Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for January 2011
31/01/2011
A recent survey by a UK housing intelligence business has revealed that house prices have fallen for the seventh month in a row. The Hometrack survey highlights how the average cost of a house in England and Wales is 2.2% lower than January last year. The average price now stands at £153,600. As u
31/01/2011
Construction union UCATT has launched legal action in support of its members who lost their jobs with Connaught in Norwich, following the company's collapse. The union is pursuing employment tribunal cases for unfair dismissal, failure to transfer and failure to inform and consult on behalf of 125
31/01/2011
Work begins this week on the foundations of a £14 million school that will be a centre of excellence for children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Grange school, currently located on Dickenson Road in Rusholme, will move to brand new facilities on Mount Road and Matthews Lane
31/01/2011
The developers of MediaCityUK, Peel Media have secured planning permission to convert a three storey building next to The Pie Factory into a new development called the Greenhouse. The Greenhouse (which is adjacent to the Pie Factory, the campus for the University of Salford and the new home for ITV
31/01/2011
Willmott Dixon is targeting substantial healthcare growth in the North following its appointment to the NHS ProCure 21+ framework. Spearheading this will be the company's new regional health manager, Matthew Wall, who joins from Community Solutions and will lead a team focused on securing new healt
31/01/2011
Kingspan Renewables is leading the way when it comes to creating efficient and cost effective energy solutions that address the environmental concerns. Kingspan Renewables has strengthened its portfolio of leading renewable energy solutions with the launch of its new Aeromax Plus Air Source Heat
31/01/2011
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne has said that 30,000 jobs could be created if the construction of a new high speed rail line from London to Birmingham goes ahead. More than 8,000 of these jobs are forecast for the West Midlands, with 4,500 of those at the planned new station site i
31/01/2011
The Rapid Transfer Port (RTP) provides a safe and contained method of transferring equipment, waste, product or materials between glovebox Isolators, Safety Cabinets, Fumehoods & Clean rooms to name but a few. The Active RTP is fitted to the enclosure while the passive element can be attached to an
31/01/2011
Spectacular sweeping curved glass balconies, supplied and installed by Balcony Systems, provided the bespoke balustrading solution for the multi-million pound Gloucestershire dream home of one of Britain's leading industrialists. Spread over seven levels, the 2,800 sq metre futuristic, high-tech pr
28/01/2011
A multi million pound construction training centre in Leyton has officially opened. The £7.24 million centre in Cathall Road, Leyton, is a key Olympic Legacy project which is training the next generation of highly skilled construction workers. The project was the brainchild of Waltham Forest Counc
28/01/2011
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a 0.5 per cent decrease in GDP for Quarter 4 (Q4) in 2010. There was also a 3.3 per cent fall for construction, compared with a 3.9 per cent rise during the previous quarter. This decline of 3.3 per cent for construction in Q4 reverses
28/01/2011
Women interested in a career in craft trades and construction can now book their place on a free course run by Leicester City Council. The courses, which are open to women ad girls aged 15 and over, will give them the opportunity to try their hands at trades such as plastering, painting, decorating
28/01/2011
A renewable energy project in Herefordshire has been awarded more than £23,000 from EDF Energy. The grant for £23,178 from the EDF Energy Green Fund will help pay for solar panels and an air source heat pump at Peterchurch Primary School, in Peterchurch, near Hereford. The school is already impleme
28/01/2011
Steve Powell started Allgo Skip & Grab over ten years ago, and, despite fierce competition, has built a reputation in the waste disposal business that is second to none. Government Bodies, Major Builders & Developers, Local Education Authorities etc bare testament to this. Allgo have continued to
28/01/2011
Matthew Bailes has been announced as the new Director of Regulation of the Tenant Services Authority (TSA). Matthew is currently Head of Affordable Housing at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and brings with him a wealth of experience of the social housing sector. As well
28/01/2011
Climate Change Minister Greg Barker has congratulated the North West on seizing the opportunities that a low carbon future offers as local firm ENER-G announces the creation of 100 new jobs. Greg Barker is visiting the region to learn from the successes of local green business but also to hear firs
28/01/2011
The transformation of a former pub site has moved a step closer, with confirmation of planning permission for new homes in the Northumberland village of Widdrington Station. Empty and derelict for over five years, The Willows is set to make way for 22 new affordable homes, to be developed by Two Ca
28/01/2011
The UK's first hydrogen-powered ferry, set to run in Bristol's harbour this summer, will stimulate enterprise in new technologies in the city. Bristol Hydrogen Boats - a consortium formed between No 7 Boat Trips, the Bristol Packet, and Auriga Energy Ltd - will showcase the hydrogen-fuelled ferry
28/01/2011
Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, begins its annual helicopter patrols across the county next week as part of its work to inspect some of its 750 primary substations across the Midlands. A helicopter fitted with thermal imaging equipment will be used to spo
27/01/2011
Tata Steel Construction Products, the global manufacturer of steel solutions, has secured contracts to supply Vetex™ Highways Safety Barriers to two UK highways projects – road improvements to the A40 in Pembrokeshire, and essential maintenance work on the A1 – providing drivers with the highest lev
27/01/2011
Novacem, the carbon negative cement company, today announced that Laing O’Rourke had joined its investment group as part of a £1.6 million round. All three of Novacem's existing financial investors - Imperial Innovations, the London Technology Fund, and the Royal Society Enterprise Fund – also par
27/01/2011
Work has started this week to redevelop a former Stockport brewery into a new £6 million affordable housing development. Equity Housing Group and its contractor, North West building company Southdale, is building 51 new homes on the disused Royal Oak Brewery site close to the town centre. It follow
27/01/2011
A state-of-the-art facility built by Kier Western for teaching sustainable energy techniques and alternative energy innovations was formally opened last week by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP. Representing an £8 million investment by funders EDF Ener
