Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for November 2014
28/11/2014
Construction of a £40 million mental health unit in Lancashire is now complete. Integrated Health Projects (IHP) handed over the keys to The Harbour to Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust. The Harbour is located on the Whyndyke Farm site, just off the M55 in Blackpool, and will provide a total of
28/11/2014
An £11.5m contract has been completed by NG Bailey at one of the UK's top research universities. The firm provided all the electrical, mechanical and water distribution services for the 'super green' Life Sciences building at the University of Bristol. The £56.5m development is expected to cement
28/11/2014
Energy provider British Gas has announced two new apprenticeship schemes in Leicestershire. The 21 new recruits, mostly aged 16-24, started training at two British Gas contact centres, serving residential and business customers, in Leicester last month. Jon Ashworth MP welcomed the new job opportu
28/11/2014
Gateshead council, the Education Funding Agency (EFA) and the contractor Sir Robert McAlpine have completed a £4.4m rebuild at an Arts College in Gateshead. The Hill Top Specialist Arts College rebuild was part of the government's Priority School Building Programme (PSBP). The school's existing bu
28/11/2014
The first piece of roof panelling has been put into place at the stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, east London. The lifting of the roof panel comes after several weeks of preparation works. Eight kilometres of cable net weighing 930 tonnes was lifted and connected over a four week period bef
28/11/2014
An independent study which outlines the benefits of Walton Hall Park regeneration has been released by Liverpool City Council. The outline feasibility report by Volterra Partners found the scheme has the potential to unlock regeneration opportunities and develop long term step changes in the area.
28/11/2014
The strongest month for new housing registrations since June 2011 was October this year, according to NHBC figures. The figures show that a total of 13,950 new homes were registered in October. The previous highest single month for new home registrations was in June 2011, when 14,565 homes were reg
28/11/2014
The Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime in London has intervened to stop the sale of properties in Raynesfield, after residents faced the prospect of eviction from their properties. Stephen Greenhalgh, signed a formal decision to halt the sale process and has introduced new guidelines for how such ca
27/11/2014
Apprenticeships will contribute £34 billion to the UK economy this year, according to research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). The figure includes gains to the economy from higher wages, business profits and taxes of £31bn per year, an estimated reduction in unemployment
27/11/2014
Mitie has announced it has acquired a major stake in a real estate, technology and risk management consultancy. Source8 delivers services to global corporations, with particular expertise in emerging markets and complex environments. Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE, Chief Executive of Mitie, comments: "We
27/11/2014
Contractors Wates Living Space are to start work on a £3 million development in Forest Town, Mansfield, on 8th December. The scheme will see 17 new bungalows being developed on Flint Avenue. The project includes a one-bed and sixteen two-bed properties, four of which will be wheelchair accessible.
27/11/2014
Fair payment is still a major issue in the construction industry, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Tier 2 sub-contractors are the net providers of trade credit within the construction industry, offering more trade credit to tier 1 contractors and clients than they receive from
27/11/2014
Construction firm Interserve has launched a new joint venture business with the Rezayat Group. The new business will provide facilities management services throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and will operate under the name Interserve Rezayat. Interserve Rezayat will build on the strengths of b
27/11/2014
The winners of the 2014 Wood Awards were announced at Carpenters Hall in the City of London, on the 18th November. The Wood Awards recognise, encourage and promote outstanding design, craftsmanship and installation using wood throughout the UK and was sponsored for the first time by PEFC UK in par
27/11/2014
A firm of architects have been £1,500 after pleading guilty to safety failings. Mario Minchella Ltd had not given contractors relevant information about the flammability of the timber frame used in the construction of the new building in October 2012. A routine inspection of the work by a Health a
27/11/2014
As the winter months set in it becomes the ideal time to consider how the more green fingered among you will continue to look after and cultivate your garden plants. Having done our research with local garden centres about the importance of being able to protect and continue the growing of plants
26/11/2014
A joint consortium of developers has been appointed to deliver 4,000 new homes in Hull. Hull City Council has teamed up with KHSP, which consists of housing developers Keepmoat Limited and Strata Homes Limited, housing provider Home Group Limited and commercial property specialists 'Priority Space'
26/11/2014
The Deputy Prime Minister wants to find temporary uses for vacant buildings in the Northern cities and bring abandoned buildings 'back to life'. Mr Nick Clegg said instead of leaving properties empty, he wants to help match-make entrepreneurs and community groups with local authorities and land-ow
26/11/2014
Forrest has been selected to deliver a £100 million framework led by Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA). The four-year framework, in a consortium with 18 other housing providers, is divided into two work value bandings and includes contracts for the design and construction of mixed-use
26/11/2014
Benoy has received planning approval from Woking Borough Council for the next stage of its project in Victoria Square. The mixed-use, retail-led development in the heart of Woking will create a gateway to the town and improve the public realm. Victoria Square is the first new external public space
26/11/2014
Construction firm, Morgan Sindall, is making significant progress on a £7.1 million project in Kent. The scheme involves building a new business and enterprise centre, sports facilities and an art building at Canterbury College's Dover Road campus. The project, which started on site in April, cons
26/11/2014
