Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for November 2012
30/11/2012
The Nottingham Enterprise Zone has received a major boost following the announcement of significant investment for its first project. Minister for Housing Mark Prisk confirmed a deal, expected to be worth around £25m, that sees the public and private sectors working together to support economic gro
30/11/2012
Engineering and construction workers have agreed to a 7.7 per cent pay deal over three years (2013-2015). The agreement covers 50,000 construction workers and applies to major construction projects across the UK, such as oil and gas, petro-chemical and energy projects. Bernard McAulay, Unite natio
30/11/2012
Crossrail moved a significant step forward today as London's newest 'eastender' – 1,000 tonne tunnelling machine Elizabeth – began the 8.3km tunnelling journey to create the eastern section of the new rail line between Docklands and central London. Elizabeth and sister tunnelling machine Victoria w
30/11/2012
A property development firm has been fined £100,000 following a major gas explosion that destroyed dozens of homes in South Manchester. PJ Livesey Group Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the blast at the Didsbury Gate development on 8 December 2009. Manchester C
30/11/2012
Tenants and leaseholders of council houses in Bristol are being urged to take part in a consultation exercise on the future of the city's housing service. A survey has been sent out to more than 30,000 homes across the city asking households for their priorities in an exercise which will help shape
30/11/2012
Liverpool City Council is setting to work on a new 'hit-list' of empty properties in the city and pledging to take firm action to bring them back into use. The council's housing team has begun contacting the owners of the top 1,000 empty homes in the city. Owners are being encouraged to bring their
30/11/2012
More than 1,900 people have signed up to a new scheme being spearheaded by Peterborough City Council which could save them money on their energy bills. Today marks two weeks since the launch of the Peterborough Energy Scheme which will allow residents to combine their purchasing power and to bulk b
30/11/2012
BAM Construction is to deliver a £10 million new building in Aylesbury as the contractor continues to shape Buckinghamshire's educational estate. The purpose built three-storey university technical college will be situated on the Aylesbury College campus and hold 600 students aged 14 to 19. The pr
30/11/2012
Cavendish Hardware has acquired many rare and unusual parts for commercial windows, over many years. Up to now, it was a case of sending a sample or an image of what you were looking for and then trying to match the part. The huge task of photographing these items has begun and will carry on over t
30/11/2012
Flooring manufacturer Forbo Flooring Systems has launched ‘Back to the Floor’ – a new collection and recycling scheme for installation off-cuts of Forbo flooring products that will help participants save money and safeguard the environment. Managed by resource recovery expert Axion Consulting, this
29/11/2012
In 2013 F. Ball and Co. Ltd are set to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG), one of the industry’s most trusted guide to adhesives and floorcovering compatibility. Launched in 1973, the RAG features over 5,500 adhesive recommendations, all endorsed by their respe
29/11/2012
The UK’s first zero-energy cost business park has been praised by a Government Minister after being officially launched. Baroness Hanham, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Minister responsible for the European Regional Development Fund, opened the £2.7million development i
29/11/2012
Wagner UK’s OxyReduct fire-free technology is set to be at the heart of the fire protection solution for the new Library of Birmingham. Opening in 2013, the £189m project is one of the most significant developments and cultural projects to have been undertaken in the UK in the past decade. The Lib
29/11/2012
Kingspan Access Floors has won its second largest order in Russia. They have been awarded with a contract to supply 25,000 sq m of raised flooring for new premises in Moscow for Mail.Ru Group, the leading Internet company in Russia. Mail.Ru Group is expanding and also consolidating its operations
29/11/2012
A Public Inquiry with far-reaching implications for some of Britain’s oldest and best loved ancient buildings (including UNESCO World Heritage sites the Tower of London and Canterbury Cathedral) as well as local jobs in Kent, is underway in Maidstone. Local employer, Gallagher Aggregates, is contin
29/11/2012
Renewable energy and energy efficiency website, YouGen, was named WWF Green Game Changer 2012 in this year’s International Green Awards. The award, sponsored by WWF-UK, looked for "bold and innovative thinking to inspire others and push forward the urgent transition to a more sustainable future".
28/11/2012
A modern, purpose-built centre caring for up to 60 people with dementia has been opened officially at Cefn Coed Hospital, Swansea, by Health Minister Lesley Griffiths. The new £18.5million unit, Ysbryd y Coed, has been built using the latest evidence to create an ideal environment for older people
28/11/2012
Football legend Harry Redknapp paid a visit to the Victoria Education Centre in Poole to mark the start of building work on the centre's new hydrotherapy pool. The former Premier League manager is a patron of the charity Sparkle, which raises money for the centre run by Livability. The school, whic
28/11/2012
Apprenticeships should be clearly defined in order to distinguish them from other vocational or on-the-job training according to a newly published review into the future of apprenticeships. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed the Richard Review's recommendations for prioritising q
28/11/2012
Lovell is celebrating entering the Midlands region's premier property awards for the first time by taking home the Residential Developer of the Year Award in the Insider West Midlands Property Awards 2012. Lovell, whose Midlands region is based in Halesowen and head office in Tamworth, focused on t
28/11/2012
Kier's asset management business was recognised for its partnership with Sheffield City Council at the Premises & Facilities Management (P&FM) Awards. The team won the 'Partners in FM – Corporate' category, which recognises organisations that successfully enter into strategic partnerships where a w
28/11/2012
Local residents will have the chance to view the spectacular plans for Alexandra Park, Whalley Range, at an open day on Saturday 1st December. The park received £2.2 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of their Parks for People programme and funding from national sports organisations inc
28/11/2012
E.ON has today (TUES) said sorry for incorrectly applying increases in price to some former customers who left the company after price rise announcements in 2008 and 2011. Customers affected have been identified by E.ON and will be sent cheques to refund the money owed, with interest added, in Ja
28/11/2012
Construction union UCATT have renewed their call for a public inquiry into the blacklisting scandal after convicted blacklister Ian Kerr gave evidence to the Scottish Affairs Select Committee. During his evidence Mr Kerr who was Chief Officer of the Consulting Association confirmed that his organis
28/11/2012
New data released by VendEase, supplier of onsite vending machines during the Olympic Park's construction, shows the snack of choice for hungry builders was Cadbury's Boost Bar. At 310 calories a bar, workers munched their way through more than 2 million calories a month in Boosts alone. Top selle
28/11/2012
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) chief executive Pat Ritchie has today announced that she will be leaving the Agency to take up the role of chief executive at Newcastle City Council. She said: "I have enjoyed leading the HCA for the last two years and I will be sorry to leave. However I am t
28/11/2012
Sam Heather, a vehicle glass technician at the St Austell branch of National Windscreens at Holmbush Industrial Estate, St Austell, Cornwall, is celebrating achieving his GQA QCF NVQ Level 2 in automotive glazing through the company-wide training and assessment scheme. Sam, seen here receiving his
28/11/2012
Since early 2012, Gitsche Holzhandel GmbH in Villach, Austria has been handling all its inbound and outbound wholesale deliveries from a new distribution centre. T he warehouse is fitted out entirely with cantilever racks from OHRA. Around 800 racks are available for storing of sawn timber and vari