27/01/2011
The contract to manage Wales' new Fuel Poverty scheme has been won by British Gas. The Welsh Assembly Government's new and improved scheme has been designed specifically to target households that are vulnerable to fuel poverty and will offer an enhanced range of advice and support. The scheme is p
27/01/2011
Fall-Pac manufacture and sell the Fall Arrest Safety System. This is a woven coated polypropylene unit filled with modified polystyrene packaging, giving maximum effect should a fall occur. Our bags measure 2.5m in length by 644mm diameter and have a life span of 5 years. We Also Offer TS2 the s
27/01/2011
A young construction worker suffered life-changing injuries after falling six metres through the roof of a farm building a court has heard. Richard Cooke, who was 26 at the time of the incident, was dismantling the roof of a cow shed at Manor Farm, Corston near Bath, on 7 July 2008. Self-employed
26/01/2011
Construction UCATT are calling on the Government to reverse planned cuts in the Health and Safety Executive’s budget following the accident in Great Yarmouth on Friday 21st January, which resulted in the death of four workers. It is understood that the four workers were working in foundations below
26/01/2011
The construction of Bilston's new £14.9 million leisure centre is progressing well with the building rapidly taking shape. Work is on schedule with the steelwork almost complete and the swimming pool tanks currently being tested. Shepherd Construction estimates that the steelwork programme, which
26/01/2011
Forty Daventry jobs are now safe thanks to housing regeneration specialist Lovell. The company has opened its first office in Daventry, taking on employees previously employed by construction firm Connaught, which collapsed in September. Lovell was engaged by Daventry & District Housing to complete
26/01/2011
Kier Partnership Homes has been awarded a £16 million contract to deliver the first phase of a major mixed-use development in the market town of Lydney, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Kier has been appointed by MMC2 Land & Regeneration to construct a range of 53 new homes available to purchase on
26/01/2011
Mansell has secured a £3.1 million design and build contract for 32 affordable flats in a four and five-storey accommodation block in Westminster for Pocket. The flats, designed by award winning architects Darling Associates, will achieve Code for Sustainable Homes Level Four and will employ the us
26/01/2011
The sharp drop 3.3% in construction output during the final quarter of 2010 confirms the findings of Glenigan's own research, which has seen a sharp fall in the value of new projects starting on site. According to Allan Wilen, Economics Director at Glenigan said: "Reduced government funding is inc
26/01/2011
ConstructionSkills today outlined how it will support the construction industry with a Five Point Skills Plan to promote growth after releasing its latest Construction Skills Network forecasts for the 2011-15 period. But, the Sector Skills Council warned that the industry still faces a tough year
26/01/2011
GMB will be approaching Copeland Borough Council to make sure GMB members jobs are protected jobs and the standards of service are maintained. Home Group North West, the organisation that manages public housing stock in Copeland in Cumbria, announced plans to transfer 150 of its direct workforce in
26/01/2011
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has welcomed Welfare Minister Lord Freud's announcement of an independent review of the impact of housing benefit cuts. The review, in response to a motion tabled by Lord Best, was confirmed during a debate in the House of Lords. CIH Chief Executive Sarah W
26/01/2011
A partner in a Nottingham construction firm has been fined after a sub-contractor suffered permanent leg injuries when falling under a telehandler. John Handley, a partner in J&C Handley, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at a housing construction site a
25/01/2011
Gallan Group and Stoford Developments have submitted a detailed planning application to build a £35 million regional distribution centre in Avonmouth, Bristol, pre let on a 20 year lease to The Co-operative Group. The application was submitted by the Birmingham-based developers. They hope to secure
25/01/2011
Kier Eastern started work on City Academy Norwich's new £21 million building yesterday. The building is due to be completed in a little over 18 months’ time, ready to open in September 2012. The momentous day in the short history of the Academy was marked with a sod cutting ceremony attended by the
25/01/2011
Energy Minister Charles Hendry today gave the go-ahead for Scottish Power to construct a new 1,000 megawatt gas-fired power station near Hoo St Werburgh in Kent, adjacent to the existing Damhead Creek 800 MW gas-fired power station. Charles Hendry said: “This power plant will play a vital role in p
25/01/2011
Pontio, an iconic arts and innovation centre in the heart of Bangor will be launched when First Minister Carwyn Jones visits the proposed development. The £37 million Pontio centre at Bangor University, which has received £27.5m from the Assembly Government and the European Union, will include a th
25/01/2011
Morgan Sindall has unveiled the newly refurbished Marylebone Station roof which has been renovated on behalf of Network Rail. The £4 million project began in May 2010 and involved the installation of 2,160 square metres of new glazing and 2,520 square metres of profiled sheeting. The 150-metre lon
25/01/2011
Mansell has won a £3.5 million contract to extend and refurbish Wexham Court Primary School in Slough for Slough Borough Council. The contract has been split into a number of phases. The first phase will involve construction of nine new classrooms, support facility rooms and associated works. Alte
25/01/2011
A Hammersmith company has been fined after a worker had his leg amputated following a fall at a property in West London. The court heard that on 12 November 2007, Howper 291 Ltd (formally known as Urang Ltd), were refurbishing a domestic mews property in Roland Way, South Kensington. Lukasz Tabore
25/01/2011
Willmott Dixon has been appointed by the London Borough of Islington for a £13 million contract to create one of the first ever zero carbon schools in the UK. The project called Crouch Hill Community Park, which starts on site in late February, will see Willmott Dixon provide new accommodation for
25/01/2011
The UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC), bringing together experts from across the construction and property industry, has launched a new task group to help fix the nation's energy hungry non-domestic buildings. The UK's non-domestic buildings are responsible for around 17% of all UK carbon emission
25/01/2011
Laing O'Rourke and the University of Oxford are to establish a new centre for engineering focusing on interdisciplinary research relevant to the construction industry. The Laing O'Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering will build on existing expertise at Oxford's Department of Engineering Scien
