Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for August 2014
29/08/2014
The construction sector is continuing to recover and remains one of the top performers in the UK when it comes to creating jobs, according to a new study by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). The building trade was the joint largest growth industry during July, in terms of the number
29/08/2014
Asbestos Damage Limitations Ltd (ADL), based in Hove, has been fined £15,000, after it flouted asbestos regulations and removed some of the dangerous material just three weeks after being refused a licence to carry out such work. The case was brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after i
29/08/2014
Almost £12m is to be invested to retrofit buildings in London to make them more energy efficient. The new funds will extend London's retrofit work, which since 2008 has updated more than 400,000 homes and more than 350 public buildings. Low carbon technologies including LED lighting, new boilers,
29/08/2014
Osborne has been announced as the preferred bidder to build a new college campus in London. The £14m contract is to deliver the five-storey New Colindale Campus for Barnet and Southgate College, which includes a construction technology school, training hair salon and public library. The new buildi
29/08/2014
BAM Construction has scooped a pre-construction services agreement by developer Great Portland Estates for St Lawrence House in Soho. BAM is currently working on a £28m commercial project in central London. The building will feature six levels of high-quality office space as well as ground and low
29/08/2014
The number of new homes registered in the UK has risen slightly compared to the same time last year, according to the NHBC. The statistics show that 38,099 new homes were registered for the rolling quarter May - July, compared to 37,738 for the same period last year; an increase of 1%, building on
29/08/2014
A section of the M42 near Birmingham Airport is to be resurfaced on Saturday 30 August. The Highways Agency will carry out the work on the northbound carriageway, on the section between junctions 5 and 6, near Solihull. During the work, which will be carried out overnight between 9pm and 6am, the
29/08/2014
Developer Seddon is to carry out work on a £2.6m expansion at Cheshire Business Park. Appointed by Bolesworth Estate, Seddon is building an equine veterinary centre and a two-storey office and distribution store as part of two phases of development at Chowley Oak Business Park. The new buildings a
28/08/2014
Midas Construction has started building work on a new £14 million retail development in Surrey. Midas Construction Southern has begun work in Bagshot with Troika Project Management Ltd on behalf of client Notcutts Woodbridge Ltd, which owns the site. The new project will see the site developed int
28/08/2014
Unite the union is urging the new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Chief Executive to reverse the recent trend of removing Approved Codes of Practice (ACOP) and the cut in guidance on health and safety at work. The union is also calling on Dr Richard Judge to make UK workplaces safer and healthier
28/08/2014
Seven firms have been awarded framework contracts from Network Rail worth a combined value of £250 million. The contracts will deliver building and civil works on the Scotland and London North Eastern routes. The suppliers will deliver more than 1,000 maintenance, renewals and enhancements project
28/08/2014
Proposals to build a new primary school in Northamptonshire have reached the next stage. Silverstone Infant and Junior Schools are to amalgamate as they are at full capacity and have no room to expand. Cllr Matthew Golby, cabinet member for learning, skills and education, approved a decision to p
28/08/2014
The University Partnerships Programme (UPP) has selected Brookfield Multiplex to design and build student accommodation for the University of London. Located at Cartwright Gardens, the development will include the refurbishment of the existing Hughes Parry Hall tower and the demolition of the remai
28/08/2014
Building firm BAM has been appointed to construct a new primary school on the site of King's Oak Academy in South Gloucestershire. Located alongside the existing secondary school, the new 1,953 sq m primary school will have capacity for 420 pupils aged 4 to 11. King's Oak will be substantially ope
28/08/2014
The Environment Agency (EA) is to host a community open morning, where local people can discuss with experts about the dredging operations on the Somerset Moors and Levels. The EA has dredged a 4 kilometre length of river (on the Parrett and Tone and removed 80,000 tonnes of silt and remain on targ
28/08/2014
Weblight has won Contractor of The Year at the ECA's Electric Awards. Last month, The Electric Event, the ECA's UK conference, was held at the ICC in Birmingham. Over 900 visitors attended and Weblight was amongst them. Last year's event saw the launch of the first ECA Gala Awards dinner, recognis
27/08/2014
Four firms have signed contracts with Anglian Water to deliver contracts worth approximately £450 million between 2015 and 2020, during AMP6. Anglian Water confirmed Barhale, Clancy Docwra, Kier MG and Morrison Utility Services have all signed contracts. Clancy Docwra and Kier MG will deliver Angl
27/08/2014
BAM Construct UK has been selected to build a new £8 million development for Derby Manufacturing University Technical College (UTC). Designed by Maber Architects, the UTC will open in September 2015 for the first intake of students in years 10 and 12, providing young people with the skills needed i
27/08/2014
Councils are being urged to provide more parking spaces for new housing developments. Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has called for more parking to be provided after it was revealed clogged up streets leave motorists with unfair fines and restrictions. The government is proposing further
27/08/2014
The Welsh Government has allocated £1m for regeneration projects in Tredegar. The funding will go towards improving town centres for the local community. Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Carl Sargeant, said: "In Tredegar, part of the fund will be matched by Heritage Lottery funding to renova
27/08/2014
Wates Construction had a helping hand with the interior decorating from the Mayor of North Warwickshire, Councillor Ray Sweet, at the new £4.2m Coleshill Leisure Centre. With construction of North Warwickshire Borough Council's building now complete, work on the interior fit out is well underway, i
27/08/2014