27/11/2012
ISG has been awarded an £8.5million contract for a sustainable student accommodation project by the University of Brighton. This will see the contractor build 147 student units on a brownfield site at the edge of the South Downs. The contractor has been awarded Phase II of the university's three-
27/11/2012
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has appointed Galliford Try Infrastructure Limited, to complete essential infrastructure works that will help to accelerate the delivery of Sandymoor’s masterplan and kickstart the creation of up to 100 new homes. Galliford Try, in conjunction with Aecom and A
27/11/2012
A celebration was held at Stockwell Primary School recently to mark the official opening of the school's new classrooms and nursery. Jamaican born children's author Valerie Bloom MBE joined Lambeth Mayor Councillor Clive Bennett, project architects, the contractors and the school community at the e
27/11/2012
In the first of a series of new quarterly reports on lending in London, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) reports that a total of 10,000 first-time buyers took out a mortgage in London in the third quarter of 2012. This was the highest number in the capital in a single quarter for almost three
27/11/2012
Environment Minister, John Griffiths has set out his vision for a Wales that is free from fly-tipping. The Minister was speaking at a joint conference hosted by the Welsh Government and the Fly-tipping Action Wales partnership which explored the actions that can be taken to stamp out fly-tipping in
27/11/2012
EDF Energy put another important component of its new nuclear plans in place as the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) granted a Nuclear Site Licence (NSL) for Hinkley Point C. The granting of the site licence is recognition from the UK’s independent nuclear regulator that NNB GenCo, the new nucle
27/11/2012
The second phase of a multimillion pound housing development at Polmennor Drive in St Ives was celebrated when a brick was laid on 23rd November. Kier Living was on site to mark the start of work on the development, along with representatives from Penwith Housing Association (PHA), including chief
27/11/2012
Kirklees Council has announced BAM as the preferred contractor for the new multi-million pound Huddersfield Sports Centre which will be built on Spring Grove car park, Springwood, Huddersfield. BAM Construction's North East team has been successful in meeting stage one of a two stage procurement pr
27/11/2012
Owners of long-term empty homes are being encouraged to contact Peterborough City Council during National Empty Homes Week which takes place from 26th November until 2nd December. The event is organised by the charity EmptyHomes to highlight the waste caused by empty properties nationwide, but to
27/11/2012
Craufurd were approached in early 2011 by the Windsor and Eton Society to help create a sculpture to commemorate the Queens jubilee. The Windsor and Eton society wanted to mark this occasion with a permanent memorial because of the Queens special Attachment to the town, so they created a competition
27/11/2012
Design ACB has submitted a planning application for the Alpine House development, a 1.4 Ha. mixed-use site in Brent, North London. The sustainability credentials of the scheme, formed of four blocks comprising 144 residential units, 1,800m2 of B1 office accommodation and five live/work units, have
27/11/2012
Grip-Bar is a unique high bond, high strength Stainless Steel threaded bar for Rock Anchors, Soil Nails, Masonry and Concrete Fixings.
26/11/2012
E.ON and RWE have today (Monday 26th Nov) announced the completion of the sale of Horizon Nuclear Power to Hitachi. As previously announced, the total sale value was £696 million. Horizon Nuclear Power was formed as a 50-50 joint-venture by E.ON and RWE in 2009 but in March 2012, following a stra
26/11/2012
The second phase of a multimillion-pound housing development at Polmennor Drive, St Ives, was celebrated when the first brick was laid on site on 23 November. Representatives from Penwith Housing Association (PHA), part of Devon & Cornwall Housing (DCH, along with St Ives Town Mayor Ron Tully, Cllr
26/11/2012
Mark Reynolds will become Chief Executive of Mace from 1 January 2013. Stephen Pycroft will continue as Executive Chairman and Jason Millett and Mark Castle will be promoted to the Group Board, also from 1 January 2013. This year Mace will hit £1 billion in turnover for the first time after the
26/11/2012
Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has announced that Anne Fahy will join the Board as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 January 2013. Anne is Chief Financial Officer of BP's Global Fuels business. In her 24 years at BP Anne has gained a deep experience
26/11/2012
Three young trainee construction professionals from the Forest of Dean have got their first foot in the door at Two Rivers Housing Association’s community regeneration project at Tufthorn Avenue in Coleford, where Lovell is building 43 new homes. Bricklayer Connor Kavanah (18), carpenter Liam Dutto
26/11/2012
Willmott Dixon's investment in trade skills was further illustrated with eighteen apprentices graduating with flying colours in their NVQ studies to take up full time jobs in the company. The Group's repair and maintenance specialist Willmott Dixon Partnerships has 70 apprentices at various stages
26/11/2012
Wales’ Education Minister, Leighton Andrews, was in Croesyceiliog has officially opened an £8.7m building for Crownbridge Special School, with £5.4m of the funding coming from the Welsh Government. Built by Kier Construction, the new state-of-the-art school building will house a variety of health a
26/11/2012
Morris & Spottiswood has officially opened a new £2m Warrington office. George Morris the chairman of £84m turnover Scottish owned property firm Morris & Spottiswood formally opened the firm's new £2m purpose built office in Warrington this week. Speaking at the opening Mr Morris declared the new
26/11/2012
A major construction company and a concrete structures firm have been sentenced after a worker died following a fall from height at a Swansea building site. Carillion Construction Ltd, along with Febrey Ltd, were jointly prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at
26/11/2012
Many towns and villages are compiling a Neighbourhood Plan and the issue of sustainability plays an important role in how we plan for the future development of our communities. Architecture has a huge impact on how we live our lives and so in an effort to unravel the jargon, we bring you an articl
23/11/2012
A landmark deal has been agreed that could see the University of Northampton move to a new £330m campus in Northampton Town Centre. Located in the Northampton Enterprise Zone, the Avon Nunn Mills site covers 20 hectares of brownfield land along the River Nene. In March 2012, West Northamptonshi
23/11/2012
900 jobs are to be axed by Tata Steel across the UK, almost 600 of which will be at plants in Wales. It is understood most of the Welsh losses will be management and administrative posts in Port Talbot and Llanwern near Newport. 155 jobs in Yorkshire will go, alongside 120 in the West Midlands and
23/11/2012
Planners have given the go-ahead to the development of an 'extra care' housing scheme for older people in Alfreton. The scheme is for 52 two-bedroom modern extra care apartments designed specifically to suit the needs of older people, together with communal facilities, on the Cressy Fields site in
23/11/2012
Shepherd Construction has landed a 'double first' having secured £13 million of work for the first time in both Oxford and on London’s Oxford Street. The contracts both involve the development of retail space – a £9 million mixed-use development on behalf of the Cooperative Insurance Society and a
23/11/2012
he Morgan Sindall Grontmij joint venture is due to start work this month on a circa £22 million project with Yorkshire Water Services to improve Bridlington's bathing water quality. The work required includes the construction of two new combined sewer overflow chambers and an 800 metre long, two me
23/11/2012
Affordable housing contractor, Wates Living Space has celebrated the completion of its 20,000th property refurbishment in the Black Country in ten years, marking a significant milestone in its housing construction and refurbishment work across the area. Wates' presence in the Black Country has so f
23/11/2012
South Cambridgeshire MP Andrew Lansley has inspected the site of Cambridgeshire's first new village college for 30 years. Along with Claire Coates, recently appointed head of school for Cambourne Village College, and Stephen Munday, the executive principal of both Comberton and Cambourne village co