25/01/2011
Mike Backhouse has been appointed new Business Development Manager with Roan Building Systems, the UK division of Irish modular building specialist company RoanKabin. Backhouse, a qualified Civil Engineer, was selected due to his proven track record and strong construction knowledge which includes
24/01/2011
Two brothers were among four building workers killed in Norfolk last Friday. The tragedy came as the men worked at the site of offshore company Claxton Engineering in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The accident happened at about 2pm on Friday, and the dead men were named locally as Dan Hazelton, 30, his
24/01/2011
Hundreds of jobs could be literally dug out of the ground if plans to develop a potash mine between Whitby and Scarborough are approved. International company Sirius Minerals has announced it is looking into the viability of mining potash - a potassium compound used in fertilisers. The move comes
24/01/2011
Despite two earlier rejections, the construction group Costain has raised its offer for outsourcing firm Mouchel. After the two earlier offers were rejected, the latest cash and shares offer values Mouchel at more than £170m ($271m), up about 45% from its original offer. Costain said that the offe
24/01/2011
At least 100,000 first-time buyers who have no help from the 'bank of mum and dad' were unable to enter the housing market last year, as the number of low deposit mortgages slumped to a record low. In 2009 there were only 28,000 loans to first-time buyers at 90 per cent or more - where buyers had t
24/01/2011
Natural Building Technologies' (NBT's) natural insulation systems have been used in the construction of a modern and energy efficient private home set within the unspoilt, traditional village of Leafield. NBT's ThermoPlan structural insulating blocks and Pavaclad and Pavaroof woodfibre insulation
24/01/2011
Things are looking grim in Grimsby with more than 100 jobs in jeopardy at two firms in the area. Some 60 staff at a building firm have been laid off with news that the administrators confirmed Clark Construction at North Killingholme had ceased trading. The building company previously carried out
24/01/2011
Construction union UCATT have described Government proposals to encourage elderly social housing tenants to move to smaller properties, in order to resolve the housing crisis, as the equivalent of using a "sticking plaster to stem a haemorrhage". Grant Shapps the Conservative Housing Minister annou
24/01/2011
Spanish wind turbine maker Gamesa has unveiled plans to make a major investment in Scotland - created about 300 jobs. The offshore wind technology centre is to be created in Glasgow, while Gamesa, which is part owned by ScottishPower parent company Iberdrola, signed an initial contract to set up a
24/01/2011
Innovative used plant and equipment auction website
21/01/2011
News of the 'green light' for an offshore wind turbine manufacturing plant is top create up to 10,000 jobs Hull. Engineering conglomerate Siemens and port operator Associated British Ports (ABP) have agreed to develop plans for the facility at Alexandra Dock - with a huge boost for the construction
21/01/2011
The UK construction sector is facing a fourth consecutive year of recession. According to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), a third of builders are expecting to cut staff over the next 12 months as output continues to fall. FMB said that Government cuts are making matters worse, with more t
21/01/2011
Skanska has announced it has exchanged contracts to purchase its first UK residential development site. The news follows the announcement in December that it was to establish a Residential Development business in the UK. The site, which extends to around 6.5 acres, is situated in Cambridge, and f
21/01/2011
UCATT have welcomed confirmation from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) that workers on the project will continue to be directly employed and receive full employment rights. UCATT were forced to write to the ODA, seeking reassurances about working practices after the Recruitment and Employment C
21/01/2011
Lovell has been chosen by LHA-ASRA housing and regeneration group to build an £8.2 million development of 95 homes in Nottingham. The 18-month scheme is part of the redevelopment of the Stonebridge Park estate in the St Ann’s area of the city by Nottingham City Council and LHA-ASRA. The new develop
21/01/2011
GMB Union is calling on the CPM Group to reconsider its decision to refuse employees the special bank holiday for the Royal wedding. CPM Group Managing Director, Mike Stacey has announced to the workforce that the Directors of CPM Group have discussed this at great length and in view of the current
21/01/2011
Mansell has won a £5 million contract to enhance the mental health facilities at Furness General Hospital for the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Awarded through the ProCure21 Framework, the contract involves improvements to mental health facilities through the extension and refurbishment
21/01/2011
The construction industry is a winner too with news that a restored classical Georgian church and a former temperance hall are among projects to benefit from winning £3.2m in funding for two Pembrokeshire towns. Wales' Assembly Government has allocated the money to help revitalise Pembroke and Pemb
21/01/2011
Scott Beaven Radius Ltd have been selected to provide ironmongery to the new University of Salford building at the prestigious Media City development in Manchester. It will house the world's leading creative and digital businesses. Working closely with the architect Fairhurst Design Group, Scott Be
21/01/2011
Exterior Decking is the exclusive UK distributor for Exterpark - a brand considered by many to be the highest quality hardwood available in the UK - while the invisible screw system leaves a fabulous interior-quality finish The Surface Design Show is London's leading exhibition for interior and ext
21/01/2011
Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning Minister John Hayes has announced new measures to guarantee the quality of the Government's flagship Apprenticeship programme, ensuring every apprenticeship delivers training that directly meets the needs of employers and learners. The Specification o
21/01/2011
Premier Lifting & Safety are one of the UK's premier lifting and safety equipment companies with a wealth of knowledge in the height safety & hoist lifting industry. We not only sell these products but also carry out testing and Inspections of the of the equipment, this can include training on h
20/01/2011
The London Assembly has called for public funding to ensure that the Olympic Park does not become an island of prosperity surrounded by areas of deprivation. In a motion agreed, Members warned of local people missing out if private developers are left in charge of the development of the Olympic Sit
20/01/2011
