Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for May 2013
31/05/2013
The Mayor, Boris Johnson, has announced details of a £1bn deal to transform London's historic docklands into the capital's next business district, forging new trade links with China and other economies in the Asia-Pacific region and securing billions of pounds of inward investment in the UK economy.
31/05/2013
BAM Midlands and BAM Design are working from concept design to construction on a multi-faith secondary school in Birmingham. The early stages of construction are about to commence. The £8 million contract to create the 700-pupil Sikh-ethos Nishkam High School was won in competition. The project, w
31/05/2013
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed the announcement by Edwina Hart, Wales's Minister for Economy, Science & Transport Minister, of a £10 million Property Development Fund aimed at supporting smaller scale property ventures and providing a boost to the Welsh construction industry.
31/05/2013
Carillion has been selected for a £47 million batch of the Government's Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP). The project is predominantly for new-build, with one school having a small refurbishment element. North West Batch 1 being delivered by Carillion covers eight schools in the local au
31/05/2013
A Midlands firm specialising in the installation of solar panels has been fined for safety failings after a worker sustained life-threatening injuries when he fell through a fragile skylight at a north London warehouse. Brian Dolan, 58, from Warwick, fractured his skull in two places, broke five ve
31/05/2013
The UK economy would have grown three times faster over the last year if the government had stopped the decline of the UK construction industry, according to new analysis of official figures published by the TUC today . The analysis shows that had construction output remained the same over the past
31/05/2013
For some time now Martin Dace from Ardula has been in discussion with the Presneill family about Ardula acquiring the business of Presneill Tipper Contractors, and PTC (SE) Ltd is now in control of Ardula Ltd. Both companies are major players in supplying tipper services to the construction industr
31/05/2013
Bourton on the Water is a picturesque Cotswold village, the boundaries of which are defined largely by a series of streams. The village is best known for the shallow river Windrush, which flows through the High Street. This commission is the last in a series for four new community hospitals for NHS
30/05/2013
Stanhope and the BBC have launched their detailed plans to open up and transform Television Centre into a mixed use development including office and studio space for the BBC, complementary entertainment and leisure facilities, public open space, offices, housing and a hotel. For the first time, Tel
30/05/2013
Willmott Dixon's strategic growth as a residential developer continues after it exchanged contracts on a deal to build 137 homes in the Surrey town of Godalming with a gross development value approaching £50 million. In the latest move by the company's development division, Regen, to increase its p
30/05/2013
Housing developer and contractor Lovell has appointed Anthony Broome as land manager for the company's new-build, mixed tenure residential business in London. Anthony joins Lovell from Kier London where he was new business and land manager. In his new role, he will be responsible for securing land
30/05/2013
The University of Hertfordshire and Uliving (the consortium comprising Bouygues Development and not-for- profit housing association Derwent Living) have announced they have reached, together with Meridiam Infrastructure and Legal & General, financial close on the £190 million, off balance sheet sing
30/05/2013
Health buildings across the north of England have received a revamp thanks to a number of major refurbishment projects carried out and managed by Kier. The projects are helping the centres provide a top quality service for local people in state-of-the-art facilities. Delivered through Kier's Scap
30/05/2013
A Staffordshire contractor has been fined after an employee had to have his lower leg amputated after he slipped into an unguarded slurry mixer. Stafford Magistrates' Court was told that contractor Colin Boon, 55, of West Street, Biddulph, Stoke-on-Trent, was in charge of a gang of road workers sea
30/05/2013
A County Durham housing association reached a major milestone after officially unveiling its first new build development in the village of Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, thanks to investment of £340,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Kevan Jones MP for North Durham joined staff an
30/05/2013
A school built by Costain to meet the demands of the 21st Century was recently named Best Education Building at the annual LABC London Building Excellence Awards 2013. Deptford Green School in Lewisham, east London, was named Best Education Building at a ceremony held at London’s Guildhall. The awa
29/05/2013
A new £10m Property Development Fund has been unveiled by the Welsh Government. The initiative will help support smaller scale property ventures in the country and provide a much needed boost for the construction industry. The scheme, which is funded by the Welsh Government and managed by Finance
29/05/2013
Transformation works for the former Olympic Stadium were given a green light at a planning meeting in Stratford yesterday. The London Legacy Development Corporation's (LLDC) planning decisions committee granted permission for the original structure to be transformed into a 60,000-seater venue with
29/05/2013
BAM Construct has been selected to deliver a new regional campus in Basingstoke. Network Rail selected the firm ahead of rivals Carillion, Kier, Morgan Sindall and Mace, according to the Construction Enquirer. It is thought work will begin on the six acre site near the town centre in August, once
29/05/2013
A total of 46 new homes have been completed at Hopes Carr as part of the first phase of the Covent Garden Village in Stockport. The overall vision for the project could see up to 250 high-quality family homes, news shops and attractive public space created, to help build and develop a sustainable
29/05/2013
A 50-year-old estate as well as a number of shops and maisonettes has been demolished in Enfield. The demolition marks the start of a regeneration programme of the Highmead Estate in the Angel Edmonton area. The local council is now working with Newlon Housing Trust, Countryside Properties and Haw
29/05/2013
A consortium consisting of construction partners Kier, FCC and Samsung are believed to have won a contract for the £600m Mersey Gateway Project. According to the Construction Enquirer, it is understood the consortium saw off competition from two other teams, including Balfour Beatty and Boygues and
28/05/2013
Work has started on a new £2.2m training and enterprise centre for young people in Denbighshire, the BBC has said. The centre also includes accommodation for young homeless people. £421k was earmarked by the Big Lottery Fund for the project to help young people not in education or work. It is th
28/05/2013
Wulvern Housing has laid the foundations for a new £8.4m Extra Care development in Northwich. The Anderton Place scheme is the latest development by the group and will provide a new way of living for Cheshire's ageing population. The project is the first of its kind in Northwich, and is being del
