commitment to reduce long-term empty homes to 1% of London's total housing stock. The funding will focus on bringing long term abandoned prope
16/07/2008
The Stobart Group Limited, the leading provider of multimodal transport and logistics solutions, has announced its intention to extend the option to purchase Carlisle Airport for a further six months. The Board voted unanimously for an extension to the option for a consideration of £50,000. This i
16/07/2008
Land Securities has received approval from Gravesham Borough Council for its Masterplan proposals for Northfleet Rise; an area to the north of Ebbsfleet International station, part of Ebbsfleet Valley. Outline planning permission was received for the development of the area around the station in
16/07/2008
The first residents will be moving into a new £5 million extra care facility in Alma Road, Millfield, Peterborough this month. The Pavilions will be operated by Axiom Housing Association and includes 40 flats designed to give people over the age of 60 the security and privacy of private accommodati
16/07/2008
Hyder Consulting, the international advisory and design consultancy, has announced the appointment of Mr Ivor Catto as its new Chief Executive, effective 1 December 2008, succeeding Mr Tim Wade who will be deferring his retirement until Mr Catto's arrival. Mr Catto is presently Group Managing Direc
15/07/2008
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has announced that it will be enhancing the role it undertakes on behalf of the construction industry. Following discussions with the major construction companies, the CBI has agreed to set up a Construction Council chaired by John McDonough, Chief Execut
15/07/2008
Building firms, product manufacturers and suppliers could stand to tap into a new market worth between £3.5 and £6.5 billion per year if the UK developed policies, skills programmes, and financial incentives to upgrade our existing housing stock to make it greener and more energy efficient says the
15/07/2008
A £500 million a year charge on energy suppliers to lift 500,000 people out of fuel poverty will be considered by MPs this week. The levy on utility companies would fund a massive investment programme to insulate half of all homes in England, cutting household carbon emissions by 20% and knocking £
15/07/2008
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has launched the new comprehensively revised Plan of Work and Architect's Job Book - the flagship documents for the Institute. Both documents have been fully updated and restructured, to accommodate the complex demands of today's construction industr
15/07/2008
Housing 21 has issued a report on the impact of the Government's personalisation agenda on older people's housing. The publication coincides with the launch of our first ever on-line discussion board, which aims to broaden the debate. The report discusses key issues raised at a stakeholder worksh
15/07/2008
The architects behind the first ever hospital in Wales designed and built for children have won the contract to design the final phase. Cardiff-based Boyes Rees Architects will be the principle architects on the £45 million project for the final phase of the Children's Hospital for Wales, as part o
15/07/2008
Willmott Dixon's new local construction office in Manchester is bucking the trend of gloomy news emanating from some sections of the construction sector. Speaking at the official launch of the office, Deputy Managing Director in Manchester Anthony Dillon revealed that the office will surpass growth
11/07/2008
A new report by construction union UCATT has revealed that employers have totally failed to recruit the required number of apprentices in the construction industry. The report, Apprenticeships - A Firm Foundation, recommends the only way the apprenticeships system can properly function is through
11/07/2008
The National Housing Federation (NHF) has rejected proposals by the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokesman, Vince Cable, to shore up the construction industry, which would see housing associations buying up 150,000 unsaleable properties from private developers. The scheme would lead to a 100-fold in
11/07/2008
Interserve, in consortium with the Spanish company Acciona and Atkins Water, has won the contract to build the Thames Gateway Water Treatment Plant for Thames Water. The value of the work to Interserve will be in the region of £50 million. The consortium will work as an integrated team to deliver
11/07/2008
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has recently opened a new office in Shanghai, China to support its growing membership in the country. The new office is located in the business district of Shanghai and will further increase the CIOB's presence in Shanghai and the East China region. The of
11/07/2008
The South West of England, the second most expensive region in the UK for first-time buyers', will host a major debate on 24 July on how to remove barriers to building enough affordable homes. Glastonbury Festival founder, Michael Eavis, will open the seminar, which is being held in Midsomer Norton
11/07/2008
Facelift Access Hire has recently taken delivery of its first 10 Compact 12DX machines, bringing its scissor fleet to just over 300 units. Manufactured by French supplier Haulotte, the Compact 12DX is a brilliant piece of machinery and has few equals when it comes to rough terrain work. The Compact
11/07/2008