Extracare housing schemes across Wales are set to benefit from £1million of extra funding from the Welsh Assembly Government, during this financial year. Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration Jocelyn Davies AM and Minister for Budget and Business Jane Hutt made the announcement during a visi
20/01/2011
A security firm, a company director and an NHS Trust have been fined after potentially dangerous asbestos fibres were released in a county hospital. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today prosecuted Northamptonshire NHS Teaching Primary Care Trust, NUTEC Security Systems Ltd, company director
20/01/2011
Green power group ENER-G, which has contributed towards Chesterfield Borough Council's carbon reduction achievements, has been named 3i Private Business of the Year in the prestigious National Business Awards. ENER-G, which designs, manufactures, finances and delivers renewable and energy efficient
20/01/2011
Work is about to start on a plant to convert sludge remaining after sewage treatment into green electricity. It will power Northumbrian Water's main treatment works on Tyneside in a major move towards environmental sustainability. The scheme at Howdon Sewage Treatment works will compliment Northum
20/01/2011
The Builders' Conference and Glenigan have announced the development of the most comprehensive tender and contract award leads service for the UK construction industry. The Builders' Conference is a trade association of almost a thousand contractors/construction related businesses and as part of t
20/01/2011
Time is running out for Carlisle residents to get free cavity wall and loft insulation. Available on a first come, first served basis, it is estimated that around 60% of people in private housing in Carlisle District could qualify for the free insulation scheme. Carlisle City Council is offering a
20/01/2011
Families and individuals on the housing needs list in Norfolk are set to benefit from £9.6 million investment for affordable homes across the County by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The cash will help house approximately 1,000 on the housing needs list. The HCA has worked with a variet
20/01/2011
Stainless steel wire combined with our extensive range of high quality tensioners and surface mountings allows the construction of high strength, low visibility, assemblies for balustrade, structural braces and trusses and for the suspension of canopies etc. We supply stainless steel wire and rope
19/01/2011
GB Building Solutions has won a £16.9 million contract to build a new care home in West Byfleet, Surrey. The contract awarded by Anchor, will provide a 117 bedroom sustainable community. The development, known as West Hall, will comprise of three cluster buildings set in exclusive landscaped gar
19/01/2011
Network Rail has submitted plans to Northampton Borough Council for a major redevelopment of Northampton railway station. It is working in partnership with West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) to develop a modern gateway to the town, providing enhanced capacity and better facilitie
19/01/2011
In our experience most traditional energy audits do not focus on client mission-critical systems. Clean Air Technologies foundations are built on our high level of engineering competency in Critical Air Movement systems; this allows us to produce a multilevel energy audit report to satisfy key stak
19/01/2011
There has been a six-fold increase in the number of hydropower schemes planned in England and Wales since 2008, the Environment Agency has announced. In 2010 the Environment Agency granted licences for 65 schemes, compared with 10 in 2008. To assist the communities, developers and individuals look
19/01/2011
Staff and pupils joined Kier London to mark a milestone in the rebuilding of their school with a topping out ceremony. Sally Lajalati, Head Teacher at Colindale Primary School in Poolsford Road, Colindale, said how"fantastically privileged" she felt to have her school redeveloped as part of Barnet'
19/01/2011
Plans to transform one of the South West's most important regeneration sites by bringing businesses, jobs and housing to Bath have taken a huge step forward, thanks to a major investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The national housing and regeneration agency has invested around £6
19/01/2011
Good interior doors can really make a difference to a room. Our range of high quality internal doors includes prefinished walnut. If you''re looking for a contemporary dark grain then you might like our extensive selection of interior walnut doors. These dark wood internal doors are available in pa
19/01/2011
Construction of London's 'Walkie Talkie' officially started yesterday at Fenchurch Street, 18 January, following the breaking of the ground by George Iacobescu CBE, Chief Executive Officer of Canary Wharf Group (CWG) and Robert Noel, Managing Director, London Portfolio, Land Securities Group PLC. P
18/01/2011
Construction project starts for the three months to December 2010 fell by 29 per cent compared to the same period a year ago according to the latest Glenigan Index. "Extreme weather conditions exacerbated the seasonal lull combined with the slowdown in government investment resulted in one of the
18/01/2011
Morgan Sindall has completed the steel frame of a new community leisure centre in a £17 million scheme for Cathedral Group in Clapham, south-west London. Alongside the sports facility, Morgan Sindall is working with sister company Lovell to build two six-storey apartment blocks as part of the £80 m
18/01/2011
Planning permission for a £15 million redevelopment of Worcester's Tudor Grange Academy has been granted. The multi-million pound scheme which will be carried out by Kier Moss will see large parts of Worcester’s first academy being rebuilt or refurbished, transforming the existing buildings on the
18/01/2011
Owners of land at the former Bentinck Colliery spoil tip in Kirkby are beginning work with Nottinghamshire County Council and Natural England, the Government's advisers on the natural environment, to explore the sympathetic restoration of the site. This has been prompted by the Council's decision t
18/01/2011
Shopping centres of every shape and size in Plymouth have come under the microscope as part of the Plymouth Council's long-term development plans. Planners have put together a document which looks at the range of shopping centres from district centres through to local centres. The document is call
18/01/2011
Following the award of the major tunnelling contracts last month, Crossrail has started the tender process for a further four central London stations - Bond Street, Liverpool Street, Tottenham Court Road and Whitechapel. A notice has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union invi
18/01/2011
Unite, the UK's largest union, has notified energy giant National Grid that it will imminently serve notice for industrial action in a dispute over a three-year below-inflation pay offer. The three year deal, which consisted of 2.5 per cent, 2.25 per cent and 2.25 per cent, has been rejected by uni
18/01/2011
