Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for May 2011
31/05/2011
Socomec UPS is providing Free of charge a technical note to anybody interested in gaining a better understanding of protecting business continuity with UPS. Written by Socomec's Technical Communication Specialist Matteo Granzerio, the paper discusses all the key issues relating to energy savings (
31/05/2011
Construction of an innovative dementia care and supported living housing development in Wokingham has been celebrated. Representatives of the project partners - Housing 21, Wokingham Borough Council, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Willmott Dixon Housing and Quattro Design Architects - gath
31/05/2011
Bell Equipment UK has launched its own advanced payload system (APS) as an additional option on its entire range of wheeled loaders. The move has been designed to help customers improve their operating efficiency by providing extremely accurate payload data. The Bell-branded system can be easily
31/05/2011
The OFT has confirmed that it is not appealing the judgments of the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) in the Construction case. This follows the decision not to appeal the judgment in the Construction Recruitment Forum (CRF) case. Strong enforcement action backed up with significant fines plays an
31/05/2011
Britain is home to a generation of renters who are giving up on buying their own home, an in-depth new report has revealed. If attitudes become reality, the shape of Britain’s housing market will be fundamentally changed within a generation. According to the report, the most in-depth research int
31/05/2011
Global commercial real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle has announced it will merge with international property consultancy King Sturge. The combined firm will be the clear leader in the UK and also in continental Europe, with greatly enhanced strength and depth of service capabilities across the r
31/05/2011
Willmott Dixon Group is the latest main contractor to sign up to the Builder's Profile as National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC) maintains its efforts to tackle duplication in the industry's pre-qualification processes. With a monthly average of over 100 sub-contractors joining the service
31/05/2011
Mulalley teamed with One Housing have been appointed as the development partner for the regeneration of the Ladderswood Estate. The Cabinet agreed to select a development partner who will take forward the £80 million regeneration project. The project will see the development of 491 new homes, a new
31/05/2011
A contractor has been prosecuted for exposing workers to asbestos in Derby. Wayne Priestley, 47, of The Beeches, Lincoln Road, Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, had been employed to remove asbestos-containing materials from the former Allens Printers building in Webster Street ahead of its demolition. Qua
27/05/2011
Responding to Shelter's release of the results of a YouGov survey on whether mortgage regulatory reform is needed, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has expressed surprise that Shelter seems unaware that mortgage lenders do, in fact, support reform. However, it is the detail of that reform tha
27/05/2011
Initial plans for a major re-development of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, have been approved, Health Minister Lesley Griffiths has announced. The Welsh Government has earmarked almost £77 million for the development. The hospital has already benefited from £7.1million to remove asbestos and for
27/05/2011
Construction union UCATT has welcomed the announcement from the HMRC that they are to crackdown on false self-employment on all Olympic Games sites. However, UCATT are calling on the HMRC to ensure that this initiative is not just a one off and that other sites are targeted in the future. UCATT bel
27/05/2011
Residents living in flats at Langton Court and Brookhill Court in Sutton in Ashfield are reaping the benefits of a new energy efficient communal heating system, recently installed to their homes. Ashfield Homes and Ashfield District Council worked together to identify a more energy efficient way to
27/05/2011
Pupils and staff at Liverpool's largest secondary school are celebrating the end of almost three years of rebuilding work today. Contractors have now finished work on the new £18 million Alsop Technology College in Walton following the completion of a new multi-use games area, playground, courtyard
27/05/2011
Global commercial real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle has announced it will merge with international property consultancy King Sturge. The combined firm will be the clear leader in the UK and also in continental Europe, with greatly enhanced strength and depth of service capabilities across the r
27/05/2011
The most recent workload trends survey carried out by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) showed few signs of widespread recovery in the civil engineering sector. 43% of firms saw their workloads deteriorate in the first quarter, compared with the same period a year ago. Just 16% s
27/05/2011
Construction of an innovative dementia care and supported living housing development in Wokingham was celebrated yesterday. Representatives of the project partners - Housing 21, Wokingham Borough Council, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Willmott Dixon Housing and Quattro Design Architects -
27/05/2011
A leading construction recruitment firm has vowed to buck the market trend by unveiling ambitious growth plans that will see it increase turnover to more than £7 million after just four years in operation. Caval is based in Yorkshire but places teams of construction workers on sites across the UK.