23/11/2012
A Cambridge landlord risked the health of his tenants by failing to ensure gas appliances were safe to use and then produced a fake certificate to give the impression they were, a court has heard. Emran Hussain, aged 43, knowingly attempted to deceive officials after shirking his legal responsibili
23/11/2012
Planet Partitioning, the UK's largest independent partitioning specialist, has supplied a substantial quantity of frameless single-glazed partitioning and feature Barrisol ceilings to the newly-built Ferrari and Maserati car showroom in Swindon. Completed in June 2012, the Dick Lovett Sporting Ltd d
23/11/2012
Air Pollution from Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and NOx has a major impact on the air quality in urban city environments. In Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA's) Developers and Consultants are under increasing pressure from planning departments to comply with the EU CAFÉ Directive 2008/50/EC for their n
22/11/2012
Birmingham MP Jack Dromey has visited Carillion's training centre in the city to see how local apprentices are gaining the skills and qualifications for a career in construction. Carillion is the largest employer of young apprentices in the sector with around 2,000 trainees at any one time. Its tr
22/11/2012
Construction union UCATT is promising to do all that it can to help its members at the Leicestershire based construction company Hallam Contracts which has gone into administration. The 100 plus workforce were told that they would be made redundant with immediate effect. The longstanding family ow
22/11/2012
Morgan Sindall has won a £4.2 million contract to construct a state-of-the-art sustainable centre which will offer training across the field of green technology at East Kent College. The development is the first of its kind in Kent, and will comprise the construction of a new two-storey building wh
22/11/2012
Volunteers from a Coventry-based project designed to tackle fuel poverty were on hand to provide energy efficiency tips at an event in Jardine Crescent, Tile Hill, organised by Coventry City Council's neighbourhood action team. Latest figures show almost 27,000 Coventry residents are living in fuel
22/11/2012
Eric Pickles visited the Rollo housing estate in the London Borough of Wandsworth to see how £3.6 million of government funding is helping the council provide more affordable homes for local families. Mr Pickles unveiled the final 38 affordable new homes of the Hidden Homes initiative that celebrat
22/11/2012
Work has begun on the construction of a new £9.9m Extra Care facility in Coneygree Road, Peterborough. To celebrate the start of the brickwork, Kier organised a ceremony on 20 November, inviting client Cross Keys Homes' director of operations, Claire Higgins, and head of development Ian Richardson,
22/11/2012
The Government needs to do more to help encourage the development of small and micro sites that exist in every town and city if it wants to tackle the housing problem, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to today's housing announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister. FMB Chief Ex
22/11/2012
The next phase of a renewable energy project which could generate in excess of £100 million for taxpayers while reducing the city's carbon footprint has been given the green light. Members of Peterborough City Council's Sustainable Growth and Environment Capital Scrutiny Committee met earlier this
22/11/2012
Teesdale Housing Association's latest development in the village of Staindrop near Barnard Castle has been opened by Pat Ritchie, the Chief Executive of the Homes and Communities Agency which invested over £800,000 in the new houses. The 14 home scheme, which was developed in partnership with Durha
22/11/2012
TrioPlus, expert floor protection retailer, have recently teamed up with Sutters Partners Architects, a London-based design team committed to delivering stunning housing projects with an emphasis on sustainable living. A huge batch of Trio Plus’ Ram Board hard floor protection was recently delivered
22/11/2012
Chandlers Building Supplies has announced the launch of its new 'Modern Designs for Modern Living' bathroom collection. The design of six suites not only delivers great product performance and customer satisfaction, but also maintains excellent water efficiency. The latest technology has been us
21/11/2012
A planning application, which opens the way for the redevelopment of the Earl's Court site, has been approved by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Major Planning Development Committee. The decision gives outline planning permission for the redevelopment of the part of the site within Ke
21/11/2012
Today marks the start of EDF Energy's public consultation for a new nuclear power station in Suffolk. Over the next eleven weeks EDF Energy will be consulting on the company’s initial proposals and options for the Sizewell C development. Local people can have their say on areas such as the overall
21/11/2012
Leading housing and regeneration provider asra Housing Group has chosen Lovell, which has local offices in Halesowen and Handsworth, for a five-year contract to repair and refurbish unoccupied homes in the East Midlands. The deal is worth £5 million and will see Lovell work with asra to repair void
21/11/2012
An event aimed at attracting and encouraging young people to consider a career in the construction sector is being supported by joint venture partners Costain Skanska. The Skills London 2012 event is expected to attract over 30,000 visitors and is taking place on November 23-24 at London's Excel Ar
21/11/2012
Motorists and hauliers will benefit from increased capacity on England's motorways by spring 2015 thanks to the acceleration of three upgrades, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced. These will be delivered in this spending review period rather than the next, as the government introduces
21/11/2012
Flying the flag for women in construction everywhere, local resident and Kier site manager Elizabeth (Libby) McCartney, became the first female award winner in three years at the 2012 Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Construction Manager of The Year Awards, where she scooped Silver for her pro
21/11/2012
A Leicester door-fitting firm has been fined after an employee was injured when he fell from a wooden crate fixed to a fork lift truck. The 39 year-old man from Enderby, Leicester, fractured his wrist, heel, ankle and elbow when he fell nearly five metres while fitting a roller shutter door at a fa
21/11/2012
At the end of a two year build programme residents in Crook are celebrating the completion of County Durham's newest council homes, thanks to investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) of over £2.5m. In total £5.6m has been invested to provide 46 apartments and four bungalows providing
21/11/2012
PAR Group recently announced a further investment in their CNC gasket cutting machinery. The company, founded in 1981 specialise in rubber and plastics engineering, and the investment will enable them to cope with the increasing demands on existing machinery. The technology gives them the capabilit
21/11/2012
Trio Plus, the leading floor protection retailer, have confirmed two large orders of their specialist Grey Fleece Hard Floor Protection for use during the refurbishment of two very different environments: Mottram Hall Hotel in Cheshire, and the Electric Cinema on Portobello Road in London. The fleec
21/11/2012
Darwen-based interior design business APM Design is in the running for one of the country’s most prestigious professional awards. They have been shortlisted, in the top four, for the 'Best Interior Design Practice' title in this year's Northern Design Awards. APM – the design team behind the £7.8
21/11/2012
Stainless steel prices are set to rise in early 2013, according to leading steel-sector consultancy company MEPS. The organisation, which operates on a global basis, believes that the first half of next year will see an increase in EU average stainless steel transaction values. MEPS (Management, En
20/11/2012
ISG is underway with a further two fast-track projects in South Wales, awarded to the contractor as part of the Cardiff City Framework. The short lead in time and strict completion deadlines for the projects at Whitchurch School and Fairwater Leisure Centre ideally suit delivery via the council's
20/11/2012