The Highways Agency is to carry out drainage improvement work on a section of the A34 in Oxfordshire. The six-month programme between the junction with the A4185 at Chilton and the A4130 Milton Interchange, is being carried out to reduce flooding incidents. The improvements, which start on Monday
26/11/2014
More tenants from private rented homes are finding it difficult to live in homes which are in dangerous need of repair, according to Citizens Advice. The charity helped people with 14% more repairs and maintenance problems between July and September this year than in the same period in 2013. Diffi
26/11/2014
According to the Health and Safety Executive, asbestos is the single greatest cause of work related deaths in the UK. Invented as a building material in the 1950s and used extensively until the 1980s, its properties as a fireproof material made it widely used in communal and large scale building pr
25/11/2014
Housebuilder Lovell has completed a housing project in Cambridgeshire. The 31 new properties, located in the market town of March, were built for housing association Circle Housing Roddens. Anne Brighton, Managing Director of Circle Housing Roddons, formally opened the development of 29 two-, thre
25/11/2014
Durham University has once again selected Mitie for a three-year contract worth £5m. Mitie will continue to provide integrated facilities management (IFM) to the higher education institute, at its main Durham campus and the Queen Campus in Thornaby. A team of 100 people will be responsible for del
25/11/2014
The first section of a rail track has been laid in west London. The track, at new Stockley Flyover in Hillingdon, is to be used by Crossrail trains. The 120 metre long Stockley Flyover will be used by Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect services from next year. Matthew White, Surface Director a
25/11/2014
Social housing firm, Salix Homes, has appointed Lee Sugden as its new Chief Executive. Mr Sugden is to take up his new post on 1 December. He has worked in the housing sector for more than 20 years in a variety of senior roles and he is also a voluntary Board member of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing
25/11/2014
Cardiff Council has secured £4m of funding to restore a Grade 2 listed Victorian mansion. Insole Court Trust is partnering with the council to carry out the restoration project which has received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Big Lottery Fund, City of Cardiff Council, Cadw, Trust and Foun
25/11/2014
Girls from Plymouth primary schools were inspired to think about job opportunities in the construction industry at a careers workshop. Millfields Inspired, a charity formed by the Millfields Trust to encourage young people to make informed choices about their futures, organised the workshop recentl
25/11/2014
There is the capacity for at least one million new homes on brownfield sites in England, according to a report from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). The report also makes a series of recommendations that would make brownfield land more attractive to developers and encourage local autho
25/11/2014
£1 million of government funding has been granted to Costain to carry out a scheme which aims to cut the amount of nuclear waste needing to be stored. Working with partners MDecon, Tetronics International and the University of Manchester, the Manchester-based Costain team will develop new ways to t
24/11/2014
Wates has started construction work to develop Grade A office space at Winnersh Triangle near Reading. The development of Building 1030 is being delivered in partnership with business park owner PATRIZIA. The work at the park marks the start of a 72-week build programme, which will see the creati
24/11/2014
Exterion Media has awarded a seven year contract, worth around £40 million, to Interserve. The contract covers the management of Exterion Media's bus and national rail delivery function. Interserve will manage the processing, preparation and posting of 970,000 advertising posters per year through i
24/11/2014
Construction firm BAM is to carry out refurbishment work at the Fish and Coal buildings in London. The 150-year-old buildings are to be converted into a Jamie Oliver Group pub, restaurant and creative centre. The contractor will convert the buildings into modern offices, studios and dining spaces
24/11/2014
A pledge for £300 million has been signed by councils whose residents and businesses were severely affected by flooding. Surrey, Richmond, Windsor and Maidenhead, Kingston, Elmbridge, Spelthorne and Runnymede councils signed the agreement for the government alongside Thames Water, the Regional Floo
24/11/2014
Energy firm, E.ON, has launched the final 116 turbine design for the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm project. Located 13km off the Sussex coast at its nearest point, the 72km final wind farm would feature 116 turbines. It would have the capacity to generate 400MW of electricity, enough to supply the equ
24/11/2014
Climate change action must happen now, according to a majority of people surveyed. Over 70% of people want world leaders to agree a global deal, according to a new Populus survey. Only 20% agreed that it can wait a few years, while the survey also showed that 40% of people recognise the potential
24/11/2014
More and more people are finding that they struggle for space; it has become more common for city centre living quarters such as flats and apartment blocks to feature a balcony. Whilst they give you an outdoor living space sometimes they can be very dull and not always the nicest to look at. With th
24/11/2014
Design and Consultancy firm, Arcadis, has been chosen to restore New York City's subway systems. Under the five year contract, Arcadis will produce and implement flood resiliency designs for subway stations, tunnels, bus depots, public areas, and more for North America's largest transportation ne
21/11/2014
The government has launched an investigation in the effectiveness of the UK's testing regime, amid concerns about imported Chinese rebar. Business Secretary Vince Cable confirmed that the government investigation was underway following concerns raised about the quality of large amounts of rebar bei
21/11/2014
Galliford Try has announced its Scottish business Morrison Construction has been appointed to North Lanarkshire Council’s Schools and Centres 21 Phase 2 Framework, expected to produce a pipeline of up to £100m in schools projects over the next four years. Morrison Construction is one of three contr
21/11/2014
Kier has been recognised with a national award for its efforts to raise Port Talbot schoolchildren’s awareness of wildlife, environment and safety issues. The Kier Rail team is currently delivering improvements to the town’s train station on behalf of Network Rail Wales. It scooped a Community Eng
