Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for October 2016
31/10/2016
Willmott Dixon has won a £20 million contract to build a new science and technology facility in Wales. The development will be located in M-SParc's science park in Gaerwen, Anglesey. Work on the 20-acre site is to begin later this year and completion is scheduled for early 2018. The project will d
31/10/2016
UK Construction activity is expected to remain "broadly flat" over the next to years following the EU referendum, according to the Construction Products Association (CPA). In its latest construction forecasts, the organisation is predicting output to rise 0.6% this year, 0.3% in 2017 and 0.2% in 20
31/10/2016
A man has been jailed and recommended for deportation after being found guilty of illegally working in the UK. Manjit Multani, a 34-year-old Indian national from Luton, pleaded guilty at Luton Crown Court last month to eight charges including misuse of identity documents and fraudulently obtaining
31/10/2016
The UK Government is being urged to release a further £1 billion a year to help council's tackle deteriorating road networks. The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling on Ministers to inject further funding in local road maintenance as new figures show current investment rates are not suffi
31/10/2016
Plans have been approved for a new £350 million hospital near Cwmbran, Wales. The Welsh Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething, has backed proposals to build the new Specialist and Critical Care Centre (SCCC) in Llanfrechfa Grange. Final tender costs for the scheme are yet to be agreed, however it is e
31/10/2016
UK housebuilders are "optimistic" about future prospects despite industry challenges post-Brexit. In its second annual report on the UK housebuilding sector, Lloyds Bank said despite issues such as a skills shortage, problems with the planning system and uncertainty following the EU referendum, hou
31/10/2016
A third runway at Heathrow Airport would provide "new opportunities" for Scotland, according to UK Aviation Minister Lord Ahmad. Speaking at Glasgow Airport last week, the Minister said the £18.6 billion infrastructure scheme would "open capacity, introduce new routes and more flights". It is pred
31/10/2016
Bam Construction has appointed Tim Chell as its new regional director for its Western region. Mr Chell will take up his new position on 01 November, following the retirement of Nick Goff. Having previously joined the company in 2004, he led the construction of four schools for Bristol City Council
31/10/2016
Keepmoat is continuing work on a £30 million housing regeneration project in South Shields. The contractor is currently building 223 new homes at the Trinity South development as part of the South Shields Riverside Regeneration plan. The scheme, which involves transforming a rundown retail area, is
31/10/2016
Interserve has completed an interior fit out and refurbishment project at a new £6 million interactive museum gallery in London. The company's specialist fit out division, Paragon, delivered the scheme at the Science Museum's new attraction, 'Wonderlab: The Statoil Gallery'. Designed by muf archit
28/10/2016
A major milestone has been reached on the £600 million Mersey Gateway Project. Construction teams have installed the first stay cable to connect the projects south pylon to the main bridge deck in the Mersey estuary. The 52-metre long cable is one of 145 stay cables which will support the 1,000-me
28/10/2016
AXA Investment Managers - Real Assets (AXA IM - Real Assets) has reaffirmed its commitment to the 22 Bishopsgate Project following the UK's decision to leave the European Union. The developers said they will press ahead with plans to built London's tallest tower and expect to appoint a contractor f
28/10/2016
A £1.2 million major repairs and refurbishments programme is to begin on the River Thames in London. The Environment Agency (EA) will start its annual winter programme of maintenance along the river on Tuesday, 01 November. A total of eight lock sites will be repaired and upgraded, five in Oxfords
28/10/2016
A new Parliamentary inquiry has been announced to examine Brexit's impact on the future skills requirements of the UK's construction industry as well as the built environment professions. The All Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment (APPGEBE) is launching its fifth inqu
28/10/2016
Additional funding generated by the incoming Apprenticeship Levy must be reinvested in "high quality" construction apprenticeships, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB. Final details of the scheme were recently revealed this week, which is part of a Government drive to train three m
28/10/2016
Retail pharmacy chain Boots has awarded Approved Contractor status to Spie. The contractor started working for the company in January 2016 and has so far carried out various works at Boots' store in Perth, Scotland and a Boots Opticians in Durham. With over 2,500 Boots outlets across the UK, the s
28/10/2016
The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has started the next phase of the National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA). The organisation has launched a call for evidence to gather input to the development of the NIA, which will run for 15 weeks. The evidence call poses a range of questions divide
28/10/2016
A new document has been unveiled to help better protect homes, businesses and properties from the risk of flooding. The Property Flood Resilience Action Plan will see both the Government and industry collaborate to ensure property owners are suitably prepared for flooding, as well as speeding up th
28/10/2016
Work is to begin on two transport improvement schemes next week in Skegness, Lincolnshire. The council is currently underway with the £5.7 million Go Skegness project, which aims to alleviate congestion and develop sustainable measures of transport in the town. The development was made possible du
28/10/2016
A drilling contractor has been fined along with a farming company after a worker was electrocuted during drilling work in Norfolk. L F Papworth Ltd of Felmingham, Norfolk pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £134,000 with over £6,484
27/10/2016
Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick has won a £20 million contract to help deliver a new pharmaceutical research and innovation facility in Hull. The contractor was awarded the mechanical and electrical (M&E) services deal by M+W Group and work is to begin this month. Features include installing a new venti
27/10/2016
Wates Living Space has been selected to carry out repairs and minor improvements across thousands of homes in London. The company was awarded two contracts worth £13.2 million from Family Mosaic to upgrade 3,213 properties in Islington and 4,667 properties in Hackney. Each deal will run for four y
27/10/2016
A £2.5 million primary school expansion scheme has been completed in Nottinghamshire. The project was delivered by Ashe Construction and has resulted in an extra 300 school spaces created across the region. Working in partnership with the East Midlands Property Alliance (EMPA), the scheme was carr
27/10/2016
Landmarc Support Services has delivered a £2.4 million upgrade project at New Zealand Farm Camp in Wiltshire. The contractor worked in partnership with contractor SWH Group and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to improve training facilities at the site on Salisbury Plain Training Area.