28/05/2013
A pilot scheme which launched two months ago to help small businesses and sole traders secure credit has helped 200 firms to date. The project was initially aimed at the trade users of the Kingfisher group of stores, Screwfix and B&Q’s Tradepoint, and has allowed small firms to secure credit of £5
28/05/2013
The UK Government's Planning Inspectorate is to examine plans for a 32-wind turbine farm in the Denbighshire and Conwy border. According to the BBC, officials are now inviting opponents and other groups to register and share their views on the proposed farm for Clocaenog Forest. The plans were f
28/05/2013
Network Housing Group is due to start work on a new eco-home development in Wembley Park. The project will also include a new woodland. The group is to build 111 new affordable homes on a disused car park site in the area. The properties will include one, two and three-bedroom apartments as well
28/05/2013
Croydon Council's regeneration project of the west of the town has received approval from housing association, Affinity Sutton. According to Housing News, Affinity Sutton will invest £20m in the scheme to create 99 new affordable homes. Once completed, families, couples and single people will be
24/05/2013
A proposed redevelopment of the Elliott's Field Retail Park, which would see a Debenhams open in Rugby, has been approved by Rugby Borough Council's planning committee. The way is now clear for the developers to start work on the site, subject to some routine conditions, and the new stores could be
24/05/2013
Construction will begin today, 24th May, at the first school to be rebuilt under the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP), the Education Funding Agency (EFA) announced. Whitmore Primary School in Coventry will benefit from a £4.89 million rebuild as part of the government's £2.4 billion progr
24/05/2013
Proposals to create thousands of new homes and jobs in Devon have been backed by an agreement for the Government to invest £32m in the project to get the first phase of work underway. The investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is intended to unlock the development of the long-awaite
24/05/2013
Work is underway on new homes for South Normanton which will help address the desperate need for affordable housing in the area. The £3.4 million scheme, part funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and delivered in partnership with Bolsover District Council and Westleigh Developments, wi
24/05/2013
Development Securities has announced that it has secured Resolution to Grant Planning at its seven-acre development site at 399 Edgware Road, North West London, for a £150 million, mixed-use regeneration scheme. The positive planning news follows on from the announcement that the 80,000 sq. ft. foo
24/05/2013
The British Property Federation (BPF) has called for government to consider further reforms to streamline the judicial review process and reduce the unnecessary delay and cost to development projects. Last month, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling announced a number of changes to the Judicial Review
24/05/2013
Repairs to a collapsed sewer in Reading town centre will finish today Friday 24th May. Thames Water has replaced 20 metres of nine-inch sewer pipe under the pedestrian area of Friar Street providing a more robust sewer system. The job to repair the pipe five metres underground started in November
24/05/2013
Lewisham Council's homes provider has been fined after a meter reader broke her jaw and smashed most of her teeth in a fall into an unprotected flood pit cellar beneath a block of flats. Angela Watson, 38, fell 2.5 metres through an open inner door as she felt for a light switch in a caretaker's cu
23/05/2013
Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has announced that it has acquired Paragon Management UK Ltd (Paragon) a specialist interiors and property refurbishment business based in the City of London. Paragon will become a wholly-owned part of Interserve's Constructio
23/05/2013
L&Q has finalised a new £120m four year Planned Maintenance programme for the refurbishment of its homes in London and the South East. The contracts will include replacement of kitchens, bathrooms, new gas central heating systems and electrical rewiring. Specialist works will include asbestos surve
23/05/2013
Ardmore Construction has been appointed as main contractor by Network Housing to deliver 92 new homes at Albermarle House, Stockwell Park. Under a £14.7m contract, Ardmore will start the design and construction immediately. The scheme will create 92 private modern apartments in a mixed use scheme t
23/05/2013
Morgan Sindall has completed work on a major project to construct a £17.9 million leisure centre, Splashpoint Leisure Centre, situated on Worthing's seafront. The project for Adur & Worthing Councils involved the replacement of the town's existing 1960s Aquarena and the construction of a striking n
23/05/2013
Six apprenticeship placements, designed to help young people kick-start their careers, have been created through the unique partnership between the City of Lincoln Council and Kier. Vacancies will be available in joinery, plumbing, painting and decorating and technical trades, working alongside rep
23/05/2013
Carillion has been selected to deliver the £400 million first phase of redevelopment at Battersea Power Station. The project is a mixed-use development comprising 866 apartments, including 11 penthouses, together with retail facilities, theatre space and business studios, in two blocks built on a p
23/05/2013
A Staffordshire kitchen fitter has been has been fined after he carried out illegal gas work and put families' lives at risk. Stewart Pitt, 41, of Wombourne, Wolverhampton, was fitting kitchens for a local firm as a self-employed trader. Between August 2011 and the end of September 2011 he put thre
23/05/2013
Moves to provide hundreds of training posts and jobs in South Hampshire took a major step forward on as plans to build a £12m college facility and improved road links at the Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus were given the green light by planning councillors. Fareham Borough Council has approved F
23/05/2013
British Gas employees have been recognised for their fundraising and contribution to their local community, as British Gas won the Business of the Year award at the Third Sector Business Charity Awards 2013. The judges singled out British Gas for the top prize for its work with a range of charities
23/05/2013
Midland Single Ply Roofing's refurbishment of a University of Reading building using the Sika Sarnafil roofing system has seen the contractor scoop the coveted Single Ply prize at the recent Roofing Awards 2013. An icon of 1970s architecture, the URS Building – or ‘Lego Building’, as it’s been dubb
22/05/2013
A major milestone has been reached on the Costain project to build an underground electricity superhighway deep under London. Giant tunnel boring machine (TBM) 'Cleopatra' has completed an 8km drive from Eade Road in Haringey, north London, to St John’s Wood Substation, in the northwest of the metr
22/05/2013
The London Borough of Lambeth has approved the planning application by Braeburn Estates to redevelop the Shell Centre on London's South Bank. Braeburn Estates is a joint venture of Canary Wharf Group and Qatari Diar. The 1.45 million sq ft mixed use scheme, which has been masterplanned by Squire an