21/11/2014
Carillion has been appointed preferred bidder to provide facilities management services in public sector prisons. One contract will be based in prisons in London and east of England and the second will provide services in prisons in the south west, south central, Kent and Sussex. The contract is t
21/11/2014
London authorities, businesses and residents along the proposed Crossrail 2 route are to have their say on plans to protect the route from conflicting development, following the announcement of a ten-week consultation. The Mayor of London, Transport for London and Network Rail have proposed the new
21/11/2014
BAM Construction has been awarded a £20.5m contract to construct a new college campus in Sunderland. The firm will build the new 120,000 sq ft Sunderland College Vocational Campus in an area in the city centre known as the Holmeside Triangle, opposite Park Lane bus station. It is understood that B
21/11/2014
The Welsh government has begun the tendering process for a contractor to refit the fire-damaged Brynglas Tunnels. The westbound tunnel was badly damaged by a fire when a truck exploded inside it in 2011. It is understood that the works contract will include upgrading the lighting, after the tunnel
21/11/2014
Strike action planned by crane operators has been called off. It is understood that UCATT members have agreed a new three-year pay deal worth more than 14% on basic rates. A statement from the union said: "The new agreement also means that the bonus rate has been consolidated into the basic rate a
20/11/2014
HTC Plant crane drivers have agreed a new pay offer, putting an end to their industrial dispute. The strike scheduled for tomorrow, 21 November, has now been called off. The three-year pay deal is worth over 14% on basic rates. The new agreement also means that the bonus rate has been consolidated
20/11/2014
Eiffel Steelworks has entered into administration. Matthew Dunham & Adam Henery Stephens from Smith & Williamson have been appointed joint administrators. Dunham said: "Eiffel Steelworks is a well-respected business which has been adversely impacted by difficult market conditions. It has significa
20/11/2014
Plans have been submitted by Fareham Borough Council to build a new leisure centre on the site of the Coldeast Hospital. If approved, the £7m centre will include a 25-metre pool with six swimming lanes, a learner pool, a gym with 100 pieces of equipment, an exercise room, a cycle spinning studio an
20/11/2014
The number of empty homes in England has reached a 10-year low. There are now 700,000 more homes than in 2009, according to Housing Minister Brandon Lewis. The figures show the government's plan to increase house building to help hard-working families onto the property and boost jobs and growth in
20/11/2014
A £500m investment has been announced for the next phase of the 21st Century Schools Programme in Wales, which begins in 2019. The 21st Century School Programme is designed to deliver the Welsh Government's vision of providing a first-class education in world class settings to all learners in Wales
20/11/2014
Thousands of people are supporting Queens Park Rangers' plans to build a new stadium. The stadium, at Old Oak Common, is also expected to provide 24,000 new homes. Consultation plans were launched by the football club in September to transfer a large patch of land at Old Oak into a new quarter for
20/11/2014
Two planning applications for wind farms in Dumfries and Galloway have been submitted by energy firm E.ON. If planning is approved the proposed Benbrack and Loch Urr wind farms will be able to produce over 50MW of electricity. Benbrack is an 18 turbine site with up to 59.4 MW installed capacity, l
20/11/2014
Millfleet Court, the first phase of the regeneration of Hillington Square in King's Lynn, has officially opened. The development, built by housebuilder Lovell, was opened by the Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis. Mr Lewis said: "Building more affordable homes is a vital part of our long-
20/11/2014
One of the largest Earth Pressure Balanced tunnelling machines in the UK has been delivered to Balfour Beatty. The machine is being used as part of a £32 million project to improve water quality in the Manchester Ship Canal for its customer, United Utilities. The 140 tonne machine is designed for
20/11/2014
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed the Government's consultation on small sites exemption, which will allow more new homes to be built by smaller local builders. Chief Executive of the FMB, Brian Berry, said the firm supports the zero carbon objective, however it is concerned abou
19/11/2014
Construction firm BAM has scooped a contract, worth approximately £80 million, for the first phase of the North West Cambridge Development. The contract, awarded by the University of Cambridge, includes building significant areas of the new local centre, named Eddington, on the North West Cambridge
19/11/2014
145 new homes, including 36 new council homes, are to be developed in Sandwell. Sandwell Council announced the partnership with Kier Partnership Homes. Land earmarked for development includes the former Bolton Court site in Ocker Hill and Tibbington Terrace, both in Tipton; Doulton Road, Rowley Re
19/11/2014
Interserve has appointed Chris Tyerman as the new Managing Director of its infrastructure business. Mr Tyerman is currently Director for Operations Efficiency at Costain. Interserve Construction Managing Director, Ian Renhard, said: "Chris brings a wealth of experience to the role, with over 28 ye
19/11/2014
Work is to start to replace a damaged safety barrier on the M6 to M42 link road near Birmingham. The Highways Agency is to begin work to install traffic management on Sunday 23 November. The M6 southbound (Junction 4a) to M42 southbound link road will be closed from 8pm to 6am on the first and las
19/11/2014
Pick Everard has completed a £4.5 million project to redevelop two fire stations in Leicestershire. The £2.5m work at Coalville involved the demolition and rebuilding of the existing fire and rescue station to make the new building more modern and energy efficient. The £2m Hinckley scheme involved
19/11/2014
£14 million from the Government is to be invested to make all of the stations on the Crossrail scheme 'step free'. The investment at Langley, Taplow and Iver stations will make it easier for passengers to access Crossrail trains when they start running from these stations in 2019. Baroness Kramer
19/11/2014