27/10/2016
Graham has secured a four-year extension to its Engineering, Design and Construction Framework contract with LLW Repository Ltd. The company was originally awarded the two-phase four-year deal in 2014. Both Graham and LLW have formed a single team to work on a series of major programmes and improv
27/10/2016
Union UCATT has called for action to be taken over the intimidation of workers outside several Crossrail construction depots in London. The organisation has staged protests outside the Fisher Street tunnelling depot of the £14.8 billion infrastructure project due to various issues such as non-payme
27/10/2016
Wincanton has secured a new eight-year concrete supply contract with Hanson. The deal will see the logistics firm become the first 3PL provider to enter the ready-mixed concrete market. It is estimated Wincanton will deliver over half a million cubic metres of concrete each year for Hanson via a 7
27/10/2016
New figures have revealed London and Scotland are trailing behind the rest of the country in the UK's commercial property market. In its latest survey, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) states occupier demand has increased by 12% in the third quarter due to a surge in the industri
27/10/2016
Britcon has delivered a £720,000 extension project at an outdoor education learning centre in Bradford. The contractor completed the design and build of a new accommodation building at the Nell Bank facility in Ilkley. The dormitory block was built on the 17-acre site for the local authority and i
27/10/2016
Highways England is to begin a £7 million congestion cutting pilot scheme on the M62 in Cheshire. The organisation will start installing smart motorway technology at Croft Interchange near Warrington from next month. The scheme aims to give drivers smoother and more reliable journeys along the eas
26/10/2016
Plans have been approved for hundreds of new apartments to be delivered in Surrey. Willmott Residential is proposing to build 560 units across three landmark towers in Woking. Designed by Rolfe Judd architects, the 17, 25, and 34-storey buildings would be located on Goldsworth Road. The project
26/10/2016
J. Murphy & Sons has been selected to help deliver a major electricity interconnection project between the UK and Belgium. The company will work alongside Siemens to develop a converter station and compound buildings for the 1GW Nemo Link scheme in Richborough, Kent. A total of nine buildings will
26/10/2016
Keepmoat has started building the first homes of a £800 million rental property investment project in Sheffield. The contractor is underway with work to deliver 24 apartments on land off Park Grange Road in Norfolk Park. Construction is expected to be completed in September 2017. The scheme is par
26/10/2016
Social housing consortium JV North has revealed it will build over 400 additional homes as part of its 2015/18 Affordable Homes Programme. The organisation will deliver an extra 429 properties in the North West, in addition to the 1,745 already planned, before April 2018. The increase is possible
26/10/2016
Geotechnical contractor Van Elle is looking to boost growth by floating on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) today, Wednesday, 26 October. The company listed its entire issued ordinary share capital of 80,000,000 ordinary shares of 2p each, raising some £40 million by placing 30 million exist
26/10/2016
The former construction advisor for the UK Government, Paul Morrell, has been selected to help undertaken a review of the industry's training boards. The recent publication of Mark Farmer's 'Modernise or Die' study called into question the effectiveness and future role of the Construction Industry
26/10/2016
Conamar has completed a medical centre upgrade project in Hertfordshire. The contractor carried out the four-phase refurbishment project for Chells Surgery in Stevenage. The 65-week scheme involved expanding the original building to create a modern facilities, as well as building three new extensi
26/10/2016
A testing services company has been prosecuted after a employee was killed during work on a construction site in London. Non Destructive Testing Services Limited of Lenton Business Centre, Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. A
26/10/2016
An innovative hybrid air conditioning system is being used for a new 250-bedroom hotel project in Birmingham. Mitsubishi Electric's Hybrid Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology has been chosen for the 18-storey KKA Architecture-designed Holiday Inn Express Birmingham City Centre scheme, which
26/10/2016
Active Planning Leads has won an accolade at the 2016 Construction & Engineering Build Awards. The company scooped the Best for Construction Sales Leads 2016 – UK award. Since December 1988, Active Planning Leads has provided clients in the both the construction and home improvement sectors with a
25/10/2016
The UK Government has approved plans to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport. In a move that will boost the UK economy by £61 billion over the next 60 years, a decision on the runways preferred location will be consulted on in the new year. Features of the project includes creating up to 77,00
25/10/2016
Plans have been revealed for a £1.4 billion shopping centre redevelopment project in London. Hammerson and Standard Life Investments is proposing to transform Brent Cross Shopping Centre as part of a larger £4.5bn regeneration plan for Brent Cross and Cricklewood. Features of the new Brent Cross w
25/10/2016
Wates has been chosen to deliver three student accommodation projects for Select Property Group. The schemes are worth over £130 million and each 'Vita Student' development will be completed by September 2017. The first project involves building a £60.2m 748-bed complex at the former BBC site on O
25/10/2016
BAM has been appointed to build a new multi-million pound car park in Birmingham. The contractor will deliver the 59,000 sq m facility for Jaguar Land Rover on Kingsbury Road in Castle Bromwich. The multi-storey structure. which will provide 2,764 spaces for staff and production vehicle parking, w
25/10/2016
The UK Government has revealed plans to invest over £600 million into boosting infrastructure for the ultra-low emission vehicle market. The Department for Transport (DfT) has begun consulting on a series of measures to make electric chargepoints more accessible, with more than 11,000 already avail
25/10/2016
Morgan Sindall has secured a £2.8 million deal to refurbish a fire station in Warwickshire. The contractor will start upgrading Leamington Fire Station for Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service in December. Features include a new gym facility, carrying out improvements to the main reception area and
25/10/2016
Thames Water has begun a £3.5 million project to replace ageing water pipes in Berkshire. The six-month scheme will see a number of roads undergo upgrade works, including Hungerford Lane, Waltham Road B3024, Hurst Road and Whistley Green. The programme will see old, leaky pipes replaced with tough
25/10/2016
VolkerFitpatrick has reached a milestone on its project to build the new £50 million Cambridge North railway station. Engineers have finished installing a new footbridge to connect the ticket office with the station's platforms and the development is on schedule to open in May 2017. The structure
25/10/2016
Allgood is to exhibit its Contego copper alloy architectural ironmongery range alongside the Copper Development Association at the Patient First exhibition in London. The company will be showcasing on stand K88 on 22 – 23 November at London's ExCeL. Offering the aesthetic appeal of stainless steel
25/10/2016
LiftEx, the UK's only exhibition and industry conference dedicated to overhead lifting and safe work at height, has announced a record number of visitors have registered to attend the show, as well as exhibitors confirmed for its 2016 edition. For a full list please visit
25/10/2016
