Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for April 2010
30/04/2010
The competition to find a construction partner for Southampton’s multi-million pound secondary school building programme is underway. The third and final part of the city's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) business plan has been approved. This allows the council to put its programme to rebuild
30/04/2010
Lovell is set to build a £1.5 million affordable homes scheme in South Oxhey, near Watford, for leading UK housing provider Sanctuary Group. The scheme will see the creation of twelve flats and two bungalows for affordable rent as part of the redevelopment of a site at Clitheroe Gardens, currently
30/04/2010
The public has given its support for plans to spruce up the area in front of Barking Railway Station which will ease overcrowding and improve security. A consultation on the proposals, which would see more pedestrian space created in front of the station, has found that 85 per cent of the public
30/04/2010
Kier London has started work on a new £12.1 million primary school in Colindale for London Borough of Barnet. School staff, the children and governors joined Kier London construction director Indi Muttucumaru and site staff for a turf cutting ceremony to mark the start of the project. The project
30/04/2010
The Liberal Democrat and Conservative Parties have made welcome election pledges to boost support for local green electricity schemes and encourage households and communities to benefit from them, Friends of the Earth have revealed. Friends of the Earth contacted the main political parties as part
30/04/2010
Gleeds, the international construction management consultancy is to restructure its Energy business, expand and invest in new operations following a top level strategic review of the direction of the company. As well as continuing in the nuclear sector, Gleeds is to further develop its operation i
30/04/2010
Interest free loans of up to £4,000 are now available to Arun residents towards the cost of installing green technology in their homes. The Council is running the pilot loan scheme through its Renewable Energy Advice Service which launched last July. The loans will help local residents cover the
30/04/2010
Work to move more than 35,000 tonnes of excavated material to make way for Plymouth's new £46.5 million Life Centre is getting under way. Contractor Balfour Beatty has started to transport the soil from the front of the Mayflower Leisure Centre to a temporary spoil heap south of Cottage Field, foll
30/04/2010
First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones has officially opened a new school in Monmouthshire, which has been described as one of the most sustainable in the whole of the UK. Rogiet Primary School, which was built with the help of £2.15 million from the Welsh Assembly Government, was awarded a BREEAM (B
30/04/2010
A specialist supplier of bespoke bricks has been expanding its reputation. Brickfind (UK) has a long list of testimonials from a variety of customers. Whilst such bodies as English Heritage, The National Trust and British Waterways have benefited from the company's services in the renovation of li
29/04/2010
Poor housing costs the NHS £2.5 billion a year in treating people suffering from a wide range of illnesses linked directly to living in cold, damp and often dangerous homes, according to a new study. The research, commissioned by the National Housing Federation, also reveals the cost to the public
29/04/2010
Wales will be working closely with regional governments from throughout Europe as part of its efforts to speed up the transition to renewable energy. This was the message from Environment Minister, Jane Davidson who has given her full support to Wales' involvement in the strategic EU RENREN (Renew
29/04/2010
The annual rate of house price inflation moved into double digits for the first time since June 2007, according to a report by Nationwide. The price of a typical UK property rose by a seasonally adjusted 1.0% month-on-month in April, leaving house prices 10.5% higher than a year earlier. Commentin
29/04/2010
Around 60% of Britons believe that there is a shortage of new homes in the UK, according to the smartnewhomes.com election poll, suggesting that the public is waking up to the housing crisis unfolding around the country. With nearly five million people on housing waiting lists across the UK, and 1
29/04/2010
Which? Switch, the impartial energy-switching service from Which?, has introduced new ratings for energy tariffs. Unfortunately for consumers, not one tariff has received more than three out of five stars to date. Which? Switch is the first switching site to provide a rating that combines company s
29/04/2010
Two Leicester schools which have stood separately for over 100 years are being united in a major refurbishment project. The buildings housing Humberstone Infants and Junior Schools will soon be linked together as a £2.7 million scheme by Leicester City Council nears completion. Begun in spring 200
29/04/2010
Customers of British Gas paid less for their winter fuel this year compared to the winter of 2008/9, despite this being one of the coldest winters of recent decades. Bills have been reduced as a result of customers acting on the energy efficiency tips from the supplier and through the impact of Bri
29/04/2010
A water services company and its sub-contractor have been fined after a technician fell through the roof of a pumping station in Cambridgeshire, fracturing a vertebra in his back. Technician Matthew Morgan, sub-contracted to Anglian Water Services, fell through an unmarked fragile roof light while
29/04/2010
We live in financially turbulent times, so why settle for roofing products that require frequent costly maintenance during their average lifetime? Specify Metrotile Lightweight Steel Roofing for a long-lasting, advanced roofing product with a far lower whole-life cost than traditional roofing materi
29/04/2010
Retaining structures specialist, Maccaferri has won Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification for its Timber Crib retaining wall system. This important accreditation recognises Maccaferri's work in ensuring the raw materials used in its Timber Crib System are sourced only from responsibly ma
28/04/2010
Support services and construction company Carillion has been appointed preferred bidder for the £27 million Trinity Academy Halifax. Carillion has been selected by Calderdale Council acting as client on behalf of the Academy Trust along with co-sponsors the Diocese of Wakefield, Calderdale College
28/04/2010
Ecotricity, based in Stroud, has been granted planning permission to construct the innovative 300-people building on the site of a derelict DSS office, which has stood empty at the entrance to the town for more than a decade. Ecotricity's plans include a mass of environmentally-friendly features th
28/04/2010
State-owned mortgage providers are trailing behind smaller lenders and building societies for customer satisfaction, according to the latest survey from Which? Money experts. The survey found that Bank of Scotland had the lowest customer score with 41%, with Halifax (44%), Northern Rock (45%) and L
28/04/2010
The number of people living in overcrowded housing will hit three million within the next three years – as a chronic shortage of affordable homes and the impact of the recession forces increasing numbers of families to live in cramped conditions. The National Housing Federation, which represents E
28/04/2010
The results of the Home Builders Federation's (HBF) annual customer satisfaction survey, released today, show record levels of customer satisfaction that match or exceed those in other industries or sectors. Results show that:
28/04/2010
The sustainable building association, AECB, is warning the Government that the proposed 'Renewable Heat Incentive' is so badly designed that in some circumstances it actually pays people to install systems that burn more fossil fuel, and thereby, emit more CO2. The AECB is responding to the Depar
28/04/2010
Children from Fernwood Infant School, Wollaton, Nottingham, had a close-up view of super-green eco homes built by Lovell at the University of Nottingham. The tour for 120 pupils was organised by Lovell to tie in with the pupils’ studies on the environment and sustainability. The two homes were bui
28/04/2010
Over 4,000 local authority workers from Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council and Knowsley Housing Trust will held a minute's silence at noon today, to mark International Workers' Memorial Day (IWMD). Council flags were also be lowered to half mast on municipal buildings. This year marks the firs
28/04/2010
A new neighbourhood on the southern edge of Trumpington village in Cambridge has moved a step closer. A planning application for 286 new homes on the Glebe Farm development has been agreed, subject to finalising a legal agreement with the developers, Countryside Properties. The Glebe Farm develop
28/04/2010
Rockwool, the world's leading manufacturer of non-combustible stone wool, has produced a guide on how Rockwool can help provide
28/04/2010
MarketingWorks is a leading specialist consultancy that operates in B2B sectors and construction and property industries. The focus of MarketingWorks is on helping clients to win more profitable business through the use of best practice marketing and business development techniques. This means prov
27/04/2010
Thames Water, Britain's biggest water and sewerage firm, has awarded a contract to Black & Veatch to carry out up to £100 million of essential work to improve and maintain its sewage and water treatments plants in the Thames Valley region over the next five years. This is the company's final "base
27/04/2010
A new era of rail travel for the Capital began today as the Mayor of London and Chair of TfL, Boris Johnson, opened the first section of London Overground’s new £1 billion East London route, delivered early and on budget. The railway, which builds on and extends the old East London Line, will give
27/04/2010
Housing professionals taking part in the Chartered Institute of Housing's (CIH) first UK Housing Panel quarterly survey have set out their priorities for the next Government against the background of affordable housing shortages and continued high demand. The UK Housing Panel, made up of a cross-se
27/04/2010
Lovell has given students from three Leicestershire secondary schools a behind-the-scenes look at the major housing regeneration scheme it is carrying out in Beaumont Leys, Leicester. The company is building 135 new homes in Beaumont Leys – 95 for open market sale as well as 24 for shared ownership
27/04/2010
Energy company E.ON has announced it has reached an agreement with developer Miller Birch for a new building in Nottingham city centre to accommodate a relocation of staff currently based at Newland House. E.ON, one of Nottinghamshire's largest employers, has agreed to take a lease on a 105,000 sq
27/04/2010
Three award-winning buildings in Cheshire East have been nominated in this year's North West Regional Building Excellence Awards. The awards are handed out to those who have constructed new buildings that are regarded to be of a particularly high standard. The nominees from the Cheshire East area
27/04/2010
Planning permission is now needed to change a family house or flat into a shared letting property. New national regulations that have just come in mean that anyone wanting to let their home to three or more unrelated people will need to apply for permission from the Council. Investment landlords lo
27/04/2010
Construction workers will protest outside Conservative headquarters today at Millbank in opposition to Conservative plans to privatise safety inspections. If enacted these plans will lead to an increase in deaths and serious accidents occurring on building sites. During their conference in Octob
27/04/2010
A new footbridge - that will provide cyclists and pedestrians with a safe route across the Bridgend Northern Distributor road - was lifted into place over the weekend. The bridge forms a key element of the infrastructure for the new £200 million Parc Derwen village style community planned for the 2
26/04/2010
Mears, as the principle partner, will provide a single 24 hour call centre service for all tenants of Family Mosaic and be responsible for responsive, void, gas maintenance, property surveying and estates management services. Family Mosaic is a current client of Mears and is one of the largest Reg
26/04/2010
Willmott Dixon saw off a who's who of big names to be crowned Building magazine's sustainable company of the year. Other short listed companies were Mace group, Asda, Balfour Beatty, Bovis Lend Lease, The Berkeley Group, Costain. In awarding the WRAP award for sustainable construction, judges sai
26/04/2010
Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps says Labour has given up on its pledge to increase home ownership. As Labour published a policy document on housing, they have dropped their pledge to get one million more people to own their home as it "compounds inequality". "Labour must be held to account fo
26/04/2010
A website that offers estate agent-style information on all of the council homes available in Leicester has been launched by the city council. The Leicester HomeChoice website is available to all of the 8,000 people on the council's housing register. It contains photographs and full details of all
26/04/2010
The House Builders Association (HBA) – a division of the National Federation of Builders – says that Liberal Democrat plans to place VAT on new homes would be disastrous for the industry. In their general election manifesto the Liberal Democrats said that they will introduce a new VAT tax on new h
26/04/2010
Solar thermal systems offer the promise of free hot water from the sun, but 10 out of 14 installers exaggerated the potential savings in an undercover investigation by consumer champion Which? Everest and Ideal Solar Energy potentially broke the law, using dodgy sales tactics and hugely over-statin
26/04/2010
People living on or near the Myatt's Field North estate in the south of the borough, Lambeth, have until 10 May to comment on proposals for a £114 million regeneration project. The major project will transform the outdated Myatt's Field North council estate into a state-of-the-art community housing
26/04/2010
Members of construction union UCATT will protest outside the office of senior Tory MP John Penrose, who is intent on privatising safety inspections if his party wins power. The protest, on Wednesday 28 April, is scheduled to coincide with International Workers Memorial Day which has the slogan "Re
26/04/2010
ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, is calling for more UK contractors to help stimulate a 'spirit of apprenticeships' throughout the sector's supply chain. As part of its annual employer recruitment drive to encourage more businesses to invest in young peo
26/04/2010
CMS Vibration Solutions, one of the UK's leading experts in the design and supply of anti-vibration and structural isolation systems, has bolstered its already strong technical sales team with the appointment of Jim Herbert and Gary Gratton as technical sales manager and sales engineer respectively.