22/05/2013
Interserve has been appointed by Allia, the UK Social Enterprise Charity, to design and build a £7 million business innovation centre in Cambridge that has a remit to grow businesses that benefit the community and the environment. Interserve has worked closely with the charity, funding a planning a
22/05/2013
The landmark new Brent Civic Centre has achieved practical completion in the north London borough of Brent. The multipurpose development allows the Council to realise its vision for a consolidated facility that houses their civic, public and administrative functions under one unified roof, providin
22/05/2013
Work is set to get under way on a major new development that will deliver homes, employment, leisure space and a new primary school in Crawley's new 'North East Sector'. Infrastructure work is planned to begin this summer for the neighbourhood centre on the site bordered by Crawley Avenue, Balcombe
22/05/2013
A multi-million pound package of government support will unlock development of a new Devon community and create thousands of jobs. Housing Minister Mark Prisk announced a £32 million injection of funding for the new town of Sherford, near Plymouth, that will bring forward the delivery of 5,500 new
22/05/2013
E.ON is encouraging the local community to have their say on plans for its proposed High Clachaig Wind Farm. The wind farm, which is in the very early stages of development, would be located on the Kintyre Peninsula. The energy company will be hosting public information sessions early next month
22/05/2013
Wolverhampton South West MP Paul Uppal has visited Carillion to see how the integrated support services provider is promoting local apprenticeship and job training opportunities. Carillion is one of the largest employers in Wolverhampton, last year Carillion supported the Wolverhampton Jobs and Ski
22/05/2013
A County Durham man has been jailed and a Tyneside firm and one of its directors fined after a demolition worker fell to his death from a cherry picker that was knocked over by a falling roof beam. Ken Joyce, 53, of Lanchester, County Durham, was working for Allan Turnbull, trading as A&H Site Line
22/05/2013
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced the launch of a new design competition on behalf of the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to create a new central London HQ - replacing their existing New Scotland Yard building. The new
21/05/2013
Mansell, a Balfour Beatty brand, has been appointed to design and construct a £5.2 million community hospital in Bicester for project developer and investor, Kajima Partnerships. The new community hospital will include a 12-bed facility with an ambulance base, first aid unit, out of hours and out-p
21/05/2013
ISG's UK Retail business has secured £50m of new projects, which has resulted in a 45% increase in its order book to £148m as at the end of April 2013. The new wins include significant projects for repeat customers such as Morrisons, Primark and John Lewis Partnership. Additionally, during the peri
21/05/2013
Staff at Monmouthshire County Council have moved into their new office facilities after completion by Willmott Dixon. Known as County Hall, the new office is adjacent to Coleg Gwent's Rhadyr campus in Usk and offers 2,500 sq metres of space over two-storeys. The multi-use facility also has conferen
21/05/2013
Morgan Sindall has begun work on a £3.3 million extension project at The Perse Upper School in Cambridge. The new build development comprises the construction of a three-storey block with a number of associated external works. Due to complete in the summer of 2014, the new building will significant
21/05/2013
Mace has won a £1bn plus contract to be delivery partner for the Gutenborg project, a landmark project that will set a new standard for large residential developments and be the most European development in Russia’s most European City, St Petersburg. As delivery partner to client and specialist com
21/05/2013
Work on a new link road will go ahead in Taunton after receiving final approval from Local Transport Minister Norman Baker. The work is needed to improve east-west connections across Taunton and open up access to new development. The scheme will see Somerset County Council construct a new road lin
21/05/2013
Doncaster Council's Civic Office has been named 'Winner of Winners' at the LABC Building Excellence Awards, the latest in a line of accolades for the flagship building. The project, which reached completion in October last year, also received the 'Commercial Building over £1m' award at the LABC's a
21/05/2013
A Durham firm has been fined after a worker suffered horrific injuries and had to have his arm amputated when he fell into dangerous machinery in an asphalt production plant. John Wyatt, 61, from Northumberland, was employed by Tynedale Roadstone Limited and had been carrying out an inspection of t
21/05/2013
In any event manager manual, the first rule is plan for the worst weather and hope for the best - we do live in Scotland after all. S o when the Tournament Director's first challenging question on suggesting bringing the ATP Champions Tour to Scotland for the first time was 'How do we keep the pla
21/05/2013
Small building companies need fairer access to the Green Deal (GD) market if the shortage of installers is to be addressed, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to the latest statistics from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Almost 19,000 GD assessments were
20/05/2013
A new survey has suggested that business is booming for UK tradesmen, thanks to Britain’s do-it-yourself prowess. Commissioned by leading business insurance broker, Swinton Commercial, the snap-shot study, which took a sample of 100 tradesmen and women from across the UK, found that 65 per cent of
20/05/2013
A County Armagh firm has won a contract to prepare football pitches for six venues to be used for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster announced the contract, worth more than £1m, which has been awarded to Clive Richardson Ltd (CRL) of Craigavon. CRL recently took par
20/05/2013
Some £375m worth of work could be opened up to construction firms over the next four years with the renewal of the East Midlands construction framework. Firms can now begin tendering for work through the renewed regional framework, which follows the publication of the OJEU notice by council control
20/05/2013
Cskills Awards, the awarding organisation of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), is celebrating achieving a ‘World Class’ rating for the second year running in the UK’s Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI) – having outperformed automotive, finance and transport sectors for the quality, e
20/05/2013
Turner & Townsend, the global programme management and construction consultancy, continues its expansion in Russia and the CIS with the opening of its new office in St Petersburg St Petersburg is Europe’s fifth largest city. The new office, on Nevsky Prospect, will initially support a team of 20 f
20/05/2013
The Eco Technology Show in Brighton is now just weeks away and, building on the success of last year’s event, promises a host of new features. One such innovation is the Advisory Hub, where visitors can book a 15-minute appointment with specialists across a wide range of eco related issues. The Adv