CIH has welcomed the publication this week of a new White Paper - Communities in control: real people, real power - by CLG Secretary of State, Hazel Blears, which recognises the significant role played by housing professionals and the housing sector in the creation of successful communities. The Wh
11/07/2008
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has successfully lobbied to secure an amendment to the Housing and Regeneration Bill, after the House of Lords final vote. The Bill will create the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which will assume the existing duties of the Housing Corporation a
11/07/2008
Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Chairman John Armitt set out how 75 pence in every £1 spent by the ODA is being invested in long term regeneration of east London. Speaking at a Foundation for Science and Technology debate on what will happen to the area after the Games, Mr Armitt explained that th
11/07/2008
Construction has started on site for the £38 million Bede Academy in Northumberland, on which Faithful+Gould has been carrying out the full range of cost consultancy services. Building upon an already substantial national portfolio of high profile education projects, Faithful+Gould has reached the
11/07/2008
Despite the changing weather patterns and what seems to be the end of British Summers, pools are still high on the wish list for many people. There are options to the classic outdoor pool which enable all round swimming without the need for the high costs associated with an indoor pool complex. T
10/07/2008
Housebuilder Barratt Developments has confirmed it will axe 1,200 jobs due to the slump in the property market. The group plans to close two divisions and it will also merge eight divisions into four, under plans to cut yearly costs by approximately £40 million. Average private sales rates in the
10/07/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning construction firms of the need to plan work around underground services carefully after a worker received a serious electric shock when he came in contact with live cabling. The warning follows HSE's prosecution in Beverley Crown Court today of Hogar
10/07/2008
A builder has been forced to demolish his £600,000 new home after council planners ruled it was too high. Stephen Woodfinden-Lewis has been locked in a four-year battle with Stockport Council in Greater Manchester over his Woodford home. It is being knocked down a year after the council ordered th
10/07/2008
Hillingdon Council Leader and colleagues in the 2M Group have met with the European Commission to discuss the UK government's plans to circumvent air quality targets at Heathrow, after Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly announced that a decision on the expansion will be delayed until later in the year.
10/07/2008
Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction, services and investment group, has announced that financial close has been achieved on Phase 1 of the £150 million Islington Schools for the future PPP programme. The contract will be executed by Transform Schools, Balfour Beatty's specia
10/07/2008
Plant hire and equipment rental specialists Hewden have announced that Doug Sprout, Finance Director of Finning Group (UK) will take over the lead management responsibility for Hewden Stuart Plc with immediate effect, following the departure of Brian Sherlock on 4th July. Doug joined Finning in 19
10/07/2008
Programmes to improve household energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption cost taxpayers and householders around £2.6 billion a year. A report released by the National Audit Office found signs that the long-term growth in household energy consumption is beginning to reverse. But greater effo
10/07/2008
Kier Sheffield was recently presented with a Green Heroes Wall Shield by top botanist and TV personality, Professor David Bellamy OBE, in recognition of its environmental project - Reducing our Carbon Footprint with the Community. The Shields are awarded annually in recognition of companies, counci
10/07/2008
Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, is carrying out helicopter patrols in Gloucestershire this month, doing its own digital detective work as part of its network inspections. The patrols will be carried out by a helicopter equipped with a high-resolution digi
10/07/2008
Liverpool City Council has welcomed a new report which shows it is making solid progress in improving at risk buildings in the city. English Heritage has just released its new-style 'Heritage at Risk Register' - an enhanced version of its previous, annual 'Buildings at Risk Register' covering grade
10/07/2008
Swish Building Products, specialists in PVC roofline and cladding systems, has added a new Tudor Board to its range of products. Designed to achieve a Tudor style finish, these decorative boards can be used at gable ends or along the side of a house to create a decorative feature. The Swish Tudor B
09/07/2008
Housebuilders Bovis Homes and Redrow has said they are cutting staff by 40% due to the slump in the housing market. Bovis reported a 32% drop in sales in the first half of the year and Redrow also said its sales declined by 19%. Redrow reported it was fighting against "an unprecedented decline in
09/07/2008
On the day (Tuesday 8 July) that English Heritage launched its new Heritage At Risk Register, London Mayor Boris Johnson, announced that he would use the register to help bring London's listed buildings at risk back into use as much needed housing. The Mayor has £331 million to spend in his Targete
09/07/2008