A mechanical engineering firm has been fined after a worker was seriously injured during maintenance work in Cheshire. Cole Mechanical Services Ltd of Ashbridge Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1)of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined £30,
24/10/2016
Neptune Developments is to begin building a new £39 million regeneration scheme in Liverpool. The company will start delivering the Lime Street Station project for private rented sector specialist Sigma Capital by the end of this year. Funding for the scheme has been secured with Curlew Student Tr
24/10/2016
Unite has purchased a new site for a student accommodation project in Sheffield. The £35 million development will provide a home for around 570 students and is set to be delivered in time for the 2019/2020 academic year. In addition, the site is located close to the University of Sheffield and wil
24/10/2016
New figures have revealed UK businesses are beginning to bounce back financially following the EU referendum. According to research from independent insolvency firm, Begbies Traynor, levels of 'significant' financial distress fell by 6% among businesses have fallen in the third quarter of 2016. Ov
24/10/2016
Build UK has revealed three new clients have joined its organisation. Sport England, Lipton Rogers Developments and Quintain are the latest companies to partner with the institution as it seeks to address industry issues and "lead positive change". In previous weeks, Almacantar, Argent and Great P
24/10/2016
Lovell has been selected to deliver a £10 million regeneration programme in Coventry. The contractor will carry out improvements to around 300 homes for Whitefriars Housing at Manor Farm. The scheme is part of the Spirit Quarters area transformation, which has already seen over 500 new homes built
24/10/2016
A construction company director has been jailed along with two other men for stealing £6.9 million in UK taxes. Aquil Ahmed, 60, an accountant; Victor Shearer, 43, a construction director at Leaner Logistics, and Christopher Azzopardi, 37, a payroll administrator employed by Ahmed, defrauded HM Rev
24/10/2016
Wates has completed a major milestone on a £5.7 million primary school project in Nottingham. The contractor has entered the final stages of its Bluecoat Academy Primary School scheme in Bilborough. The new building is due to open in January next year. The project is being undertaken for Nottingha
24/10/2016
Balfour Beatty has pledged to enhance its environmental and safety measures by signing the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Code of Conduct for Cambridgeshire. The charter covers the company's supply chain partners and ensures all HGV vehicles will observe a series of guidelines, such as weight and speed
24/10/2016
Work is underway to repair 40 metres of a river bank in Nottinghamshire. Contractors have started strengthening the banks of the River Wharfe in Collingham to prepare the area for the winter season. The project will repair damage to the river bank adjacent to the flood defences at The Avenue and t
24/10/2016
A landlord has been prosecuted for failing to maintain gas fittings at one of his properties in Middlesborough. Christopher Hobaiter of Lyndon Avenue, Hartburn, Stockton on Tees pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 36(2) of the Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to
21/10/2016
J.Murphy & Sons has won a multi-million pound contract to deliver one of the UK's largest water outfall pipe in Blackpool. The Anchorsholme polyethelene outfall pipe scheme is part of a five-year £100 million investment by United Utilities. The programme aims to improve the bathing water quality al
21/10/2016
Costain has scrapped a digital payment method on the Crossrail scheme after workers were not being paid for all the hours they worked. Employees previously used a fingerprint recognition scheme in order to receive payment for working on the multi-billion pound infrastructure project. However, the
21/10/2016
Graham Construction has won a deal to deliver £150 million worth of projects over the next five years in Barnet. The contractor has been selected as part of the council's Capital Projects programme to carry out a series of major schemes including new schools, leisure and community centres. A numbe
21/10/2016
BAM Nuttall has helped carry out a virtual test of a flood alleviation scheme in Leeds. The contractor worked in partnership with the Environment Agency (EA) to ensure work to install a moveable weir on the River Aire is ready for this winter. The scheme at Crown Point was carried out as part of t
21/10/2016
A £320 million fund has been launched to help boost the development of the self-sustaining heat network sector throughout the UK. The funding is being provided by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), a new department created by Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this
21/10/2016
Brick manufacturer Michelmersh has revised its financial exceptions for the year due to falling average prices across the market. In a trading update, the company revealed the UK brick market has been "experiencing falling output" and a "small increase in despatch volumes" due to manufacturers resp
21/10/2016
Access to suitable housing and local services is still a "serious problem" for many people with disabilities, according to a Parliamentary committee. The Women and Equalities Committee is underway with an inquiry into issues concerning people with disabilities and the built environment. The probe
21/10/2016
Highways contractor Tarmac has been prosecuted along with Liverpool City Council and another company after two separate incidents during a city centre road works project. One man was killed and another was seriously injured while attempting to cross the Queens Drive dual carriageway during a major
21/10/2016
Network Rail has completed work to upgrade a railway bridge in Nottinghamshire. Engineers have rebuilt the 140-year-old Station Road bridge in Hucknall as part of the company's £40 billion Railway Upgrade Plan. Works included strengthening the structure as well as replacing the road surface to imp
21/10/2016
Contractor Heron Bros is continuing with work on two major education contracts in Scotland. The contractor is currently building a £18.2 million Faith Schools' Joint Campus in East Renfrewshire, as well as the £7m refurbishment of Crookfur Primary School & Nursery. The Faith Schools' facility, whi
20/10/2016
Plans have been unveiled for a new £48 million residential development in Liverpool. Social housing provider Your Housing Group (YHG) is proposing to build 276 apartments at Liverpool Waters. Designed by Brock Carmichael Architects, the 30-storey 'Hive–City Docks tower' will be based on Princes Do
20/10/2016
Bardsley Construction has been selected to deliver a £28 million residential development in Manchester. The contractor will build 135 Private Rented Sector (PRS) apartments for developer Mulberry in the city's Northern Quarter. Work on the eight- to 14-storey scheme will start in November and occu
20/10/2016
Plans have been approved for a new care home facility in Northampton. LNT Care Developments will start building a 66-bed care facility next month in Duston. The project is due to be completed by September 2017. The centre will be built adjacent to the St Luke's Primary Care Centre and will care fo
20/10/2016
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has revealed plans to unlock the development of over 3,300 homes in South West England. Up to £20 million of road improvement schemes will be carried out on the M4 and M5/A30 to help create new housing and over 6,000 jobs for residents in Swindon, Exeter and Westo
20/10/2016
New figures have revealed growth in the majority of UK construction sectors is slowing down due to uncertainty surrounding Brexit. The latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Construction Market Survey states while there was a 19% rise in the amount of chartered surveyors reporting r
20/10/2016
Work is continuing on a £27 million relief road project in Hampshire. Contractor Raymond Brown is delivering the first £6.8m phase of Whitehill and Bordon's new relief road, which is due to be completed on Monday, 24 October. The first section comprises of 0.6 miles of new road through the Louisbu