17/05/2013
Altrincham-based Lovell has won places on three major housebuilding and development frameworks in the North West. The company has been appointed to the four-year, £120 million JV North 2 development framework set up to build new homes for the nine housing association consortium members across the N
17/05/2013
Plans to improve Bromley Museum have taken a step forward with the appointment of specialist conservation architects and design team. Caroe Architecture Ltd has been appointed to create detailed designs and a conservation management plan to support the second stage application for grant funding fro
17/05/2013
Willmott Dixon will deliver a £4.5 million project to build a crematorium and cemetery in Rugby, Warwickshire. The new facility, located off Ashlawn Road, will serve the residents of Rugby and nearby Daventry. Cllr Dr Mark Willims, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for sustainable environment,
17/05/2013
Balfour Beatty joined an effort to boost recognition of the role played by the construction industry in boosting the economy as part of the Creating Britain's Future campaign this week. 'Creating Britain's Future' is a campaign from the UK Contractors Group to make the case for greater investment i
17/05/2013
The Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change joined around 150 guests at an event in the Houses of Commons hosted by Wolverhampton South West MP Paul Uppal and Carillion's Chief Sustainability Officer Tom Robinson. Midlands-based Carillion, which has just been ranked as a Platinum Big Tick C
17/05/2013
Local schoolchildren are getting the chance to shape the future of their local area by being involved in a land restoration project at Kier’' Greenburn Surface Mine. Recently, a 'rich task group' of 22 children from various classes at New Cumnock Primary School visited the site to come up with idea
17/05/2013
M2 Global Investments have reached agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to move into prime office accommodation at 27 Blossom Street in the heart of Ancoats Urban Village. Blossom Street Accommodation provider for a group of companies supplying direct sales and marketing services,
17/05/2013
South Bucks District Council has refused planning permission to expand Pinwood Studios in Buckinghamshire. Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr Ralph Bagge said: "The Pinewood proposal is one of the most contentious and difficult planning applications that the Council has had to deal with, probab
17/05/2013
Leading the way at the forefront of the wine and spirits market, the Selfridges London Wine Shop and the new Harry Gordon's Bar have moved to a larger location on the lower ground floor in their London flagship store. The designers chose Chauncey's Reclaimed Railway Oak for both the wall cladding
17/05/2013
An independent adjudication panel at RoSPA has confirmed that Instarmac has received the highly sought-after GOLD AWARD. RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) has agreed that Instarmac's health and safety processes and long-standing record, awards them gold status in this year's Occ
16/05/2013
The first phase of HS2, the planned high speed railway between London, the West Midlands, Manchester and Leeds moved another step forward with the launch of consultations on the project's draft Environmental statement (ES) and proposed design refinements. The draft ES sets out HS2 Ltd's current thi
16/05/2013
Vauxhall Tube station will be transformed over the next few years, with a £36m modernisation by Transport for London (TfL) as part of wider investment designed to support the growth and regeneration of the surrounding area. The modernisation of Vauxhall Tube station is an essential first phase of t
16/05/2013
Balfour Beatty has been awarded a major contract in Melbourne, Australia as part of the NetworX Alliance team by Victoria's Road Authority (VicRoads). The Alliance includes international infrastructure group Balfour Beatty through its Rail division and Professional Services division, Parsons Brin
16/05/2013
Two Costain Water Sector projects, on behalf of Southern Water, have been shortlisted for the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South East England Engineering Excellence Awards 2013. The first project is Old Roar Gill at St Leonards-on-Sea, a £1.5 million scheme to reduce the risk of the sewage
16/05/2013
Developers and occupiers are more upbeat as office construction in Central London hits a four-year high. According to the latest London Crane Survey by Deloitte Real Estate, commercial development is up eight per cent over the last six months with 9.7 million sq ft of office space currently under
16/05/2013
A handyperson service for Sheffield Council tenants is successfully being piloted in the east and southwest areas of the city by leading repairs and maintenance provider, Kier and Sheffield City Council. The service, for residents over 60 or with disabilities or severe health problems, has been imp
16/05/2013
Neil Vernon the Executive Council member for the Midlands Region was elected Chair of UCATT's Executive Council. Mr Vernon's election follows the decision of Denis Doody the previous Chair, to stand down from the Executive Council with immediate effect, following his appointment to a full-time posi
16/05/2013
A decorating company has been fined after it exposed employees, agency staff and members of the public to potentially fatal asbestos material. The incident happened during a refurbishment project at offices in Sentinel House, Nuffield Industrial Estate, Poole, over a period of several weeks in 2009
16/05/2013
Advanced Acoustics have announced they have launched a new range of acoustic treatment products. There are a number of products suitable for different application but based on one unique shape, the Hexagon. The challenge when developing a new product is that it has to be something unique and spec
16/05/2013
People in Ilkeston will soon be able to get the train into Nottingham and Sheffield as Derbyshire County Council has been given the green light to build a station in the town. Ilkeston is one of four towns being given Government cash to help build a new station. £4.574 million has been earmarked
15/05/2013
Land Securities and its joint venture partner Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) have confirmed the commencement of the £768 million first phase of its Victoria Circle project, as part of the continued transformation of Victoria, in London's West End. The 50:50 joint venture was previous
15/05/2013
GB Building Solutions has been awarded a £4.9million contract to refurbish, renovate and modernise the Tyne Pedestrian and Cyclist Tunnels under the River Tyne. The tunnels and its facilities date back to 1951 and are Grade 2 listed. The contract was awarded by Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport
15/05/2013
The regeneration of Bournemouth town centre passed a significant milestone as an official turf cutting heralded the formal start of building work on a five-storey apartment block. The £12 million development, on the former council-owned surface car park at Leyton Mount, will house 64 flats and a 29
15/05/2013
A group of industry-leading firms today formed an alliance, which will carry out billions of pounds of essential improvements to Thames Water's ageing water and sewerage networks between 2015 and 2025. The selected organisations signed contracts at the historic Oak Room, Thames Water’s Clerkenwell