Just weeks after opening its doors to the public, the refurbished Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare has picked up its first national award. It has been named the Public Building Retrofit Project of the Year at the recent Retro Expo awards held at the NEC in Birmingham. The awards celebrate Britain's m
20/11/2012
Interserve has scooped a three-year, integrated facilities management contract with Carphone Warehouse, the largest independent telecommunications retailer in Europe. Interserve will support more than 3,000 staff across Carphone Warehouse's 32,000 square metre commercial property portfolio, includi
20/11/2012
Pupils at St Mary's RC Primary School on Ford Green Road, Stoke, welcomed E.ON's Insulation Challenge when they took time out of the classroom to learn about energy efficiency. Given the task of insulating playhouses, teams of Year Four, Five and Six pupils got creative with cotton wool, cardboard
20/11/2012
Two top housing bosses have been heavily criticised by Unite for receiving enormous pay rises, while their frontline workers face having their wages slashed. Mick Sweeney, the chief executive officer of One Housing, has had a £31,000 rise in pay and bonuses, taking his income to £176,000-a-year, wh
20/11/2012
A landmark moment in Birmingham City Council's use of technology will be reached when Planning Committee members begin to officially use tablet computers to enable the electronic running of Planning Committee. The committee is set to start a six month trial at its November 22 meeting, initially usi
20/11/2012
There are signs that the market weakness of recent months may be coming to an end, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The CML's forward estimate is that total gross mortgage lending recovered to £12.9 billion in October. This would reverse the sharp dip reported for September, and
20/11/2012
A demolition firm has appeared in court after part of a stand collapsed onto an excavator driver at Old Trafford Cricket Ground. The 33-year-old worker from Warrington, who has asked not to be named, suffered serious injuries when a two-tonne concrete slab landed on his vehicle's cab. Warrington-b
19/11/2012
Morgan Sindall has won a £15.8 million contract to redevelop and upgrade facilities at the University of Hertfordshire. The development will include the construction of a new two-storey student services building and a new main reception area and learning zone at the university’s College Lane campus
19/11/2012
Work on a new section of the Wray Valley Trail through Bovey Tracey is set to get underway before Christmas. The trail, which follows the old Newton Abbot to Moretonhampstead railway line, will connect Mill Marsh Park and Parke by passing beneath the A382 at Hole Bridge and will be accessible for,
19/11/2012
Mansell and UNITE cement long-term relationship with £24 million student accommodation development in Camden. The UNITE Group and Mansell have reinforced their long-standing relationship with a new contract valued at £24.2 million. Mansell has been appointed as main contractor for the design and b
19/11/2012
Costain, one of the UK's leading engineering solutions providers, today announced the formation of a new Natural Resources operating division as part of the further transformation of the Group to align closely with its customers’ evolving requirements. The new division will encompass the Water, Hyd
19/11/2012
Equality in housing should be "rooted in reality"; this was the message from Colin Molton, Executive Director for the South and South West, as he launched the Homes and Communities Agency’s equality and diversity strategy today. Speaking at a joint HCA / National Housing Federation event at the off
19/11/2012
Fears that the new North West highways management contract will increase costs and traffic delays, are already proving to be correct, construction union UCATT has learned. The new contract for area 10 which covers the M60/M62 area, affecting Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, was transfer
19/11/2012
Kier Stoke and Stoke-on-Trent City Council were highly commended at the national British Building Maintenance Awards. The partnership was recognised and praised for its project 'Reigniting the Customer Experience', which has improved the way local residents receive repair and maintenance services.
19/11/2012
Independent energy supplier to UK businesses, Opus Energy, would like to congratulate Paul Nicholls who trained Dodging Bullets, ridden by Ruby Walsh and bred by Frankie Dettori, for winning this year’s £25,000 Grade Two Opus Energy Novices’ Hurdle on the Countryside Day at Cheltenham’s Open Meeting
16/11/2012
Dungeness B power station is holding an apprentice information day this month, to help local youngsters find a new career in the nuclear energy industry. EDF Energy runs a very successful advanced nuclear apprenticeship scheme, and is holding an information day to give prospective applicants all th
16/11/2012
BAM has become the first construction company in the South West to achieve the status of National Skills Academy for Construction for a programme-based approach to skills and training. The decision will trigger a huge programme of work opportunities in the South West of England for the next three ye
16/11/2012
One of Richmond's leading primary schools has been given a substantial makeover as part of a £4.2 million expansion project. Chase Bridge Primary School has been transformed by construction, infrastructure and design company Morgan Sindall. The project saw the company expand the school to a three f
16/11/2012
Costain has joined Oil & Gas UK as part of a continuous commitment to develop its upstream oil and gas business. Oil & Gas UK is the leading representative body of the UK offshore oil and gas industry with membership including 'super-major' oil companies and some of the largest engineering contract
16/11/2012
Half way through the parliamentary term the coalition government is failing to fix Britain's broken housing market, leading housing groups warn today. In their third 'Housing Report' the National Housing Federation, Shelter and The Chartered Institute of Housing say overcrowding, homelessness, hous
16/11/2012
Mark Powell of Halifax has been awarded one of the construction industry's top accolades for his work as Project Manager of the new Campsmount Technology College in Doncaster. Recognised by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) at its annual Construction Manager of the Year awards, Mark was co
16/11/2012
The Homes and Communities Agency is on track to meet its delivery targets for 2012/13, according to official statistics published today. The statistics are the first published covering delivery since the transfer of the HCA's responsibilities in London to the GLA. In the first six months of the y
16/11/2012
A major upgrade to rail links which will bring over £4 billion of economic benefits to the north west is progressing well, said Transport Minister Simon Burns. The minister visited Manchester and Liverpool today to see for himself work on the Northern Hub and plans for the electrification of rail l
16/11/2012
Environment Minister, John Griffiths, has visited a housing project in Dolwyddelan, Conwy, to see affordable homes built from Welsh timber. Tai Fforddiadwy, Glan Gors in Dolwyddelan is a Welsh Government funded housing scheme to build four new homes in the area. The Minister visited the three bedro
16/11/2012
A West Midlands company has been fined after a worker fell and slid seven metres into sewage well in Halesowen. The 34-year-old from Walsall, who has asked not to be named, was clearing a blockage for Tardis Environmental UK Ltd at a partially completed housing development when the incident occurre
15/11/2012
Travelodge, the UK's first budget hotel chain, has opened its second hotel in Sunderland city centre. The £6m investment in Sunderland High Street West Travelodge adds a further 82 hotel bedrooms to the city, and complements the existing Sunderland Central Travelodge in Low Row near Sunderland Mins
15/11/2012
Interserve has won a three-year, £3.5 million, mechanical and engineering maintenance contract for Oxford University Estates Services across its 74,400 square metre portfolio of medical research buildings. This new contract will see Interserve deliver mechanical and engineering services across five
15/11/2012
Housing Regeneration and Heritage Minister Huw Lewis recently visited residents of Gallamuir Road in Tremorfa to see how work to achieve the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) has improved their homes and their lives. The Minister visited the properties ahead of a debate on progress towards achi
15/11/2012