20/10/2016
Wates has strengthened its senior team by appointing a new Group Managing Director (MD) of Construction. The company has confirmed Paul Chandler will take up the role from 01 January next year. With over 34 years' experience, Mr Chandler will join Wates from Skanska UK where he is currently Execut
20/10/2016
The Welsh Government has unveiled plans to create 100,000 all-age apprenticeships. In its Budget for 2016/17, the government will commit £111 million towards creating new traineeships and apprenticeships. Welcoming the announcement, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) said the government needs
20/10/2016
An environmental services company has been prosecuted after a worker's arm was crushed by machinery. Consillium Environmental Services Limited, Tower Road Business Park, Darwen pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £30,000 with £4,500 in c
20/10/2016
The Winners and Highly Commended entries of the Structural Timber Awards 2016 were revealed on Wednesday, 19 October, at a gala dinner held at the Birmingham National Conference Centre (formerly known as the National Motorcycle Museum) during Timber Expo and UK Construction Week. Sponsored by PEFC
19/10/2016
Builders merchant Travis Perkins has announced it is closing 30 branches across the UK. The company said the move, which puts 600 jobs at risk, is due to the "uncertain" outlook for UK customer demand in 2017. Elsewhere, the firm said it was "not satisfied" with sales in its plumbing and heating d
19/10/2016
Stepnell has won a £3.8 million contract to carry out the second phase of a major expansion project near Nottingham. The contractor will create a new two-storey, 873 sq m office building at MHR's base in Mere Way, Ruddington. The scheme is part of a major expansion development to create a new Inno
19/10/2016
Barratt Developments' regional Managing Director for London, Alastair Baird, has been arrested after an investigation into "possible misconduct" concerning contract awards. Mr Baird and one other former Barratt London employee were detained by Metropolitan Police this morning, 19 October. The arre
19/10/2016
HS2 Ltd has selected Roy Hill as its Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Hill, who will take up the role next month, is joining the company for a second time after leading the project in its early stages. His appointment follows previous Chief Executive Simon Kirby's decision to leave HS2 to
19/10/2016
Industry bosses will be taking "nothing for granted" despite construction workloads continuing to rise three months after Brexit, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). In its latest State of Trade Survey, the organisation said ongoing workloads for construction SMEs had remained "re
19/10/2016
Clugston Construction is to begin building a new £60 million IKEA store in Sheffield. The company will develop a new 31,500m2 two-storey building for the Scandinavian retailer and the superstore is scheduled to open in summer 2017. Enabling works at the site begun earlier this year. Features will
19/10/2016
Balfour Beatty is continuing work to build a major new railway junction in London. The contractor is delivering a £50 million scheme to 'untangle' the tracks on the eastern approach to London Bridge station. The development is on schedule for completion in 2018. Once finished, the new junction wil
19/10/2016
Lovell has been selected to carry out external wall insulation and roofing work across a number of homes in South Wales. The company will deliver Bron Afon Community Housing's £7 million framework on homes in Torfaen. The three-scheme will see properties in the Torfaen County Borough area made war
19/10/2016
A company has been fined for safety failings after a temporary hoarding fell onto a pedestrian in Bedford. Frazer Stannard Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and to breaching Regulation 19(2) Construction (Design and Management) Regulati
19/10/2016
More than four in 10 people live in properties that fall well below acceptable standards, according housing charity Shelter. The charity has developed a 'Living Home Standard', which looks at factors including living conditions, space, affordability, stability and neighbourhood. After months of co
18/10/2016
Bellway Homes has reported a near 27% rise in its revenue for the year ended 31 July 2016. The housebuilder revealed its revenue increased to £2,240.7 million in 2016 compared with £1,765.4 million in 2015. In addition, the company's gross profit rose to £574.8m from £427.9m. With total completion
18/10/2016
Industry manufacturer Caterpillar has selected Jim Umpleby as the company's new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mr Umpleby will take up the role at the start of next year prior to the retirement of Doug Oberhelman, who is stepping down after 41 years with the company on 31 March 2017. Mr Umpleby is
18/10/2016
Balfour Beatty has welcomed Prime Minister Theresa May's signals to prioritise infrastructure projects, increase house-building and devolve powers to regions and cities outside London as part of the Government's Industrial Strategy. In its report 'The Industrial Strategy - a Vision for Growth', the
18/10/2016
Over half of construction workers suffer from false self-employment, according to union UCATT. The organisation made the claim after figures released by think-tank Resolution Foundation revealed self employment in the UK had risen by over a million people in the last 13 years. UCATT claims a "sign
18/10/2016
Housing Minister Gavin Barwell has announced a series of new measures to tackle overcrowded housing in England. The new proposals aim to stop rogue landlords from cramming tenants into unsafe housing as well helping councils raise standards in shared homes. Measures include: • ensuring mandatory
18/10/2016
Wates has expanded its presence in North West England by opening a new office in Cumbria. The expansion is part of the company's plans to develop its regional portfolio in the area and will provide a base to undertake project development in South Lakeland. In addition, the move also comes one year
18/10/2016
A steel manufacturing company has been fined after a worker was crushed by metal pipework. R Tindall (Fabricators) Ltd of West Point Industrial Estate, Hargreaves Street, Oldham pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £70,000 with £5,000
18/10/2016
Network Rail is to begin a track renewal project in Hampshire. Workers will start replacing nine sets of points as well as 240 metres of track at Fareham from Saturday, 22 October. In addition, £1 million is being invested to improve Fareham station. Features include a resurfaced forecourt, improv
18/10/2016
Construction work has started on a new £200 million polar research vessel in Merseyside. The new state-of-the-art ship is named after world-renowned broadcaster Sir David Attenborough and is due to set sail in 2019. The vessel is bing built by Cammell Laird at its shipyard in Birkenhead. The 'keel
18/10/2016
Roads Minister John Hayes has unveiled a new roads apprenticeship academy in Cambridgeshire. The Highways Academy in Huntingdon will train 129 new apprentices and graduates to carry out work on the £1.5 billion A14 bypass project. The facility will be run by the West Anglia Training Association (W
17/10/2016
The UK's construction industry is in "dire need of change", according to a new Government-commissioned review on the sector. A report by Mark Farmer, chief executive of industry consultancy Cast, has revealed the sector must make a series of drastic alterations in order to halt an "inexorable decli
17/10/2016
A 'huge' fire has been brought under control at a construction site in Manchester. Emergency services were called at 8.05pm to the Gorton site after the timber frame of the high rise flat complex caught fire on Sunday, 16 October. Up to five fire engines attended the scene and a number of houses w
17/10/2016