15/05/2013
Colin Courtney has been appointed Strategy and Business Development Director at J. Murphy & Sons Limited to ensure Murphy remains at the forefront of the UK construction and civil engineering industry. Responsible for the business development strategy, Colin will utilise his extensive experience ac
15/05/2013
Construction union UCATT have appointed Rob Morris as the new Regional Secretary for Yorkshire. Mr Morris has been acting Regional Secretary for the region since January 2012; he was previously a regional organiser in the region since 2001. Prior to working for UCATT Mr Morris was a bricklayer work
15/05/2013
Two firms have been prosecuted after a labourer suffered multiple injuries in a fall from unguarded scaffolding. Stephen Keegan, 56, of Frome, Somerset, was a temporary employee of Julian Chard Carpentry Ltd, which had been sub-contracted by C J Deighton & Co Ltd to construct timber frames for some
15/05/2013
Willmott Dixon will use its re-appointment as sole contractor on Scape's major works framework to further drive down the cost of procurement and construction for public sector organisations. It will also create jobs and boost opportunities for local companies over the next four years. Willmott Di
15/05/2013
A development of 71 new affordable homes for rent, shared ownership and purchase in south Liverpool has been named Best Affordable Housing Development in the LABC North West Building Excellence Awards. The award was made to the Mill Brook development because the relationship between developers Com
15/05/2013
Ultra Tile FineJoint grout continues to boast great workability. Tiling contractors nationwide trust this fine formulation for an exceptional finish. Available in 3kg and 10kg bags, Ultra Tile FineJoint is suitable for a vast array of tile types and applications, including natural stone, porcel
15/05/2013
These thermal images show the difference that can be made by installing energy rated windows. In the top image you can see the heat dissipating through the frame and glass, (the red and orange areas). The image below was taken after installing a new B rated window, you can see that the amount of h
14/05/2013
Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd has announced that it has signed the contract with Merchant Place Developments for the construction and fit-out of a rolling stock manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, UK. Merchant Place Developments therefore have now gone from preferred bidder status to
14/05/2013
A-Plant today announced that it has acquired the entire share capital of temporary access specialist Eve Trakway (Eve). Eve will continue to trade under the same brand and will operate as a separate division of A-Plant. Eve, which has its Head Office in Chesterfield and operates across the UK, is
14/05/2013
Willmott Dixon will deliver a new future for Knole Academy in Kent after receiving the green-light for a contract valued at £16.7 million to create new and refurbished accommodation to expand the range of curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for students. Working with the architect Hunters
14/05/2013
Crossrail has announced that it intends to award the contract for the Ilford Yard stabling project to VolkerFitzpatrick Limited. In line with European procurement rules the contract is subject to a ten-day standstill period. The Crossrail route will pass through 37 stations from Maidenhead and Hea
14/05/2013
Celebrations marking the completion of Thanet District Council's multi-million pound coastal flood defence scheme have been held in Margate with the expert team responsible for its development. The landmark scheme, funded by the Environment Agency, was designed to dramatically reduce the risk of fl
14/05/2013
BRE has drawn upon its 90 years of experience in the built environment to create the first modules of a suite of software to help Domestic Energy Assessors (DEA) and Green Deal Advisors (GDA). The core of the software is made up of three modules, which have been developed in response to calls for a
14/05/2013
One in ten people who privately rent their home could be at risk from gas safety hazards, Shelter and British Gas have warned. Research commissioned by the two organisations questioned more than 4,300 private renters in England and found that one in ten – the equivalent of more than 900,000 people
14/05/2013
Natural Resources Minister, Alun Davies, has set out which communities across Wales will be protected by an additional £10 million investment in flood and coastal defences. This extra funding takes the total investment in flood risk management to more than £160 million over the life of this assembl
14/05/2013
A Nottinghamshire plumber has been fined after putting his son and a young family at risk of exposure to asbestos. Dean Fisk had been employed to replace a galvanized water tank in the loft of a house in Gardendale Avenue, Clifton. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told Nottingham magistrates
14/05/2013
Tenants in Norris Green are taking part in an Energy Fantasy League that has been established by Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH) with support from energy company E.ON. The 12-month scheme involves around 70 recently refurbished and renovated properties around Broad Lane and is intended to help residen
14/05/2013
Ultra Tile were ecstatic to receive the Excellence in Manufacturing accolade at this year's Tile Association awards. Ultra Tile were presented with the award that recognises British manufacturing at its best, despite being amongst some seriously good competition. This now provides Ultra Tile with
13/05/2013
A major scheme to improve the A23 between Handcross and Warninglid in West Sussex reaches a new milestone this week. Work will begin to widen the northbound carriageway on the section between Slaugham and Handcross. This follows work to temporarily widen the southbound carriageway, as well as the
13/05/2013
Gas from the new York field in the Southern North Sea is now flowing from Centrica's offshore platform and associated undersea pipeline through its Easington Terminal and into the National Grid. This has been achieved following the successful completion of the design and construction by Costain of
13/05/2013
A major renewable energy programme is moving a step closer as Plymouth City Council invites solar business leaders to attend a supplier open day on 22 May. The open day will take place in the Plymouth Guildhall from 10am and is an opportunity for renewable business to meet the Council’s procurement
13/05/2013
Construction union UCATT have described the Government's economic policy as a complete failure after the latest Office of National Statistics figures revealed a further drop in construction output. The ONS figures showed that construction output declined by a further 2.4% in the 1st quarter of this
13/05/2013
Householders from across the region are invited to join the 2,000 people who have already signed up to the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Collective Switch to save on their energy bills. Organised by Wirral-based charity, Energy Projects Plus, together with the Liverpool City Region local authorities,
13/05/2013