Lovell has appointed Peter Ball as partnership manager for the company's contract providing repairs services to Accord Group, one of the West Midlands' largest housing associations. Through the ten-year contract with Accord, Lovell carries out day-to-day repairs and provides a 24-hour reactive repa
15/11/2012
The lives of several construction workers were put at risk as they worked on unsafe scaffolding at a farm in the Ribble Valley, a court has heard. The men were spotted working on a barn conversion in Mellor Brow in Mellor on 13 March 2012 during a series of on-the-spot inspections carried out by th
15/11/2012
Construction union UCATT has reacted with anger and dismay to the announcement that the Government intends to outsource prison maintenance departments. UCATT represents hundreds of prison maintenance workers who are responsible for keeping prisons functioning. They include carpenters, painters, loc
15/11/2012
HG COMMERCIALE, one of the Swiss construction industry's leading trading companies, is fitting its new sales point in Cortaillod with rack systems from OHRA. A tailor-made combination of cantilever, pallet, and vertical racks accommodates a wide range of building materials. By investing in the new
15/11/2012
The panel of independent expert judges praised Origin’s quality bi-fold door product as well as their superior short lead times, excellent customer service and industry leading 20 year guarantee before giving the company the accolade of Best Glazed Product 2012. Neil Ginger, Origin CEO said: "We ar
15/11/2012
Grangewood Fencing Supplies Ltd has been supplying quality garden fencing products to trade, retail and wholesale customers for over 20 years. We are the Midlands largest independent supplier of fencing materials, holding large stocks of fencing, timber and concrete products at each of our five dep
15/11/2012
When a UK based high security defence establishment needed to replace existing and install new gates at different locations, they turned to perimeter security specialists, Cova Security Gates, to propose the best solution to meet their specific needs. The brief was to provide tested but discreet se
14/11/2012
Darlington Borough Council has selected leading property development and investment group Terrace Hill to develop a £30 million leisure centre in Feethams, Darlington. Last week, Terrace Hill and Darlington Borough Council signed the leisure development deal, which will see the 0.75 hectare former
14/11/2012
Today, Wednesday 14th November, Peterborough City Council launched an initiative that could save residents from across the city money on their energy bills. The Peterborough Collective Energy Scheme will allow residents to combine their purchasing power and to bulk buy their energy as a group, enab
14/11/2012
Morgan Sindall has secured a £16.9 million contract to expand a Redbridge high school. The project will involve the design and construction of a new building to accommodate 840 additional students at Beal High School in the London Borough of Redbridge. The mixed community school, which caters for
14/11/2012
His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent, has officially opened the new Village Square in Castlefields. The Mayor and Mayoress of Halton, Cllrs Tom and Angela McInerney, welcomed His Royal Highness at Castlefields Community Centre and introduced local residents, community groups and regeneration partne
14/11/2012
Interserve has been announced preferred bidder on a seven year residential and corporate property contract with East Thames Group. The contract has a potential value of £100 million over the initial seven year term, and includes a provision to extend to fifteen years in total. This integrated repa
14/11/2012
One of the UK's largest social housing providers – Your Housing Group – is to use eco-friendly fencing for its residential development in Partington, Manchester. Made from Zyplex 55, the recycled plastic lumber is being supplied by a Colne-based family business, Kedel Ltd., and is ideal for replaci
14/11/2012
Milbank Concrete Products has announced that Andy Mayne has been appointed as its new Managing Director. Current MD Sean Milbank will take on the role of Chairman. Andy Mayne started his career with Milbank in 1991, working his way through key on-site positions before being promoted to the post of
14/11/2012
With the building of new homes outlined as a top priority in the housing minister, Mark Prisk's brief, the announcement that contracts have been signed on a major affordable housing scheme on the edge of Northampton means the town will soon benefit from over 100 houses and apartments. Loughborough-
14/11/2012
Last year Kirkley Community High School in Lowestoft decided they needed to develop and improve their sports facilities. They approached Playrite as they were looking to add some new tennis courts as well as a multi use games area that could be used for a wider variety of spots. Steve Byrnes, Natio
14/11/2012
Following a competitive tender process, the Australian Department of Defence has taken delivery of 180 TUFF personal air sampling pumps and 180 CEL-350 dBadge personal noise dosimeters from Casella CEL, leading global specialist in industrial hygiene and occupational health monitoring equipment. Ro
14/11/2012
North Wales High School Emrys ap Iwan commissioned local security and IT specialist Spider Technologies to research a replacement solution for their exhausted swipe card system. After extensive investigation Spider Technologies recommended the robust ievo Ultimate fingerprint reader. The school pre
14/11/2012
Design ACB, working with Raglan Housing Association, TAB Projects and Southampton City Council, is kick-starting the wider regeneration efforts of the Southampton City Centre Masterplan with proposals for its Queensway Housing scheme in the market area of the Old Town. The proposals, in response t
13/11/2012
Sellafield Ltd has selected Amec, Hertel (UK) Ltd and Shepley Engineers Ltd as its preferred partners to deliver work packages worth a potential £280 million at the nuclear complex in West Cumbria. The Multi Discipline Site Works (MDSW) framework updates an existing arrangement governing how a rang
13/11/2012
Multi-million pound plans to deliver 12 new schools in Liverpool are set to be approved by the Mayor's Cabinet. It is one of the key pledges of Mayor Joe Anderson, and will see £135 million invested between now and 2017 on a dozen primary, secondary and special schools. A further £34.2 million wil
13/11/2012
The LILAC self-build co-operative in Leeds is celebrating a major milestone with the structural completion of their first home at the site of a former school in Bramley. LILAC, which stands for the Low Impact Living, Affordable Community is a co-operative which allows members to create a shared wa
13/11/2012
Bolton Council has appointed ISG as its contractor partner for the redevelopment and refurbishment of Bolton Town Hall. The redevelopment of the Town Hall is part of a rationalisation programme, which aims to move more council staff into the building, enabling the council to dispose of other buildin
13/11/2012
If the Government is to take full advantage of the economic, environmental and social benefits of improving UK energy efficiency then it needs to urgently tackle our existing housing stock which accounts for 27% of the UK's total carbon emissions, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in resp
13/11/2012
Kier has appointed Mike Webb as the new safety, health and environment (SHE) manager within its maintenance business. Mike will work with all SHE managers and advisors across the company's regional contracts to ensure that Kier continues to exceed legislative requirements regionally and nationally,
13/11/2012
Over 120,000 bricks dating back to 1882 have been rescued during the construction of a new primary school in Ealing, London, by BAM Construction. The new ARK Academy Primary school is being built by contractor BAM Construction. As part of its commitment to sustainability, BAM commissioned a pre-dem
13/11/2012
Proposed new powers will make it easier for hard working families to make home improvements in a way that also protects the amenity of neighbours, Planning Minister Nick Boles has announced. The reforms would, for a time limited period, slash planning red tape, sweep away unnecessary rules and bure
13/11/2012
Construction union UCATT have described the Government's proposals to give employees company shares in return for the removal of their employment rights as "grossly exploitative". Under the plans announced by George Osborne at Conservative Party Conference, a new form of employment status will be c
13/11/2012