Interserve has secured a £37.5 million contract to provide facilities management (FM) services across eight shopping centres in the UK. The Group will deliver a range of services for Land Securities' flagship shopping facilities. An additional centre being added to the deal from 2017 in Westgate, O
17/10/2016
Skanska has strengthened its London commercial building business by appointing Steve Holbrook as its Managing Director (MD). Having been with the company over the last 21 years as Commercial Director, Mr Holbrook will replace Paul Heather following his decision to leave the business. Mr Holbook wi
17/10/2016
Plans have been submitted for a railway station redevelopment project in North-East London. Network Rail is proposing to transform Ilford station as part of the Crossrail development. Designed by architects Atkins, the scheme involves creating a new spacious building with a striking glass façade t
17/10/2016
A company has been prosecuted after a worker was killed during a lifting operation on a building site in Colchester. Urban Summit Construction Ltd of 15 California, Little Downham, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 2UF, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8 (1)(c) of The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equ
17/10/2016
Plans have been approved for a £70 million student accommodation project in Liverpool. The three-year scheme will be delivered by Unite Students alongside its Grand Central student village development in the centre of the city. A total of 1,085 student bedrooms will be built, providing a home for
17/10/2016
Plans are to go on display for a series of major road improvements in South East England. The projects are part of the Government's £15 billion roads investment and will be carried out by Highways England for the M25, M271, A2, A27 and A31. The schemes are worth up to £605 million and aim to reduc
17/10/2016
Work is to begin later this week on a bypass improvement project in Leeds. The City Council will start upgrading Stanningley Bypass on Friday, 21 October. The week-long scheme will see a new crossover created in the central reserve near the Owlcotes slip road to allow future road maintenance to be
17/10/2016
Barnshaws Group has helped deliver a new £70 million retail redevelopment project in Birmingham. The contractor has developed one of the largest new Marks & Spencer superstore's in the country for specialist steelwork contractor James Killelea Limited. In addition, the adjoining car park has been
14/10/2016
Whitefriars Housing has started planning work for a £10 million regeneration project in Coventry. The housing provider has selected Lovell to refurbish 300 homes on the 1960s-built Manor Farm estate in the Spirit Quarters area. Resident consultations are already underway and work is set to begin in
14/10/2016
New figures have revealed the UK's construction output decreased by 1.5% in August. According to the latest statistics from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), all new work, and repair and maintenance fell by 1.4% and 1.5% respectively. The largest contribution in the downwards trend came fr
14/10/2016
Peel Land and Property has been granted approval to deliver a new mixed-use development in Manchester. The £1 billion 'Trafford Waters' scheme will see 3,000 new homes and 100,000 sq ft of commercial space built on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal. The 20-year project will be delivered acros
14/10/2016
Plans have been approved to build a new road bridge over the River Mersey as part of the Stockport Interchange development. Work on the structure and associated highways is expected to begin in 2017. Once completed, the bridge will cross the River Mersey, joining Swaine Street to the south with As
14/10/2016
An industry conference is underway in Manchester to discuss proposals on developing a geological disposal facility (GDF) for radioactive waste in the UK. Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) is hosting the two-day event which will bring together around 80 stakeholders including government officials,
14/10/2016
The UK Government has granted approval for a new £350 million tram line to be built in Greater Manchester. Plans for the Trafford Park Metrolink line expansion were given the go-ahead by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling on Thursday, 13 October. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) are plannin
14/10/2016
Work on new student accommodation at the University of Cumbria is now complete. Keepmoat worked alongside the University to deliver 11 bed and two eight-bedroom town houses for 71 students in Ambleside. The contractor used Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) to complete the scheme in time for stude
14/10/2016
Work is to begin on a £6.75 million housing regeneration project in Cambridge. Keepmoat will work alongside Iceni Homes to deliver 50 new 'affordable' homes in Chesterton. The project is being carried out for charitable housing association Hundred Houses Society and involves creating the Associati
14/10/2016
A council has been fined for safety failings after a worker fell from a ladder during roof repair works in Hull. East Riding of Yorkshire Council of County Hall, Beverley, Hull pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £40,000 with £644 in
14/10/2016
Network Rail has completed a bridge upgrade project in Cornwall. The new Saveock bridge in Chacewater was officially reopened by Sarah Newton MP for Truro and Falmouth at 3pm today, 14 October. The 18-week scheme involved removing the carriageway and existing bridge deck, diverting utility service
13/10/2016
Carillion has been chosen as the preferred bidder to deliver the £96 million Lincoln Eastern Bypass scheme. If approved, the contractor will build a 7.5km road to link the A158 Wragby Road roundabout to the A15 at Bracebridge Heath. The three-year project aims to cut congestion in Lincoln city cen
13/10/2016
Coleman & Company has confirmed it will not be continuing its demolition and site clearance work at Didcot A Power Station in Oxfordshire. The contractor was carrying out demolition preparatory works on the boiler house at the site when the building partially collapsed on 23 February. Four employee
13/10/2016
The UK Government has revealed plans to turn the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) into an executive agency. The Chancellor Philip Hammond said the new NIC will be at the "very heart" of Government plans to develop Britain's infrastructure. It will help plan, prioritise and ensure efficient
13/10/2016
AMCO Rail is using an innovative scaffolding method to save over £9 million on a railway tunnel strengthening project in Liverpool. The contractor has been appointed by Network Rail to upgrade the Victorian railway tunnel leading to Liverpool Central Station. By installing an access platform secur
13/10/2016
Two construction firms have secured a fully funded national scholarship scheme for apprentices to take their first career steps in the construction industry. The initiative was launched by construction payroll provider Hudson Contract to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary. As a result of the
13/10/2016
Work is underway to explore the potential of developing a new film and TV studio facility in London. Mayor Sadiq Khan is working alongside Film London, the London Local Enterprise Panel (LEP) and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to commission a feasibility study for the development at Dag
13/10/2016
Morgan Sindall has been a selected to deliver a new primary school in London. The contractor will build the new multi-million pound Albion Primary School in Southwark. The development is due to be completed in 2018. Designed by Haverstock architects, the scheme involves demolishing the existing sc
13/10/2016
Ashe Construction has completed a £2.1 million primary school expansion project in Stratford-upon-Avon. The contractor worked alongside the East Midlands Property Alliance (EMPA) to deliver the scheme at Bishopton Primary School. More than 200 additional pupils can now be accommodated at the schoo