Cathedral Group will partner with Hermes Real Estate Investment Management Limited (HREIML) to deliver its mixed-use Bromley South Central Scheme, which is set to transform Bromley town centre over the next two years. HREIML will commit £54.9m to move forward the delivery of the regeneration scheme
13/05/2013
E.ON has commented on the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announcement on changes to the UK's smart meter rollout programme. Don Leiper, Director of New Business at E.ON, said: "We're making great progress with our smart metering programme - we've had excellent feedback from customer
13/05/2013
EMCOR Group (UK) has announced its withdrawal from the construction market to focus on facilities management services. The move closely aligns EMCOR UK's business with the needs of customers, concentrating on where it delivers most value - in collaborative, long-term relationships with customers. T
13/05/2013
A roofing company has been fined for exposing workers to serious risk of injury at a site in Deeside, Flintshire. Mold Magistrates' Court heard that Merseyside firm Aston Roofing North West Ltd had been contracted to replace the roofs of light industrial units at Connah’s Quay, Deeside. The work in
13/05/2013
Despite a time of economic uncertainty, when many employers are cutting back on recruitment, filling vacant roles or even struggling to find suitable candidates, Interserve, the international support services and construction group, is making great strides with its graduate programme. Now in its se
13/05/2013
HSS Hire, the national supplier of tool and equipment hire and outsourcing services, has announced the signing of an exclusive agreement with Carey Group, the leading independently owned construction company, as preferred suppliers of small tools and access equipment, following a competitive tender
10/05/2013
Work is set to start this month on an important extension of the historic Penrhyn slate quarry that will help safeguard jobs and secure reserves that could last for up to 20 years at current rates of production. The project is supported by the Welsh Government which provided a loan to enable Welsh
10/05/2013
Development Securities and its partner Wessex Investors, have secured Resolution to Grant planning at its 1.5 acre site, Atlantic Park, North Devon, for the development of a 70-bed hotel, pre-sold to Premier Inn, and a drive-through restaurant, pre-sold to McDonald’s. The new development will be lo
10/05/2013
ISG is to build a £1.2 million extension at Withycombe Raleigh Church of England Primary School in Exmouth as part of an £8 million cluster of primary school improvements for Devon County Council, the first projects to be procured via the influential Construction Framework South West. ISG has worke
10/05/2013
Mansell and Warrington Borough Council recently marked the start of a £6 million redevelopment scheme on the former Woolston High School site, Warrington. The project comes as a result of the Council's investment in providing improved facilities for children and young people with special education
10/05/2013
Six Rochdale families are settling in to their new homes, after Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) completed six four bedroomed homes on Waithlands Road in Newbold. The development at Newbold marks the first new homes to be delivered by RBH as a mutual organisation. Local firm Casey won the contrac
10/05/2013
Back but filthier, murkier and more challenging than ever – the JCB Mud Run returns this summer as the company continues to raise money for the NSPCC. Up to 700 mud larks are expected to tackle a newly designed five-mile course on land near the World Headquarters in Rocester on Saturday, June 29.
10/05/2013
More than 100,000 households have signed up to council run collective switching schemes in the last year saving a massive £10 million on their gas and electricity bills, according to new analysis by the Local Government Association (LGA). Council bosses believe these savings are just the tip of the
10/05/2013
Utilities managing director of Skanska UK, Peter Jones, has been named MD of the Year at the 2013 Gas Industry Awards. Considered the industry Oscars, Peter beat stiff competition to win the accolade at the Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers / Energy and Utilities Alliance awards. Since movi
10/05/2013
The property industry has welcomed a package of planning measures designed to promote the use of brownfield land to assist regeneration, and get empty and under-used buildings back into productive use. The British Property Federation (BPF) said the package of new ‘permitted development rights’ woul
10/05/2013
A year-long project to teach students about architecture and construction has given one year 9 pupil from Blackley in Manchester the opportunity to design and build a new outdoor teaching and break out area at her school. The Co-operative and BAM Construction launched the project last year with SCA
09/05/2013
Housing Minister, Carl Sargeant has welcomed a £30 million boost to funding for affordable housing in Wales. The £30m, which was announced by the Finance Minister in Plenary, will be split into £20m to respond to the housing demands of families and individuals adversely affected by UK Government ch
09/05/2013
Birmingham landlords who flout the laws on shared housing face tougher penalties after the city council agreed a new scheme to recognise good landlords. Working with the National Landlord's Association and the local Landlord Forum Steering Group, Birmingham City Council has increased the discounts
09/05/2013
Northern Ireland's minister for social development visited Great Places' flagship Manchester regeneration area, Northmoor, as part of a whistle-stop tour of some of the region’s finest regeneration programmes. Nelson McCausland and a party of high-ranking civil servants met residents and Great Plac
09/05/2013
Luciana Berger MP, Labour's Shadow Climate Change Minister, has commented on the announcement that Ofgem has opened an investigation into three energy suppliers who have missed their energy efficiency and fuel poverty targets. She said: "While the energy giants are enjoying record profits, millions
09/05/2013
A new 1-stop-shop service for planning consents will reduce the number of bodies infrastructure developers need to consult on applications. The service, now up and running will provide dedicated support for developers of nationally significant infrastructure projects at the pre-application stage of
09/05/2013
Northamptonshire County Council has started highways works in the area around Northampton Railway Station. The project will be carried out in a number of distinct phases as development of the new station and the neighbouring Innovation Centre progress. Phase one is now underway. This will see the
09/05/2013
Torness power station's new apprentices enjoyed an open day at the station before setting off to HMS Sultan, a world-class training centre in Portsmouth. The six apprentices and their parents had a site tour and information session at Torness. Ronnie Yule, Torness's maintenance manager, told them a
09/05/2013
A new housing scheme built by affordable developer Lovell at Gwernaffield, Flintshire, has been named Best Social / Affordable Housing Development in the region at the North Wales LABC Building Excellence Awards 2013. The five new homes – which have all been let to local people – were built by Love
09/05/2013