The contract to build, finance, and operate Energy Centres for the Olympic Park and Stratford City has been awarded. Elyo, a subsidiary of SUEZ Energy Services, has won the contract and will invest more than £90m of private investment in the project. Two Energy Centres - one in the west of the Par
09/07/2008
Against a backdrop of construction industry lay-offs and slow down, ZEDHomes has gained approval for a landmark 'green homes' development in Ashford, Kent. In stark contrast to the Government's much opposed eco-towns, this eco-village will be delivered without touching valuable green belt land, and
09/07/2008
Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction, services and investment group, has announced that Balfour Beatty Rail has received a Letter of Acceptance to implement the rail electrification and power supply systems package for the Ipoh to Padang Besar Double Tracking Rail Extension in
09/07/2008
The diggers have moved in and signalled the start of work on the construction of a new £5million state-of-the-art centralised Bolsover District Council depot at Doe Lea. Sited alongside the A617, this new depot will replace the existing sites at Bolsover and South Normanton and will be the base for
09/07/2008
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has welcomed the promise by Junior Housing Minister, Baroness Andrews, to table a government amendment to the current Housing and Regeneration Bill, which will introduce an enabling clause ensuring that all tenants can be protected by the new Tenant Services
09/07/2008
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has completed a 12 track railway sidings at Orient Way to the north of Stratford five weeks early and on budget. It replaces Thornton’s Field sidings in the heart of the Olympic Park, which is now being dismantled and will allow access for logistical vehicles for
09/07/2008
The London Development Agency (LDA) will begin work on a community centre in Newham after its planning application was approved. The new building will provide 500 sq m of recreational space and will include a shared garden with the existing Chandos Road Community Centre. It will also feature a new
09/07/2008
Connaught, one of the leading providers of housing maintenance and estate management services to the social housing market, has been awarded Team of the Year by Business in The Community, for community impact in the south-west. Connaught scooped the team of the year award at the BITC awards for the
08/07/2008
Persimmon, the UK's largest housebuilder by market value, has announced over 1,000 job cuts as it reported an update on its current trading performance today. The construction group said: "We commenced this further restructuring of our business in May and it is almost complete. It will result in th
08/07/2008
New ways to boost the availability of rural and more affordable housing for local people working and living in the countryside were outlined by Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister Jane Davidson yesterday. The proposal aims to address the issues of providing homes for retiring farmers a
08/07/2008
The European Commission's proposals to allow reduced VAT rates on labour intensive and locally-provided services, is a victory for every professional builder and householder in the UK wanting to carry out repairs to their home, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The FMB was responding to
08/07/2008
Plans to enhance the security of the Olympic Park have moved forward as the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced procurement was underway of contractors to provide security guarding and access control systems for the Olympic Park, as well as other measures to ensure the safety and security of
08/07/2008
A campaign has begun to re-build the Skylon, the first example of high-tech architecture in the UK. A group of leading architects have launched plans to rebuild the iconic Skylon, a 300ft tall cigar-shaped structure. London's Skylon was formed in 1951 was transformed, as part of the Festival of Br
08/07/2008
The provision of new office space at Falmouth has moved a step closer with a recent topping out ceremony marking the completion of the highest point of the 24,000 sq ft latest phase of development on the town's business park. Representatives from the scheme's developer Priority Sites joined with
08/07/2008
Work is about to begin on a scheme which will see major improvements to the main entrance at the University of Liverpool's campus. The £1.5m University Square scheme will see the public realm on the open space at the junction of Mount Pleasant and Brownlow Hill refurbished. The project was origina
08/07/2008
The vision for a new urban centre in south west Bicester moved a step closer when planning permission for the scheme was issued by Cherwell District Council. This follows several years of negotiation and planning between the Council, Oxfordshire County Council and the developers, Countryside Proper
08/07/2008
Hewden Stuart plc, the UK's largest plant hirer, has become one of the first plant rental companies to achieve Achilles BuildingConfidence Programme accreditation. The BuildingConfidence programme is designed to enable major contractors and clients in the construction industry to improve performance
08/07/2008
Eight million free energy-efficient light bulbs are to be sent to two million housing association households. One of the biggest free energy-efficiency initiatives ever launched for the social housing sector began with Housing Corporation Chief Executive Steve Douglas encouraging housing associatio