AFI has been awarded Investors In People Gold status, putting the company among the top 3.6% of recognised Investor in People companies in the UK. To achieve Investors in People Gold accreditation a company has to meet 165 evidence requirements – AFI achieved 180. The Gold assessment covered all t
19/11/2014
The announcement that prison maintenance functions are to be privatised have been slammed by construction union Ucatt. The Government announced that the prison maintenance contracts have been granted to two private contractors. Amey has won the contract for the North East, North West, Yorkshire and
19/11/2014
Staffordshire Mooorlands District Council has appointed contractors Kettle and Talbot to build a new pavilion building at St Lawrence Road recreation ground. Bowlers in Biddulph will have a brand new green next summer and Dales Sports Surfaces Ltd will install the green itself. Contractors have st
19/11/2014
Construction company, Balfour Beatty, has started installing over 2000 pre-cast revetment units on the £86m Rossall and Anchorsholme coastal protection scheme. The project for the Fylde Peninsula Coastal Partnership is in partnership between Blackpool Council, Lancashire County Council, Wyre Counci
18/11/2014
Persimmon Homes is to recruit up to 500 ex-military personnel to retrain them in bricklaying and joinery. Persimmon Homes has 24 regional businesses in England, Wales and Scotland and is working with Nordic Focus Training, to retrain people from the Army, Royal Navy and RAF. Jeff Fairburn, CEO, sa
18/11/2014
Construction firm Bardsley has scooped a £10.4 million contract to build new apartments in Bradford. The seven self-contained apartments and 30 dementia flats are to be located at Fernbank Drive. The firm will also develop a day centre for community use. The facility will also provide communal fac
18/11/2014
Construction services company ISG is to deliver a £5.4 million London office project. Operating across three floors of the 12-storey Snowden Street building, ISG will deliver 46,000 sq ft of high-specification Cat A office space and carry out a major reconfiguration of the ground floor reception ar
18/11/2014
Amey and Carillion have been selected as the preferred bidders for the management of a range of works across public sector prisons. The Ministry of Justice revealed the desired providers for the maintenance and facilities management services. Amey and Carillion will provide maintenance; works and
18/11/2014
Costain has announced a new partnership with the Highways Agency and many universities to implement the leaner construction and maintenance of highways in the UK. With initial funding provided by the Highways Agency, the recently-signed research agreement will see Costain join forces with the Lean
18/11/2014
7Plans have been approved for the £100 million regeneration of a former Forest of Dean mining area. The Forest of Dean district council approved the Homes and Communities Agency's (HCA) planning application to build a new access road, business space and a new college facility. The planning committ
18/11/2014
The UK and Canada have signed an agreement to work together to research sharing for carbon capture and storage (CCS). Minister of State for Energy, Matthew Hancock, said the technology dramatically reduces carbon emissions. The Joint Statement identifies how the UK and Canada will work together on
18/11/2014
Interserve Prime has partnered with Yeovil Hospital to improve care for people by developing its estate and buildings. The hospital selected Interserve Prime Solutions (IP) as its long-term, strategic estates partner in a joint venture LLP. The 15 year agreement will see IP work with the Hospita
18/11/2014
Construction firm Wates has acquired the Purchase Group for an undisclosed sum. The change of ownership is effective immediately. The Purchase Group is a family-owned construction business that focuses on the provision of responsive and planned maintenance services, and green technologies, to hous
18/11/2014
Graham Construction has been selected to build £26 million post-graduate student accommodation scheme at the North West Cambridge Development. Chosen by The University of Cambridge the development will consist of 325 post-graduate bed spaces around courtyards and gardens, designed on a house model
17/11/2014
AFC Wimbledon has submitted a planning application to the council for a new community stadium at Plough Lane. The application to Merton Council seeks permission for a stadium that would fulfil AFC Wimbledon's aim to grow as a club and bring substantial benefits to the local community. Detailed pl
17/11/2014
Five firms have been chosen by Anglian Water to deliver around £200m of work across the region during AMP6. Five companies are expected to form the Integrated Maintenance and Repair (IMR) alliance, one of four alliances that Anglian Water has now established. The IMR alliance is divided into two
17/11/2014
Construction firm Wates has appointed a new Business Unit Director for the Midlands. Richard Scarrott has been with Wates Construction as Operations Director since July 2013. He will now oversee the current portfolio for the region. Bringing over 30 years of industry experience to the role, Mr Sc
17/11/2014
Energy firm E.ON is inviting the public to view its plans for Dalchork Wind Farm later this month. Local people can meet the project team and share their opinions which will be taken into consideration before the final planning proposals are submitted. The public exhibition will be held at Lairg C
17/11/2014
The Highways Agency has selected Costain to deliver major improvements to the A556. This £101.7m contract award follows on from Costain's delivery of the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase of the scheme, using its specialist expertise to develop the detailed design and take the scheme through
17/11/2014
ISG has been chosen to deliver a development programme for the American School in London. The contract is worth around £22 million. Established in 1951 to provide an American education for students of all nationalities in London, the school has been located at its existing site in St John's Wood s
17/11/2014
Willows Indoor Sports Centre in Derby has recently undergone refurbishment of its facilities, making this the place to be in Derby for fun, fitness and the best facilities for sport. A previous customer of Playrite, Willows knew just where to go when they decided to re-vamp their existing offering
17/11/2014
I know that right now in the middle of November nobody wants to be reminded that Christmas is just around the corner, however, the reality is that it's creeping up and Santa will soon be here. With this in mind, DCM Surfaces wanted to notify its clients and customers about its two-week shut down.
14/11/2014
Planning permission has been granted for a new tower in Manchester. Development Securities and the Property Alliance Group have announced a 50:50 Joint Venture to build the Axis Tower, which will deliver a 27-storey, 153,000 sq. ft. building on a 0.2-acre site in central Manchester. Adjacent to De
14/11/2014
BAM Construction has scooped a £12 million contract to develop a three storey campus for the North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College (NSETC). BAM will build the campus at the Enterprise Area near junction 21 of the M5, north of Weston-super-Mare. Building work is expected to start next sp
14/11/2014
Work on site for the £150 million regeneration of Great Homer Street in Liverpool has began. A ceremony was held to mark the official start if work on the scheme known as 'Project Jennifer', which is being delivered by St. Modwen in partnership with Liverpool City Council. As well as a 110,000 sq
14/11/2014
Construction firm Willmott Dixon completed the structure of a new primary school in Maidstone, Kent. Tiger Primary School, part of Future Schools Trust, held a 'topping out' ceremony in conjunction with Willmott Dixon to celebrate the structural completion of the new school building. Working on be
14/11/2014
Omega is to provide private sector housing letting, management and temporary accommodation services for Central Bedfordshire Council, it has been announced. Omega, who were recently acquired by Mears Group, will support Central Bedfordshire Council through provision of suitable accommodation for pe
14/11/2014
Crest Nicholson has been selected by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to be the Development Manager for the mixed-use redevelopment of Wyton Airfield. The site, which is located near St Ives in Cambridgeshire, offers an opportunity to deliver a development of some 4,500 new homes, gene
14/11/2014
Remmers Floormix DQ system has been installed by Phoenix Specialist Flooring to upgrade the floors and coves to the kitchens of a major hotel chain in the Midlands. The system was laid over the existing quarry tiles using Remmers FAS Primer 100, chosen for its exceptional bond to wet, glazed and di
14/11/2014
Condensation costs millions each year through damage to goods, litigation, accidents and premature corrosion of fixings and purlins, aircraft shelters and shipping containers and storage containers. Grafo Therm specialise in the anti condensation treatment of shipping containers and storage contai
13/11/2014
Integrated Health Projects (IHP) has been selected to develop a new £4 million Recovery Academy for Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. The Academy will provide a range of free educational courses and resources for people with mental health and substance misuse problems in G
13/11/2014
London Underground's (LU) Northern line from Kennington to Battersea via Nine Elms is to be extended. Approval was given by the Secretary of State for Transport. The addition to the Underground network will support the development of the Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea area as a major extension
13/11/2014
Amec Foster Wheeler has completed the £5 billion combination of AMEC plc and Foster Wheeler AG. The new company, Amec Foster Wheeler, has a workforce of over 40,000 in more than 50 countries, 2013 annualised scope revenues of £5.5 bn and a £6.3bn order book. The combined company would have generat
13/11/2014
The number of new homes in England has increased by 10% over the past year. The government has now delivered over half a million additional new homes since 2010. It comes as the numbers of first-time buyers remain at their highest level since 2007, while new figures show the numbers of repossessio
13/11/2014
CH2M Hill has scooped the contract for the Thames Estuary Asset Management Programme. Awarded by the Environment Agency, the major tidal flood defence programme, valued at £300 million, represents the first 10 years of a 100 year programme developed by the firm to protect London and the Thames estu
13/11/2014
There has been a 99% increase in the annual figure for long-term empty properties being transformed into new homes in Wales, according to a new report. A report released today on the success of Welsh Government's Houses into Homes scheme shows 2,178 empty homes were brought back into use in 2013/14
13/11/2014
40% of construction sites failed to properly protect workers, according to an inspection carried out by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Unacceptable conditions and dangerous practices were found at nearly half of the 1,748 repair and refurbishment sites visited by HSE inspectors, with 1 in 5 s
13/11/2014
Repair work to a bridge on the M23 in London has been complete ahead of schedule. The M23 Coopers Hill Viaduct, near the M23's junction with the M25 in Surrey, fully re-opened to traffic yesterday, 12 November, following nine weeks of work by the Highways Agency. Two bridge joints were replaced on
13/11/2014
Mary Hill Primary School in Kidsgrove, Stoke on Trent has recently been the recipient of a brand new multi-sport pitch. The school has been in desperate need for somewhere for the children to play, with limited areas and resources, Playrite were able to assist in changing an area that was previousl
13/11/2014
Following the successful testing of our Snow Loading Gutter Brackets by CERAM where a standard 3 metre length successfully supported the weight of 12 grown men, we decided to check out the strength of our direct fix extruded ranges. We passed over our Half Round and Serpentine gutters to The Intell
12/11/2014
Kier has been selected to develop a new £58 million laboratory for the University of Cambridge. The building is to be on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and will provide between 14,000sq m and 17,000sq m of research space. Pre-construction works are due to begin immediately, with Kier working to f
12/11/2014
A new housing development in Newton is now complete. Circle Housing Roddons partnered with contractor Burmor Construction to build the two- and three-bedroom houses and chalet bungalows on the rural exception site. The first phase of the development has been completed in time for Housing Day toda
12/11/2014
A construction union is once again demanding a full public inquiry into blacklisting. Over 3,200 construction workers had their lives blighted and many faced financial ruin after they were blacklisted by major construction companies under the auspices of the Consulting Association, according to Uca
12/11/2014
Construction firm Vinci has been appointed to build a new £20 million academic building for the University of Bath. The new academic research and teaching building will be located on the Western end of the University's Claverton Down Campus and will feature a conference suite that will be linked to
12/11/2014
ISG has appointed a new Northern Regional Managing Director for its UK Construction business. Mr Danny Murray brings over 30 years' construction industry experience to the business over a career that encompasses senior roles with national main contractor organisations. Most recently, as a national
12/11/2014
A new community energy initiative has launched in Cannock Chase. The initiative aims to help council tenants cut their energy bills. The project, which is supported by Cannock Chase Council, seeks to raise up to £1m to install solar panels on between 150 and 400 council-owned bungalows in Cannock
12/11/2014
Over 800 derelict properties have been put back into use in Wolverhampton. The council launched its Empty Property Strategy in 2010, and it has seen more than 800 privately owned houses brought back into use in the last four years. The council aims to ensure that rather than the properties becomin
12/11/2014
Work on a £4.5 million resurfacing scheme on the A421 Bedford southern bypass is to begin. The work will be between the A6 at Elstow and the A4280 at Renhold will start next week, the Highways Agency has announced. The work will take place overnight for the next three months and will be carried ou
12/11/2014
A new housing development has officially opened in County Durham. The £1.3m scheme in Low Willington is the first market rent scheme in the North of England to be completed under the Government's Build to Rent Fund, which is managed by the Home and Communities Agency. The homes, which have been de
12/11/2014
HMK Homes most watery project to date was the construction of this small family home on one of the Estonian islands. One hours boat crossing from the mainland with no grid power on the island. Delivery to the island took 9 boat trips, 3 per day, with the house elements being towed across from the m
11/11/2014
Midas Construction has started building on the Hayle Marine Renewables Business Park in Cornwall. The Devon & Cornwall division of Midas Construction won the contract to build the business park, which forms the central part of a £24m investment by Cornwall Council, the European Regional Development
11/11/2014
Construction firm, Willmott Dixon, has won an £11m contract to develop a new primary school to be operated by the University of Cambridge. Called the University of Cambridge Primary School, the three-form entry school will be BREEAM Excellent and will utilise thinking from the University's Faculty
11/11/2014
A £17m Rail Operating Centre and Infrastructure Maintenance Delivery Unit has been handed over to Network Rail. The new facilities were built by Morgan Sindall and are located in Rugby. They provide a base from which Network Rail's operations for the southern areas of its London North Western rout
11/11/2014
Construction company Skanska is performing strongly after it reported a profit of £30.8m in the first nine months of this year. During this period, £1,229.2m of orders have been booked by Skanska UK. In the latest quarter, this includes an £86.6m mechanical and electrical fit-out contract at the Ba
11/11/2014
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a £1.5 million for the National Grid. The loan is to fund electricity infrastructure projects across Great Britain. The EIB loan is the largest ever granted by the bank and will be used to invest in the electricity grid and to connect more renewables
11/11/2014
The Joint Venture project between Carillion and Sunderland City Council (SCC) has reached financial close. The contract, which will initially focus on the redevelopment of key sites across the City, is potentially worth up to £800 million to Carillion over the 20 year life of the regeneration progr
11/11/2014
Mount Carmel Catholic College for Girls, a lead health and well-being school for Islington, has recently become the proud owner of a brand new striking blue, Playrite multi-use games pitch. Choosing a multi use games area for your facility means that you can provide year round usage and the option t
11/11/2014
Mortgage brokers have claimed that mortgage lending to home buyers has fallen for the second month in a row. The latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) say that the number of mortgages given to first time buyers was down 3% in September. However, despite the figure falling for t
11/11/2014
Office construction in London has fallen 17% in the six months to September, according to Deloitte. According to the firm's latest London Crane Survey, office construction in the capital is down for the third year in a row, despite 22 new schemes starting in the six months to September 2014. The f
11/11/2014
A Brazilian billionaire has reportedly bought the Gherkin, one of central London's most distinctive buildings. Completed in 2004 for insurance firm Swiss Re, the tower, officially known by its street address of 30 St Mary Axe, was sold for £600m in 2006 to a group of buyers. However they have been
10/11/2014
Construction activity increased in Quarter 3 of 2014, according to the latest survey by the Construction Products Association (CPA). Firms across construction, from SMEs to the largest contractors, reported increased output in the third quarter. Commenting on the survey, Dr Noble Francis, Economic
10/11/2014
Building work has began on the Metrolink Crossing through Manchester. The foundations of the first section of line will be laid between Victoria and Exchange Square, where there will be a new stop opposite Manchester Arndale. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has been able to start work on t
10/11/2014
Family Mosaic has won a £10.5m contract to provide new apartments for the elderly in Romley. The land is being provided by Hampshire County Council on the site of an old scheme, Nightingale Lodge, and the proposed development will help to provide capacity to meet the needs and expectations of an in
10/11/2014
Transcore has been selected by the City of York Council to develop eight new council homes. The two-bedroomed apartments will be located at Hewley Avenue, in the east of York. The homes will form part of the first phase in the council's house building programme that will deliver up to 70 new counci
10/11/2014
The Government has made changes have been made to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The changes mean social landlords and their tenants could benefit from renewable heating and lower bills. From Spring 2015 Registered Social Landlords will no longer be required to have a Green Deal Assessment in
10/11/2014
The Mayor of Hounslow has visited a £23.1m development built by A2Dominion. The development transformed a disused site in Hounslow with 101 new homes. It was built in partnership with Hounslow County Council. Derek Joseph, Chair of A2Dominion, said: "We are delighted to be bringing over 100 much-n
10/11/2014
A Skanska/Balfour Beatty Joint Venture (JV) £1.3 billion project to upgrade the M25 motorway has been complete ahead of schedule. The completion of the 11km 'Smart Motorway' upgrade, for the Highways Agency, between junctions 25 and 27 (Waltham Cross and Epping), from three to four lanes in each di
10/11/2014
Cruise holidays have long been established as a luxury; many cruise ships are ornately decorated and often have a vast amount of activities and facilities onboard. Many of the more exclusive cruise ships have swimming pools on the decks of the ship and around many of these they feature some form of
10/11/2014
Residents living in Featherstone, west Yorkshire, have completed environmental improvement works on their estate. The improvements on the Huntwick Estate have been ongoing since 2011 in partnership with Wakefield and District Housing and Groundwork Wakefield. The project seen new railings installe
10/11/2014
A Lovell apprentice business administrator has been shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year in the Builder & Engineer Awards. Gabby Iandico, 20, plays a key role in the smooth running of the extensive modernisation work which regeneration specialist Lovell is carrying out for North West Leicestershi
07/11/2014
National Grid and Berkeley have announced a new Joint Venture (JV) to develop residential schemes across London and the South East. The partnership, to be named St William Homes LLP, brings together access to a portfolio of brownfield land owned by National Grid Property in areas of housing need.
07/11/2014
Building has started on a £66m development on Liverpool's Kings Dock. The development is set to become the first purpose-built inter-connected arena, convention and exhibition centre in Europe. Scheduled to open in September 2015, Exhibition Centre Liverpool will more than double the existing exhi
07/11/2014
Amey has announced it has acquired Aquatech Engineering. Aquatech Engineering works with the public and private sector to lower water consumption, identify and minimise potential leakage points before they occur, and deliver cost efficiencies. All of Aquatech’s employees will join Amey, including
07/11/2014
The Walney Extension offshore wind farm application has been approved. The wind farm will be located to the west and northwest of the existing offshore wind farm and will have an upper generating capacity of 750MW. The decision supports the recommendation made by the Planning Inspectorate and foll
07/11/2014
JCB Finance today launched a new £60 million fund to support construction machinery purchases as a survey reveals UK builders are at their busiest for 20 years. The new scheme offers customers purchasing plant and machinery the opportunity to buy now and pay later on plant delivered by the end of
07/11/2014
Housing associations in Wales contributed an estimated £2bn to the economy in 2013/14. The results were revealed in an independent report by the Welsh Economy Research Unit at Cardiff University. The report, commissioned by Community Housing Cymru (CHC), the membership body for housing association
07/11/2014
The Highways Agency has announced 26 firms have been appointed to the largest ever framework for the improvement of England's motorways and major A roads. The firms, selected across four lots, have been appointed to the Collaborative Delivery Framework (CDF). The framework award is the next step
07/11/2014
The Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow is one of the biggest sport facilities of its type in Europe and was most recently used for the Commonwealth Games. Barnshaws Metal Bending, the World's largest steel bending company worked alongside Severfield, the UK’s premier structural steel company, on the vit
06/11/2014
BSP Consulting has been chosen to work on two projects in Canary Wharf and Cornwall. The firm is working on a scheme to improve bathing water quality off the Cornish coast, and is also part of the team that is paving the way for a major new residential development in Canary Wharf, London. Active T
06/11/2014
Steelwork firm Billington has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mark Smith is to take up the role in January next year. the firms current CEO Steve Fareham is to retire on 1st January. Mr Smith is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Billington. Mr Fareham said: "I have known and
06/11/2014
Work on flood defences on the River Humber at Albert Dock is to start on Wednesday 12 November. The £6.3m Environment Agency scheme will involve developing a 950-metre wall, one metre high, that will reduce the risk of flooding to hundreds of properties affected by last December's tidal surge. A f
06/11/2014
UK Construction workers believe their profession is the most satisfying, according to specialist recruiter Randstad Construction, Property and Engineering. The research conducted for the 2014 Randstad Fulfilment@Work Report found that more than a third of construction workers consider their own sec
06/11/2014
Qatar Investment Authority and Brookfield Property Partners have approached Songbird, owner of Canary Wharf, in relation to a takeover. In a statement, Songbird said: "The board of Songbird will consider this approach in light of what is in the best interests of the shareholders in the Company as a
06/11/2014
London and the South East is facing a skills crisis after it was revealed that 20% more workers required to meet the pipeline of around £96 billion of construction projects in 2014-17. This could impact the wider economy as early as April 2015, when a total of over 600,000 workers will be needed on
06/11/2014
Urgent work is being carried out after two steel bolts broke on London's Cheesegrater skyscraper. British Land said a full investigation is being conducted by contractor Laing O'Rourke and structural engineers Arup. An examination is being undertaken of the remaining bolts. An area has been cordo
06/11/2014
A building firm has been fined £8,000 after a botched demolition sent mason smashing into the kitchen of a neighbouring property, narrowly missing a person who had just departed from the room. Axis Build Ltd in Harrow was sentenced for safety failings following the part collapse of a home it was de
06/11/2014
Entries are now being accepted for the UK Roofing Awards 2015. The awards recognise and reward outstanding standards of workmanship and safety among competent roofing companies. They are open to roofing companies who are members of one of the supporting trade associations, including the National F
06/11/2014
Exciting news for the discerning interior savvy, as Eclectics launches its new collection online. Reflecting the collection perfectly, the Eclectics website,
05/11/2014
Energy firm E.ON has submitted an application for its 9 turbine Allt Rubha Wind Farm to Argyll and Bute Council. The wind farm, if constructed, will be located south of Ardrishaig and would be capable of producing up to 27MW of electricity. E.ON has significantly reduced the proposed wind farm fr
05/11/2014
Construction firm Willmott Dixon has helped produce the report Building the Future on the financial benefits of making the UK's housing stock more energy efficient. It calls on the Government to treat energy efficiency as a major infrastructure priority, alongside road and rail-building programme
05/11/2014
A £2.4 million Highways Agency scheme on the M56 in Cheshire is to begin on Monday 10th November. The project at junction 11 of the motorway near Daresbury is being seen as playing a significant role in the creation of 15,000 jobs and almost 3,000 new homes in the area, served by the Daresbury scie
05/11/2014
AMEC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Romanian Nuclear and Radioactive Waste Agency ANDR. The MoU requires AMEC to provide expert technical advice on the safe disposal of radioactive waste from the country’s nuclear plants. Andy White, Vice President of AMEC's Nuclear Services
05/11/2014
Major contractors are being warned not to use illegal agency workers undercut the HTC Plant crane strike which starts on Friday, 7th November. The use of agency labour to undermine legal industrial action is prohibited under employment law. Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "Any cont
05/11/2014
The deal to safeguard Murco refinery at Milford Haven has collapsed. The Welsh and UK governments have been working in close co-operation and been fully engaged with both parties to secure the ongoing operation of the refinery and protect the jobs at the Milford Haven site. Minister for Economy, S
05/11/2014
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) said home owners should demand a written contract if they fear being ripped off by their builder. The FMB's warning call comes in support of Trading Standard's latest initiative to protect people from rogue traders as part of National Consumer Week. Brian Be
05/11/2014
BAE Systems has selected Costain as one of its framework contractors to redevelop its submarine site in Cumbria. The programme involves the redevelopment of the Barrow site in preparation for the building of a replacement for the Vanguard class submarines. Costain will provide nuclear project deli
05/11/2014
Chesterfield's Recon Electrical has triumphed in the national 2014 Electrical Industry awards, putting the business on track to expand further. Once again the Sheepbridge-based local independent electrical wholesaler beat off stiff competition from a number of national and international chains to w
05/11/2014
The exterior cladding on the new Banbury Station car park in Oxfordshire has been designed to help the building blend into its environment and was installed by car park specialists Berry Systems. The number of passengers using the station doubled between 2003 and 2011 making additional car parking
04/11/2014
A new construction centre for Chesterfield College is to be developed by Henry Boot Construction. The 2,000m2 construction and fit-out of the new East Block 1 facility includes new teaching and workshop space to house the College's carpentry, joinery, painting and decoration departments. The proje
04/11/2014
Taylor Woodrow has been selected for a £33 million contract to increase the rail capacity between Dr Day's Junction to Filton Abbey Wood Station in Bristol. As well as doubling the capacity of the rail line, from two tracks to four, the three year contract includes the replacement or enhancement of
04/11/2014
The next phase of a £6m project to replace the bridge which carries Merafield Road over the A38 at Plymouth is to begin. The second phase, which starts on Sunday 9 November, will consist of reinforcing the embankment adjacent to the bridge. In order to undertake this work, a contraflow will be inst
04/11/2014
Balfour Beatty's Chief Financial Officer has resigned. Duncan McGrath is to step down in 2015 after working with the firm for eight years. Mr McGrath will be the third board member to leave since May. No reason was given for his resignation. (CD/MH)
04/11/2014
Construction work has started on a £250 million redevelopment in Hampshire. The development will deliver training facilities for support personnel from each of the UK's armed forces at a sing location. The Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration (DCLPA), at Worthy Down, will cove
04/11/2014
A construction union has welcomed the Employment Appeals Tribunal announcement that overtime should be included in calculating employees' holiday pay. Construction workers are often reliant on overtime to make ends meet, according to Ucatt. The union will now be working to ensure that construction
04/11/2014
Construction firm Wates is helping over 20 apprentices gain experience following the building of two new developments in South Elmsall. Wates Living Space has worked alongside its subcontractors and Chevin Housing Association to appoint nine new apprentices aged between 16 and 25. It has also safeg
04/11/2014
Developers Mace and Canadian residential and hospitality owner operators Realstar is to begin work on a rental development in Elephant & Castle, London. Work in Elephant and Castle is set to begin in January with 457 high quality new homes on a site owned by the Greater London Authority (GLA). This
04/11/2014
Stainless UK are supplying over 7500 stainless steel bars for use in the major refurbishment work being carried out on the Woodhouse Tunnel in Leeds city centre. The Woodhouse Tunnel was originally built in the 1960's and forms a key part of the A58 (M) inner city ring road which now carries 75,00
04/11/2014
A leading galvanizing company has supported the £7 million development of a new state-of-the-art youth football training academy in Wolverhampton. Wednesfield-based Edward Howell Galvanizers, part of Wedge Group Galvanizing, has partnered with Spatial Structures, a division of Dove Construction to
03/11/2014
Engineering Services Group, Renew, has sold Allenbuild, part of its Specialist Building business. Allenbuild has been sold to Places for People Group Limited (PFP) for a total consideration of £2.75 million cash. The sale is taking place in two tranches. PFP have acquired 50% of the issued share ca
03/11/2014
Enfield Council and Kier property have announced a partnership to build homes in the north of Enfield. Funding has been raised for the development through Enfield Innovations Limited, a newly formed company wholly owned by Enfield Council, which enables the council to retain the private rental prop
03/11/2014
Western Distribution Power has selected Morgan Sindall for its Framework Agreement to deliver the Excavation, Cable Laying and Reinstatement Works within their West Midlands region. The on-site works are due to commence from November 2014, with an estimated annual value of circa £30 million. The
03/11/2014
Construction sites are to shut down this Friday, 7th November, as crane drivers employed by HTC Plant Limited begin industrial action. The 180 plus crane drivers have voted in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay. Three 24 hour stoppages have been called for successive Fridays. Due to how
03/11/2014
An initial design contract has been awarded to NG Bailey to deliver a full Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health installation, worth £13 million on St Edward Homes' 190 Strand development. The development, in the heart of central London, which is being run by the St Edward's delivery team, requi
03/11/2014
With the start of water charges in Ireland everybody is concerned about how it's going to affect their budget. To reduce costs it is vital to save water where we can. Follow these ten tips to reduce your water consumption. Not only will this save you money, it's better for the environment too.
03/11/2014
Clayton Hall Business College, stands on the site of the former home of the Lovatt family, local landowners. In 1947 it began to be used as an educational establishment with Clayton Hall Grammer School for girls situated on the site. Clayton Hall business college is now at the heart of the site an
03/11/2014
Line markings are often overlooked when in fact their purpose is extremely important. When you think about where line markings are installed for a moment you begin to realise that without them things would be pretty chaotic. Road line markings used for car parks, roads and within industrial settin