Construction union UCATT have described the Government as being in the pockets of the insurance industry after plans to introduce compensation for asbestos victims were greatly watered down. In 2010 the previous Labour Government had introduced a proposal that would have ensured that all asbestos v
09/05/2013
A Kent construction company has been fined for unsafe excavation work after a worker was seriously injured at a building site in Cranbrook. The BBS Construction Ltd employee, who does not wish to be named, smashed his right hip in the incident at Benenden School for Girls on 18 January 2011 when th
08/05/2013
Caddick construction have recently completed the 75,000 ft/2 bottling hall facility for Carlsberg at its Northampton brewery. Caddick chose JPG for their experience of process and production facilities and ability to react positively and quickly to the demanding programme requirements. JPGs experi
08/05/2013
A £76.5m funding package for housing, schools, flood protection and transport will support around 1,400 jobs and boost economic growth, Finance Minister Jane Hutt said. Since the publication of the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan for Growth and Jobs in May 2012, the Welsh Government has deli
08/05/2013
Support services provider Carillion has put community support and sustainability at the heart of a high profile office and retail / restaurant development project in the civic heart of Manchester city centre. One St Peter's Square (OSPS) sits on the site formerly occupied by Elisabeth House and is
08/05/2013
The First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones AM has officially marked the start of construction of Cardiff Business School's new £13.5 million state-of-the art teaching facilities. Cardiff Business School's new building will, once completed, offer modern facilities such as a 60-seat trading floor, an
08/05/2013
British Land's 134,000 sq ft office building, has reached practical completion. The seven floor building, which includes retail units at ground and lower ground levels, has completed on time and on budget and is already 51% let. 10 Portman Square is a new landmark address in the West End's 'Baker
08/05/2013
Southwark Council is seeking local people's views on changes to its Canada Water area action plan which will help to shape the development of the area in the future. A plan for the area was adopted by Council Assembly in 2012, but since that time, opportunities to reshape Canada Water have grown fo
08/05/2013
Skanska UK has announced that it has been awarded a 12-month contract, for the refurbishment of a six-storey, commercial building on behalf of its client, Epic. 1 Aldermanbury Square was won under a competitive tender and is a design and build contract for a gross internal area that covers 100,000
08/05/2013
A Victorian rail tunnel beneath the Royal Docks in east London has been exposed to the light of day for the first time in 135 years as part of works to prepare for the arrival of Crossrail trains in 2018. A hole has been drilled in the exposed crown of the Connaught Tunnel, which runs beneath the R
08/05/2013
Victoria Plumb, the UK's leading bathroom retailer has been presented with the prestigious Retailer of the year award in the home products category at the recent Venda ECMOD Direct Commerce Awards in London. Against a strong shortlist, the Yorkshire based brand claimed the coveted prize at the nati
08/05/2013
TRAFFEX 2013 is being heralded as one of the best exhibitions in its 26 year history. The international event for traffic management, road safety and highways maintenance, welcomed some 8195 visitors and 350 exhibitors over its three day duration, as well as providing strong seminar sessions with
08/05/2013
Halton Housing Trust is celebrating after installing fencing to its 1000th property as part of a £1.35 million boundary investment programme. Since early 2012, the Trust, along with contractor Forrest, has installed over 10,000 metres of metal and timber fencing to 1000 properties in Runcorn and Wi
07/05/2013
Ardmore has been appointed as main contractor by Orion City Road Trustee Ltd to work with development managers Groveworld to deliver a 31 storey (96m) prime residential tower including a restaurant on the ground floor and extensive leisure facilities. Nick Morris, Commercial Manager at Groveworld,
07/05/2013
More than a thousand jobs and 500 new homes will be created in Lewisham through the redevelopment of the former Catford Greyhound Stadium, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson announced today. The £117m redevelopment will bring 589 new homes to the 4.7-hectare site in the heart of Lewisham under a dea
07/05/2013
EC Harris has appointed Mark Cowlard as a Partner and new head of its Rail Sector team. Mark joins EC Harris from Atkins where he was the Managing Director of its Rail Solutions business. Mark will be responsible for growing EC Harris’s revenues in the rail sector, with a particular focus on the U
07/05/2013
Morgan Sindall is celebrating after receiving more than 20 accolades as part of this year’s Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) National Site Awards. The awards, which recognise the best-kept sites in the country, were announced at 11 regional ceremonies held across the country during the past mo
07/05/2013
A County Durham housing association has reached a major milestone this week with the completion of its first new build development, thanks to investment from the Homes and Communities Agency. The 22 bungalows have been constructed for Chester-le-Street-based landlord Cestria Community Housing and a
07/05/2013
BAM has been announced as preferred bidder for a £9 million contract to build UTC Cambridge. The contractor will deliver a three-storey building to hold 670 students aged 14 to 19. The university technical college will specialise in biomedical and environmental sciences and technologies. It will
07/05/2013
Carl Sargeant, the Minister for Housing and Regeneration visited a renovation project in Flint to see for himself the good work that is being done there. Six long term empty properties in Chester Road, Flint are undergoing comprehensive refurbishment work with the aid of a £150,000 interest free lo
07/05/2013
Housing developer Percy Williams & Sons Ltd. and construction company Kier Living worked with DIO to deliver the third and final phase of the Redruth Urban Village, and handed the keys to the eight new houses over to Captain Willie Entwisle, Commanding Officer Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, at a
07/05/2013
Construction union UCATT have appointed a new Regional Secretary for the North West Region. Andrew Fisher took up the post as UCATT North West Regional Secretary on 1 May. Mr Fisher was previously a Regional Organiser in the North West Region a position he has held since 1999. Prior to working for
03/05/2013
Omega Warrington Ltd (OWL) has signed a subject to planning deal with the Travis Perkins Group, the UK's largest supplier to the building and construction market, to build the company a new 700,000 sq ft 'Regional Distribution Centre'. The new premises will be on Omega North, the major distribution
03/05/2013
A vibrant public space spanning the area from the new Spurs stadium to a revamped White Hart Lane Station is at the heart of the proposals for north Tottenham launched for consultation. The link will form a buzzing focal point for the area with new homes, businesses and leisure facilities surroundi
03/05/2013