23/04/2010
Lovell has been chosen by West Mercia Housing Group to build a £4.5 million affordable homes scheme at Longbridge, Birmingham. The scheme will include Birmingham's first affordable zero-carbon homes, built to Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the system for measuring the sustainable perfo
23/04/2010
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, announces today that Mansell, the UK construction services business, has been awarded a £65 million design and build contract to redevelop Wornington Green Estate, London, for Kensington Housing Trust. Mansell will build 324 high-quality homes
23/04/2010
Steel unions have commenced administrative proceedings for industrial action ballots at the mothballed Corus plant on Teesside. The National Steel Trade Union Co-ordinating Committee has issued the following statement: "Due to a lack of progress and a lack of clarity over securing an alternative fo
23/04/2010
Essex Police temporarily closed the QE2 Bridge in pursuit of a stolen JCB digger, which was recovered thanks to a signal from a Tracker stolen vehicle recovery unit. The successful operation resulted in officers recovering over £350,000 worth of plant equipment and other items, including the origi
23/04/2010
Oakfield Community College in Middlesbrough is the brand new school which will replace Hall Garth Community Arts College and King's Manor School in Hall Drive, Acklam. The new school will open across the two sites in September with a brand new school building opening in 2012. It is being built as
23/04/2010
Over 200 candidates standing for election in constituencies across the country have backed a pledge to build more affordable homes, it was revealed today. The National Housing Federation said a significant number of prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs) standing for Labour, the Liberal Democr
23/04/2010
A building firm has been fined after refurbishment work triggered the temporary closure of country club near Darlington over fears of exposure to asbestos. Nationwide Building Contractors Limited - which is registered at 1640 Parkway, Solent Business Park, Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire - was fined a
23/04/2010
Willmott Dixon has increased its presence in the hotel sector with a £3 million project to create a Travelodge in Chichester. The 76-bed hotel in the City Centre is opposite the famous Cathedral and will be part new build, part refurbishment of a listed façade which is being retained. The project i
23/04/2010
With Spring now here, Photo Bottom-Up blinds are perfect for letting the light in and keeping your privacy at the same time. These are becoming more and more popular as a modern alternative to those very dated net curtains.
23/04/2010
The new pipe cowl is the only fully tried and tested fitting for the PRV. The cowl has just one fitting with one soldered joint and that's it. It is available now at all leading merchants. A video of the Pipe Cowl fitting in action can be seen by following the website link at
22/04/2010
The Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) has concluded the 2010/11 round of pay negotiations and agreed there will be a 2% increase to the three headline rates of pay effective from Monday 13 September 2010. Speaking for the employers' side, Richard Diment, Director-General
22/04/2010
Blue 3, a consortium comprising Kier, Reliance and Calderpeel Carden Croft as co-investors, has been named preferred bidder to design, build and maintain four new community fire stations and a life skills centre in Gloucestershire on behalf of Gloucestershire County Council. The government is provi
22/04/2010
Galliford Try Infrastructure has been selected as lead contractor to carry out a £10 million package of civil engineering works that will form part of the first phase of the redevelopment of the Scotswood area of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Awarded by the city council, the contract started provisionally i
22/04/2010
Construction workers will protest outside Conservative headquarters at Millbank in opposition to Conservative plans to privatise safety inspections on Tuesday 27 April at 11am. If enacted, these plans will lead to an increase in deaths and serious accidents occurring on building sites. The demonstr
22/04/2010
Mears has announced that, subject to leaseholder consultation, the London Borough of Lambeth intend to award a long-term partnership contract to provide responsive repairs, void refurbishment, estate management, decent homes and planned maintenance. The contract relates to the North housing region
22/04/2010
Gammon Construction Limited, a market-leading contractor in Hong Kong in which Balfour Beatty has a 50% shareholding, has been awarded by Cathay Pacific Services Ltd, a HK$4.2 billion (£353 million) air cargo terminal construction contract, in joint venture with Hip Hing Construction Co Ltd. The co
22/04/2010
Scaffolding businesses are being urged to act quickly if they want to make the most of a limited number of free NVQ assessment places at the National Construction College (NCC). Companies based in Greater London have until 31 December to apply for a free assessment, however the NCC is calling on bu
22/04/2010
A director of a manufacturing company has been fined for health and safety breaches after an employee fell through a roof at a site in Cradley Heath. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Adam Stephen Walker, director of Steven Walker and Sons Ltd, after Neil Tomkins suffered extensive b
22/04/2010
E.ON has launched a new boiler care service that will keep your car on the road while making sure your home heating system works as it should. E.ON's Central Heating Care (CHC) now comes with complimentary RAC Roadside Breakdown Cover. The roadside cover is worth over £50, and customers will also r
22/04/2010
Improving Lives and Communities is the main aim of a new housing strategy launched by the Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Jocelyn Davies AM. The document, Improving Lives and Communities – Homes in Wales, brings together separate strategies on meeting housing need, homelessness, and h
21/04/2010
Galliford Try, the housebuilding and construction group, has been awarded a £22 million contract to build a new health centre in Coventry as part of its LIFT framework partnering agreement with Coventry Care Partnership. Galliford Try will undertake the demolition of the existing health centre on t
21/04/2010
Network Rail, the company that owns and runs Britain's rail infrastructure, has announced that approximately 500 maintenance employees will be leaving the company by the end of May as a result of productivity improvements over the last two years. The 500 people are leaving as part of the company's
21/04/2010
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has announced that because of a shortfall in the funding for clearing up the Sellafield site it is considering a cut of 1,200 jobs. Dougie Rooney, Unite National Officer for the energy sector, said: "Unite is extremely concerned about the proposed 1,200 j
21/04/2010