Caving enthusiasts have put Scruffs workwear to the test in an adrenaline-packed adventure requiring only the best in protective workwear. The Scruffs Extreme Workwear Challenge for 2012 took place in October; daring testers Simon Harrington and Lee Jones set out to explore the caverns of Giants Ho
12/11/2012
Lovell has been selected by housing association Grŵp Gwalia for a four-year repairs contract in Swansea and South West Wales. Worth £8 million in total turnover, the new contract starts in December and will see Lovell provide responsive repairs services at 2,500 homes and refurbish void proper
12/11/2012
Gatwick Airport has awarded a contract to Vinci Construction to transform Pier 1 in the South Terminal. At a cost of £183.9 million, this project is Gatwick's largest capital investment since the change of ownership nearly three years ago. It is also a historic milestone for Gatwick as the pier is
12/11/2012
Costain, a leading engineering solutions provider, has announced that it has been awarded a four-year technology contract by the Welsh Government and has also been appointed onto both lots of the Highways Agency Asset Support Framework. The four-year technology contract, worth around £15m, is for t
12/11/2012
Construction union UCATT are calling for a meeting with London Mayor Boris Johnson after he refused to answer whether he would support the direct employment of construction workers, in order to reduce deaths and injuries. Fiona Twycross, a Labour member of the London Assembly, recently asked Mr Joh
12/11/2012
Kier Services is the latest 'big name' organisation to receive Green Deal accreditation from leading certification body NICEIC. Green Deal is the Government's flagship initiative to reduce energy emissions from homes and buildings across the UK. Last month the new Energy Company Obligations (ECO) w
12/11/2012
David Rowsell has been awarded one of the construction industry's top accolades for his work as Project Manager of the new Business School at Kingston University. Recognised by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) at its annual Construction Manager of the Year awards, Rowsell was commended fo
12/11/2012
More than 200 older people in Newtown, Birmingham, are preparing to move into Pannel Croft Village – the ExtraCare Charitable Trust’s second retirement village in the city. The scheme has been developed as a partnership between Birmingham City Council, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the De
12/11/2012
Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has been appointed as a Supply Chain Partner on the Welsh Government's 'Designed for Life: Building for Wales 3' National Framework. This framework will run for four years with a two year extension option and covers NHS buildin
12/11/2012
A new warehouse built by the Dutch timber and building materials merchants ITS Rotterdam enables consignment goods and stock to be centrally stored. The warehouse is equipped with 9 meter high rack systems from OHRA, enabling the realisation of 460 palette places as well as 396 meters of cantilever
12/11/2012
With an ever growing order book with prestige clients Odour Services International Limited are pleased to announce that Jeff Allen has joined the project delivery team at OSIL. Jeff has held a number of senior project and contracts management positions at leading principal contractors including Nom
09/11/2012
As part of the construction of the new Farringdon station, Crossrail needs to protect and replace the utilities that lie beneath Farringdon Road. The preparatory works began in August this year, with the main phase of the utility works commencing on Monday 12 November. The works are expected to con
09/11/2012
New rules meaning that gas suppliers will have to be much more proactive at stamping out gas theft are set to come into force from January 2013. Gas theft puts lives at risk and also increases costs for consumers. Research suggests theft could cost around £138 million, or around £6 per household p
09/11/2012
New figures released today by the Home Builders Federation reveal that over 2000 people have now reserved new homes through the NewBuy scheme since its launch in March. This week also saw the 50th builder become registered to sell homes through the scheme, meaning there is now a wide cross section
09/11/2012
Lakehouse has announced that it has acquired Allied Protection Limited, a leading provider of fire detection and alarm systems. Like Lakehouse, Allied Protection specialises in working within the social housing sector and its clients include Circle Anglia, A2 Dominion, Southern Housing Group and
09/11/2012
EDF Energy has published a document setting out how it plans to consult with local people about its proposals for a new power station at Sizewell and its associated development. In its Statement of Community Consultation (SOCC) published EDF Energy also gives details of exhibitions where the publ
09/11/2012
Swan Bank Church in Burslem has been given a makeover by employees from Kier Stoke who donated their time to update the church's décor using materials provided free of charge by the firm. Using equipment provided by Kier Stoke the team erected tower scaffolding and large platforms to paint the hall
09/11/2012
A derelict property that stood empty for 14 years and caused a nuisance to the community has been transformed into a family home by Oldham based Aksa Homes, part of the New Charter Housing Trust Group. Aksa Homes, in partnership with Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, has developed a new letting
09/11/2012
BRE and Groundwork West Midlands are working with Birmingham City Council on a pilot community initiative as part of the Green Deal – Go Early programme. The Birmingham Energy Savers (BES) scheme aims to put community groups at the heart of the Green Deal, enabling them to tackle social and environ
09/11/2012
Cllr James McKay, Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member for Green, Safe and Smart City, has been appointed as Chair of the Eurocities Environment Forum. The appointment means that Cllr McKay is effectively the spokesperson on behalf of European cities on environmental matters and is recognition of
09/11/2012
Communities Minister Don Foster has launched a new independent group of building industry experts, tasked with simplifying the mass of rules imposed on developers and housebuilders, to make them easier to understand and follow. As part of the Government's Red Tape Challenge Ministers have made clea
08/11/2012
The amount of work needed to convert the Olympic Stadium means it may not be open to the public till August 2016, the London Assembly heard. At a meeting of the Assembly's Budget and Performance Committee, the newly appointed Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, Dennis Hone
08/11/2012
Mears, the UK's leading provider of social housing repairs and maintenance services, have announced the acquisition of Morrison Facilities Services Limited (Morrison). The acquisition of Morrison for £24 million reinforces Mears' position within social housing. Morrison, who has in excess of 2,50
08/11/2012
Environment Minister, John Griffiths has launched new planning policy aimed at ensuring the planning system supports the growth of the Welsh economy whilst also staying true to the principles of sustainable development. The Minister visited the Rhondda to launch the new policy which stresses that i
08/11/2012
Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has been honoured twice in the British Quality Foundation's 2012 Awards. The group's construction division has become the first UK contractor to win the UK Excellence Award, the UK’s premier business award. Interserve also won
08/11/2012
Guildford residents and workers will benefit from 550 additional park and ride spaces following planning permission for a new park and ride scheme in Onslow. At a meeting, the Planning Committee agreed Surrey County Council and Guildford Borough Council's plans to help reduce traffic in the town ce
08/11/2012
Government should follow the recommendation from MPs to provide a single definition of an apprenticeship to help restore the apprenticeship brand, said the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to the report from the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee. MPs on the Committee h
08/11/2012
A North Devon plumber who fraudulently claimed to be a registered gas fitter has received a suspended prison sentence and tagging order preventing him from leaving his home after 8pm. Ben Laverty failed to check gas appliances he had been asked to test and produced false certificates declaring them
08/11/2012