27/05/2011
Larger building contractors are moving down the food chain as contract size and numbers continue to shrink, creating increased competition, eroding margins and putting intolerable pressure on prices. And while there is a slight yet fragile improvement within the construction sector, the number of c
26/05/2011
Equitix, Amp Capital and Balfour Beatty Consortium have been appointed as preferred bidder for High-Voltage Link to Greater Gabbard Offshore Windfarm. Green Energy Transmission (GET), a consortium comprising Equitix Ltd and AMP Capital Investors, together with Balfour Beatty Capital Limited has be
26/05/2011
BAA has announced that the construction of Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 would create 35,000 jobs over the life of the project. The £2.2bn development, which will have as many as 5,000 people on site at its peak, is the UK’s largest privately funded construction project and will open to passengers in
26/05/2011
Breathing Buildings have won the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Associations (BVCA) Portfolio Award for ‘Environmental, Social and Governance Management Team of the Year’, Midlands Region. The award, which will be presented at a black tie ceremony in London on 30 June 2011, recognises
26/05/2011
Companies working on construction projects for next summer’s Olympic Games are warned today that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will crack down on tax, National Insurance or national minimum wage breaches. Mike Eland, HMRC’s Director General of Enforcement and Compliance, said: "We aim to help contra
26/05/2011
The village of Bishop Wilton, on the edge of the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds, is the setting for a new 1,100sqm car park that has a surface structure created entirely from ACO GroundGuard. By exploiting the system’s open-cell design, which has been back-filled with soil and sown with grass, the car
26/05/2011
A Semington couple who left the village soon after marrying there almost 40 years ago have just moved back – into a brand new Jephson Homes Housing Association development. Linda and Tony Grant joined celebrations marking the completion of Turnpike Close homes on Monday (May 16th), when Councillor
26/05/2011
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios have recently completed the new Discovery Centre for the famous Jodrell Bank Observatory. Designed for the University of Manchester’s Centre for Astrophysics the projects include two new Visitor and Exhibition Pavilions which have been built to inspire budding young s
26/05/2011
A builder from Kent has been fined after an employee fell more than three metres through a garage roof. Anthony Murphy, 53, fell through the fragile roof when helping contractor Hugh Pattison remove vegetation from the roof of a block of garages in Knotts Yard, Whitstable, Kent. Canterbury Magistr
25/05/2011
Mansell has won a £2.4 million housing contract in New Islington, East Manchester for Great Places Housing Group. This is the third phase of the regeneration project that the team has secured. The contract involves the design and build of 18 new timber framed homes, a mixture of terraced and semi-
25/05/2011
A London construction company and a security company manager have been fined after a security guard died from carbon monoxide poisoning while at a work. The Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Precis Holdings Ltd and Mr Obioma Chukwudi for their parts in the incident. The City of London Ma
25/05/2011
Costain has announced that it has been instructed to undertake two major water contract extensions. Firstly, Costain, as part of the Costain, Galliford Try and Atkins joint venture, has been instructed to undertake £200 million worth of work by United Utilities to upgrade and extend Sandon Dock sew
25/05/2011
Plans submitted by Crossrail and development partner Great Portland Estates for the first over-site development above a Crossrail station have been approved by Westminster City Council. Planning approval has also been granted for the new Crossrail ticket hall at Hanover Square. The Masterplan dev
25/05/2011
Elected Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill was watched eagerly by a large gathering of council members, senior staff and project team leaders as she wielded a ceremonial trowel to perform a topping out ceremony at the Watford Colosseum. The renowned entertainment venue, which has played host to top
25/05/2011
A landlord has been fined after dangerous defects were found on gas appliances at a property rented out to tenants. Asif Azam of Whitelands Road, High Wycombe, plead guilty at Aylesbury Crown Court after an investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found he failed to ensure gas fittings,
25/05/2011
The University of Liverpool is planning to invest £600 million in its facilities as part of its commitment to providing a world-class student experience and research environment. The investment includes a £250 million redevelopment of the University’s student accommodation. Part of this investment,
25/05/2011
A provider of equipment rental and support services, Speedy, has this week announced that it will be standardising its fleet in order to include the award-winning Xcalibre Fall Arrest Blocks. Created by British company Checkmate Lifting and Safety, the product, which won a Queens Award for Innovati
25/05/2011
The Government can still have a home energy efficiency revolution but only by using the Green Investment Bank to help deliver the Green Deal, said the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to new announcements about the world's first bank focused on greening the economy. Our homes contrib
25/05/2011
A fund-raising Red and Blue Day at Liverpool-based PVC-U and aluminium window and door fabricator Total Glass has generated well over £1,300 for the company’s chosen local charity, the Walton Neuroscience Fund. The cash will go towards improvements in areas such as neurological research, staff trai
25/05/2011
GeoMEM have announced they will be attending GeoDrilling 2011, Stand number A13, which takes place at the EXEC in Peterborough on 7th and 8th June. GeoMEM will be with their associates, drilling instruments manufacturers and suppliers, Devico and DAT instruments. The show offers a conference which
24/05/2011
Progress continues towards the delivery of 1500 new homes at the Severalls Hospital site in Colchester, Essex, following detailed approval of plans for the first phase of 248 homes at the Colchester Borough Council Planning Committee. The former NHS hospital is jointly owned by the North Essex Part
24/05/2011
Construction union UCATT are seeking assurances that 250 workers who were working for P Elliott's on the Olympic Village, will be fully paid. P Elliott's were forced into administration earlier this week due to longstanding financial problems. This resulted in the company's plot on the Olympic Vill
24/05/2011
Galliford Try, the housebuilding and construction firm, has secured five projects totalling £38 million in the health and care sectors. The first contract worth £12.9 million will see Galliford Try undertaking the development of a 54-bed Extra Care community comprising 42 assisted living apartments
24/05/2011