13/10/2016
A landowner has been prosecuted by the Environment Agency (EA) for operating an illegal waste site in Kent. Paul Woodcock, from Sittingbourne, was found guilty of using The Quarry in Wormshill for unauthorised waste deposits to land at Medway Magistrates’ Court on 10 October. He was given a four-m
13/10/2016
A building contractor has been fined after a worker fell from the roof of a shed during demolition work. John David McCormick (trading as Trymac Construction), pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 4(1) and 9(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was fined £2,000 for each offence with cost
12/10/2016
WSP Global has purchased Mouchel Consulting from Kier for £75 million. The deal is expected to result in an immediate profit of around £40m for Kier. The move is part of a strategic evaluation announced earlier this year by the firm, which looked into strategic options for the consultancy business
12/10/2016
The UK Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the multi-billion pound HS2 scheme by pledging £70 million for local communities and road safety along the London to West Midlands route. The funding boost was unveiled by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling on Tuesday, 11 October, who said the UK n
12/10/2016
Morgan Sindall has won a £16.9 million contract to build a new council waste depot in Bedfordshire. Work is already underway on the project and involves building a highways and waste distribution depot at a 14-acre site in Houghton Regis, Dunstable. The facility is being delivered for the highways
12/10/2016
BAM Nuttall has secured a £23 million contract to deliver a flood alleviation project in Hull. The contractor will work alongside Mott MacDonald (BMMJV) to repair 39 flood defences along a 7.5km stretch of the River Hull. In addition, new defences will be built using combi sheet pile wall and unde
12/10/2016
New research has revealed the number of approved planning permissions remains unchanged compared to the first three months of 2016. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Glenigan's latest Housing Pipeline report states that the number of units approved during the quarter was unchanged at 74,400 ho
12/10/2016
Story Homes has submitted plans to build 69 new properties in west Cumbria. The company is proposing to build a mix of affordable and private sale homes on land to the north east of Seaton Village. The plans include developing associated infrastructure at the site, creating a new public open space
12/10/2016
Nearly 40% of Scottish landlords believe Brexit will have a negative impact on their business. New research by the National Landlords Association reveals 39% of landlords in Scotland are worried leaving the EU will impact on their ability to attract tenants in the future. In central London, more t
12/10/2016
A plumber has been fined for carrying out dangerous gas work at a property in Torquay. Mark Evans, 52, of Sladnor Park Road, Torquay pleaded guilty to two breaches of gas safety regulations. He was sentenced to eight-months in prison suspended for two years, ordered to serve 100 hours of unpaid wor
12/10/2016
Work is to begin on a £1.3 million road junction improvement project in Liverpool. The council will start upgrading the city centre Islington (A580)/St Anne Street junction later today, 12 October. Works include road resurfacing, upgrading the traffic lights and improving street lighting. The proj
12/10/2016
Network Rail has reached a major milestone on its Midland Main Line upgrade project in Leicestershire. Engineers have completed demolition works on Syston Road bridge and work is to begin on a new replacement bridge in October and November. The scheme is part of Network Rail's £40 billion Railway
11/10/2016
JCB has reportedly left the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) organisation due to its position over the UK leaving the European Union. According to reports, the industry equipment supplier was unhappy over the lobbying group's stance on Brexit and its response to the referendum's outcome. JC
11/10/2016
A 47-year-old construction worker has died following a collision with a truck on the M1 in Northamptonshire. The incident occurred at approximately 9am just north of junction 16 on Monday, 10 October. Police said the collision happened within a section of road works on the northbound carriageway o
11/10/2016
Planning consent has been granted for a £60 million build-to-rent scheme in London. Residential property owner Grainger is proposing to deliver 163 new homes in Seven Sisters, North London. The 22-storey 'Apex House' scheme has been designed by architects John McAslan + Partners and includes flexi
11/10/2016
Pick Everard has been selected to deliver design and project management services on a £10 million sports development in west London. Plans for the facility have been submitted by the London Borough of Hounslow Council. The project involves creating a new clubhouse and pitches, with the relocation
11/10/2016
Ashe Construction has started a £2.1 million school extension project in Warwickshire. The contractor is developing seven additional classrooms at Hillmorton Primary School in Rugby. The year-long project will see the school's capacity doubled to become a two-form entry school in time for the star
11/10/2016
Revised plans have been submitted for a £1 million sports rehabilitation centre in Leicestershire. The project will see a derelict aircraft hangar on the Burrough Court Estate near Melton Mowbray redeveloped into a modern facility where beneficiaries of the Matt Hampson Foundation will be able to r
11/10/2016
Harbur Construction has reshuffled its senior management by appointing Andrew Moore as Commercial Manager and promoting Carolyn Forshaw to Finance Director. Mr Moore has 16 years' experience working in the construction industry and joins the firm from Paragon Construction where he was a Managing Qu
11/10/2016
Industry supplier SIG has announced Nick Maddock as its new Group Finance Director (GFD). Mr Maddock is currently Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at McCarthy & Stone and has held his current position since September 2011. Previously, he has worked as Finance Director for Centrica, as Financial Contr
11/10/2016
A construction company has been fined after a dumper truck overturned and crushed a worker's legs in Cornwall. MJL Contractors Ltd, Hellys Court, Water Ma Trout Industrial Estate, Helston Cornwall, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined £200,
11/10/2016
Contractors are to begin a roundabout maintenance scheme next week in Northumberland. Resurfacing work at Highfields roundabout in Berwick will start on Monday, 17 October. Features include resurfacing the junction on the A1 as well as kerb replacements. The scheme will take place between 8pm – 6a
10/10/2016
Transport for London (TfL) has begun searching for contractors to deliver the £1 billion Silvertown Road tunnel project. The organisation has issued a contract notice to deliver the new major river crossing between Silvertown and Greenwich Peninsula in east London. The structure will comprise of a
10/10/2016
Interserve has decided not to sell its Equipment Services business following an eight-month strategic review of the division. The business, which trades as RMD Kwikform (RMD), will instead be developed and restructured to "best maximise value creation for shareholders". In a statement, Interserve
10/10/2016
Waterman Group has reported a 9% rise in revenue for the year ended 30 June 2016. The engineering consultancy revealed its overall revenue increase to £91.3 million in 2016, up from £83.9 million last year. In addition, profit before tax jumped 50% to £3.6m (£2.7m) while Return on Capital Employed
10/10/2016
The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) is calling on the UK Government to examine the impact Brexit might have on procuring infrastructure projects. The organisation said the UK's decision to leave the EU potentially opens up the opportunity to examine how work is procured in the UK.