Contracts have been awarded for the construction of the 5,000-seat Water Polo Arena, one of the last venues to be built on the Olympic Park. The ground is currently being prepared before work on the substructure begins in March. The temporary venue, containing a 37m-long competition pool and a slig
18/01/2011
Essex County Council has shortlisted three bidders to create the largest integrated highways partnership in the UK, which will deliver significant savings whilst providing an improved level of local service for residents. The project will see several existing contracts to operate Essex's highways r
18/01/2011
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), which represents skilled professionals working in housing, has responded cautiously to the government’s consultation on social housing reform, Local decisions: a fairer future for social housing. CIH stresses that the proposals as currently described risk
18/01/2011
You will discover some of the most innovative, robust and affordable door closers and hinge sets available anywhere in the UK and mainland Europe. Modern Door Closers (MDC) are sole distributors for all the products on there website
17/01/2011
Willmott Dixon has signed the contract on the second of three academy schools in Oldham where it has been preferred bidder since March 2010. The £26.3 million contract with Oldham Council will see Willmott Dixon deliver the new Waterhead Academy, sponsored by The Oldham College, on the site of the
17/01/2011
A major County Durham housing development is officially underway after prospective tenants cut the first sod at a groundbreaking ceremony. The £5.6 million scheme will create 50 new Council-owned homes for older people at Park Avenue Close, in the market town of Crook. The new homes, backed by £2
17/01/2011
A Moreton-in-Marsh quarry owner was prosecuted after blocks of stone fell onto a worker, breaking his leg. Ian Stanley Bond, owner of Stanley's Quarry, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after Nicholas Enston, 47, from Bidford on Avon, Warwickshire, was injured while removing s
17/01/2011
Costain has announced that it has received the go-ahead from Surrey County Council to construct the new Walton bridge as part of a £32.3 million scheme, creating the first major road crossing over the River Thames in almost 20 years. The crossing, between Walton and Shepperton, is due to be complet
17/01/2011
Construction union UCATT are calling on the Government to rethink policies on increasing the retirement age, following new research. The research published by Oxford University's Institute of Ageing and Club Vita, recommends the introduction of a flexible retirement age, due to huge differences in
17/01/2011
Work is due to start soon on a brand new sporting complex at Heaton Park in Manchester. The Goals Soccer Centre will include small-sided football pitches, tennis and netball courts, a climbing wall and changing pavilion. The £3.5m centre will be constructed at no cost to the Council and will provi
17/01/2011
The Localism Bill must legislate for the presumption in favour of sustainable development or the Government will struggle to honour its pledge to deliver the new homes the country needs, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) ahead of the Bill's Second Reading by MPs. Brian Berry, Director o
17/01/2011
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has announced that it has reached financial close for the £80 million Hertfordshire Schools scheme. The Hertfordshire Schools scheme involves the delivery of a capital investment programme in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council for t
14/01/2011
Tunnelling and scaffolding safety are in focus as a professional guide to reflect best practice has been updated for the construction industry. This is including new guidance on the tunnelling principle that sees the unprotected traversing element no banned. The National Access & Scaffolding Confe
14/01/2011
Entries are now being invited for the 2011 European Copper in Architecture Awards 15, enabling architects designing with copper and its alloys to promote their work to an international audience through extensive press coverage. The deadline for entries is 31 May and the Awards will be presented at
14/01/2011
One of Exeter’s most prestigious hotels has moved an important step closer to opening its doors again, with the appointment, by owners Chapter Hotels, of leading local building contractor Kier Western to carry out the major refurbishment work. “Kier Western is really keen to get started,” said Davi
14/01/2011
The only certified employers organisation for the construction industry based in Northern Ireland has revealed worrying news on the state of the regional industry as the New Year progresses. The Construction Employers Federation (CEF) has this week published its State of Trade results for the third
14/01/2011
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has broadly welcomed the package of measures announced yesterday by the Housing Minister Grant Shapps to support landlords to tackle anti-social behaviour. The announcement included measures to increase flexibilities for housing associations to extend introd
14/01/2011
Residents of seven housing associations have been celebrating after passing a tenant inspector course recently and to say well done, a presentation ceremony was held at Twycross Zoo. The residents attending were all from Midlands-based housing associations which included Derwent Living, Amber Vall
14/01/2011
The installation of Bruce Munro’s Water-Towers has begun, and work is in progress on his second contemporary artwork at Salisbury Cathedral, situated along two entire sides of the ancient cloister. 16,000 water bottles (large 2 Lt size) have been supplied by Cott Beverages, suppliers to Tesco, and
14/01/2011
A former Kent railway station which once echoed to the sounds of thousands of hop-pickers making their annual visit to the county is on track to provide more new business opportunities for modern-day companies. Plans have been approved to build industrial units on Hawkhurst Station Business Park,
13/01/2011
Galliford Try, the housebuilding and construction group, has secured three regeneration projects totalling £29.9 million through the Homes and Community Agency's Delivery Partner Panel across all three of its regional clusters. The first project which in the Southern cluster and is worth £18.4 mill
13/01/2011
Crossrail, the organisation charged with delivering a new east-west Railway Project for London and the south-east, today announced that Chief Executive Rob Holden has decided to step down from his current role and will leave later this year. Mr Holden joined Crossrail from London & Continental Rail
13/01/2011
Costain's continuing commitment to safety has been recognised by one of its projects winning a new national award in conjunction with designer Atkins. Costain/Atkins on the A40 Penblewin to Slebech Park Improvement Scheme in Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales, took the Association for Project Safety's
13/01/2011