Plumbers, gas fitters and heating engineers have only a week left to register for a special tax plan to put right their tax affairs. Once the chance to register expires on 31 May, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will use the information held on people working in the plumbing industry to begin an immedi
24/05/2011
Great Portland Estates (GPE) has received resolution to grant planning permission from Westminster City Council (WCC) for its proposed 205,000 sq. ft. development at Hanover Square, in the West End. Designed by leading London architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, the proposed scheme is a compre
24/05/2011
Workers in South Yorkshire's building trades are being given the chance to learn how to recognise and deal with one of their industry's biggest killers – asbestos. A series of training courses is being offered by the South Yorkshire & Humber Working Well Together Group - a partnership between key p
24/05/2011
Two major UK building contractors, Hill Partnerships and Willmott Dixon, have entered into 'partnering contracts' with the A2Dominion Group, the housing partner in the first stage of P3Eco's NW Bicester Eco Development – an initial 393-home mixed-use zero carbon community, known as the Exemplar. Th
24/05/2011
A major conference in June will give housing professionals the chance to understand Labour housing policy following Ed Miliband's commitment to make housing one of the five priorities in the party's manifesto. In his speech at the Royal Festival Hall, Mr Miliband said that his generation of politi
24/05/2011
SITA Cornwall has received notification from the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles MP, that he has granted planning permission for the Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre. The planning permission is subject to a number of conditions that SITA Cornwall has to comply with before the development commences
24/05/2011
Visitors to Balcony Systems' stand at Grand Designs were so impressed with the transformative effect of the company’s stunning curved patio doors, elegant glass and aluminium balustrades and affordable Juliette balconies that several upgraded their orders as a result of the show. Speaking after the
23/05/2011
A Middlewich roofer has been prosecuted after one of his workers was spotted power washing the sloping roof of a semi-detached house without anything in place to stop him falling off the slippery surface. Trading under the name AB Tile Protection, Arthur Boswell was prosecuted by the Health and Saf
23/05/2011
Britannia's has announced new projects have been secured to give a confident, recession-busting start to the year, including one of the largest Tesco stores in the North West, and a £3/4million project to link two sites via a tunnel running under a major commuter route. A 100,000 sq ft Tesco store
23/05/2011
Building firm Carvill Group is to place three of its companies into administration. In a statement the company said the Carvill Group Limited, Carvill (Scotland) Limited and Carvill (Newcastle) Limited would all be affected. Group Managing Director Christopher Carvill said: "This is a sad day for
23/05/2011
Disputes in construction projects have increased over the past two years, according to the first 'Global Construction Disputes Report' released by EC Harris, the international Built Asset Consultancy. The research found that the Middle East and North America had both seen an increase in the numbe
23/05/2011
A top building firm, Graham, has won a prestigious British Council for Offices (BCO) award for its new HQ office in Hillsborough, Co Down. The award was made at a packed awards ceremony in Manchester with over 250 leading architects and designers from the North of England, Northern Wales and Northe
23/05/2011
The National Housing Federation has welcomed the publication of the 'unofficial' National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), produced by Planning Minister Greg Clark's advisory group. Last December, Mr Clark announced a review of planning policy, designed to consolidate all policy statements, circul
23/05/2011
Architects, designers, engineers and students are being challenged to rethink one of the most crucial but controversial features of modern Britain: the electricity pylon. A new competition has been launched, run by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for the Department of Energy and Cl
23/05/2011
The tallest building in Reading is enjoying substantial energy savings thanks to the installation of Tyco Thermal Controls HWAT single pipe hot water temperature maintenance system. Rising 128m above the Reading skyline, The Blade has a distinctive spire that dominates the upper part of the buildin
20/05/2011
Mansell has landed a £3 million contract to restore Grade II listed Tynemouth Station in North Shields for Station Developments Ltd. The structural work includes preservation of the existing cast iron canopy structure and replacement of the roof glazing alongside repairs to stonework, lead work, gu
20/05/2011
Tim Byles, CEO of Partnerships for Schools is to leave his post at the government agency after nearly 5 years. Mr Byles said: "I have always believed in the value of delivering public services using the disciplines of the private sector and I look forward to developing that principle in my next ven
20/05/2011
Contracts have now been signed for Kier to deliver the £54m Isle of Sheppey Academy on behalf of Kent County Council. Formerly part of the Kent Building Schools for the Future LEP1 programme, the project will see construction of a state-of-the-art facility across two sites on the east and west of t
20/05/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has welcomed new figures that show the country is starting to build more homes again, following the devastating collapse in construction during the economic downturn and the era of top down targets. Increasing the rate of housebuilding is a top priority for the Governm
20/05/2011
Transport for London (TfL) has awarded a contract to Birse Metro to build the final part of the London Overground rail network that, when complete at the end of 2012, will orbit the Capital. This further extension of the London Overground network will deliver a key rail link. The Surrey Quays to C
20/05/2011
AECOM has been chosen by Network Rail to design improvement works to stations west of Paddington that are set to become part of the Crossrail route. The 13 stations on the route, from Maidenhead in Berkshire to Acton Main Line in London, will undergo a number of enhancements to facilitate the new C
20/05/2011
The capital's record of building homes on London Development Agency (LDA) land has been exposed as a 'total sham' by Mike Tuffrey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Housing Spokesman. Following questioning of the Mayor, Boris Johnson, Mr Tuffrey claimed that it was admitted that huge amounts of
20/05/2011
Rising workloads in the private commercial and housing sectors led to an overall improvement in the construction market, despite public sector activity continuing to fall during the first three months of 2011, says the latest RICS Construction Market Survey. Overall workloads improved during the la
20/05/2011
Northampton-based vehicle lifting specialist Stertil Koni has been appointed as the exclusive UK distributor for the Pasquin range of manually-operated, air-hydraulic lifting jacks. The Pasquin range was introduced in 1963 and has been steadily developed and extended to offer proven, cost-effective
20/05/2011