A full good service is operating across the Central line today following the successful completion of a 12-day closure of the Hainault loop in order to upgrade points, renew rail and install drainage. The block closure has enabled much needed upgrade work to take place which has vastly improved the
08/11/2012
A Cambridge residential development has been awarded an international property accolade just weeks after its first show home was unveiled to the public. Homes by Skanska's Seven Acres development, at Clay Farm, south of Trumpington claimed the prize for 'Best Development Multiple Units UK' in the U
08/11/2012
The Roaches Close housing development in Leek has opened and marks the start of a major programme of affordable housing in the Staffordshire Moorlands - the most ambitious since the Second World War. The Ascent joint venture, a partnership between Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Your H
08/11/2012
With a focus on keeping costs low, but maintaining a high spec gym, Lifestyle Fitness has invested in ievo® fingerprint access-control pods across the UK to improve the efficiency within their gyms. The highly successful fitness chain has 5 sites within the UK with the new access control system al
07/11/2012
With the new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre about to open, no one is more proud of its completion than Simon Ramage, the Willmott Dixon project director responsible for its construction. A St Albans resident, Simon headed up the team behind the 18-month programme to build a state-of-the-art new r
07/11/2012
EDF Energy has selected Hampshire-based Dean & Dyball Civil Engineering to build a temporary sea jetty at the site of its proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset. The £30m jetty will be built subject to a final decision from EDF to proceed with the new nuclear project and t
07/11/2012
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet has agreed to the proposal to close Derwent House Home for Older People in Ulverston Road, Newbold, Chesterfield, and replace it with up to 50 one and two-bedroomed apartments for older people and communal facilities on the same site. The new development would be s
07/11/2012
Construction union UCATT have described the report into Apprenticeships by the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee as a “mixed bag”. UCATT welcomed the report's recommendation that Central and Local Government and other publicly funded bodies should use procurement rules to ensure that
07/11/2012
A scaffolding company and its director have been fined for safety failings after a worker suffered life-changing injuries in a 2.5 metre fall from a scaffold platform at a property in Kent. The worker, who was untrained, fell from the first lift of the scaffold as it was being dismantled. He was pa
07/11/2012
Peterborough City Council has agreed to spearhead the UK's largest collective energy switching scheme. The initiative uses the idea of bulk-buying to reduce energy costs for residents and small and medium enterprises in the city. The city council's Cabinet voted unanimously to proceed with the sch
07/11/2012
BAM's projects in the South West gain a full house of outstanding independent inspection scores. Five major West Country projects, worth over £100m, have had their considerate performance recognised in a national initiative to improve the image of construction. During the past month the five const
07/11/2012
Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) and energy company E.ON have joined forces to launch a new scheme aimed at tackling fuel poverty and unemployment in Exeter by offering free training in energy efficiency for local jobseekers. Exeter, where 2,010 people received Jobseeker's Allowanc
07/11/2012
A week-long focus on energy awareness across Costain starts on November 12 as the group pursues its target of cutting its CO2 emissions by 55% by the end of the decade. An extensive programme of toolbox talks, staff briefings and appointment of energy champions to co-ordinate the campaign on proje
07/11/2012
HSS Hire, the leading national supplier of tools, equipment and related services, is pleased to announce that it has acquired Abird Generator Hire, one of the UK's leading diesel electric generator hire companies. The acquisition will complement HSS Hire's existing fleet, enabling it to offer a wid
06/11/2012
Lovell has been awarded a circa £1.3 million roof replacement contract by Hull City Council under the Efficiency North EN Procure Elemental Works framework. The re-roofing works, which are due to start on site next month, will involve the removal and renewal of existing roof coverings and associate
06/11/2012
Work has begun on a new link road which will open up further land for jobs creation at Derbyshire's regeneration site. Derbyshire County Council is investing over £70 million laying the foundations to drive long term employment opportunities at Markham Vale which is just off the purpose-built junct
06/11/2012
London City Airport yesterday, Monday 5th November celebrated a quarter of a century in business with the announcement of a £15m investment programme. Plans include the refurbishment of the Western Pier, with new departure gates and improved lounge facilities, re-development of the International Ar
06/11/2012
Environment Minister, John Griffiths, has announced a period of additional work as part of the consultation process into designating marine conservation zones (MCZ) in Wales. Earlier this year, the Welsh Government conducted a consultation setting out the science behind 10 potential highly protecte
06/11/2012
Wolseley UK has bought 22 Burdens branches across the UK, involving some 600 employees, for £30m, it was announced today, 2nd November 2012. Burdens is one of the leading suppliers of utility and civil engineering products in the UK. Burdens has a well established reputation in the marketplace and
06/11/2012
A Costain Environmental Services technician has won the British Drilling Association's (BDA) Apprentice of the Year award. Bourne End-based Technician Drilling Operator, Antonio Vieira, picked up the winner’s trophy at the BDA’s annual dinner at Harrogate. The BDA is a trade association with over 1
06/11/2012
Work is set to begin on the first phase of a 132 ha development at Kilnwood Vale, a new community comprising 2,500 homes west of Crawley being delivered by Crest Nicholson. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) confirmed £2.3 million of investment, making this one of the first sites in the UK to be
06/11/2012
At the industry awards ceremony in London, BEW collected the much coveted Best Electrical Wholesaler of the Year Award for 2012 in the "over £20 million turnover category". The judges commented: "BEW demonstrates real investment in its staff, whilst providing a great service for its clients. It is
06/11/2012
A Kier Construction-built chapel in Milton Keynes was celebrated at an event rewarding excellence in the use of concrete last week. The Oak Chapel at the Crownhill Crematorium, which was designed by Adrian Morrow Architects, received double recognition at the Concrete Society Awards; it won not onl
06/11/2012
A Cheltenham demolition company has been prosecuted after exposing its own workers to dangerous asbestos fibres and illegally removing asbestos waste from a property in Gloucester. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted DA Environmental Services Ltd at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court for th
06/11/2012
MITIE has secured a contract to provide integrated facilities management (FM) for British Sky Broadcasting Group (Sky), the UK's largest entertainment and home communications company. The contract, with a total value in excess of £100m over a five-year period, will see MITIE deliver services across
05/11/2012
Renovation work at Southampton Central has finished, marking the end of a 2.4 million, 14 month station improvement project. The three-stage renovation project was the 250th project of this nature carried out under the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP), and involved major internal and
05/11/2012
ISG has been awarded a £4.3 million contract to transform an iconic piece of film industry history into exclusive London apartments. Once the home of Paramount Studios' London headquarters, Paramount House, in London’s Soho conservation area, is a six-storey building latterly used as commercial off
05/11/2012
Centrica Energy has announced that it will not be proceeding with planning applications to develop dedicated biomass power stations at Roosecote in Barrow-in-Furness and at Glanford Brigg in North Lincolnshire. Centrica Energy had proposed to build a new 80MW biomass power station on the site of i
05/11/2012