Up to 133 apprenticeships are set to be created in Liverpool under a new city council funded scheme to encourage businesses to take on new recruits. Twenty firms have successfully applied to be part of the Liverpool Apprenticeship Scheme business grant initiative - and the search is now on for peop
13/01/2011
A property management company was fined £30,100 after admitting a series of offences which led to workers being exposed to asbestos fibres. MA Estates Limited of Holmfield, Halifax, the owner and landlord of a factory building in Holdsfield Road, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (H
13/01/2011
Work has begun on the construction of the first homes at Barking Riverside, one of London's biggest regeneration schemes situated on the banks of the River Thames. Barking Riverside Ltd, a joint venture between the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Bellway Homes, is preparing serviced develop
13/01/2011
Students from Doncaster College have benefited from first-hand experience of working on a construction site thanks to Morgan Sindall. The construction firm invited up to 60 Construction Diploma students to Saint Sepulchre Gate West in Doncaster, where the company is creating a £6.5 million 'super s
13/01/2011
If you are looking for a clean, easy to maintain floor covering that not only enhances your home, but also eliminates health problems caused by harmful dust mites, then look no further than
13/01/2011
HTF Stainless Steel were contracted to provide 2 large mirror polished spheres for Kevin Athertons latest spherical sculpture piece. Consisting of a 2 meter and 3 meter sphere, fabricated from highly polished stainless steel, which were positioned with 2 life size brass statues depicting the contin
12/01/2011
E.ON has announced it will be increasing prices for the majority of its residential customers with effect from Friday 4th February 2011. Standard prices will rise by 9% for electricity and 3% for gas with customers on E.ON's social offering WarmAssist protected from this change. This will equate to
12/01/2011
British Gas has announced that it is making a new investment of £37 million in support for its vulnerable customers. Ian Peters, Managing Director of British Gas Energy, said: "We know that money is very tight for many people in Britain right now, particularly our elderly, poor and disabled custome
12/01/2011
Builders in Chester are being encouraged to attend a free safety event in the city on Tuesday 18 January after two construction workers were killed in Cheshire last year. Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that, on average, three workers in the construction sector across the
12/01/2011
Sean Lynch, a framework director at Faithful+Gould, has been appointed to the consultant's UK operations board. The appointment follows Sean's key work on Faithful+Gould's national water forum working with leading water companies and the Environment Agency. Sean has joined the senior management t
12/01/2011
Parents looking to put down a deposit to help their children buy a new home from Barratt will now be able to apply for an unsecured personal loan of up to £50,000 from Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC, it was announced today. The tie-up between the UK financial services arm of the multi-national Japanese c
12/01/2011
One of Exeter's most prestigious hotels has moved an important step closer to opening its doors again, with the appointment, by owners Chapter Hotels, of local building contractor Kier Western to carry out the major refurbishment work. "Kier Western is really keen to get started," said David Snell,
12/01/2011
A new report by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and Savills, "Appreciating Assets", explores the potential impact of housing associations using greater freedom to manage their assets on their own terms based on an understanding of local markets and agreements with local authorities. The au
12/01/2011
The first in a series of events to help Welsh businesses make the most of growing opportunities in the renewable energy supply chain is to focus on offshore wind developments in North Wales. Welsh Assembly Government and RWE npower renewables (RWE NRL), one of the largest inward investors in Wales,
12/01/2011
The Gateshield is a unique security solution designed for a broad range of applications where, due to the nature of the situation, a simple padlock and chain or hasp is not deemed to offer adequate protection against a determined physical attack. With the increasing availability of powerful and c
12/01/2011
Cheshire based builder John Hulson wanted a visual identity that reflected the bespoke element of his business and that set him apart from other builders. PITCH&CO, the branding and graphic design company based in Macclesfield, Cheshire and specialists in brand creation and regeneration, were deli
11/01/2011
Kier Eastern has started construction work on a new £2.8m Olympic gymnastics centre at the University of East Anglia's (UEA) Sportspark . Due to be completed by August, the 648sq m facility is being built at the back of the existing Haydn Morris Hall. Fully equipped to Olympic standard, the gymnas
11/01/2011
Construction union UCATT have slammed Government proposals to reduce workers rights, as a "sackers charter". Reports indicate that the Government is intending to extend the period when employers can dismiss workers without being subject to a claim for unfair dismissal from one to two years. The Gov
11/01/2011
British Land has announced that it has entered into an agreement with The Portman Estate to purchase and redevelop Marble Arch House. On receipt of vacant possession, British Land will pay £18 million for the development site. Marble Arch House is on the corner of Seymour Street and Edgware Road,
11/01/2011
A steel manufacturing company has been fined after a process tank weighing three tonnes fell on an employee at one of its sites. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Wefco (Gainsborough) Ltd of Britannia Works, Spring Gardens, Gainsborough, for failing to ensure the safety of 29 year ol
11/01/2011
Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has won a series of new contracts in the UK and across the Middle East. Together with the £63 million St Helens schools contract announced in December these are worth an aggregate of more than £0.5 billion. Contracts in the UK a
11/01/2011
Mansell has won a £2.8 million contract to repair and restore a Grade I Listed Monument, Hadlow Tower in Kent for Vivat Trust. The contract requires work to the existing octagonal and square towers which together form Hadlow Tower. It includes the reinstatement of render and missing precast and mo
11/01/2011
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has today announced the successful companies appointed to a new framework panel designed to enable local authorities and other public sector organisations to access technical engineering services more quickly and at a greatly reduced cost. A total of 15 compan
11/01/2011
The Respect Standard, which has played a key role in driving up landlords' performance on preventing and tackling anti-social behaviour, will now be run by housing professionals rather than central government, in line with the move to devolve power to communities. Following an announcement by Housi