Edmonds & Slatter Opticians based in Blaby, Leicestershire, has been given a new look by Christopher Rodwell & Co. Christopher Rodwell has been designing and fitting out optical practices since 1985 and during that time has been joined by his son Ashley in the enterprise. A recent overhaul at Edmo
19/05/2011
A Leamington Spa clutch manufacturer has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for putting its staff at risk when working at height. An employee of Raicam Clutch Ltd was asked by management to investigate a leak on a flat roof at the company's premises in Tachbrook House, Tachbro
19/05/2011
Kier Construction, in joint venture with Laing O'Rourke and Kaden Construction, has been awarded a £190 million contract by the MTR Corporation for the construction of the new Admiralty Integrated Station in Hong Kong. Under the four-year contract, the existing Admiralty Station will be significant
19/05/2011
Revised plans for the Great Haddon employment area will be discussed by Peterborough City Council's planning and environmental protection committee on Tuesday 24 May 2011. The planning application for the development was revised and re-submitted to Peterborough City Council by the Great Haddon Cons
19/05/2011
The first supported housing scheme for vulnerable young families in Newcastle has been officially opened by the Lord Mayor. Your Homes Newcastle's Jubilee Court, in Gosforth, is providing accommodation for young people and families who are isolated, homeless or in need of support. Jubilee Court of
19/05/2011
A pioneering agreement to create more sustainable communities - improving energy efficiency and working to combat climate change across Exeter, East Devon and the whole of Devon county - has been signed at a landmark ceremony. Exeter City Council, East Devon District Council and Devon County Counci
19/05/2011
Aberystwyth University has announced that six companies have progressed to the joint competitive dialogue stage for the development of new halls of residence that will provide modern self-catering accommodation for 1000 students. The companies are Sir Robert McAlpine Limited, Miller Construction Li
19/05/2011
Work is getting underway on a brand new primary school integral to the regeneration of north Liverpool. Council Leader Joe Anderson will join pupils and staff to help kick-start work on the £8.8 million Four Oaks Primary School in Everton. The school will cater for all 259 existing pupils, and new
19/05/2011
An interim assessment of the implications of the nuclear crisis in Japan concludes there is no need to curtail the operations of nuclear plants in the UK but lessons should be learnt. The UK's Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, Mike Weightman, has published a report, requested by the UK Gove
19/05/2011
Affordable housebuilder Lovell is celebrating after its site at Camp Hill, Nuneaton landed a Gold Considerate Constructors Award. The Camp Hill site's Gold Award was one of only 78 in the whole country, and with 8,500 sites being eligible for an Award, this puts the Camp Hill site right at the very
19/05/2011
Good Directions was recently approached by Stafford Borough Council to manufacture and erect a public clock as part of a local regeneration scheme. The 'Heroes Clock' as it has been called, is to pay tribute to the men and women of Stafford who have served their country in various conflicts across
18/05/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has announced a tough but realistic definition for zero carbon homes that strikes the right balance between delivering the zero carbon homes for the future and creating the right conditions to get the homes the country needs built. The Government's proposals for the Ze
18/05/2011
As a member of the Balfour Beatty Group Supply Chain and Framework delivery team, Mansell has been appointed as ProCure21+ Partner on a four-year refurbishment framework for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust which could be worth up to £25 million over the four years. The framework is split ove
18/05/2011
Crossrail has announced that Andrew Wolstenholme has been appointed as Crossrail's new Chief Executive, succeeding Rob Holden, who is stepping down in mid-July. Andrew Wolstenholme, currently Director of Innovation and Strategic Capability with Balfour Beatty, will take up his new role in September
18/05/2011
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has welcomed its role in managing the allocation of up to £30 million of funding to help resolve the worst problems of blight and dereliction in the five most challenged Housing Market Renewal (HMR) areas. The Agency will shortly issue bidding guidance to loc
18/05/2011
Costain has been granted its first nuclear-related patent. The patent, which involves a more efficient method of immobilising radioactive sludge in a cement matrix, has been granted after an extensive four-year examination process from the Patent Office. Nuclear power plants store used fuel canist
18/05/2011
Further extending its industry leading collection of bricks, Ibstock has launched 'The Manor Range', an attractive range of bricks which have been specifically designed to replicate traditional finishes from the past. A unique collection of bricks, Ibstock's new Manor Range is manufactured using sp
18/05/2011
H.D Drilling Geothermal specialising in ground and air source heat pumps in the South East are members of the Well Drillers Association and have gained quality assurance recognition by way of BS EN ISO 9001 and 14001 accreditation. H.D Drilling Geothermal also have a partnering agreement with a Bri
17/05/2011
A housing development in Moss Side, Manchester, has been named 'Best Affordable Housing Scheme' in the country at the annual Housing Excellence Awards. The 'Infusion' development in Moss Side won the coveted title from judges last week at the eighth annual Housing Excellence Awards event. The Award
17/05/2011
UK Housing Minister Grant Shapps has met with leading industry figures and defence officials to discuss what more can be done to help people serving in the military get a roof over their head and a foot on the property ladder. Mr Shapps said it is right that the brave men and women who give their a
17/05/2011
Kier Northern is set to begin construction of the new £1.6 million fire station in Bury later this month after town hall bosses granted approval. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) bosses welcomed Bury Council's backing of the state-of-the-art firefighting facility and a community h
17/05/2011
London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced that up to £60 million funding had been pledged to build a spectacular kilometre long floating river walk along the north bank of the River Thames in time for summer 2012. The 'London River Park' design, by global architects and planners Gensler, won the May
17/05/2011
Housebuilder Lovell and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) have joined together to kickstart a new phase of development at Priory Park, Dudley. £1.5 million is being invested through the HCA to build 53 new homes on the Lovell scheme, which will deliver a total of 109 new homes for the town. 1
17/05/2011
A granite business and one of its directors has been fined after a man was trapped under a two-and-a-half tonne pack of stone slabs while unloading a truck in Hillingdon. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted M & R Granite & Marble Ltd and Monzer Mahmoud Alrayes, a director of the compan