10/10/2016
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of energy services company Mitie, Ruby McGregor-Smith, is to step down from the Board in December. Ms McGregor-Smith will leave on 12 December following nine years in the role. She will be replaced by Phil Bentley, who will join Mitie as a director on 01 November.
10/10/2016
Thousands of new jobs would be created across Scotland should a third runway be built at London Heathrow, according to the Scottish Government. The Airport will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Scottish Government later today, 10 October. It is predicted the expansion would offer
10/10/2016
A construction worker and a site manager have been fined after another employee broke his leg when a concrete skip fell on top of him in South London. Self-employed worker Michael Kernan, of CYC Coastal Club, Marine Parade, Sheerness, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) (c) of the Lifting O
10/10/2016
BAM and Willmott Dixon are to host a 'Meet the Buyer' event this week in Pembrokeshire. The contractors are seeking a range of skilled partners to help deliver the council's future construction needs. Suitable trades include: bricklaying, carpentry, ceramic tiling, cladding, dry living, fencing, f
10/10/2016
The National House Building Council (NHBC) has strengthened its senior management by selecting two new Non-Executive Directors. The organisation has appointed Crest Nicholson's Chief Executive, Stephen Stone, and Notting Hill Housing's Chief Executive, Kate Davies, to the NHBC Board. Mr Stone has
10/10/2016
Ready-mixed concrete supplier Dependable Concrete has revealed its recently commissioned Deeside depot at Flintshire is ready to serve customers. In addition to its Wrexham depot at Ballswood Quarry, the two Wet Batch facilities can service North Wales, Chester, The Wirral, Cheshire and North Shrop
07/10/2016
Kier Living's £1 billion housing initiative will help support the Government's new £3 billion Home Builders Fund by delivering 10,000 new homes. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid announced the new initiative at the Conservative Party Conference on Monday, 03 October. It is part of a three-pronged s
07/10/2016
A new report has revealed thousands of new classrooms must be built by 2020 to cope with rising demand from English primary and secondary pupils. Scape Group's research study, 'School Places Challenge', states more than 2,000 new schools must be built along with 24,000 extra classrooms over the nex
07/10/2016
Building contractor Speller Metcalfe has started work to develop a new corporate head office (HQ) for industry manufacturer Thomas Dudley. The multimillion-pound facility is being built at Dudley in the West Midlands and is due for completion in August 2017. The new three-storey building will cont
07/10/2016
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has appointed Graham Dalton as its new Chief Executive. Having spent seven years as Chief Executive of the Highways Agency and, for a short time, Highways England, Mr Dalton has spent his career in the operation, maintenance, and enhancement of large in
07/10/2016
A Middlesex-based roofing company has been prosecuted after a worker fell through a roof during work on a construction site in Hertfordshire. Richardson Roofing Company Limited (RRCL), of Richardson House, Moor Lane, Staines, Middlesex, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Hei
07/10/2016
Permission has been granted for a redevelopment project in London. Property developer Workspace Group is planning to refurbish Mare Street Studios in Hackney. The 38,000 sq ft site is valued at £9.4 million and currently consists of office and light industrial space. Plans include upgrading the e
07/10/2016
Murphy Group has appointed former Serco Director David Burke as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mr Burke has vast experience in the industry, having held a number of senior financial roles for over 12 years at Serco. Most recently, he acted as global finance transition director, leading on t
07/10/2016
Tackling draughts and turning down the thermostat this autumn could save householders nearly £100 per year, according to Midlands-based energy expert Ron Fox. Mr Fox, who owns green heating and energy company Noreus, said turning down the heating dial by just one degree can save between £85 and £9
06/10/2016
The UK Government has approved plans for horizontal fracking to take place in Lancashire. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid gave the go-ahead for fracking at Cuadrilla's Preston New Road site at Little Plumpton today, 06 October. However, he deferred a decision on a second site at Roseacre Wood pen
06/10/2016
Aberdeen Asset Management has selected ISG to deliver a £15 million office refurbishment project in Bristol. The group plans to transform the One Redcliff Street building into a modern commercial office facility. Features include building a new floor at roof level to create a suite of high-specifi
06/10/2016
Graham Construction has won a place on the University of Manchester's multi-million pound Construction Works Framework. The award will allow the contractor to bid for projects as part of the University's £1 billion Campus Masterplan scheme, a decade-long investment to create a new campus by 2022.