Graham Construction has scooped a Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Gold Safety Award. This is the third time the firm has received the prestigious award, which recognises health and safety success, and offers organisations the opportunity to prove their ongoing commitment to ra
27/08/2014
Construction firm Redrow has been selected as the preferred developer for land at Park Avenue in Liverpool. The 2.62 hectare site, which lies outside the boundary of the 104.75 hectare Sefton Park, was declared surplus to requirements last year. The sale price of the land will provide a financial
27/08/2014
Stanley is proud of its reputation for excellence. They are dedicated to continually testing, designing and improving their products to ensure quality and maximum function by maintaining their standing of being the world's best at what they do. Which is why we are pleased to announce we now supply
27/08/2014
We were recently requested to assist with a preventative maintenance survey at Bath Abbey. Our role on this was to provide a dry rot search dog and handler to search the areas that can not be seen or accessed by traditional means. We worked alongside Complete Preservation who were carrying out th
26/08/2014
Balfour Beatty has been appointed to build a new retail office development in Wolverhampton. The construction firm scooped the £7.2m project as part of a £139m project to rejuvenate the city centre. Working with developer Neptune Developments, Balfour Beatty will complete construction of the shell
26/08/2014
Outline plans have been submitted for almost 3,500 new homes to be built in Northstowe. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) submitted the plans which also include a secondary school, two primary schools as well as new roads and employment and recreational areas. The submission of the outline p
26/08/2014
The Health & Safety Executive has appointed Dr Richard Judge as its new Chief Executive. He will take up the post in November 2014. Mr Judge said: "This is a great opportunity to lead the executive of a renowned and respected regulator that will soon celebrate its 40th year. I look forward to work
26/08/2014
A new housing development in Devonport is underway. Councillors and representatives from Linden Homes and DCH came together at a demolition event to mark the start of work on 'Emerge', a new housing development being created by Linden Homes and DCH. The redevelopment marks the last significant pha
26/08/2014
Manchester Council has launched a 'Little Bill' campaign aimed to help people save money on bills and improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Councils across the region are working with the Greater Manchester Energy Advice (GMEA) line to help households cut their bills. There are a variety o
26/08/2014
BAM FM has announced it has appointed a new Head of Business Development. Mr Simon Barnes comes from Mitie and has a background in developing and securing contracts across many different sectors. Mr BArnes said: "I believe that, with our national coverage, ethical values and commitment to deliver
26/08/2014
International construction firm ISG has connected ACC Liverpool to its new interconnected sister venue Exhibition Centre Liverpool with the installation of a 30 tonne steel link bridge. The linking of the existing BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena to the exhibition centre marks a milestone moment
26/08/2014
Cambridge Council is urging local residents to have their say on the future of Park Street multi-storey car and cycle park. The first option is to repair the existing car park; the second is to build a brand new above-ground multi-storey car park; the third is to build a new underground car park w
26/08/2014
The National Housing Federation (NHF) has welcomed the new Housing Apprenticeship Standard. In March, the Prime Minister announced that the housing sector was to join the Apprenticeship Trailblazer programme, putting employers at the helm of the development of an Apprenticeship standard in housing
26/08/2014
B & L Shutters has announced they are now CHAS accredited contractors. This means that its health and safety policies have been assessed and comply with the CHAS schemes standards and requirements. Whether you are a council employee, housing association, NHS trust or large private company, B & L S
22/08/2014
Vinci Construction UK has started building a new £6.7m medical and dental facility at RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire. The 422nd US Air Force Medical Squadron will run the three-storey facility which includes treatment rooms, laboratories, offices and meeting rooms. It will service the needs of
22/08/2014
The repairs and maintenance provider Kier has signed an agreement with not-for-profit housing provider Four Housing, it has been announced. Kier will provide homes in Berwick with a makeover as part of the £4.5m contract, which will run for three years, until 2017. The maintenance works will inc
22/08/2014
A landlord from Slough, Berkshire, has been fined for serious safety breaches. Mohammed Nawaz, 25, was found to have left a family in potential danger for almost four years after he failed repeatedly to check gas appliances in a property he rented out to them. Mr Nawaz was prosecuted for two off
22/08/2014
NG Bailey has scooped a three-year contract worth over £1m to deliver mechanical, electrical and fabric maintenance works to McArthurGlen. The contract will see NG Bailey's Facilities Services division manage all six designer outlets in the UK, including Ashford, Bridgend, Cheshire Oaks, East Midla
22/08/2014
Mitie has announced it has signed a prestigious agreement with SmartWater Technology. Mitie's total security management business and SmartWater will work together across a number of different business areas to reduce clients' risk against data theft. Mitie will add SmartWater's services and produc
22/08/2014
Building work on the £60m Friar's Walk Development in Newport is progressing well. Contractor Bowmer & Kirkland was appointed to develop the mixed use development which will deliver more than 36,230 m2 of retail and leisure use. An important element of the development is the re-establishment of ph
21/08/2014
House building in England has increased by over a fifth compared to the same time last year. The latest statistics published today show 36,230 new housing starts in England between April and June, an increase of 18% on the same quarter last year. It brings the total number of starts over the last
21/08/2014
Four bidders have been shortlisted to own and run transmission links to two offshore windfarms, located in the North Sea off the coast of Yorkshire. The following bidders have been shortlisted: • Balfour Beatty Equitix Consortium • Blue Transmission Consortium • Mari Energy Transmission • Tra