17/05/2011
Research carried out by not-for-profit small business support group the Forum of Private Business found sales and marketing strategy is a priority for over one in five (26.1%) smaller firms in the engineering industry. The second most common priority among small engineering firms was operations man
17/05/2011
Crossrail's commitment to building a lasting skills legacy has taken a major step forward with the completion of structural building work on the UK Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA). Crossrail and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills via the Skills Funding Agency
16/05/2011
Crossrail today announced that six of the tunnel boring machines (TBMs) required to deliver the new rail tunnels will be manufactured by Herrenknecht AG, Germany. The first two TBMs will arrive in London in early 2012 ahead of being launched from Royal Oak in spring 2012. The TBM manufacturers hav
16/05/2011
Mears has announced £120 million of contracts since publication in March of the final results for the year to 31 December 2010. The firm continues to deliver solid trading across all divisions in line with management expectations. The new contracts include:
16/05/2011
Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, today announced that its British Gas Community Energy division has acquired PH Jones Group Ltd, a provider of central heating services to the social housing market, for £30 million in cash. The deal represents a major step in British Gas' strategy to bui
16/05/2011
BAM Construction in the Midlands is to start Phase Two of the Aston Student Villages, a £45 million contract. Three months after the completion of Phase 1 of its student accommodation regeneration project, Aston University in Birmingham is to forge ahead with the second phase of the £215 million de
16/05/2011
A year-on-year decline in the underlying value of project starts during the three months to April 2011 masks an increase in new work from the moribund levels experienced over the turn of the year. "An increase in the underlying value of project starts over March and April took the index to levels n
16/05/2011
A Kent based property company and its groundwork subcontractor have been prosecuted for unsafe excavation work. Churchill Properties (Southern) Limited was prosecuted by the HSE for failing to plan, manage and monitor the excavation work being carried out on its construction site. The subcontractor
16/05/2011
Communities Minister Andrew Stunell today described the 300,000 long term empty homes in England as a scandal with four million people stranded on housing waiting lists. He said that if the empty properties were occupied by average sized families, around 700,000 more people could have a home of th
16/05/2011
Cardiff based Boyes Rees Architects has set its staff a sustainability challenge to mark Wales Sustainability Week. Wales Sustainability Week (14-21 May) is a Welsh Assembly Government initiative encouraging people to take specific action to help Wales become a more sustainable nation. Based on
16/05/2011
The latest Construction Trade Survey published today, which brings together information from contractors, product manufacturers, specialists and civil engineers, provides further evidence that construction grew in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the weather-affected final quarter of last year.
16/05/2011
Willmott Dixon has recruited four local apprentices as part of an initiative to provide employment opportunities that will leave a lasting legacy for tenants and learners across the Rotherham Metropolitan area. Stacey Bann, Jack Smith, Tyler Shaw and Daniel Essex will join Willmott Dixon's Rotherh
13/05/2011
Hillingdon Council is urging residents to have their say on proposals for new noise mitigation schemes which will impact on the borough. Launching a three-month consultation, BAA has set out proposals which will change the flight patterns at Heathrow Airport. The council believes this will lead to
13/05/2011
The balance between house purchase and remortgage lending tipped towards remortgaging at the start of 2011, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Remortgaging accounted for 37% of all lending in the quarter, an increase from 30% in the last quarter of 2010. The number of loans advan
13/05/2011
The latest development underway at the Wembley City regeneration scheme has reached its latest milestone as the W05 Student Accommodation Topped Out. John Sisk & Son, Quintain Estates & Developments and local dignitaries came together as they completed the concrete on the final plinth of the build
13/05/2011
Cardiff University has selected BAM Construction to deliver its new Hadyn Ellis Building, the circa £20 million development forming the gateway to its Maindy Park campus. At around 10,000 square metres, the Hadyn Ellis Building is a science-led facility for post-graduate medical research that will
13/05/2011
Intra lighting has launched their new products at the EUROLUCE show in Milan. The newARCH NEWS catalogue is not only introducing new products, but also relaunching the new energy efficient LED versions of products from the existing Intra lighting range. Intra Lighting is now also offering a 5 year
13/05/2011
An outline planning application for the regeneration of a vital and large part of Swindon town centre has been submitted by Muse Developments. The multi-million pound mixed-use Union Square application includes proposals for 450 stylish new homes; 600,000 sq ft of high quality employment space; pro
13/05/2011
Cyril Sweett, the international construction and property consultancy, has announced the establishment of Meiho Sweett Limited a Joint Venture Company with its Japanese alliance partner, Meiho Facility Works Limited. Registered in Hong Kong, Meiho Sweett's ownership is split 50/50 between the two
13/05/2011
Tiling of the Olympic-sized swimming pool at the new Plymouth Life Centre got under way this week as Council Leader Vivien Pengelly and Councillor Peter Brookshaw laid the first floor tiles. Around 1,075 square metres of ceramic tiles will be used in the main 50-metre pool and around 11,000 square
13/05/2011
A Lincolnshire quarry owner has been fined for endangering employees after being found guilty of operating unsafe machinery. Andrew Freeman, who trades under the name Freemac Aggregates at The Quarry, Cross Road, The Fen, Baston, failed to comply with a legal notice prohibiting the use of poorly ma
12/05/2011
The Apollo Group has won a contract valued at £10 million with Sheffield City Council to carry external and Decent Homes work to properties around the city. The integrated property services provider will deliver insulated over-cladding work to 1000 dwellings in 40 four, five and six storey maisonet
12/05/2011
Mansell has won a £2.9 million contract to construct a new block at Kingfisher Community Special School in Chadderton for Oldham Council. The contract involves the construction of a new administrative and support block that will link the two existing parts of the school and forming a new main entra
12/05/2011
A Liverpool demolition firm has been sentenced after poor work saw a disused cinema collapse onto a dual carriageway in Thornton Cleveleys. Gaskells Demolition Services Ltd of Bootle was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after part of the Orion building fell onto the A587 during r