11/01/2011
Householdhandles Ltd are one of the UK's largest distributors of Architectural Hardware specialists - We supply a wide range of quality door handles, Locks, fittings and complimentary accessories at affordable prices. Should you require any assistance when placing an order please don't hesitate
11/01/2011
With over 100 years of experience in the shop fitting industry supplying shops of all sizes with quality retail shop fittings, F&G Smart Shop fittings is one the most renowned shop fitting suppliers in the UK. Our experience and reputation allows us to work with only the best shop fittings manufact
10/01/2011
Construction union UCATT have expressed anger at the failure of the leaders of Birmingham Council to even acknowledge the union's proposals, which would end the city's ongoing industrial dispute involving refuse collectors. On 23rd December UCATT wrote to the council proposing a fresh way forward t
10/01/2011
A Gloucester building contractor has been fined after employees were found to have lifted heavy building materials at height with no measures to prevent falls in place. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors visited a site in Dumbleton, Gloucestershire, in December 2009 and found structural s
10/01/2011
Szerelmey, the stonework and restoration specialist, has won an external cladding contract worth £320,000 at The Goldsmiths new training and education centre in Clerkenwell, London for The Goldsmiths' Company. Szerelmey are supplying and installing English Yorkstone cladding to the façade of the ne
10/01/2011
Mansell has secured a £4.6 million design and build contract to provide a new Large Vehicle Inspection Facility (LVIS) at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk for Defence Estates. This new facility will provide RAF Lakenheath with a purpose-built access gate allowing Base Personnel to search large vehicles and
10/01/2011
Twenty-two affordably-priced town centre flats for older people will be built in Egremont after a £2.8m social housing project received the final green light this week. Social enterprise and housing developer, Home Group has secured investment of £660,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA)
10/01/2011
Crossrail has announced its intention to award the major tunnel contracts for Europe's largest infrastructure project. These are the most significant tunnel contracts to be awarded in the UK since the Jubilee Line Extension and Channel Tunnel Rail Link and will provide a much-needed boost to UK con
10/01/2011
Dean Blinds and Awnings are proud to announce that they have added the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) certified endorsement to their ever growing list of professional qualifications. The CHAS safety qualification sits well with the Investors in People award which Deans have
07/01/2011
The last two years saw investment in social housing at its highest sustained level in real terms for three decades, with dramatic improvements in the condition of social rented housing across Britain, although this could now be at risk when spending cuts take effect in April 2011. The new UK Housin
07/01/2011
Organisations have three weeks to bid to operate what is expected to be one of London’s most spectacular visitor attractions – the ArcelorMittal Orbit. The Olympic Park Legacy Company has, today, launched a formal expressions of interest (EOI) process for operating the Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmon
07/01/2011
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is today bringing an end to heavy handed rules that can mean people who leave their house empty for more than six months risk having it seized by their local authority. In 2006, the previous Government introduced 'Empty Dwelling Management Orders'. They allow coun
07/01/2011
Construction union UCATT are calling for an urgent investigation into the actions of payroll companies, after an investigation by the Daily Mirror exposed their practices. Payroll companies are costing the Revenue millions in lost National Insurance contributions and denying workers even the most
07/01/2011
Ofgem has announced that it intends to impose a penalty of £8 million and to find National Grid Gas in breach of licence obligations on providing accurate information to the energy regulator. This covers the reporting period 2005/06 to 2007/08. Ofgem takes failures by regulated companies to meet
07/01/2011
Morgan Sindall has appointed Goff Davies as its education ambassador to work from its Cardiff office at Gwaelod-y-Garth. The 56-year-old from Pontypool is a former head teacher who was directly involved in the design and planning of a brand new school in Newport. He has been brought into the busin
07/01/2011
A plumber who was caught carrying out illegal gas work by BBC's Rogue Traders has been jailed after ignoring a previous order to stop. Andrew John Carslake, 42, who traded as Aqua Plumbing, admitted breaching health and safety laws at Chelmsford Crown Court. In 2008, The Health and Safety Executiv
07/01/2011
Johnstone's is set to revolutionise the way professional decorators think about colour with the launch of its new Johnstone’s ColourMate iPhone app. The free app splashes onto the market boasting significantly more colour features than any other paint app, with a focus on meeting the everyday deman
07/01/2011
A fine of £5,000 has been issued after three workers fell through skylights at the same industrial unit in Warrington on three separate occasions – leaving one of them paralysed. During a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution, Warrington Crown Court heard that a caretaker from Accrington,
06/01/2011
Mansell has won a £2.1 million contract to design and build a children’s centre for the London Borough of Ealing. After demolition of the existing building, the new scheme will be constructed using a steel frame and will include a green roof. Mechanical and electrical services will provide a minim
06/01/2011
Users of certain types of scissor lifts are being advised to make daily safety checks after five people were killed in three separate incidents when they overturned. A safety alert has been issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to warn service and maintenance engineers and those in the co
06/01/2011
Morgan Sindall has been awarded a £28 million contract by the University of Reading to carry out the second phase of its major halls of residence redevelopment. As part of the university's redevelopment of its Whiteknights campus, Morgan Sindall will build two new halls of residence to replace Chil
06/01/2011
The total number of companies falling into administration in 2010 declined 35% from 3,188 in 2009 to 2,086, according to research by Deloitte, the business advisory firm. The last quarter of 2010 saw a decline of 6% on the previous quarter, with a total of 438 companies falling into administration
06/01/2011
Essential repairs will start soon to prevent the collapse of the Farmer's Arms bridge in Bryncoch. Inspections have identified new cracks in the road surfacing with the bridge parapets leaning outwards. Head of Engineering and Transport at Neath Port Talbot Council, David Griffiths, said: "This in
06/01/2011
Ibstock has been presented with the highly coveted 'Brick and Block Supplier of the Year' award at this year's National Buying Group (NBG) Supplier Awards. The NBG, which is an independent group of privately owned builders merchants based throughout the UK, specially developed the awards to celebra
06/01/2011
Work has started to create a 60-metre by 30-metre all-weather sports pitch at the Ormiston Bushfield Academy in Peterborough, the first stage in the construction of new £20.6 million premises for the school. The one-third size pitch, suitable for seven-a-side games, will maintain all-weather sports
06/01/2011
The work Liverpool City Council is doing to improve housing in the city has been praised in a new report by the government's independent watchdog, the Audit Commission. The strategic housing service has been ranked as 'fair' with 'promising' prospects for improvement. The report concludes that hou
06/01/2011
2011 sees National Window Films celebrate its 20th anniversary. The last two decades have seen National Window Films establish itself at the forefront of the window film industry in the UK. Michael Dew, Co-Managing Director of National Window Films, attributes the company's success to the strong te
05/01/2011
The House Builders Association (HBA) is strongly opposing proposals that would add to the cost of planning applications for housebuilders and offers three recommendations. The HBA is surprised, in a climate in which cost reduction is a priority, that local authorities are not being encouraged to r
05/01/2011
Skanska will construct a tunnel for power transmission in the London area. The contract amount is £92 million, which will be included in 2010 fourth-quarter order bookings. The customer is the construction company Costain, who are working on behalf of the international gas and electricity compa
05/01/2011
Willmott Dixon has been chosen by Grosvenor Developments Ltd as preferred bidder for the £17.5 million project to build the new Parkside Fire Station in Cambridge. The development is an important project in the centre of Cambridge, which will see the current fire station adjacent to Parker's Piece
05/01/2011
Plans for a £32.3 million bridge across the Thames, the first major new road crossing over the river in about 20 years, have been approved by the Government. Local Transport Minister Norman Baker confirmed funding is available for Surrey County Council's new crossing between Walton and Shepperton.
05/01/2011
Costain has been appointed by Lewisham Council to rebuild four more schools at a total value of £71 million after financial close was reached on the fourth phase of its Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project. Work will shortly begin on building a brand new special school for pupils with auti
05/01/2011
Cash strapped councils are slashing funding for 'lifeline services' which support some of the most vulnerable people in their communities by up to 67% - leaving many to effectively fend for themselves, a campaign group warned today. Women fleeing domestic violence, pensioners who rely on support to
05/01/2011
Lovell is helping a teenager from Hucknall to lay the foundations for his future by recruiting him as an apprentice. Alex Mychalyszyn has secured a place on the national Lovell apprentice training programme. The 18-year-old is starting his career as a member of the Lovell site team working on a £2.
05/01/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps today called on the country's aspiring self-builders to make a housebuilding revolution their New Year's resolution. Self-builders are already Britain's largest housebuilder, and account for one-fifth of Britain's new homes each year, but for far too long the aspiratio
05/01/2011
Stockroom Racking manufacturer EZR Shelving has developed a hanging garment racking solution for Lingerie retailers. This garment racking system provided 327 linear metres of capacity for hanging garments and 131 linear metres of storage shelving for plastic storage boxes. Lingerie Storage Racks h
04/01/2011
Costain has been awarded a £59m contract by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council for the Port Talbot PDR project to construct 4.5 km of dual carriageway access road from the M4 Junction 38 into Port Talbot and the Docks as well as completing the link to Junction 42 on the M4 and West Wales. The
04/01/2011
Castleford Tigers chief executive Richard Wright has hand delivered a detailed planning application to Wakefield Metropolitan District Council in their quest to secure the go-ahead for a new stadium at Glasshoughton. Tigers club captain Ryan Hudson was also in attendance with Alan Powell from archi
04/01/2011
Derbyshire County Council has announced funding totalling over £375,000 to allow work to go ahead to build ten children's play areas across the county. Thirteen new play sites have already been opened in Derbyshire under the Playbuilder initiative. Ten other sites were planned for construction but
04/01/2011
Didsbury's Grade ll listed library will undergo a renovation programme following consultation with a specialist heritage officer. The work will include some re-plastering, painting the interior and replacing carpets. A heritage officer from the council's planning team will be consulted throughout t
04/01/2011
CECA's National Director, Rosemary Beales, is to step down in March 2011, the organisation announced today. Commenting, Rosemary Beales said: "After significant thought over some period of time I have decided to leave CECA at the end of March 2011. "Having worked to help establish CECA in 1996 a
04/01/2011
Fall-Pac supply soft landing units, which interlock to maximise protection from falls from height. They are lightweight, highly flexible and easily handled units. The units are manufactured from materials which are not only environmentally recyclable, water and fire resistant but can be refilled on
04/01/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has called for a temporary reprieve to the demolition of Ringo Starr's birthplace to ensure the people of Liverpool have a chance to have their say in what happens to what many consider to be a culturally important building. Mr Shapps has written to Liverpool City Coun
04/01/2011
The thermal and sustainable benefits of cork insulation were key in its specification for a unique social housing refurbishment scheme in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire – the first significant use of Cork EWI on social housing in the UK. Managed by Aspire Housing Association, the 54 Cussins pr
04/01/2011
A groundbreaking new guide to help construction professionals keep control of timescales on complex projects has been published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and Wiley Blackwell. The ‘Guide to Good Practice in the Management of Time in Complex Projects' authored by an international