08/07/2008
Packexe helps to eliminate the risks of tripping and slipping commonly associated with dust sheets, loose plastic sheeting and unbranded films. Providing safe, secure floor and surface protection helps to reduce slip and trip hazards in the workplace making it a safer working environment. Packexe S
07/07/2008
Up to 1,000 jobs could be lost at housebuilder Barratt Developments as it struggles with the sluggish housing market. The company, which employs 6,700 staff, has begun a consultation process with unions, with the cuts set to be completed within three months. Barratt warned in May that "market con
07/07/2008
Chesterfield Borough Council has given its approval to the planning application for the redevelopment of the former Demaglass site in Whittington Moor for a new stadium for Chesterfield Football Club and a Tesco retail store, together with business, hotel and other uses. The decision was taken at a
07/07/2008
Arun councillors have voted overwhelmingly to oppose plans for a proposed eco-town at Ford, following recommendations made by the special Select Committee set up by the Council. At a special meeting of the Full Council, councillors agreed with the final report of the Select Committee that the propo
07/07/2008
BP is the latest Tier One Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Games, it has been announced. As the official Oil and gas Partner and London 2012's third Sustainability Partner, BP will be responsible for providing fuelling facilities for the vehicles required to keep the Games moving. In addition,
07/07/2008
The energy regulator Ofgem is to examine claims that people in Wales pay more for their electricity than customers elsewhere in the UK, the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing announced. With rising energy prices pushing more people into fuel poverty Jane Davidson had asked Ofgem t
07/07/2008
Three important papers on leadership in construction from across the globe have been published in a special issue of Construction Industry Quarterly (CIQ) - the Chartered Institute of Building's (CIOB) academic publication for industry research. Research from the School of the Built Environment at
07/07/2008
Upside-down houses in Salford and lightweight homes in Milton Keynes are just two of the winning designs recognised for providing high quality homes that will last, at this year's Housing Design Awards. Now in its Diamond Jubilee, the awards demonstrate how strong designs can successfully reinvigor
07/07/2008
Construction and Management Consultants, Turner & Townsend exhibited at Manchester Town Hall last week to promote its recent appointment onto Manchester City Council’s Programme and Project Management Framework. Manchester City Council invited members of staff to visit the exhibition to have the op
07/07/2008
Delays caused by gas works to replace a 100-year-old series of pipes will be eased after Surrey County Council agreed with Southern Gas to stop the works for Christmas. Halting the scheme, in West Street, Farnham, will allow traders to carry on with the busy pre and post Christmas period - when the
07/07/2008
For 10 years, Laser Products Industries has focused on supplying lasers to help identify and provide the means to gather information on irregular and inappropriate job conditions and to accurately correct them or fabricate finished products to match. LT-55 XL Precision Laser Templator The LT-55 XL
04/07/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is joining forces with local authorities in Herts and Beds to warn industrial estates of impending health and safety inspections. The joint inspections between the two enforcing authorities across the two counties, will take place from 14 July and will focus on
04/07/2008
New buildings in Wales will be expected to raise their sustainability standards and include renewable and low carbon energy technologies, such as solar panels and combined heat and power, as part of tough new planning policies to tackle climate change. The move is part of a two-pronged announcement
04/07/2008
Up to £1 billion of council tenants' rent could be used to build thousands of new council homes and improve existing stock, according to a new report. The Local Government Association (LGA), a cross-party organisation representing councils in England, is calling for Whitehall to end the practice of
04/07/2008
A new agreement to support the delivery of more homes and the regeneration of communities has been launched by Housing Minister Caroline Flint, Local Government Association Chairman Sir Simon Milton and Homes and Communities Agency Chief Executive Designate Sir Bob Kerslake. The agreement sets how
04/07/2008
Advice on training, employment and childcare are just some of the extra services that will be on offer to people when they discuss their housing options with their local authority, said Housing Minister Caroline Flint as she announced the winners of the first of two programmes of 'trailblazers'. Th
04/07/2008
Plans to regenerate neighbourhoods in North-West Birmingham will be outlined at Cabinet on 7 July. This follows a further £53 million allocation to 'Urban Living: the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder for Birmingham and Sandwel'l. The three-year government funding will enable Birmingham City Coun
04/07/2008
Three multi-national construction giants short-listed to build the new £193 million Library of Birmingham were unveiled today, marking yet another major step toward the opening of the new building in 2013. Leading figures from Carillion, Laing O'Rourke and Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd, met with Birmingh
04/07/2008
Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction, services and investment business, has announced the appointment of Hubertus Krossa as a Non-Executive Director, effective from 9 September 2008. Mr Krossa was, until April 2008, Chief Executive Officer of KION Group GmbH, a leading intern
04/07/2008
Liverpool city council is helping some of city's most vulnerable people beat the credit crunch. The city's executive board is to vote to provide funds for a series of loans to help homeowners on low incomes improve their property. A wide-range of equity loans for renewal schemes have been put in p
04/07/2008
Apprentice carpenter Sian Noke, and apprentice bricklayer Yvonne Irwin have taken the top prizes at prestigious national training awards organised by Lovell. Sian, 26, from Maesteg, Glamorgan, South Wales, was chosen as the Lovell Apprentice of the Year from more than 100 apprentices working for th
04/07/2008
Light Bureau (Lighting Consultant) recommended Control Lighting's involvement in this unique project due to their expertise to facilitate the correct control solution for an exceptional project such as this. With the high profile of the Cardiff Bay development in Cardiff which includes the Welsh A
04/07/2008
As of May 2008 all new homes will be required to have mandatory ratings against the Code for Sustainable Homes; level 1 for a basic improvement on Building Regulations, up to level 6 for an exemplar home in sustainability terms. At present it remains voluntary to design and build a home to meet stan
03/07/2008
Samples of asbestos-containing material have been discovered within the construction site of the Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced today. The work to create the permanent foundations of the Stadium has been halted in one section of the site as a precautionary measure.
03/07/2008
Disgruntled lorry drivers have arrived in London to demonstrate against the rocketing price of fuel. Part of the A40 has been partly closed as groups of between 20 and 30 vehicles will park on it while others are travelling in police-led convoys into the city centre. A group of drivers has also ga
03/07/2008
Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has announced the age of cheap power is "over" and has called for more innovation in the power industry to tackle climate change. His remarks came as he opened the Energy innovation Centre at Capenhurst, near Chester - a hothouse for new energy businesses and technolog
03/07/2008
New immediate measures designed to respond to the impact of the credit crunch on the housing market and maintain the delivery of new affordable housing, have been announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint. The measures are the first part of a wider package of action the Government will be announ
03/07/2008
The UK Government must overhaul stamp duty land tax radically to create a fairer system for consumers, says Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Proposing a system that would benefit 99% of home buyers, RICS called on the Government to find a way of implementing the policy, which will
03/07/2008
Construction union UCATT have accused the Government of "complacency which is placing workers lives at risk". The union made its remarks following the Government's publication of its response to the recent Work and Pensions Select Committee Report into the Health and Safety Executive. UCATT's key
03/07/2008
Speaking at the Annual Lunch of the British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA), Richard Barrett, BCSA President confirmed that the past year had been an exciting one for the industry and for the BCSA. He said: "The underlying demand for steel construction remains sound. "The latest indep
03/07/2008
The Macclesfield Town Centre Masterplan, the cornerstone of plans for a multi-million pound redevelopment, is now ready to form the basis of the outline planning application to be submitted this autumn. Developers Wilson Bowden and Macclesfield Borough Council have over the past six months continu
03/07/2008
Heanor Library is set to reopen on Monday 14 July following a major revamp by Derbyshire County Council. The authority spent £32,000 improving the lighting, rewiring and upgrading the heating system of the Ilkeston Road library, making it a better and brighter environment for users. Councillor Bob
03/07/2008
A topping out ceremony at the west's leading music venue, Colston Hall, Bristol, took place on Monday 30 June. Council Leader Helen Holland and Bristol's Lord Mayor joined John Frankiewicz, Chief Executive Officer of Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd at the ceremony. The ceremony, which involved the
02/07/2008
The declining number of residential new build developments is taking its toll on the construction sector with workloads falling at the most dramatic rate for over a decade, reports the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors UK Construction Market Survey published today. Construction workloads decli
02/07/2008
Britain's biggest housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has been unable to secure a deal with potential investors to give more money for further funding. The firm announced it was in discussions with shareholders to raise capital but said that it hasn't been able to agree on a satisfactory deal. The company
02/07/2008