21/08/2014
United Utilities has started work to upgrade 3km of water mains in Malpas, Cheshire. The £500,000 scheme will modernise the current 80-year-old cast iron pipes in the village with plastic versions. The project will reduce the risk of leaks and bursts in the area. The mains will be replaced on Che
21/08/2014
Work has began on redeveloping the Archaeological Way in Shirebrook and Scarcliffe, Derbyshire. Work to link the Langwith branch line to Poulter Country Park began on Tuesday to create a three metre wide multi-user trail and install a bridge over the A632 at Langwith. The link will form part of th
21/08/2014
Team Van Oord is to begin work on the Broomhill Sands Coastal Defence Scheme in Kent. Appointed by the Environment Agency, the firm will cover 2.4km of beach from The Suttons, Camber to the western boundary of Lydd Ranges and will include: • a new 1.7km rock revetment and tidal wave wall • increa
21/08/2014
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is calling on young people to consider a construction apprenticeship as an alternative to doing A-Levels. The building industry is currently experiencing skills shortages and 182,000 construction jobs are expected to be created within the next five years. Pr
21/08/2014
The Highways Agency is to begin repairing and improving drains in Lancashire. The work, along the mile-long section of the M6 around Lancaster, is to begin in September. The £270,000 scheme will tackle the worn drainage system in the hard shoulder and central reservation of the southbound carriage
21/08/2014
Interserve and the Shanks Group have announced a joint venture (JV) to build a new waste treatment facility for the residents of Derby and Derbyshire. The 27-year project, with Derby City and Derbyshire County Councils, is a £950m Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract. The project will be deli
21/08/2014
A Costain Skanska Joint Venture (JV) has excavated down to the new Crossrail tunnels, breaking into the top of the tunnels 16 metres below ground level, as part of construction of the new Paddington station. Costain Skanska will excavate the earth between the two tunnels creating a large open stati
21/08/2014
Figures released yesterday, Wednesday 20 August, revealed that residential construction accounted for more than a third of the total value of contracts awarded in July, on the back of record- breaking profit reports from some of the UK's biggest housebuilders. Barbour ABI, which supplies constructi
20/08/2014
Almost 600 new homes are to be developed across Manchester. £11.5 million funding has been secured as part of the Homes and Communities Agency's (HCA) 2015-2018 Affordable Homes Programme. Housing Associations across Manchester will also contribute £35.5 million. In total, the £47 million of inve
20/08/2014
A new scheme is launching to address the increasing shortage of construction skills in London. £2 million of government funding will be used to provide training, work placements and the support to help 500 unemployed construction workers get back into work. An average of just under 1,300 new skill
20/08/2014
Costain has received two new contract extensions from The Oil & Pipelines Agency (OPA) and Premier Oil. OPA granted Costain a one-year contract extension to its three-year asset support contract for the operation and maintenance of the Government Pipeline and Storage System. The contract will begi
20/08/2014
Coastal Housing Group has announced a new £5.5 million residential development for Swansea. The firm acquired the 1.5 acre site at SA1 Swansea Waterfront from the Welsh Government, and plans to appoint contractors to build a range of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, as well as 27 three and four bed fami
20/08/2014
Construction firm Balfour Beatty has turned down Carillion's third merger proposal. The firm said it rejected the offer because it failed to address concerns about downsizing and the plan to stop the sale of Parsons Brinckerhoff. Balfour Beatty announced two main concerns: • The considerable risk
20/08/2014
Brookfield Multiplex is to design and develop the superstructure of One Black Friars in London for St George PLC. One Blackfriars will be a new, landmark mixed use development. At the development's centre there will be a 50 storey tower, soon to be a new icon for the capital's skyline. When comple
20/08/2014
Sections of the A64 between Bramham and Malton are to be resurfaced by the Highways Agency. The work will be carried out in five phases and is to take place from Monday 1st September and is expected to be complete by Tuesday 4th November. The work includes carriageway resurfacing and patching, the
20/08/2014
Liberty Specialty Markets has appointed Como, the commercial fit-out provider under parent company Mace, to provide 120,000sqft headquarters at 20 Fenchurch Street, aka the Walkie-Talkie building. Liberty Specialty Markets is a new operation created by integrating the company's existing Lloyd's Syn
20/08/2014
Having previously provided flooring solutions for the Snowdome, Remmers were again contacted to provide a flooring system to the newly refurbished ski hire centre. The client required a seamless, hard wearing non slip surface that was easy to maintain. 600m2 of Remmers Floormix DQ was installed t
20/08/2014
The first tree has been planted in the roof garden above Canary Wharf Crossrail station. The Magnolia was craned into position through the Foster + Partners-designed timber lattice roof. The roof garden forms part of Canary Wharf Group’s five-storey retail and leisure development above the statio
19/08/2014
Construction firm Durkan has been selected to redevelop a derelict site in Wandsworth into a new school. Demolition on the derelict Putney Hospital site will start this week, and the new school, Putney Oasis Academy, is due to open in 2016, according to Wandsworth Council. The cost of building the
19/08/2014
Over 20 new homes in Top Valley in Nottingham are now complete. The 22 new homes for Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) are located at Duffield Crescent. The houses are being made available to tenants, have been developed on a site that was derelict for many years, after the supported
19/08/2014
A new initiative is being launched after it was revealed a shortage of problem-solving skills in the construction industry is preventing professionals from advancing within their careers. Starting next month, Birmingham City University and Mott MacDonald Ltd are pioneering a new approach to develop
19/08/2014
Work has begun on a £900,000 housing development in Stocksfield, Northumberland. The development will consist of seven new homes for two brownfield sites. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has invested £364,000 in the project. The development is one of the very first in the country to be a
19/08/2014
Network Rail's Euston Station in London is to undergo an £8 million improvement scheme. Balfour Beatty has been chosen to design and implement the works which include improving the approach to the station, the retail offering inside it and by creating a new mezzanine level. Balfour Beatty will rem
19/08/2014
A Second World War air raid shelter has been discovered by Thames Water engineers while planning a sewer upgrade in Tottenham. Measuring 10 metres long, 2.5m wide and 2m high, it is believed to have been built around 1940, and has laid unnoticed under Tariff Road in north London until last month wh
19/08/2014
Oxford City Council has been shortlisted in the UK Community Energy Awards. The council is one of three organisations shortlisted in the Local Authority Partnership category which recognises local authorities that go the extra mile to help local community energy organisations. In recent years, the
19/08/2014
The Eircom exchange building in Letterkenny, Donegal, constructed in the 1970s, consists of a rendered exterior of architectural interest and features curves and round "porthole" style windows. The exterior render was suffering with a high degree of cracking. Repairs to the render were carried out
18/08/2014
Construction equipment in London will be required to meet new emissions standards as part of the Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG), spearheaded by the capital’s mayor, Boris Johnson. The new standards aim to cut emissions by 40% by 2020, with standards for particulates (PM10) and nitrogen oxide
18/08/2014
Social housing contractor Keepmoat could be taken over by two private equity firm, in a reported £400m deal. According to a report from Sky News, private equity firms Sun Capital Partners and TDR Capital are in talks over a possible takeover deal. It is said that the talks are at an "advanced stag
18/08/2014
Four-week taster courses in trade skills are being offered to young unemployed people in Bradford. Social housing group Incommunities’ Swan Project and construction teams are offering unemployed people under 25 the opportunity of free training within the construction industry, including on site exp
18/08/2014
Carillion has been awarded a £90m contract to delivers a new development in London's Royal Docks. The contract will see the design and construction of one 24-storey tower and one 23=storey tower, providing 360 residential apartments and one commercial unit. It is understood that the development w
18/08/2014
Two million pounds in funding has been secured to address the increasing shortage of skilled construction workers, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) announced. The money is to be used to provide training, work placements and to support some 500 unemployed construction workers to get b
18/08/2014
Thursday has been set as the deadline for a decision on a possible £3bn merger between Carillion and Balfour Beatty. According to reports Carillion has been given until Thursday 21 August to make another offer to Balfour Beatty, or, as per takeover rules, it will have to wait for six months. It is
18/08/2014
Bovis Homes have reported a rise in pre-tax profits of 150% in the six months to June, now standing at £49.4m compared to £18.6m for the same period last year. It is understood that the there has been an increase in both the number and value of houses being sold. The company say that in the first
18/08/2014
Anti-fracking protesters have brought a stop to construction work at Swansea University. Protesters from the group Reclaim the Power shut down work on a new building at the university on Fabian Way, also causing major traffic disruption. A number of protesters are understood to have camped outside
15/08/2014
New plans are being introduced targeting the most polluting building site machinery to improve London's air quality. New planning rules, announced by Lord Mayor Boris Johnson, will require construction equipment to meet standards for both particulates (PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), cutting emiss
15/08/2014
Resurfacing work is to begin on a carriageway in Carrickfergus. The work, which is part of a £145,000 capital investment scheme, is to start on Monday 18th August and is expected to be complete by Friday 26th September. Transport Minister Danny Kennedy said: "This capital scheme will bring importa
15/08/2014
Sandwell Council has appointed housing specialist, Keepmoat, to carry out improvements on flats in Smethwick. Known as The Crofts, the high-rise flats will receive an £11m makeover as part of the partnership between Keepmoat and the council. The blocks will get new roofs, energy efficient external
15/08/2014
The final bricks have been laid at a new school in Hillingdon. Leader of Hillingdon Council, Cllr Ray Puddifoot and Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr Catherine Dann celebrated the important milestone in the council's £150m school investment programme by attending a topping out ceremony at Lake Farm Park Ac
15/08/2014
Almost 600 families in England are at risk of losing their homes every day, according to new reports. The research, which comes from Ministry of Justice statistics, identified hotspots around the country where the risk is particularly high. While Barking and Dagenham topped the list, Nottingham and
15/08/2014
Mortgage arrears and possessions are continuing to decline in the second quarter of 2014, according to data published today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The number of mortgages in arrears of 2.5% or more of the balance stood at 131,400 at the end of June, down from 138,200 three months
15/08/2014
Construction union UCATT are warning workers that living on a construction site is "unacceptable". UCATT issued the advice after it was revealed that six Latvian workers had been living in portakabins style accommodation on a Homes and Communities Agency owned site in Hood Street, Manchester. Ren
15/08/2014
A protest camp has been established in a field near a proposed drilling site in Lancashire. Around 100 members of Reclaim the Power have joined a group of local women who established the anti-fracking camp in Little Plumpton, near Blackpool last week. Energy firm Cuadrilla have applied to the coun
14/08/2014
House builder Galliford Try is to develop 350 new homes as part of the £141 million Royal Docks project in London. Appointed by Notting Hill Housing (NHH), phase one of the GEQ scheme will comprise a range of one, two, three and four bedroom homes. Plans include 44% affordable housing, including sh
14/08/2014
Construction firm Carillion is attempting to persuade rival Balfour Beatty to go-ahead with the takeover. In a statement released by Carillion today, the firm said there is "powerful strategic logic" in a merger. Balfour Beatty has already turned down two takeover proposals by Carillion, however
14/08/2014
Ealing Council has given the go-ahead upgrade Ealing Broadway station. The new station, designed by Bennetts Associates, will have a long, curved canopy running the length of the forecourt that will reflect the prominence and importance of the station building. The dated façade will be replaced wit
14/08/2014
New council bungalows, for Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust, have been released to residents at White Farm Road, Sutton Coldfield. The bungalows, built by housing provider Lovell, are largely dormer-style and have been designed specifically to meet both the needs and aspirations of people over th
14/08/2014
Builder Seddon has scooped a £2.6 million contract to expand Chesire Business Park. Appointed by Bolesworth Estate, Seddon will build an equine veterinary centre and a two storey office and distribution store as part of two phases of development at Chowley Oak Business Park. The new buildings at C
14/08/2014
The Highways Agency is to begin resurfacing work along the A595 near Westlake Science Park between Whitehaven and Egremont in Cumbria. The £120,000 resurfacing project, which includes installing new road studs and road markings, will start on Tuesday 26th August and is due to be complete by Tuesday
14/08/2014
Marmox (UK) has announced it is to exhibit its products at the Build Show in Birmingham NEC next year. Marmox will exhibit Thermoblock, its revolutionary load-bearing insulation block that significantly reduces thermal bridging at the wall-floor junction, and its renowned Multiboard, perfect for wa
14/08/2014
Developer Bruntwood and the University of Manchester have submitted plans for phase two of the £50m redevelopment of Manchester Business School (MBS). The plans focus on the redevelopment of the existing precinct centre to create a 40,500 sq ft retail and leisure offer, specifically designed to hos
14/08/2014
A leisure centre in Witham, Essex, is now complete. Developer Barr Construction started building Witham Leisure Centre in Spring 2013. The new leisure centre features a six-lane 25-metre swimming pool, a learner pool with a moveable floor and an overlooking spectator area, as well as excellent wet
14/08/2014
A Suffolk gas engineer has been given a suspended sentence after carbon monoxide fumes from an incorrectly serviced gas-fired heater left a tenant unconscious. Greg Ranson, trading as Ranson Plumbing and Heating Ltd, was also ordered to pay compensation totalling £1,500 to three victims, as well a
13/08/2014
Planning has been approved for a new Wirral Met College Campus at Wirral Waters. The Peel Group, the developers behind Wirral Waters, have revealed the new designs for the waterfront campus. The campus will be the first capital building on Wirral Waters, one half of the Mersey Waters Enterprise Zo
13/08/2014
Aggregate Industries UK is to begin resurfacing the Market Hall Car Park in North West Leicestershire on Sunday 17 August. While the work is taking place, shoppers and commuters are advised to use the two adjacent car parks. The car park resurfacing is the latest stage in the council's investment
13/08/2014
Cheshire West and Cheshire Council has selected Balfour Beatty to build a retail and leisure development in Norwich. The £49m Barons Quay scheme will involve the construction of seven buildings in Northwich town centre. Balfour Beatty will work closely with the local council, a local social enterp
13/08/2014
95 construction managers have been shortlisted to compete at the Chartered Institute of Building's (CIOB) Construction Manager of the Year Awards (CMYA) at the final in October. Finalists are drawn from a diverse mixture of projects from new build and refurbishment below £2m to large scale projects
13/08/2014
Essential road repairs are due to take place on Spring Bank West in Hull from Monday 18 August. The scheme will last three weeks and involves reconstructing the carriageway beneath the Spring Bank West rail bridge, carriageway resurfacing and a number of kerbs and channels will be renewed as requir
13/08/2014
Plans for improvements to the Dolphin and Triangle leisure centres and plans for Kings Centre in Mid Sussex are to be revealed next week. Display panels at the centres show customers what their new leisure centre will look like following the refurbishment. Extended fitness suites with brand new gym
13/08/2014
UK construction firm, The Midas Group, has announced a 12% increase in turnover and 73% rise in pre-tax profits for the last financial year. The business attributed the strong growth to its customer service strategy, now in its second year of operating. In the 12 months to 30 April 2014, Midas saw
13/08/2014
Barts Health NHS Trust has become the first Trust in the UK to be awarded the Carbon Trust standard for waste. The Carbon Trust standard, launched in 2013, is awarded in recognition for the continued reduction and management of waste. Over the past two years, clinical waste levels have been reduce
13/08/2014
Councils and developers can team up to bid for government assistance to build thousands of new homes on previously-developed land. Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis published the bidding criteria for a share of £200m that will help create 10 housing zones on brownfield land where it will
13/08/2014
ISG is to redevelop the former University for the Creative Arts building in Maidstone. The £12 million project involves internal and external refurbishment to create teaching facilities for MidKent College as part of its enlarged Maidstone campus. Acquired in 2012, the former University for the Cr
12/08/2014
Construction group Interserve has been selected to upgrade and refurbish the Prince Charles District General Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil. The £85 million contract is on behalf of Cwm Taf University Health Board, following the approval by the Welsh Government of the Outline Business Case. Works inc
12/08/2014
£2 million funding has been allocated to improve recycling services for Merthyr Tydfil Council in Wales. The funding is part of the Collaborative Change Programme, which is awarding £4m this year and £4m next year to support councils to make improvements to their recycling services. The funding
12/08/2014
National Plastics Acquires Churchleys Builders Plastics Ltd National Plastics has acquired three new depots in Worthing, Horsham and Chichester. Formerly operating as Churchleys Builders Plastics, the depots represent another step forward for a company which has seen unprecedented growth over the
12/08/2014
Serco has announced it has appointed Kevin Craven as Chief Executive of its UK Central Government division. Mr Craven is currently the Chief Executive of Balfour Beatty Services. He is to take up his new position with Serco on 1st September. Mr Craven work at Balfour Beatty for just over four yea
12/08/2014
Workspace Group PLC has secured planning permission for its redevelopment of Enterprise House in Hayes. The firm has announced a 0/50 joint venture with Polar Properties. The development will provide 98 apartments and a 38,000 sq ft Business Centre for creative industries. Permission will enable W
12/08/2014
A bridge deck is to be removed by one of the country's largest cranes as part of plans to expand the Markham Vale regeneration site in Derbyshire. The 'Bailey' bridge over Erin Road was being removed today, Tuesday 12 August, by Mabey Bridge Ltd who have brought their 350 tonne weight limit crane t
12/08/2014
Building firm Keir has been chosen to build a new school to replace John Summers High School in Queensferry, Wales. Kier will also be responsible to carry out refurbishment works on the adjoining Queensferry Primary School. Kier will build the £18.5m scheme providing a 600-place, three-storey seco
12/08/2014
The go-ahead has been given to build a new campus Wirral Met College at the Wirral Waters development in Birkenhead. The waterfront site is part of a 30-year plan to transform 500 acres of dockland, and preparation and remediation of the site has been made possible by a £2.5 million Local Infrastru
12/08/2014
Work to repair and repoint sections of a retaining wall alongside the A595 at Parton near Whitehaven in Cumbria has begun. The £60,000 Highways Agency routine maintenance project involves repairing the wall around the junction with Rosehill. Highways Agency project sponsor Peter Gee said: "This is
12/08/2014
A key construction milestone has been reached with the completion of the timber frame at the University of East Anglia's Low Carbon Enterprise Centre. The scheme, which is being managed by the Adapt Low Carbon Group and delivered by principal contractor Morgan Sindall, is leading the way in low ca
11/08/2014
Wates Construction has been appointed to develop Brookgate's office scheme in Cambridge. Wates will be working alongside project architects, Pringle Brandon Perkins+Will, building services and sustainability consultant, Hilson Moran and structural engineers Mott MacDonald. The Cambridge-based prop
11/08/2014
Bristol City Council and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have launched a competition to design a Bristol arena. The project is a large indoor multipurpose arena, to be located on the former diesel depot site close to Temple Meads railway station in central Bristol. It is hoped the
11/08/2014
Balfour Beatty has rejected a second merger proposal from Carillion. Today, the firm said "it wasn't a credible proposal" from Carillion and there was no strategic logic other than to enhance the earnings of the combined group. In a statement Balfour Beatty said: "In light of these considerations
11/08/2014
The Mayor of London is allocating funding to improve homes that are in a poor condition and support energy saving works. Mr Boris Johnson said some of the London's council estates are in need of urgent repair. The Mayor has secured £145m of Government 'Decent Homes Funding' that will be distribute
11/08/2014
McLaren Construction has secured two commercial projects within the City and Central London. 25-32 Chancery Lane for Harrowwood Assets Limited, worth £37.5 million, will be a brand new 8 storey commercial building including lower ground floor level with retail units fronting on to Chancery Lane. Th
11/08/2014
Amey/Webber have been awarded an £11 million contract to manage and maintain the major interstate highways in and around Dallas in the US. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) selected the two firms for the two year contract, however it has the potential to be extended for up to four year
11/08/2014
A gas supplier in Surrey has been fined £175,000 with costs of £85,000 after pleading guilty to an explosion at one of its manufacturing plants in Bristol which left a worker with life changing injuries. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted BOC Ltd after a plant explosion and fire caus
11/08/2014
The Homes and Communities agency (HCA) has submitted proposals to build new homes on a former Ministry of Defence barracks in Whitehill & Bordon. The HCA has put forward an outline planning application for 500 new and affordable homes and around 3 hectares of employment space at its Louisburg Barra
08/08/2014
ISG has been appointed to refurbish the Tait Building in Northampton Square as part of the City of London's capital works framework. The £3.5m project will see ISG undertake a complete strip out of the building's ground and lower ground floors to shell and core. The accommodation will then be emode
08/08/2014
Balfour Beatty has received a £75m contract to carry out an improvement scheme for the Highways Agency. Under an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) design and build contract, Balfour Beatty is to carry out works on the A63 Castle Street in Hull. The 1.5km scheme in the centre of Hull will improve
08/08/2014
Building firm BAM has been selected to redevelop the arts and design centre at Somerset College. The £7 million project was procured as a two-stage traditional contract via the Construction Framework South West. BAM will carry out extensive work on the existing 1970s Arts House on the college’s Ta
08/08/2014
Planning permission has been approved to build over 120 new homes in Dudley. Dudley Council said the 123 properties will be built across Dudley, Coseley, Kingswinford, Woodsetton and Sedgley. The homes will range from one bedroom apartments to a five bedroom house and will include bungalows and ho
08/08/2014
Planning permission has been approved for student housing accommodation in Durham. The development, at Sheraton Park, Neville's Cross, will result in a £420,000 injection in development funding for the local community. Specialist student housing developer, Alumno Developments, has been appointed t
08/08/2014
The Environment Agency will start investigation work on a flood defence wall in Epney, Gloucestershire. The flood wall provides protection to 292 properties in the area. The team carrying out the work will remove some of the outer layer bricks from the flood wall. These bricks on the outside of th
08/08/2014
Mr Colin Whitfield has been promoted to Group Commercial Director of Bouygues UK. Bouygues UK has a predicted turnover in excess of £800m this year, an increase of around £100m compared to the year before. He will be responsible for strengthening and consolidating the commercial management function
08/08/2014
Morgan Sindall has won a £6.5m contract to carry out an expansion for Harrow College in Middlesex. Temporary units will be demolished and a four story enterprise unit will be built. The expansion, which has already started, will include new classrooms with room for a total of 580 students and appro
07/08/2014
Liverpool City Council has appointed Willmott Dixon to build a new secondary school. With construction work at Archbishop Blanch Secondary School in Smithdown Road starting imminently, Willmott Dixon is working with architect Sheppard Robson to create the new 10,500m2, three storey school, to repla
07/08/2014
Councils could get a share of £5 million to start work on new homes if they bring forward brownfield land for development. Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said this previously developed land could help pave the way for planning permissions on up to 200,000 new homes across the country. To qualify f
07/08/2014
A galvanizing firm has played a key role in the multi-million refurbishment of a 115 year old pier in South Wales. Newport Galvanizers, one of 14 Wedge Group Galvanizing plants in the UK, has galvanized 240 tonnes of steel on behalf of Centregreat Engineering Ltd as part of a major refurbishment an
07/08/2014
Gentoo Construction has been awarded an £8 million contract to develop a holiday complex on Northumberland. The existing listed gentlemen's residence and stable block Lucker Hall, will be demolished to make way for’ 40 high standard, self-catering holiday apartments and additional facilities will i
07/08/2014
The next phase of Middlesbrough’s DigitalCityBusiness (DCB) development, Boho Five, has begun. Boho Five is a £4 million project being built on land owned by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), jointly funded by the HCA and the European Regional Development Fund Competitive Programme 2007-13
07/08/2014
A new Managing Director has been appointed to Balfour Beatty's Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) engineering business. Mr Mark Hoyland will join Balfour Beatty in mid-August. Nicholas Pollard, Balfour Beatty Construction Services UK Chief Executive Officer said: "I am delighted to welcome Mark to Ba
07/08/2014
There has been a sharp rise in construction deaths in the North West, according to new analysis by UCATT. Five construction fatalities in the region in 2013/14 compared to two deaths in 2012/13. In total 42 construction workers were killed at work in 2013/14 an increase of three on 2012/13 when th
07/08/2014
Hillingdon Council has launched a two year project offering local businesses the chance to improve the appearance and quality of their shop fronts. Applications can be made for any improvements to the shop front, small or large. This can include new shop front windows, re-rendering or repainting and
06/08/2014
Voreda and Imperial College London have awarded Laing O'Rourke a £100 million construction contract. Voreda is partnering with Imperial College London to deliver the major research and translation centre . The Research and Translation Hub project, valued at a total of £200 million, will form the c
06/08/2014
The number of Specialist Contractors reporting an increase in orders in the second quarter of 2014 rose to 57%, up from 27% just over a year ago, according to the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC). 59% of Specialist Contractors are anticipating an increase in workload over the next qua
06/08/2014
GMB union is to hold a protest in August over its ongoing dispute with Brighton housing contractor Mears. The demonstration is to be held outside Brighton Racecourse on the 19th August from 11.30 onwards, GMB has announced. GMB recently announced that members employed by the company are moving clo
06/08/2014
Derbyshire County Council has given the go-ahead for Glossop's Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station to be redeveloped. The £1.62m scheme includes plans to repair and maintain the access road to the site on Melandra Road due to start in September. Councillor Joan Dixon, Cabin
06/08/2014
UK energy regulators may be given the power to prosecute people suspected of abusing the energy market, according to new proposals. Anyone found guilty of rigging wholesale gas and electricity prices could face up to two years in jail under new laws being put forward by Energy and Climate Change Se
06/08/2014
ISG, an international construction services company, has appointed Liam Duffy Regional Director for its East business. Liam has a thirty-year career spanning senior roles with national contractors, working on high-profile projects in the education, health, commercial and residential sectors. Bas
06/08/2014
A new traveller site with five pitches has officially opened in Leicestershire. At a total cost of just under £562,000, the scheme benefited from Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) funding of £440,000, with the remainder coming from Framework. The site's isolated location presented additional cha
06/08/2014
Housing associations could save more than £285m every year by re-engineering their repair and maintenance (R&M) materials buying and management, according to a new study. The analysis of a range of social housing providers, undertaken by MindMetre Research, and commissioned by the Travis Perkins Gr
05/08/2014
BAM Nuttall and Morgan Sindall have been awarded a £35 million barrier renewal works package on the M1 Junctions 19 to 16, under the Highway Agency's National Major Projects Framework. The bmJV will see the barrier renewal work replace the existing life expired barrier and facilitate a future smart
05/08/2014
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has introduced a new service which can link self builders with suitable contractors. Supported by the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA), the service can be accessed through links from a Self Build Portal. The FMB's Find a Self Build Contrac
05/08/2014
A timber firm has been fined £15,000 after a worker was knocked down by a forklift truck. Jon Walker Timber Products Ltd, of Bonington Road, Mapperley, leaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc and was also ordered to pay £9,850 in costs. Nottingham Magistrates'
05/08/2014
Bristol Water has appointed Kier to its network maintenance services programme. The £20 million a year contract will begin on 1st October. The contract is for five years, however their is a potential five year extension. Works will comprise repairs and maintenance, metering, new connections, deve
05/08/2014
Construction deaths were the highest in Yorkshire in 2014 according to new analysis. Construction union UCATT said six Yorkshire workers were killed last year, and in 013/14 the number of construction workers killed at work rose to 42 from 39 the previous year. Construction fatalities accounted fo
05/08/2014
Building firm BAM is to develop a £10m centre for Bradford College. The Advanced Technologies Centre will be a three-storey building across the road from the campus it is currently building for the college in the centre of the Yorkshire city. The 3,650 sq m centre will have capacity for 650 studen
05/08/2014
Balfour Beatty's UK & Ireland construction business has appointed a new Director of Health, Safety & Environment. Heather Byrant is an experienced senior leader and will join Balfour Beatty from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Nicholas Pollard, Balfour Beatty Construction Services UK Chief
05/08/2014
Somerset based Bruges Tozer Architects have won Gold at the Green Apple Built Environment Awards in the national campaign to find Britain's greenest companies, councils and communities. They competed against more than 500 other nominations and were presented with their Green Apple Award at a glitte
04/08/2014
Renew has acquired the Forefront Group, an engineering services business focused in the gas infrastructure market, for £14.8 million. The acquisition has been funded from the Group's cash resources and a four year term loan of £12m provided by HSBC Bank plc and will be earnings enhancing to Renew.
04/08/2014
Lovell has been awarded a contract to refurbish homes in Dudley. Lovell is one of two firms who have received a contract to refurbish void and tenanted council properties. The work is set to begin this month. The work will include major refurbishment to void or tenanted properties and also central
04/08/2014
Skanska and Land Securities have celebrated the topping out of New Ludgate in London. One and Two New Ludgate, comprises 350,000 sq ft of commercial office space and 31,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant space. They are the only major speculative office buildings due to complete in the City in 2015
04/08/2014
The Planning Inspectorate has appointed a new independent Chairman of its Board. In her role as Chairman, Sara Weller will work with the other Non-Executive Directors to provide support and challenge to the Chief Executive and executive management team through an advisory Board. Sara has considera
04/08/2014
E.ON's Humber Gateway Offshore Wind Farm Operations and Maintenance (O&M) base has officially opened. Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, who opened the development, said: "With the majority of the North Sea's offshore operations thriving side by sid
04/08/2014
Blackpool Coastal Housing has been prosecuted after a resident narrowly escaped being seriously injured after the second floor walkway he was standing on collapsed. Resident Andrew Bleasedale had returned from the shops to his home at Newby Place in Mereside on 29 May 2012 when he felt the balcony
04/08/2014
Lagan Construction Group has been awarded a contract to build the access road at Capitol Park in Goole. The development is expected to create up to 4,000 new jobs in East Yorkshire. Lagan Construction Group will build 1 km of road to connect Junction 36 of the M62 to Andersen Road just north of Go
04/08/2014
Origin Frames Ltd has introduced an installation training programme to further support its trade partners and improve the quality of service offered to end users. The 'Fitter Fitter' training programme benefits installers by demonstrating the most efficient and technically accurate way to install
01/08/2014
The University of Cambridge has awarded Skanska UK a £49.9 million site wide infrastructure contract. Skanska will deliver Phase 1 of the North West Cambridge Development. Skanska has already won a £3m junction improvement project and early site preparation works worth £1.5m on the North West Camb
01/08/2014
The Welsh Government has amended the Building Regulations to reflect changes coming into force. The changes follow a consultation on Part L, Conservation of Fuel and Power, undertaken in 2012 and decisions taken by Housing and Regeneration Minister, Carl Sargeant in 2013. Last year the Minister an
01/08/2014
Planning permission has been approved for the proposed redesign of the Bristol Royal Infirmary's frontage. The redesign of the frontage forms part of an investment of £92 million to redevelop the hospital, which includes the recently opened Welcome Centre, new ward block and helideck. The design,
01/08/2014
Re-Thinking, Willmott Dixon's specialist sustainability arm, has won 'Sustainability Team of the Year' at the 2014 BusinessGreen Leaders Awards. The awards celebrate the leading businesses and people from across the green economy and Re-Thinking was chosen for its work in supporting Willmott Dixon'
01/08/2014
Construction union UCATT have slammed the decision to go ahead with the total privatisation of all prison maintenance staff describing it as "an expensive farce". The staff were informed that there jobs will be privatised from the 1st June next year. Shaun Lee, UCATT’s National Officer for the Pri
01/08/2014
Keepmoat Property Services has scooped a five-year contract to carry out repairs and maintenance works to thousands of homes across the Midlands. Jephson Housing Group awarded the £8.5m contract which could be extended for a further five years. The contract will see work undertaken to more than 1,
01/08/2014
200,000 new jobs could be created in the construction sector over the next five years, according to figures from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). The forecast from the half year Construction Skills Network (CSN) survey show that 40,280 additional workers could be required every yea
01/08/2014
The private sector was responsible for driving housing growth in the UK over the last quarter, according to the latest NHBC figures. Overall, the number of new homes registered across both the private and public sectors in the UK for Q2 2014 totalled 36,858. The figures reveal that this steady gro