12/05/2011
Cable thieves are ruining the lives of millions of passengers and costing the railway industry some £15 million a year as they target the railway for metal to sell as scrap. Criminals are targeting the cables which control vital rail infrastructure such as signals and points, causing delays to tens
12/05/2011
Almost two thirds (59%) of the public think the government is not doing enough to improve energy efficiency in British homes, according to latest YouGov poll results. That is why a coalition of 60 organisations from big business to environment groups and major trade associations is calling on the g
12/05/2011
New doctors being trained in Leicester will learn in the latest state-of-the-art facilities being proposed by the University of Leicester. The £30 million Medical Teaching Building will house teaching rooms and computer laboratories in one of the most energy efficient buildings of its kind in the U
12/05/2011
Kier Stoke brightens up existing facilities to enc Kier Stoke and Stoke-on-Trent City Council are working together to regenerate the city and improve its facilities to encourage shoppers and commuters to the city centre. A team from Kier Stoke, a partnership between Kier Building Maintenance and St
12/05/2011
Weather experts at the UK Met Office will be presenting new ways to maximise wind farm investment at the Wind Energy Business Forum in London this week. Weather patterns and crucially wind speeds underpin the success for this type renewable energy - and the Met Office can make the difference to its
12/05/2011
Socomec UPS is providing Free of charge a technical note to anybody interested in gaining a better understanding of of power factors in UPS. Written by Socomec's Technical Communication Specialist Matteo Granzerio, the paper discusses all the key issues relating to input and output power factors f
11/05/2011
An unregistered gas fitter misled customers into believing he was a legally registered gas engineer and then carried out work that put lives at risk. Clive Farrant, 57, from Chelmsford, used a false CORGI registration number in adverts and paperwork when trading as Essex Plumbing Connection. He als
11/05/2011
The Energy and Climate Change Secretary is to introduce regulations to ensure that all landlords face minimum energy efficiency standards under the Green Deal. Under the proposals, announced at Second Reading of the Energy Bill: From April 2016 landlords will not be able to refuse reasonable reques
11/05/2011
The Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) has announced that Lord Hutton will take over as Chairman of the organisation. The former Secretary of State for Energy will take over in mid-June following the end of Lord O'Neill's three-year tenure at the head of the UK's nuclear trade association. Lord H
11/05/2011
The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) NHS Trust has announced that, following rigorous evaluation of bids received from eight potential partners, it has shortlisted three bidders for phase 1 of the redevelopment of its hospital at Stanmore under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI). Steve Tu
11/05/2011
A team from Forrest, the Preston headquartered social housing regeneration specialist, has been honoured with a second consecutive Bronze Level National Considerate Constructors Award. The team, who have recently completed a green retrofit programme on the New Barracks Estate in Salford on behalf o
11/05/2011
Elliott Off-Site Building Solutions has welcomed the Government’s endorsement of off-site construction as part of its Education Capital Review. The company has acted as Principal Contractor and concept designer on a number of successful off-site educational projects recently, all of which were outs
11/05/2011
The keys have been handed over for a commercial property in Exeter that will be used as a showroom – the next step in the growing success of local PVCu conservatory, windows and doors company Sun Shield Products. Having served the South West with their company for over 20 years from its base in Eas
11/05/2011
Work has begun on the temporary venue at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich where the Shooting, Paralympic Shooting and Paralympic Archery competitions will take place. The Barracks will provide a spectacular backdrop for spectators as they enter the venue with views of the world-famous milita
11/05/2011
A £1m fund to research and develop new technology to reduce the disruption caused by road works has been announced. The research has been jointly commissioned by the Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. Research will be conducted by the Transport Research Lab
11/05/2011
Recofloor, the UK's award-winning vinyl flooring recycling scheme managed by Axion Consulting and founded and funded by leading flooring manufacturers Altro and Polyflor, has welcomed 20 new members from The Independent Floorcovering Distributors Association (IFDA) – a move that brings major benefit
10/05/2011
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has recently been awarded two support services contracts, totalling around £200 million. These contracts add significant volume to the Support Services order book and are notable in highlighting the changes in local authority requirements, wi
10/05/2011
Supply of property increased during April, as sellers returned to the test the Spring housing market, according to the latest RICS UK Housing Market survey. 18 per cent more chartered surveyors reported a rise rather than fall in new instructions, up from 4 per cent more in March. Spring is traditi
10/05/2011
A £38 million Government-funded scheme to rebuild Twickenham Academy and part-redevelop Hampton Academy has been given the green light by Richmond council. Hampton Academy (formally Hampton Community College) will receive a £16 million redevelopment, paid for by Government, with improvements includ
10/05/2011
E.ON has committed to the installation of one million smart meters by the end of March 2014, helping to put customers in control of their energy. The announcement comes as Charles Hendry, Minister of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, officially opened E.ON's new Smart Metering
10/05/2011
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has welcomed its role in managing the allocation of up to £30 million of funding to help resolve the worst problems of blight and dereliction in the five most challenged Housing Market Renewal (HMR) areas. The Agency will shortly issue bidding guidance to loc
10/05/2011
Almost two thirds (59%) of the public think the government is not doing enough to improve energy efficiency in British homes, according to latest YouGov poll results. That is why a coalition of 60 organisations from big business to environment groups and major trade associations is calling on the g
10/05/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has announced a £30 million lifeline to families trapped in abandoned streets due to stalled large scale housing demolition schemes. The Housing Market Renewal programme, launched in 2002, created large scale targets for demolition clearance and new build homes. Over t
10/05/2011
Icynene, one of the pioneers of the Green Building Movement in North America and inventor of water blown soft foam insulation, is looking for new installers to help expand its UK business. Icynene, which holds a BBA Certificate, was founded in Canada in 1986. It is the largest supplier of soft foa
09/05/2011
The Construction Products Association's latest State of Trade Survey, which has been launched today, indicates a slight improvement for construction product manufacturers during Quarter 1, even though the longer term outlook is still uncertain. These figures conflict with last month's official ONS
09/05/2011
A man has been fined £3,350 and ordered to pay costs of almost £900 for converting the upstairs of a public house into flats without applying for building regulation consent. Javid Iqbal of 3 Lime Tree Avenue, Peterborough, attended Peterborough Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 19 April 2011 and plead
09/05/2011
Leading UK housing and care provider Sanctuary Group has awarded Mansell a £2.8 million affordable housing contract in Bicester, Oxfordshire. This is the fourth contract the Milton Keynes team have been awarded by the customer. The works to construct Bryan House will involve the design and build o
09/05/2011
Snooker legend Steve Davis gained another winning frame when he called in on Network VEKA fabricator Glazerite Windows Limited to find out about recycled PVC-U windows. The six-times World Champion had set out to learn hands-on every step of the recycling process for a consumer DVD and dropped in o
09/05/2011
The Committee on Climate Change said that renewable energy should make a major contribution to decarbonising the UK economy over the next decades. The conclusions are set out in the Committee's Renewable Energy Review which was requested under the Coalition Agreement. The review concludes that a r
09/05/2011
Reduced workloads are the biggest challenge facing Specialist Contractors according to the latest National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC) State of Trade Survey. Despite 39% of respondents reporting an increase in enquiries and 37% an increase in orders in the first quarter of 2011, difficu
09/05/2011
Plans to push thousands of social housing tenants into smaller properties will backfire because of a shortage of suitable homes, the National Housing Federation has warned. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) intends to use the Welfare Reform Bill to slash housing benefit for tenants living i
09/05/2011
A property developer has been prosecuted after being ordered to stop work three times over safety fears at a construction site in Greater Manchester. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) first issued Prestige Homes Construction Company Ltd with a Prohibition Notice on 7 May 2008, following a routi
09/05/2011
A wide range of high-quality used plant, heavy equipment, vehicles and other accessories is up for sale at the next event from
06/05/2011
A Nuneaton landlord has been given a suspended six-month prison sentence for repeatedly failing to carry out annual gas inspections on one of his properties. Steven James Boote, of Rock Close, Galley Common, Nuneaton, was found guilty of breaching Regulation 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Wor
06/05/2011
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, announces today that it has reached financial close on the £203 million PPP street lighting contract for Cambridgeshire County Council. The 25-year concession will involve the design and installation of 50,000 street lights and 6,000 signs and
06/05/2011
Mansell has won a £3.1 million contract to refurbish listed building Canada House, in Trafalgar Square for Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The contract involves improvements to the ground floor reception rooms, construction of new entrance a
06/05/2011
Construction union UCATT have welcomed confirmation that the HMRC will be tackling false self-employment as part of their crackdown on employment agencies. The HMRC announced last month that they are doubling their staffing levels and hiring an additional 100 inspectors to concentrate on tax abuses
06/05/2011
Land Securities has submitted a planning application to redevelop Kingsgate House, into approximately 341,000 sq ft of contemporary office, residential and retail accommodation, and to considerably extend Victoria’s public realm. The detailed plans, prepared by Patrick Lynch Architects, seek permis
06/05/2011
E.ON and Tesco are today launching a new initiative in an industry first that allows E.ON customers to use Tesco Clubcard vouchers to pay towards their energy bills. 50% will be added to the face value of any Tesco Clubcard vouchers used, so, for every £10 worth of Tesco Clubcard vouchers exchanged
06/05/2011
A leading provider of cutting-edge underground utilities detectors is on the right track after its technology was given the thumbs up by Network Rail. Network Rail has eliminated the risk of hitting buried utilities such as power lines, gas and water pipes – traditionally an occupational hazard for
06/05/2011
Pontypridd Regeneration Team is celebrating a landmark moment in the transformation of the town centre by placing the first granite stones into the street scene. Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Cllr Russell Roberts joined colleagues Cllr Paul Cannon the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration
06/05/2011
An expanded range of automatic and flexible doors equipped with a new 'Intelligent Curtain' system is proving to be popular for a specialist door business, Nergeco. It has become a worldwide specialist for productivity doors being present within more than 75 countries. The company, which has its h
05/05/2011
Willmott Dixon has signed a £6.4 million contract with County Durham Development to further develop the North East Technology Park, NETPark, in Sedgefield. Working with the architects Deveraux, the company will construct two separate two storey structures that will incorporate laboratory space and
05/05/2011
Work on the new Harbour Way Peripheral Distributor Road (PDR), in Wales, has gathered speed with the installation of a new railway signal. Heavy machinery, 26 hours and 60 pairs of hands went into removing the old train signal behind Byass Street and installing a new one 100 yards in front. The wo
05/05/2011
Depa, the world's largest international interiors contractor, has announced the launch of a UK operation based in Middlesbrough. This inward investment has been achieved without recourse to public sector assistance and will initially create 30 new jobs. Depa will operate its UK and European operat
05/05/2011
Crofton, the consulting engineer, has just appointed Ian Marriott as Associate Director. He will join Crofton in its expanding Kent office, bringing with him 35 years of experience in Building Services. Mr Marriott previously worked for Peter Brett Associates for five years, and will bring innova
05/05/2011
Nottinghamshire County Council will start work to alter 1,257 street lights in Bingham and eight nearby villages this week as part of its street lighting project to save over £1 million a year and cut carbon emissions and light pollution. All the lights in Flawborough, Granby, Hawksworth, Orston, S
05/05/2011
The Wellington Academy near Tidworth in Wiltshire, named after it sponsor Wellington College, has officially opened. The design of the £32 million academy, for Wiltshire County Council, responds to the rural site with the plan arrangement loosely paralleling the house system in use at the college.