Willmott Dixon Housing is to carry out a £4 million housing project in north Swindon that will feature in a TV programme presented by Kevin McCloud as an example of creating sustainable communities with well-designed, environmentally–friendly housing. Called the Triangle, it is being developed in a
21/04/2010
Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, pioneer of DNA fingerprinting, will officially open Leicester's Soar Valley Community College today, 21 April. He will tour the school and perform the official opening ceremony, before giving a master class to the school's sixth-form students. Soar Valley, a maths and
21/04/2010
BAM Construct UK has reduced its carbon emissions two years in succession, and is delivering some of the UK's leading environmental projects. The carbon footprint of the construction firm behind some of the UK's finest structures, BAM Construct UK, has fallen by 11 per cent compared to 2008. BAM h
21/04/2010
Kier has been appointed as a construction partner on the North West Construction Hub (NWCH) - High Value Framework which will deliver a range of capital works projects, each in excess of £10m, across the north-west region over a four-year period. Kier is one of five construction partners, along wit
21/04/2010
Thieves have struck again in the Eastwood area of Nottingham, stealing earthing from substations. The vital cabling, part of the safety equipment that ensures the thousands of volts providing electricity in homes does so without endangering residents and passers-by, has been targeted by thieves on
21/04/2010
MarketingWorks is a leading specialist consultancy that operates in construction and property industries. The focus of MarketingWorks is on helping clients to win more profitable business through the use of best practice marketing and business development techniques. This means providing strategic,
21/04/2010
Socomec UPS and Socomec Switching and Protection will be exhibiting at the HC exhibition at Birmingham’s ICC, Hall 3 - Stand 82, 27-29 April 2010. See the highly efficient, TÜV SÜD approved 96% efficient and reduced footprint, Masterys Green Power 120kVA, along with its smaller version, the Mastery
20/04/2010
An agricultural building company has been prosecuted for health and safety breaches that led to a worker falling four metres from the roof of a building. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted TMN Fabrications Ltd of Holme on Spalding Moor, East Yorkshire for three separate offences relat
20/04/2010
Ishbel Macpherson has joined the May Gurney Board as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Ishbel, aged 49, was an investment banker for more than 20 years, specialising in UK mid-market corporate finance. Her most recent role was as Head of UK Emerging Companies Corporate Finance at Dres
20/04/2010
A Surrey school building is in line for a prestigious architecture prize. Christ's College in Guildford has been shortlisted for this year's Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards, which recognise excellence in architectural design. It could be nominated for the prestigious RIBA Stirli
20/04/2010
The creation of a new integrated community with each home built to a high standard of design has taken a major step forward after Barratt was confirmed as developer of the Pan Development Project on the outskirts of Newport. The 846 units, 254 of which will be affordable homes, will be powered by a
20/04/2010
The nation's affordable housing crisis will plumb new depths after the election, unless the three major parties commit to protecting the housing budget – the country's housing providers have warned. The National Housing Federation and Home Builders Federation, the trade bodies for housing associati
20/04/2010
The security division of leading consultancy TPS has announced that the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has released new guidance for architects and planners on designing for counter terrorism, ensuring they are better equipped to think about designing-in security features from the outs
20/04/2010
The winning architect in an international competition to design what will become one of London's biggest public squares in front of King's Cross station has been announced. Stanton Williams beat off competition from more than 100 architects and urban designers from around the world, impressing the
20/04/2010
Greendale Construction has been appointed as the main building contractors for the Durlston Renovation Project. Practical work began yesterday, 19th April, and should be completed by summer 2011. Rob Hooker, Greendale's Managing Director, said: "This is great news for Greendale. The Durlston Pr
20/04/2010
BSW's Timeless Timber has proven its credentials as the decking of choice with the completion of a sensational renovation of a disused swimming pool into an inspirational garden oasis with an outdoor hot tub in Dorset. Owners Mr and Mrs Lambert recently landscaped their garden turning their disused
19/04/2010
Galliford Try, the housebuilding and construction group, has secured work totalling £50 million to provide affordable housing in Devon, Middlesex and Yorkshire. Galliford Try has been awarded a £24.3 million contract to build 221 affordable homes in Watermill Lane, Enfield for Origin Housing. The
19/04/2010
The Liberal Democrats will today launch plans to create jobs that last by stimulating a green, sustainable economy. The plans include investing in wind energy, energy efficiency in public buildings and homes, and bringing empty homes back into use through renovation. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Le
19/04/2010
Gross mortgage lending was an estimated £11.5 billion in March, a 24% rise from £9.3 billion in February and a 3% rise from £11.2 billion in March 2009, according to data published today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The figures are in line with the typical seasonal pattern of a rise i
19/04/2010
Speedy, the leading provider of equipment rental and support services, has released its biggest ever catalogue today. Featuring over 2,000 products, the 2010 Handbook includes over 200 new products including several which are under exclusive license to Speedy in the UK such as the VT1-Eco lighting
19/04/2010
The value of residential construction projects starting on site during the three months to March 2010 was 37% higher than the same period a year ago according to the latest Glenigan Index. Project starts increased in the private and social housing sectors. "Many projects stalled by the bad weath
19/04/2010
An international metal-processing company has been fined £12,500 after one of its workers was run over by a forklift truck in Bolton. All Metal Services Limited (AMS) was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at the company's warehouse on the Wingates Industrial
19/04/2010
A Stoke on Trent firm have just taken another leap forward in the energy efficiency arena by making their windows BFRC 'A' Energy Rated as standard. Lister Trade Frames were one of the first companies in the UK to fully embrace and exploit the potential of the BFRC Window Energy Ratings Scheme. Th
19/04/2010