E.ON has announced that it no longer intends to continue to develop an eight turbine wind farm near Ferndale because of concerns that the project's original design could potentially pose a noise nuisance to nearby homes. Further site investigation revealed that any revised designs to eliminate nois
02/07/2008
The Government is introducing extra protection for people buying and selling homes. Consumer Minister Gareth Thomas laid an order in Parliament requiring all residential estate agents to belong to a redress scheme by 1 October. Mr Thomas said: "People who experience problems with an estate agent w
02/07/2008
Carillion has secured two contracts, with a combined value of £8 million, for the provision of maintenance services at health properties across Hertfordshire. The contract began in April and runs for an initial five-year period, with an option to extend to seven years. Under the terms of the cont
02/07/2008
After more than a year of construction work, the brand new Kinlochleven primary school and high school have passed an independent building inspection and are now ready to welcome pupils at the start of the new academic year in August. The new £11.7 million school is the first joint primary and seco
02/07/2008
With the UK currently experiencing an affordable housing crisis where demand is out-stripping supply, forcing up prices for everyone, and leaving first-time buyers with little hope of getting onto the property ladder the Conservative Party's pledge to build more homes is welcome news, says the Feder
02/07/2008
Commercial buildings are scoring an average 'C' energy rating, according to early results from the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to the commercial sector. Since the introduction of EPCs in 2007 nearly 800,000 buildings have had an energy assessment. As part of the phased i
02/07/2008
Professor Ed Gallagher, Chair of the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA), has announced the appointment, with immediate effect, of Nick Goodall as the Agency's Chief Executive. Prof Gallagher said: "We are pleased to welcome Nick to the Agency. Nick will be leading a strong team at the RFA, and will be wo
02/07/2008
Socomec UPS, a multinational company with a presence in over 80 countries, provides a range of power continuity solutions from 400 VA to 4800 kVA which is capable of meeting the demand for disturbance-free, high quality power for mission-critical applications. Besides enjoying an international repu
01/07/2008
House prices fell by 0.9% in June, less than half the rate of the previous month according to the latest results released by Nationwide. Prices are 6.3% lower than this time last year and have fallen 7.3% from their peak last October. However prices remain 4% higher than two years ago. Commenting
01/07/2008
The Government should promote a patchwork of small eco-projects, with contracts awarded by local regions and communities for both new homes and refurbishment of old buildings, with green measures spread around a range of proven technologies rather than creating new eco towns, according to the Federa
01/07/2008
Provisional figures of work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal that 228 workers lost their lives as a result of accidents/incidents at work in 2007/08 compared to 247 workers in 2006/07. The report also shows a slight increase in the numbe
01/07/2008
Construction work has begun on a new £35m city centre campus in Newport that forges links between the best business brains and the cream of local creative talent. "We want to put Newport on the map and make it a 'must-see' city," said Chris O'Malley, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Newport's University. "O
01/07/2008
Professor Peter Hibberd, the current secretary general, is to be the new Chairman of the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT). The appointment was agreed at the JCT Board last month, and follows the retirement of Christopher Vickers CBE, FRICS, ACIArb, who had been Chairman since 2002. The role of Chai
01/07/2008
The National House-Building Council (NHBC) has welcomed the launch of the 'Zero Carbon Hub' - the new public and private partnership, which has been charged with making zero carbon homes a reality from 2016. NHBC's General Manager, Neil Jefferson, has been appointed as interim Chief Executive and N
01/07/2008
Following a public inquiry, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has backed Barnsley Council's decision to refuse planning permission for a Gypsy and Traveller caravan site at the former Cudworth Railway Station at Station Road, Lundwood. The government has confirmed the reco
01/07/2008
Construction and Management Consultants, Turner & Townsend is opening a new office in Liverpool this week to develop the increasing portfolio of projects in the North West and to support the opportunities presented by the European Capital of Culture 2008 and the regeneration of the region. Having a
01/07/2008
E.ON has welcomed a High Court decision to award legal protection for part of the Kingsnorth power station site ahead of the 2008 Camp for Climate Action. E.ON UK Head of Business Resilience Graham Clarke said: "Our prime concern is the safety of everybody at Kingsnorth power station, including any
01/07/2008
Morgan Sindall's construction business Morgan Ashurst has been awarded a £9.5 million project to design and build a new manufacturing and distribution warehouse for Deb Ltd in Derbyshire. As part of the project, Morgan Ashurst will create a new 150,000m2 warehouse and production facility, three-sto