05/05/2011
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs) is moving its breeding operations to a new state-of-the-art home, after construction work was completed on its new National Breeding Centre, in Leamington Spa. UK construction, infrastructure and design business Morgan Sindall has handed-over th
05/05/2011
Cranes are again appearing on the central London skyline according to the latest Drivers Jonas Deloitte Crane Survey which has recorded 25 new schemes. A total of 6.4 million sq ft is now under construction compared to an all time low of just 2.7 million sq ft six months ago. Anthony Duggan, Head
05/05/2011
Imtech, technical services provider in Europe, has announced it has acquired the British technical services provider Smith Group UK Limited. Through the combination of its technical core competences electrical services and mechanical services, energy and climate technology, Smith Group UK speciali
04/05/2011
The March data from Land Registry's House Price Index shows an annual price decrease of 2.3 per cent which takes the average property value in England and Wales to £160,996. The monthly change from February to March is a decrease of 1.1 per cent. One region in England and Wales experienced an inc
04/05/2011
Lovell, Craven District Council and Maple Grove Developments are preparing to submit a joint planning application for a £40 million development in Skipton. The plans, which have been developed in partnership with Lovell, Craven District Council and Maple Grove will be submitted and determined by th
04/05/2011
The £80 million redevelopment of the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI), reached another milestone today as the Board of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol) approved the full business case for the redevelopment. At the end of March it was announced that the Trust had secured t
04/05/2011
Doosan Babcock have advised GMB that they have already identified welders from Far East and plan to offer them over 100 jobs though this job category is no longer on the official UK skill shortages list. GMB, the union for engineering construction workers, is to meet Doosan Babcock on Friday 6th Ma
04/05/2011
Morgan Sindall has announced the completion of the University of Central Lancashire's (UCLan) new £12 million forensic science laboratories. The 4,000m² forensic science facility is the first building on UCLan's campus to achieve the BREEAM 'excellent' standard for construction. Named after James
04/05/2011
The funding partners who have made the Basildon Sporting Village possible have hailed the 'fantastic achievement' as the £38 million facility opened its doors to the public. A full day of sport and activities was headlined by gymnastics troupe and the 2010 winners of Britain's Got Talent, Spelbound
04/05/2011
CITB-ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry, has been awarded the Issuing Authority for English Apprenticeship Frameworks for occupations in construction. By appointment of the Secretary of State, CITB-ConstructionSkills will now be r
04/05/2011
Capita Symonds has been appointed to provide multidisciplinary services on the relocation of ITV's Coronation Street production facility to MediaCityUK in Salford. The company will be providing civil and structural engineering and geo-environmental services on the scheme on behalf of project manage
03/05/2011
Ofgem E-Serve has announced a short list of four bidders competing to own and run links to a further three offshore wind farms. The shortlisted bidders for the second tender round are competing to own and run connections to the Gwynt y Môr, Lincs and London Array offshore wind projects. This fo
03/05/2011
Working with David Corley Architects, Kier Wallis has completed the £5 million third stage of a refurbishment at Roehampton Club, a multi-sport members’ club in south-west London. This third and final phase of the revamp, which was project managed by Mellersh and Harding, included the relocation of
03/05/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has announced that the Government will 'put its money where its mouth is' and help more people to realise their dream of building their own home. Speaking at Grand Designs Live 2011, Mr Shapps said that he wanted self build to become a mainstream housing option - and t
03/05/2011
The Green Deal may not be the green revolution the Government hopes it will be according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) which recently surveyed its members and found that almost 44% thought homeowners were unlikely to take advantage of the Green Deal when it launches in autumn 2012. Bri
03/05/2011
Flying the flag for UK manufacturing, Ibstock is celebrating 300 years of continuous brick making at the same location, the longest in the UK, at its factory in Chailey. Damian Descombes, Chailey Factory Manager, commented: "Brick has long been the material of choice for the construction industry d
03/05/2011
The Crown Estate has set out plans for a £500 million investment and regeneration programme in St James's, London, where it owns around 50 per cent of the buildings. Over the next 10 years £1 billion St James's holdings will be targeted for investment that will:
03/05/2011
Hard Hat Recruitment are placing candidates in the following fields for Middle East Jobs in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE. Quantity Surveyors, Planners, Estimators and Contract Managers. Hard Hat Recruitment are an independent, recruitment consultancy with the ability to
03/05/2011
Cumbria County Council's Cabinet has urged the Government to press ahead with the necessary preparations to allow the construction of a new generation of reactors to recycle mixed plutonium and uranium oxide fuel (MOX) at Sellafield. In its response to a Government consultation on how the UK's 112-