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has given a broad welcome to the Heseltine Review. NFB chief executive Julia Evans said: "The proposals contained in Lord Heseltine’s Review could give a shot in the arm to the economy if the government is brave enough to implement even a fraction of what i
05/11/2012
Developing 'age-friendly' cities has become increasingly important with places in the UK and abroad starting to develop initiatives to improve the quality of life for older people living in cities. As part of the Festival of Social Science Manchester City Council's Valuing Older People team have jo
05/11/2012
Liverpool is one of the first cities in the country to launch a new Youth Contract aimed at lifting teenagers out of unemployment. Launching today 5 November, the Youth Contract Apprenticeship Business Grant Initiative offers a subsidy of up to £3,500 for employers to take on young people who are a
05/11/2012
A major new resource recovery facility, that will boost Bradford and Calderdale's recycling rates and produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 20,000 homes, has been given the green light. Members of Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee have approved plans submitted by P
05/11/2012
Places for People have given Mencap's daycentre in Eastbourne a £25,000 makeover. The work was completed in 1 day as part of a regional team challenge. The 46-strong team redecorated the ground floor, installed a wheelchair ramp and created a new storage area. A seaside-themed mural was painted in
05/11/2012
A Brixham gas fitter has been fined after falsely claiming to be registered gas engineer and leaving work he carried out in a dangerous condition. In a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Torbay Magistrates heard that Sean Collins carried out work on a gas boiler in July a
02/11/2012
Work is to commence this week on a £5.1m project to improve Llandudno Station in North Wales. Outline design work has already been completed for the planned refurbishment of the station which has benefited from a £3.5m Welsh Government investment including European Regional Development Fund structu
02/11/2012
A major new resource recovery facility, that will boost Bradford and Calderdale's recycling rates and produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 20,000 homes, has been given the green light. Members of Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee today approved plans submitted by
02/11/2012
Actor Kevin Whately has opened a pioneering new housing scheme that will provide a unique home to people in Milton Keynes living with dementia. In his role as Ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society, the star of Lewis – whose mother Mary died with dementia in 2009 – opened Flowers House. The develop
02/11/2012
December's Autumn Statement is a prime opportunity for the Government to boost UK economic growth, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). In its letter to the Chancellor in advance of the Autumn Statement, the FMB urges Government to stimulate growth in the construction industry and
02/11/2012
British Gas is announcing changes that will increase transparency around its complaints data, and is calling on all other energy suppliers to follow its lead as soon as possible. The aim is to ensure that customers can accurately compare levels of customer service between energy suppliers for the f
02/11/2012
In December 2012, a team of British scientists and engineers will drill through 3km of solid ice into the buried Lake Ellsworth, Antarctica, to search for life forms in the water and clues to the past climate on earth buried in the lake bed sediments. AIM has been helping the project in its own sma
02/11/2012
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and Kier have signalled the start of a new development at Burnley General Hospital with an official sod cutting ceremony. The new building will replace the existing urgent care facilities and provide a state-of-the-art integrated Urgent Care Centre (UCC) which wi
02/11/2012
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has appointed three non-executive members to the Board of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) following open competition: Richard Hyke, Anthony Preiskel and Ruth Thompson were all appointed to the HCA Board. Commenting on the appointme
02/11/2012
Three empty homes which had been left to go to wrack and ruin are being brought back up to standard after finally being sold. The properties, two located on Fletton Avenue and one on Lynton Road in New England, were high on the priority list due to their condition and the effect they were having on
02/11/2012
A free construction safety event will be held in Charnock Richard on Wednesday 14 November after figures revealed that, on average, someone is killed or suffers a major injury on building sites in Lancashire every four days. Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show there were eigh
02/11/2012
The UK Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) showed UKK Manufacturing index decrease for the second month running. At 47.5 in October, from a revised figure of 48.1 in September, the seasonally adjusted Markit/CIPS PMI fell for the second successive month and to its lowest level since July t
01/11/2012
Moves to develop a world-class exhibition and events facility on Liverpool's waterfront have taken a significant step forward, with the appointment of a contractor for the scheme. Following a competitive tender, ISG has been granted the contract to deliver the £40 million development at Kings Dock
01/11/2012
44 social housing projects have today been awarded a share of £3.2million to get renewable heating into the homes of over a thousand social housing tenants across Great Britain. Registered providers for social housing such as local authorities and social housing associations were able to bid for up
01/11/2012
A building company and a decorating firm have been fined after a Birmingham worker suffered multiple injuries when he plummeted more than seven metres through a skylight. The incident happened on 11 January 2012 when Philip Brown was painting the roof on an industrial unit at Torridge Close, Telfor
01/11/2012
Morgan Sindall has handed over a £65 million commercial development in the heart of London's West End. The six storey office development at 6 Agar Street provides 55,000 sq ft of new Grade A office space in Covent Garden and was built for Legal and General Property (LGP). The West End office devel
01/11/2012
Two Mansell sites, Central Sussex College, Haywards Heath and Regis Park, Reading are participating in Open Doors Weekend, an initiative which aims to engage potential new recruits, challenge perceptions and showcase the careers and opportunities the construction industry has to offer. UK Contracto
01/11/2012
MITIE, the FTSE 250 strategic outsourcing and energy services company, has been awarded a ten-year repair and maintenance contract with Golding Homes housing association. The contract is worth £70 million over ten years with the potential to rise to £120 million if Golding Homes issue additional wo
01/11/2012
UCATT have exposed the activities of the two leading blacklisting firms Sir Robert McAlpine and Skanska, while giving evidence to the Scottish Affairs Select Committee. Both companies were undertaking several high profile public sector contracts, while they were blacklisting workers, in the case of
01/11/2012
Uckfield-based Terraco, a leader in the formulation, design and production of environmentally friendly finishing materials, is delighted to be sponsoring a series of interactive conferences about the Green Deal. The seminars, which are taking place around the country, are being organised by Pilot Na
01/11/2012
Communities Minister Don Foster has launched a new independent group of building industry experts, tasked with simplifying the mass of rules imposed on developers and housebuilders, to make them easier to understand and follow. As part of the Government's Red Tape Challenge Ministers have made clea
01/11/2012
A happy family is all smiles after moving into a freshly refurbished home as part of a project to bring long-term empty properties back into use. It's home sweet home for Dawn Wilkinson her partner Robert and their two young daughters Keira, four, and Megan who is only nine weeks old. The family h
01/11/2012
Mental health patients in east Kent will benefit from the very best care and treatment following the opening of a new 36-bed inpatient unit at St Martin’s Hospital in Canterbury. A celebratory ceremony marked the formal opening of the new facility which has been built by Kier Construction and will