The Arts Council England has awarded Manchester City Council £5.5 million in funding for HOME, the new production centre for international contemporary art, theatre and film. The new venue, at First Street, is due to open in spring 2015 and will have a 500-seat theatre; a 150-seat flexible studio s
03/05/2013
National Grid is building two of the tallest pylons in the region to carry an overhead power line across the River Tees in Middlesbrough. The work is part of a £50 million project to refurbish and replace sections of overhead line in the Middlesbrough area. The new 145 metre tall pylons are being
03/05/2013
North Lanarkshire Council has announced the inclusion of Graham Construction in the next phase of their £150M 'Building for the Future' project. Plans to build 1000 new, affordable homes by 2020, has moved closer after three contractors were appointed to its second Framework Agreement. Alongside GR
03/05/2013
Unite, together with blacklisted workers, will stage a protest outside Manchester City Football Club (MCFC) to raise awareness that BAM, the construction company redeveloping the club, is involved in blacklisting. BAM is contracted by MCFC to build the £100 million redevelopment of the training gro
03/05/2013
A customer has heralded the performance of JCB’s new and improved JCB 8018 mini excavator. Staffordshire-based Ace line Plant Ltd has bought three of the new machines and after initial feedback from customers; the company is delighted with its purchase. The new JCB 8018 CTS is a conventional tails
03/05/2013
Eurobatex Class 0 is the first product of its type in the UK market to be able to declare a test result of BL - S2, d0 to the new Euroclass fire ratings in tubular form, and B - S3, d0 to the new Euroclass fire ratings in sheet form. Eurobatex was also one of the first companies in Europe to receive
02/05/2013
Elliott has recently won contracts to supply fast food restaurants to McDonalds nationwide and a £10m design and build contract to provide additional accommodation at Kings College Hospital, London. These key wins clearly demonstrate the market's continuing confidence in the business following the
02/05/2013
First Minister, Carwyn Jones, has announced a £1.6m EU funding boost to continue the development of a pioneering tidal energy stream generator off the West Wales coast. The funding will help Welsh marine renewable energy company, Tidal Energy Ltd, further develop the EU-backed DeltaStream device pr
02/05/2013
Morgan Sindall has marked the completion of a key phase of work at White Spire School in Bletchley with a celebratory ceremony at the school. The company is currently expanding the school as part of a £1.7 million project for Milton Keynes Council and has now completed the construction of the schoo
02/05/2013
Galliford Try, the housebuilding and construction group, has announced that its Building business has secured three contracts in the Greater Manchester area worth £36.5 million in aggregate. Firstly, RED Property Services has appointed Galliford Try to construct the £13.3 million Old Trafford Suppo
02/05/2013
Carillion has been selected by the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust to deliver the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital Public Private Partnership (PPP) project, the capital cost of which will be some £335 million. In addition to carrying out the construction work, Caril
02/05/2013
Traffic is now using a new road which opens up further land for jobs creation at Derbyshire's regeneration site. The council is investing more than £70 million laying the foundations to drive long term employment opportunities at Markham Vale which is just off the purpose-built junction 29A of the
02/05/2013
The Kier team working on the Brynhyfryd Care Home in Builth Wells have assisted the local pre-school (Riverside Playgroup) in achieving a three-year ambition to provide an external classroom for the children of the local community. Playgroup manager Rachel commented: "Kier have created a fantastic
02/05/2013
Wates Living Space, part of the Wates Group, has invested £1million into QSH, a new specialist provider of funding for the construction and letting of new social and affordable housing in the UK. QSH acts an interface to match housing needs with institutional finance, enabling Housing Associations
01/05/2013
P J Edwards have recently been awarded the contract to install large diameter foundation piles to the new Energy from Waste plant at the Ferrybridge C Power Station. The main contractor is John Sisk & Son. Trial piles have already been installed & load tested satisfactorily. The piles are being
01/05/2013
ISG has been awarded a £6 million fast-track project, via the North West Construction Hub (NWCH) framework, to refurbish and fit out the building that will become the permanent home for Greater Manchester's very first 'Free School'. The project sees ISG transform a disused secondary school in Ather
01/05/2013
Lovell is set to start work on an £8 million, 70-home development for social housing provider Riverside, at the site opposite Belle Vale Shopping centre in south-east Liverpool. The scheme will include 42 apartments for the over-55s, 14 flats for affordable rent, and 12 flats and two bungalows for
01/05/2013
The North East's first large scale offshore wind farm has now started to produce electricity as work continues towards completion of the project. The first three wind turbine generators at the EDF Energy Renewables Teesside offshore wind farm has now been fully commissioned and are supplying electr
01/05/2013
A new revised and amended edition of the Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) Working Rule Agreement comes into effect from today 1st May. The CIJC Working Rule Agreement is the largest industrial agreement in the construction industry and around 500,000 workers are covered by its terms and c
01/05/2013
Peterborough has surpassed it's target for the number of affordable homes built in the last 12 months. In total 276 properties were completed between April 2012 and the end of March this year. The new homes will also bring an extra £3 million into the city over the next 6 years. This is due to th
01/05/2013
A building contractor has been fined after two pensioners were hit by a hoarding that collapsed in high winds. Gary Bluff Projects Ltd, of Sheffield, was refurbishing a restaurant at Highcross shopping centre in Leicester when the incident happened on 22 February 2012. The Health and Safety Execut
01/05/2013
To sit proudly alongside other prestigous deals, Go Geothermal proudly announces its partnership deal with leading heat pump manufacturer Stiebel Eltron. Renowned for their vast range of Heat Pump solutions coupled with undoubted quality we see the partnership as a perfect match. Mark McManus, Sti
01/05/2013
Hundreds of JCB employees joined in the celebrations to mark the production of the company’s one millionth machine – enough diggers to stretch from the UK to Australia. The landmark is being marked in vivid style with the whole of the glass frontage of the World HQ at Rocester, Staffordshire, UK,
01/05/2013
As Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire continues to expand, easi-edge has been chosen to supply edge protection to the scheme and to keep site operatives safe whilst working at height. Engaged by structural steelwork contractors Henry Smith, the edge protection experts have worked closely