Cold Control, the award winning air-conditioning and refrigeration specialists are the preferred installers for the revolutionary eCube nationwide. The eCube is a simple solution designed to drastically reduce the energy consumption of refrigeration systems. The Government has pledged to save 80
19/04/2010
Some of the litter and rubbish collected during this year's Spring Clean in Peterborough is being used to provide fuel for a cement manufacturer to use in its kilns. During the six week clean-up, Peterborough City Council's hit squads removed just over 86 tonnes of rubbish and litter from the stree
19/04/2010
Whether you are a home builder, commercial or environmental developer or an architect, the PinPoint Visual system can help you. Design, planning, consultation, sales and marketing can all benefit from the system. Whether your requirement is for 3D presentation movies, still 3D image modelling or w
16/04/2010
A future Conservative government would spell the end for Crossrail and the vital regeneration of the capital's infrastructure, Unite, the biggest union in London and the south east has warned. The claim comes following remarks made by Tory transport spokesman Justine Greening on LBC radio in which
16/04/2010
United House, the leading social and private housing specialist, has secured financial backing from mid-market private equity firm LDC to continue its expansion strategy. The Company specialises in the new build and refurbishment of affordable and social housing, private developments in central Lon
16/04/2010
The number of people selling their homes rose in March to its highest level in six months, according to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). The average number of properties for sale per branch increased from 56 in February to 60 in March. This is the highest figure since September las
16/04/2010
Lovell is set to build a £3.44 million development of new council homes in Oxford. The 38 new homes for Oxford City Council will be built in Lambourn Road, Rose Hill, and will consist of 16 three-bedroom and two five-bedroom houses as well as 10 one- and two-bedroom flats and 10 two-bedroom bungalo
16/04/2010
Morgan Sindall is to join its construction business Morgan Ashurst and infrastructure services business Morgan Est to create a new enlarged division under the Morgan Sindall name. Graham Shennan, Managing Director of Morgan Ashurst, will head-up the new division as managing director. His appointme
16/04/2010
The general election manifestos of the three main parties don't go far enough to help the beleaguered building industry create the homes that are urgently needed, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Richard Diment, Director General of the FMB said: "The policies outlined in the party mani
16/04/2010
E.ON has today announced that its Robin Rigg offshore wind farm is up and running. The final turbines have completed testing in the Solway Firth and are now capable of producing enough renewable electricity for 117,000 homes. At 180MW, the scheme is one of the largest currently operating in UK wate
16/04/2010
Louis Fraser has announced the release of additional styled lever handles that compliment its existing wide range of lever handles. The new handles are designed to enhance both period and contemporary surroundings with their sleek lines and finishes, offering superior durability for both indoors, a
16/04/2010
Brackets and Bolts (B.I.G.) has launched a unique feature to its website which enables customers to 'Design your own' fabrication. It enables customers to request prices for the manufacture of bespoke fabricated brackets, post supports, handrails, beams and plates etc. The customer simply selects
16/04/2010
The backyard of a typical terrace home in Workington has been transformed into a desirable decked haven thanks to the addition of BSW timber decking and some colourful shrubbery and foliage. Homeowner Lorraine Ryan wanted to convert her mundane patio into an enjoyable, low maintenance outdoor space
15/04/2010
Plans are in the pipeline for Orkney Islands Council (OIC) to commit its new Regeneration team resources to facilitate the redevelopment of the former Jewson's site as part of a strategic vision for the wider area. Councillors at the Policy and Resources Committee approved recommendations for the C
15/04/2010
Latest figures show that Plymouth's planning service dealt with the same number of major developments as Birmingham. The city determined 108 major planning applications in the last year and, in the latest quarter, achieved the same number as England's second city and more than all the London boroug
15/04/2010
npower's solar division has applauded Michael Eavis's decision to install solar photovoltaic panels at Glastonbury, and has urged other festival organisers to follow his example. While Mr Eavis was motivated by his ambitions for an eco-friendly festival, according to npower's solar expert James Mor
15/04/2010
Financial closure has now been reached on Bristol's, multi-million pound Hengrove Leisure Centre PFI scheme, council chiefs have announced. The announcement means building work can start in the summer. The city council and its partner - Bristol Active Limited (BAL), will focus on delivering the ne
15/04/2010
A Sheffield landlord who failed to ensure gas appliances at a property he rented out were safe and fit for purpose has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Mohammed Ikram, of Shiregreen Terrace, Shiregreen, exposed a tenant living on Morrison Avenue, Maltby, to the potential ri
15/04/2010
Engineers from Central Networks discovered that four of the company's substations within yards of each other in the Eastwood area of Nottingham had had vital safety kit stolen. The four substations - in Derby Road, Lawrence Road, Manor Road and Wilson Road - all had metal earthing stolen, which is
15/04/2010
Pimlico Plumbers has put its weight behind Repairing Britain, which among other things, is calling on the government to lower VAT on property repairs and maintenance to help secure employment in the construction sector. Repairing Britain is designed to boost the UK economy by stimulating the constr
15/04/2010
New developments at the Church Village Bypass in Wales were witnessed by visitors and residents when the first of three large footbridges arrived in the county borough for installation on the £90 million highways scheme. The large steel footbridge, which arrived in two pieces and measured 54 metres
15/04/2010
Ivan Steyert, great-grandson of the company founder, was unanimously voted Chairman of Socomec (industrial switchgear and UPS) by the Shareholder Board of Directors on Tuesday 23rd March. He therefore succeeds his father, Bernard Steyert who has transformed the family company with its headquarters i
15/04/2010
David Halliday and Michael McGrory are hoping their simple but safe Sunbreeze System will stop children loosing there fingers and soon be taking the market by storm. Brainchild of entrepreneur David Halliday, the Sunbreeze System is designed specifically to prevent French patio doors slamming shut
15/04/2010
No Need To Fiddle About With Door Frames We can pre-hang your chosen door into a frame using our Pre Hung doors system. All you have to do is choose your door, then choose your options.
14/04/2010
The UK housebuilding market will rise by 154,000 homes in 2010, according to a new report from MTW Research, though housebuilder expenditure remains under tight control as social housing investment slows and business confidence returns slowly. Based on industry sales, the new report identifies a gr
14/04/2010
British Gas has announced the further expansion of its new insulation business with the acquisition of Hillserve Ltd, a domestic insulation company serving the North West of England and Wales. The deal, worth £5 million, represents another major step in British Gas' ambitions to build the country's
14/04/2010
Galliford Try, the housebuilding and construction group, has announced that it has entered into agreements with affordable housing provider, the Affinity Sutton Group, to acquire and develop two sites for a total of 296 homes in the south east of England. 185 new homes will be provided by the regen
14/04/2010
An unregistered gas fitter who illegally carried out work on properties across Nottingham with falsely issued gas safety certificates has been given a 12-month community service order and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Paul Anthony Baile
14/04/2010
The number of loans advanced for house purchase increased by 12% in February, according to figures released today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). January was extremely weak due to one-off factors such as the effect of the end of the stamp-duty exemption in December 2009 and the severe win
14/04/2010
Plaid Cymru's Hywel Williams MP has said that both Labour and the conservatives should be ashamed that they have blocked the Assembly's right to legislate in order to improve housing in Wales. Mr Williams's attack came as it appeared that the final stage of the Housing LCO failed to get through th
14/04/2010
Atkins, as part of the Engage consortium, has signed one of the biggest engineering contracts in Europe with Fusion for Energy (F4E). The consortium has been awarded the architect engineer contract for the building and civil infrastructures for ITER, the world's latest experimental nuclear fusion
14/04/2010
Building Profiles, distributors of a wide range of quality fittings for windows and doors, has launched a window pull which is ideal for helping users to reach windows whilst retaining a foothold on the floor. Features Include: Open and close hard to reach PVCu windows with the Window Pull. Spe
14/04/2010
CWC based in Larkhall have recently launched a brand new range of Upvc Interior Doors to the UK marketplace, this new range of UPVC Internal Doors are suitable for use as an " Internal door " throughout any room or application in any home or office . Manufactured from the highest quality thermo pl
14/04/2010
A recently completed project for the Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service,
13/04/2010
Willmott Dixon and Catalyst Housing Group are to build what they believe is London's first Code for Sustainable Homes level six project - the highest standard possible for sustainable housing. Only a handful of developments in the country have reached level six and this project to build 18 homes on
13/04/2010
Construction union UCATT have welcomed key commitments in Labour's manifesto, which will dramatically help to reduce exploitation and unfairness in the construction industry. Of greatest significance is Labour's commitment to extend the Gangmasters Licensing Act to the construction industry. This w
13/04/2010
A £500,000 programme to modernise and upgrade Erskine Swimming Pool has launched Renfrewshire Council's £92 million investment programme Building Better Communities. Refurbishment work is already underway at Erskine Pool and set to be completed by June. Among the improvements are a new changing vi
13/04/2010
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, announces today that it has been awarded the initial scheme of the £95 million Hartlepool Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme by Hartlepool Borough Council. The Hartlepool BSF programme involves the rebuilding and replacement of si
13/04/2010
A dramatic Network Rail film which aims to improve safety for its people working with on-track plant machinery has won a Gold Award by The International Visual Communications Association (IVCA). The film entitled "What happened…" depicts a fictional but true to life situation where a track worker i
13/04/2010
E.ON, one of the UK's leading green power companies, has announced that it has finished fitting state-of-the-art wind turbines to replace the old design at its Great Eppleton wind farm near Hetton-le-Hole. The wind farm had featured four two-bladed wind turbines that were built in 1997. The new sch
13/04/2010
Pupils at Bassingbourn Community Primary School have designed striking posters spelling out the message that construction sites are not playgrounds for a competition set by Lovell. The poster competition is part of an ongoing campaign by Lovell to raise awareness among children and young people tha
13/04/2010
The first energy centre in the north of England will open its doors to the public on 12 May 2010 at the head office of energy saving specialist, Solarwall. The Energy Centre offers visitors expert advice on how to become energy efficient, reduce impact on the environment and save money. The Energ
13/04/2010
Planet Partitioning's award-winning jointing innovations combined with established building methods have resulted in Vertex - a unique system for achieving a virtually seamless flush glazing joint. Vertex is a fully glazed, frameless partitioning system that uses a unique dry-joint for a virtually
13/04/2010
Dealec is one of the UK's leading distributors of Electric Heating, Ventilation and Water Heating products. Their showroom is online to view and buy a wide selection of products from leading brand manufacturers with daily deliveries throughout the UK. Solutions from
12/04/2010
Research published today has revealed the first sign of growth in the construction sector since the crushing downturn. The study from the Purchasing Managers Index showed UK construction activity has now moved into growth for the first time since February 2008. The seasonally adjusted CIPS/Markit
12/04/2010
Researchers from the University of Sheffield have revealed that private developers will agreed to fund £5 billion of England's local capital infrastructure, including roads, schools and new affordable housing in England. The research, which was commissioned by the Department of Communities & Local
12/04/2010
An enormous civil engineering feat has been successfully achieved with a 5,000-tonne bridge deck slid into place on the new A34 Wolvercote Viaduct. The work was part of a £44m project to replace the bridge, built in the 1960s, with a new structure designed to last 120 years. The bridge slide was
12/04/2010
The Green Register (TGR) is inviting northwest construction professionals to find out how going green can give their businesses a boost by meeting a growing demand for sustainable building products and services. TGR has decided to run is highly-commended Sustainable Building & Services at Manchest
12/04/2010
Young people from a community group unveiled their designs for site hoardings during a recent ceremony at the Millwood Community Centre, Nelson Row, Brighton. The Tarnerland youth group has been working with a local artist to produce original designs to be featured on the construction site hoardin
12/04/2010
A group of top construction companies have joined forces to provide a £10,000 donation to a charity in Newcastle. Frank Haslam Milan, Dunelm Property Services and Gentoo Construction got together to support St Clare's Hospice in Jarrow through its corporate partnership scheme. All three companies
12/04/2010
A scheme being carried out by Lafarge Aggregates Ltd and Costain and supervised by A-one+ on behalf of the Highways Agency is now underway with the second section of construction work to rebuild and resurface a 2.8-mile section of the northbound A46 in Leicestershire started. Traffic management is
12/04/2010
Mr Machinery, the online auction portal, has announced the appointment of Richard Perry as UK Sales Manager. Richard has a wealth of experience in sales, working previously in the industry selling cars, trucks and trailers. According to the company, his main role will be to “establish good workin
09/04/2010
St. Modwen, the UK's leading regeneration specialist, has signed the Section 106 Agreement with Newport City Council, allowing plans for the redevelopment of the former Corus Llanwern steelworks into a £1 billion urban community to commence. St. Modwen acquired the 600 acre disused site from Corus
09/04/2010
To coincide with the General Election announcement, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has made a public commitment to work with all political parties to solve the increasingly pressing housing crisis. The commitment from CIH forms part of document published which illustrates the excellent r
09/04/2010
BAM Construction has been selected as the preferred contractor to build the Leeds Arena. Leeds City Council's formal announcement of the preferred contractor is a major step forward in the delivery of the 13,500 capacity Leeds Arena and a welcome boost to the construction economy locally. BAM is c
09/04/2010
Network Rail has issued an invitation to tender for a scheme at Acton in west London that will improve the reliability of passenger services and deliver increased freight capacity. When Crossrail services start in 2017, even more trains will travel along the Great Western main line (GWML) so work i
09/04/2010
Plans to build some of the most environmentally sustainable homes in South Yorkshire have been approved by Barnsley Council. Members of the Planning Regulatory Board cleared the way for work to start on the former Reema Estate at Thurnscoe. The first phase of an 18 year regeneration programme will
09/04/2010
Building Schools for the Future (BSF) - funding to invest in Bradford secondary school buildings and information technology facilities - received a huge boost when it was given the green light for £337 million for Phase Three of the initiative. Partnership for schools (PfS), the organisation which
09/04/2010
Shelter has welcomed the Mortgage Repossessions (Protection of Tenants) Act, which was passed into law yesterday, 8 April. It will offer protection to tenants who face eviction with no warning when their landlord's property is repossessed. Shelter, Crisis, Citizens Advice and the Chartered Instit
09/04/2010
Lovell has taken on two new apprentices to work on the major regeneration programme it is carrying out for Somer Community Housing Trust in Keynsham and Bath. Chad Rogers, from Barrow Road, Odd Down, Bath, and Scott Franklin from Rowde, near Devizes in Wiltshire, have embarked on two-year Modern Ap
09/04/2010
Birmingham City Council tenants will be receiving repairs from new contractors for their homes. It follows news that the council has saved Birmingham citizens £30 million, after awarding maintenance contracts for council housing to companies that have demonstrated exceptional quality and value for
09/04/2010
Shadow Housing Minister, Grant Shapps heaped praise upon Trent & Dove Housing on a visit to their new affordable housing development, Charrington House in Burton upon Trent, the former Trading Standards Building which is currently being redeveloped by Loughborough-based William Davis Ltd. The £4 mi
08/04/2010
UK house prices increased by 1.1% in March according to the latest figures published by the Halifax. This was the eighth rise in the past nine months, taking the average price to 9.1% above the low point last April. Martin Ellis, Housing Economist, said: "Prices in the first three months of 2010 w
08/04/2010
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has announced that, in joint venture, it has been selected for preconstruction and construction services for Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport's seven-year Terminal Development Programme. The project, which is still in design and d
08/04/2010
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has started testing the Aquatics Centre, the venue that will host Swimming and Diving events during the London 2012 Games. The three concrete pools are being filled with more than 10 million litres of water to check they are watertight before being sealed and li
08/04/2010
Thames Water has awarded contracts for up to £1.2billion of essential work to improve and maintain its ageing water pipes, sewers and other facilities over the next five years. Today's signing marks the start of the new five-year regulatory period, April 2010 to March 2015, during which time Thame
08/04/2010
Innovative proposals to regenerate Norwich's northern city centre are well underway with the formal adoption of an action plan. This means the action plan can be used alongside the adopted local plan to form planning decisions in the northern city centre. And work has already begun on the delivery
08/04/2010
Lovell has been chosen by Wales & West Housing Association to build a £1.6 million affordable homes scheme at Coychurch, near Bridgend in Mid Glamorgan, South Wales. The 16 two- and three-bedroom houses, all for affordable rent through WWHA, will be built to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Home
08/04/2010
Clyde Valley Housing Association Limited was fined £70,000 after a security guard died from carbon monoxide poisoning on a construction site in Burbank, Hamilton. Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that on 6 February 2008, the security guard was overcome with fumes from a petrol generator used inside the
08/04/2010
Morgan Ashurst and Robinson Architects have handed over an innovative eco-friendly school – thought to be the first in the country to be built on stilts. The £9 million Irk Valley Community School on Waterloo Road, Lower Crumpsall, stands on a system of stilts ranging from 60cm at the front to 1.5m
08/04/2010
Measures to tackle the current housing crisis need to be top of the list for all the main political parties as they spell out what they will do to get Britain back on its feet, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Richard Diment Director-General of the FMB said: "We have a housing crisis i
08/04/2010
Peterborough City Council is arranging a four-week public consultation beginning tomorrow, Friday 9 April 2010, on plans for the redevelopment of four parcels of land currently occupied by Peterborough District Hospital in the Thorpe Road area of Peterborough. A total of 10 hectares (25 acres) will
07/04/2010
Willmott Dixon has been appointed preferred bidder by Northamptonshire County Council for its £55 million academies building programme in Kettering. Working with Nicholas Hare architects, the company will design and build the town’s two new academies, Kettering Science Academy, sponsored by Brooke
07/04/2010
Nearly one in three (30%) building companies are expecting their workloads to fall this year and more than half (56%) have seen a reduction in the amount of private sector housing work in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest state of trade survey from the Federation of Master Buil
07/04/2010
Councils across the country will get a share of a £146 million funding pot to plan and deliver new homes, Housing Minister John Healey has confirmed. The Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) provides a direct incentive for councils to work with partners in the public and private sector to ens
07/04/2010
New research published shows that the housing crisis is set to intensify across the country – with insufficient numbers of homes being built in every single region since 2002. The figures, published by the National Housing Federation, also show that too few homes were built in every region in 2008/
07/04/2010
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has announced that its specialist concession, Balfour Beatty Fire and Rescue, has been appointed as preferred bidder for a PPP contract valued at approximately £47 million by North West Fire and Rescue Services to upgrade 16 fire stations in th
07/04/2010
In response to Prime Minister Gordon Brown's announcement for a May 6th General Election, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has called on all political parties to listen to the construction industry. Chris Blythe CIOB Chief Executive said: "What is clear is that the next government will be
07/04/2010
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is leading a new project to consider whether intermediate rental can help the housing sector to offer a wider range of products and rents, which will better meet varied household incomes and aspirations. A discussion paper on the future of intermediate rent
07/04/2010
New regulations come into force requiring the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to be notified of conventional tower cranes installed on construction sites. The new regulations:
07/04/2010
HSS Hire, the UK's award-winning tool and equipment hire company, has opened a new Supercentre in Oxford. The official opening was presided over by Catherine Stratton, author of the renowned Plant Hire Investment Report. The new branch opens only a few weeks after the new Brighton Supercentre opene
07/04/2010
Folding walls from Building Additions have been installed at the brand new Cardiff City Stadium to provide the flexible space needed to maximise hospitality business. The West Stand of the impressive 25,000 seater stadium, which is home to Cardiff City FC and Cardiff Blues Rugby Club, holds all the
01/04/2010
Sites in Telford, London and Birmingham were today announced as the next three to be developed under the Homes and Communities Agency's (HCA) Public Land Initiative (PLI). Over 450 new and affordable homes will be delivered through part of one scheme owned by the HCA, one owned by Paddington Church
01/04/2010
Lovell has been chosen by Guinness Northern Counties and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to build a £3.5 million affordable homes scheme at Wath-upon-Dearne, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The scheme will create 29 houses, flats and bungalows, for rent and rent to homebuy through the housi
01/04/2010
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has welcomed the report by the Work and Pensions Select Committee on the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) and CIH is pleased that much of its evidence submitted in a number of controversial areas has been reflected in the report. CIH supports the Select Committ
01/04/2010
Plymouth's plans to turn its city centre into one of the top 10 shopping centres as well as one of the greenest has been given a huge boost after the Government's planning inspector declared the plan sound. The City Centre and University Area Action Plan now looks set to form the framework for deve
01/04/2010
The introduction of two carbon cutting Government incentive schemes will see homes and businesses playing a key role in contributing to UK emissions reductions of at least 34% on 1990 levels by 2020 through improved energy efficiency and small-scale low-carbon electricity. The Government's Carbon R
01/04/2010
British Gas and GMB union have announced that, as a result of positive discussions between the two organisations in recent days, the threat of industrial action by British Gas engineers has been lifted. Paul Kenny, General Secretary of the GMB, said: "The discussions have not been easy, but we do
01/04/2010
Housing Minister John Healey has outlined how the power of Government investment has helped keep Britain building in the teeth of recession, safeguarding jobs and delivering the new homes the country needs. Mr Healey announced a total of £263 million additional funding for new affordable homes and
01/04/2010
Two of Blackpool’s most iconic visitor attractions, Blackpool Tower and the Winter Gardens complex, are to get a major facelift as part of a £38.9m project. The multi-million deal will secure the long term future of the area by rejuvenating tourism and ensuring that Blackpool maintains its status a
01/04/2010
There's news this month of a major deal to market services in fire prevention in the construction of data centres. Global Insulation Logistics (GIL) Ltd together with insulated panel manufacturer, Eurobond, has signed an exclusive 10-year partnership agreement with Techxact, the leading consultancy
01/04/2010
In the summer of 2009 Hunter had one style Outdoor fan that was IP23 rated and could be used even in the rain. It is called the Outdoor Element and only had two finishes - white or raw aluminum with an extra white model that includes a light kit. There is a white Nomad stand to be able to have the