06/10/2016
A ban on HGV's operating in London is likely to negatively impact construction activity and safety in the city, according to the Mineral Products Association (MPA). Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced plans to ban 35,000 HGV's operating in London from January 2020. While the CLOCS initiative has in rec
06/10/2016
Team Van Oord is continuing work on a flood alleviation project in Somerset. The scheme, which began in April, involves creating a flood alleviation channel beneath the A39 road to improve the flood defence of around 200 homes in Cannington. As part of the project, the road will be closed for 24 h
06/10/2016
Tesco has been fined £500,0000 after a maintenance worker fell through a skylight at a store in Wallasey. Tesco Stores of Tesco House, Shire Park, Kestrel Way, Welwyn Garden City, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 10 of the Const
06/10/2016
New research has revealed 1.8 million new rental homes will need to be built in the UK by 2025. A study by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) shows buy-to-let sales have dropped sharply since May, with 58% of RICS estate agents reporting a decline. In addition, 86% of landlords ha
06/10/2016
A major milestone has been reached on the £600 million Mersey Gateway Project. Work to install the south pylon of the Mersey Gateway bridge has been completed and the occasion marks the project's highest point. Construction teams are now underway to install the smaller central pylon, which is to b
06/10/2016
Willmott Dixon is continuing work to construct the £25 million National College of High Speed Rail in Birmingham. The roof structure on the building has been finalised and the facility is on schedule to open in September 2017. The College is being developed in Birmingham's university district and
06/10/2016
Network Rail is underway with a £1.6 million viaduct strengthening project in Lancashire. The scheme will see major engineering work carried out at Whalley viaduct on the Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria line. Work includes installing 2,800 steel brackets and 16,800 anchors to the side of the stru
05/10/2016
Willmott Dixon has won a £17 million deal to build a new hotel in Portsmouth. The contractor will deliver a new 154-bed hotel for Village Hotel Club in Lakeside New Harbour. Designed by 3DReid, the project will the first of the new Village Hotel concept and will include conference facilities, a l
05/10/2016
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has approved plans for three major infrastructure projects in the city. A package of new river crossings have been given the go-ahead in East and South East London, which will provide greener, more public transport-focused travel options as well as supporting busine
05/10/2016
Construction workers on the Crossrail tunnelling project are being subjected to "appalling" and "inadequate" working conditions by contractor ATC, according to union UCATT. The organisation is calling for an independent inquiry to take place on health and workplace abuses at the scheme due to claim
05/10/2016
Irish contractor John Sisk & Son has secured Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 certification. The Building Research Establishment's (BRE) BIM Level 2 Business Systems Certification scheme assesses a business in relation to its BIM capability and policy as outlined in the PAS 1192-2:2013
05/10/2016
Vodafone has been fined for failing to manage streetworks properly in London. Ahead of a Westminster Magistrates Court hearing on 28 September, the telecommunications company pleaded guilty to working without a permit in Borough High Street and failing to serve the required streetworks notices befo
05/10/2016
A nightclub owner has been fined after failing to carry out an asbestos survey before beginning refurbishment work. Charles McGrath, sole director of UK Night Life Limited, of Mawdsley Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and Regula
05/10/2016
Construction workers are using Donseed biometrics to help develop Apple's new headquarters (HQ) in London. Work is underway to transform the former Battersea Power Station for the US technology firm. Around 1,400 staff will move in to the Grade II-listed coal-fired power station in 2021. Apple wil
05/10/2016
Hawk Group has helped host an industry event to encourage more people into construction careers and apprenticeships in Manchester. The company hosted the exhibition in collaboration with Highways England, Manchester Smart Motorways and Flannery Plant in Irlam on Saturday, 01 October. Over 100 peop
04/10/2016
A five-month public inquiry into building a new £1 billion M4 relief road in South Wales has been delayed. The study was due to begin on 01 November, however changes on how the Department of Transport carries out its methodology means the new inquiry will not start until 31 March 2017. The delay w
04/10/2016
The UK's construction industry experienced growth last month as the sector bounced back from a four-month post Brexit slump. The Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) registered 52.3 in September, up from 49.2 in August and above the 50.0 no-change value for the first time si
04/10/2016
Carillion has secured a £350 million deal with Nationwide to provide support services for the Building Society. The seven-year contract commenced on 01 October and has the option to be extended for a further three-years. Carillion will provide a range of hard/soft facilities management (FM) and wo
04/10/2016
Anglian Water has selected three companies to deliver its commercial services framework (COCE) over the next five years. Turner & Townsend (T&T), AECOM and Mott MacDonald will be responsible for providing commercial outperformance and construction economics services on the programme. The COCE fram
04/10/2016
Spie UK has won a £12 million contract to carry out a gas mains and service replacement programme for SGN. The deal is part of a two-year contract renewal and works will start later this month. Up to 60km of gas mains/service lines across Thames Valley and Oxford will be renewed. The volume of wor
04/10/2016
The UK Government has revealed it is still aiming to build one million new homes by 2020. In his speech at the Conservative Party Conference yesterday, 03 October, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid revealed details of a £3 billion Home Builders Fund to get more SME
04/10/2016
Wates has launched a new residential business as part of its plans to expand its housing investment and sales-led development across the UK. 'Wates Residential' will look to sustain and build upon its contractor relationships with social landlords, while also expanding its investment portfolio and
04/10/2016
BAM has strengthened its global operations by appointing Nitesh Magdani as its Group Sustainability Director. Mr Magdani has been the company's UK Sustainability Director since 2013 and joined BAM in 2011 having worked as lead architect on many sustainability lead projects. In his new position, Mr
03/10/2016
Tidal Lagoon Power is seeking a contractor to build a new £22 million Turbine Manufacturing & Pre-Assembly Plant in Swansea Bay. The company has issued a tender for the design and construction of the facility, which will be located between the Kings and Queens Dock. The plant will receive major tu
03/10/2016
Interserve has secured a £7.5 million contract to provide cleaning services for Scottish energy company SSE and gas distribution firm SGN. The three-year account will see Interserve deliver daily and periodic cleaning services to all of SSE and SGN's 70 corporate offices across the UK. The facilit
03/10/2016
US engineering firm Bechtel has been selected to help deliver a possible expansion project at Gatwick Airport. The company will provide project management services on building a second runway and midfield terminal, which is due to be completed by 2025. Bechtel has been working alongside the Airpor
03/10/2016
BAE Systems is to begin building the UK's new nuclear submarines as part of a £1.3 billion investment programme. The announcement was made by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, who will start work with a traditional 'steel cut' ceremony at the BAE Systems yard next week in Barrow-in-Furness. Severa
03/10/2016
Engineering firm Renew Holdings has revealed Paul Scott is its new Chief Executive. Mr Scott has succeeded Brian May as the Group's leader, who retired on 30 September. In a trading update, Renew said: "The Board would like to thank Brian for his outstanding leadership of Renew over the last eleve
03/10/2016
McLaughlin & Harvey (McL&H) has started work to build a new shopping centre in Loughton. Demolition works are now underway on the site of the former council depot buildings in Loughton and the 40-week project is scheduled for completion in summer 2017. Once finished, the Epping Forest Shopping Par
03/10/2016
Morgan Sindall has delivered a new £5 million primary school in Manchester. The contractor has handed over the new Plymouth Grove Primary School as part of the EFA's Priority School Building Programme (PSBP). The two-storey building contains 15 classrooms, a music teaching room and a 150 sq m scho
03/10/2016
The launch of a £3 billion Home Builders Fund has been welcomed by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The new initiative was unveiled by Philip Hammond and Sajid Javid at the Conservative Party Conference today, 03 October. The FMB said a new dedicated fund aimed at lending to SME house buil
03/10/2016
Work is to begin on a £24 million electricity network upgrade project in Bicester. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) are finalising plans to install a new 18km underground cable as well as a new electricity substation, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2018. The proje
03/10/2016
A building contractor and an exhibition venue in London have been fined after a worker fell through a skylight during roof repair work in the city. The Business Design Centre Limited, of Upper Street, Islington, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc
