Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for February 2016
29/02/2016
Wates Construction has been awarded the contract for Ardstone Capital's planned multi-million pound refurbishment of Phoenix House on Newhall Street, Birmingham. The contract will see Wates deliver a package of works valued at approximately £8.4m. The new development has been designed by architect
29/02/2016
Kier Property has agreed the purchase of a land in Southampton, which it plans to redevelop for student accommodation. The 2.26 acre site comprises cleared land on which the former East Street shopping centre used to sit, a vacant office block known as Capital House and a public house. The Kier tea
29/02/2016
Camden Council's Cabinet has approved the proposed redevelopment of the Highgate Newtown Community Centre (HNCC), which includes a new sports hall and premises for the Fresh Youth Academy (FYA) service. The new development, which was supported by local residents during an extensive consultation per
29/02/2016
The latest figures from the NHBC have revealed that 10,309 new homes were registered in January 2016, a fall of 9% compared to the same period in 2015. The figures come after NHBC reported a 7% year on year increase in the number of new home registrations in 2015. In January 2016 a total of 7,885 p
29/02/2016
Works to improve traffic flow on Middlesbrough's Cargo Fleet Lane and the surrounding road network are underway. The first of two schemes to be put into place will be an upgrade of the traffic signals at the junction of A171 Cargo Fleet Lane and A1085 Longlands Road - known locally as the Brambles
29/02/2016
Skanska has been awarded the contract to construct the Piercy & Company-designed Copyright Building in Fitzrovia, Derwent London. The £45 million, 9,800sqm scheme will be a mixture of retail and offices. The ground floor will provide 1,850sqm of retail space, and 7,950sqm of fully fitted out catego
26/02/2016
Plans have been approved for a new 250,000 sq ft office in south London. The building will be delivered at the 2 million sq ft Ruskin Square development in Croydon. It is part of the £500 million Schroder UK Real Estate Fund (SREF) scheme, with the first 180,000 sq ft office now topped out and a f
26/02/2016
A 'significant' milestone has been reached at a high school expansion project in Newcastle. Wates is underway with work to develop a new £11 million extension of Newcastle High School for Girls. A 'topping out' ceremony was held to mark the contractor reaching the upper most point of the brand new
26/02/2016
Over 200 staff are set to be made redundant by Laing O'Rourke, it has been announced. The company said the move is part of its strategic plans to focus on its engineering and manufacturing businesses. In a statement, Laing O'Rourke said it was, "consulting with UK-based employees on a proposal to
26/02/2016
Final approval has been granted for a £400m development of Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane stadium. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, approved the club's revised plans, which will see a new 61,000-seater stadium built on the site of their current home and features a retractable pitch to host
26/02/2016
The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) has appointed Anna Scothern as its new Executive Director. With over 20 years' experience in the housing and wider built-environment sectors, Ms Scothern is committed to 're-energising' the NHIC. The organisation said she will make the NHIC both a valua
26/02/2016
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is underway with work to develop new single living accommodation at an army barracks in Gloucestershire. The £8 million project is being carried out by Lendlease at the Duke of Gloucester Barracks in South Cerney. 90 new bedrooms will be built at the b
26/02/2016
The Instarmac Group have been awarded 3 stars in the Sunday Times' annual Top 100 Best Small Companies To Work For. The UK-based manufacturer achieved 3 star status, the highest level possible, and only given to extraordinary companies, climbing 40 places on the top 100 list to number 38. The top
26/02/2016
The MJM Group is set to buy a former military base in Ballykelly, Co L'Derry, in a deal agreed with the Northern Ireland Executive. The group said that it intends to use the former Shackleton Barracks for new business ventures, which could see the creation of more than 100 new jobs. Jarlath Quinn
25/02/2016
Skanska has secured a £45m contract to build a mixed-use building in London. The company will deliver the Copyright Building for Derwent London in the West End. Designed by Piercy & Company, the 9,800 sq m project will include a mixture of retail and offices. 1,850 sq m of retail space will be de
25/02/2016
A joint venture (JV) between Bruntwood and Select Property Group has submitted plans to develop over 500 apartments in Manchester city centre. The two 'Build-to-Rent' schemes will be located on New Bailey Street on the banks of the River Irwell. The 33-storey Affinity Living Riverview building wil
25/02/2016
A major search operation is continuing at the collapsed Didcot A Power station in Oxfordshire. One person died and five others were injured after the boiler house building disintegrated at around 4pm on Tuesday, 23 February. Coleman and Company had been preparing the building to be destroyed befor
25/02/2016
Legal & General (LGC) has announced the launch of its modular housing business. The Legal & General Homes division will seek to 'modernise the home building industry' by creating factory manufactured houses at its newly leased warehouse in North England. Around 400 to 500 people will be employed a
25/02/2016
Gilbert-Ash has completed two major construction projects worth over £44 million in London. The first scheme involved building the £22m Fetal Medicine Research Institute occupied by the Fetal Medicine Foundation of Harley Street and King's College Hospital. The 5,255m2 centre involved partially de
25/02/2016
Farrans has secured a detailed designs contract for a new £20 million academy in Tottenham. The pre-construction services agreement was awarded by the Harris Federation after the exemplar design was completed by Mace. The new Harris Academy will be built on the former site of the Lee valley Techno
25/02/2016
VolkerFitzpatrick has been selected to develop a new Royal Mail Delivery Office in London. The firm will build the Delivery Office and Vehicle Services Workshop facility in Nine Elms, London. The 15-week contract was awarded following a competitive two-stage tender. Works involve demolition of ex
25/02/2016
ScottishPower Renewables has granted final approval for a £2.5 billion offshore wind farm in the North Sea. The East Anglia ONE scheme is set to become one of the largest offshore wind farm sites in the world. The project will see 102 wind turbines generating 714 megawatts of electricity, enough t
25/02/2016
A roofing company has been fined after an employee fell through a roof skylight and sustained serious injuries in Newcastle under Lyme. Storm Roofing Services Limited, of Brindley Ford, Stoke on Trent, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 6(2) and 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It
25/02/2016
Deans Blinds and Awnings UK Ltd have once again been awarded the coveted Investors In People Standard. Investors in People is the UK's Gold Standard Award for employers who support and encourage their employees to reach the very best of their potential but companies who aspire to maintain the stan
24/02/2016
One person has been killed and another three are missing after a boiler house collapsed at Didcot Power Station yesterday, 23 February. Emergency services were called at around 4pm following reports of the structures collapse at the site in Oxfordshire. Demolition contractor Coleman and Company ha
24/02/2016
The £15 billion Crossrail railway being built underneath London is to be named the Elizabeth line, it has been announced. The Queen visited the Crossrail station, which is currently under construction, at Bond Street yesterday, 23 February as the Mayor of London Boris Johnson revealed the line will
24/02/2016
Student housing investment climbed to a five-year high in 2015, according to new research. Data by Barbour ABI reveals contracts worth £2.3 billion were awarded last year to build over 4,500 new student bedrooms. With an increase of 26% in student bedrooms being commissioned for construction, inve
24/02/2016
BAM has announced the launch of its new energy division, BAM Energy. As a subsidiary of the company's facilities management business, BAM Energy will undertaken the design, installation, management and maintenance of energy-efficient systems. Features include funding the design and installation of
24/02/2016
Interserve is reviewing its RMD Kwikform business after announcing its annual results for 2015. The company reported a 28% increase in pre-tax profit to £79.5 million from £61.9 million in 2014. In addition, turnover was up 10% to £3.2 billion. Overall, strong performances were experienced across
24/02/2016
New vehicle holding areas have been created at The Shard in London, Transport for London (TfL) has announced. The freight facility has been created on Great Dover Street and St Thomas Street in collaboration with the London Bridge Working Group. Previously, vehicles had been illegally stopping and
24/02/2016
Hewden has strengthened its senior operations team by appointing three new members. Mike Omond will join the company as Operations Director – Plant, while Edward Carr joins as Operators Director – Cranes. In addition, former Interlift Managing Director, Kevin Chalmers will take the role of Operati
24/02/2016
A new 400-tonne footbridge has opened at Port Talbot Parkway station. The structure is part of a £11 million regeneration project at the station, which is included in Network Rail's £40 billion Railway Upgrade Plan. Features include a new ticket office, waiting area, customer facilities and CCTV e
24/02/2016
Willmott Dixon's Energy Services division has secured a place on the LHC Energy Efficiency and Refurbishment Framework for England and Wales. The four-year programme is used by councils, social landlords and other public sector bodies to procure energy efficiency/general refurbishment works to dome
24/02/2016
The UK and Scottish Governments have agreed a 'historic' funding deal for the Scottish Parliament. Following rounds of negotiations, the agreement paves the way for the Scottish Parliament to become the most powerful of its kind in the world. Key features of the deal include new borrowing powers,
23/02/2016
A new bio plant to handle unsorted household waste is to be built in Cheshire, DONG Energy has announced. The world-first facility already has full planning permission and will be developed in Northwich. It will have an annual capacity of 120,000 tonnes of waste, equivalent to the waste from almos
23/02/2016
The Secretary of State George Osbourne has approved plans for a residential development in London. Essential Living is to proceed with developing the Theatre Square development adjacent to the tube station at Swiss Cottage. Plans include building 200 residential apartments and ancillary commercial
23/02/2016
Sweett Group has been fined £1.4 million for a bribery offence relating to its division in the Middle East. In addition, Southwark Crown Court ordered over £850,000 is to be confiscated as judged to be the profits from illegal payments. Sweett was accused of paying bribes to win two contracts in t
23/02/2016
Morgan Sindall still expects positive results this year despite two written-off legacy contracts dragging the firm into a pre-tax loss of £14.8 million, it has been revealed. The two old construction deals were inherited as part of an acquisition of Amec in 2007. The anticipated final cost of the
23/02/2016
Preparatory works are taking place at the site of a landslip in Cumbria, Network Rail has announced. A team of 80 geotechnical and engineering experts are carrying out the works at the site along the Settle to Carlisle railway line. The section of embankment is more than 130 metres long and 70 met
23/02/2016
A Scottish engineering company has been fined for safety failings after a worker fell 20 feet and sustained serious injuries. Brown Engineering (Fochabers) Limited of Mosstodloch Industrial Estate, Mosstodloch, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Work at Heights Regulation 2005. It was
23/02/2016
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has completed a £7.9 million runway resurfacing programme at RAF Gibraltar. The contract was awarded to Lagan Construction in May last year. The four-month project included replacing around 15,000 tonnes of asphalt and 200 airfield lights. The refurbished r
23/02/2016
Inland Homes has appointed former Willmott Dixon Director Gary Skinner as Managing Director (MD) of its main operating subsidiary. Mr Skinner will oversee the company's construction activities and project delivery. He spent nine years at Willmott Dixon Housing and acted as Operations Director, del
23/02/2016
WM Plant Hire will be exhibiting at the Flood & Coast Conference in Telford 23-25 February convened by the Environment Agency. The recent severe flooding across the UK makes attendance at this event for those interested in FCRM even more compelling. The company will demonstrate its expertise in s
22/02/2016
Work is underway on a new £10.1 million science and technology centre for the University of Wolverhampton. The Science, Technology and Prototyping Centre has been designed by Fairhurst Design Group and is being built by Clegg Construction. It will be located on land at the university's Science Par
22/02/2016
Morgan Sindall has been selected to deliver a new £37.5 million education and leisure centre complex in Cambridgeshire. The project is being carried out for Cambridgeshire County Council in Littleport. The three-phase scheme includes developing an early years school, a primary school, a three-stor
22/02/2016
Plans have been revealed for a new heritage museum in Wiltshire. Royal Artillery Museums is underway with designs for a new 6,000m2 Salisbury Plain Heritage Centre (SPHC) in Larkhill. Arup has been appointed to provide structural, civil, geotechnical, mechanical, electrical and public health engin
22/02/2016
BAM Nuttall has secured a deck refurbishment contract for the Tower Bridge in London. The design and build deal was awarded on an ECI basis by City of London Corporation. Site investigation work is currently underway to determine the bridge decks condition, after which a detailed design programme
22/02/2016
The West Coast Mainline has fully reopened following repairs to a flood damaged viaduct in South Lanarkshire. The route is now open to passenger and freight services since this morning, 22 February. The Lamington Viaduct, which runs over the River Clyde, was damaged due to extreme weather caused b
22/02/2016
The second phase of a £32 million redevelopment project in Middlesborough is now complete. McLaughlin & Harvey (McL&H) has delivered Phase 2 of the reconstruction of No.1 Quay for client PD Ports at Teesport. The project supports the ports future growth and allows larger vessels to dock with great
22/02/2016
LNT Group has announced it is reshuffling the development side of its business. Key board members have been moved across into LNT Care Developments' team due to an increase in the number of customers over the past two years. Christine Cooper, currently MD of LNT Construction, will move across to b
22/02/2016
The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) has welcomed calls for the UK Government to refocus the planning system. A recent report by the House of Lords Built Environment Committee has urged the importance of ensuring the planning system creates good quality homes as well as tackling the hou
22/02/2016
Prosecution delays and a fall in conviction rates for fatal construction accidents are some of the issues that have been brought up in a series of parliamentary questions. The questions were tabled by Stephen Hepburn, Labour MP for Jarrow. In answering the queries, Justin Tomlinson MP, the Parliam
22/02/2016
A steel fabrication company has been fined for failing to comply with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforcement notices. William Fry Fabrications Limited, of Neasden Lane, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9(3)(a) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. I
19/02/2016
A House of Lords committee has criticised the government's housing plans and stated the policy is "short sighted". Around 240,000 new homes are needed each year to meet demand within the UK. However, the Committee on National Policy for the Built Environment has concluded this target is not possib
19/02/2016
A study is to be held into the feasibility of building a permanent cruise terminal building in Liverpool. The former Princes Jetty at Princes Parade, close to the landing stage, has been identified as a potential site for the project by Liverpool City Council. Advisors will carry out an in-depth s
19/02/2016
Mace Group has been selected to fit-out a store at a new retail development in Leeds. The firm will supply the John Lewis unit at the new 575,000 sq ft Victoria Estate project in the city centre. The development will provide an additional 42,000 m2 of retail and leisure space, as well as a 800-spa
19/02/2016
The UK Govt has revealed new planning rules which will allow councils to speed up the process and boost house building. Under the proposed reforms, local authorities will compete to process planning submission and offer 'fast track' services, such as those available to receive a new passport. The
19/02/2016
A new Mayoral Development Corporation is to be created to lead regeneration and local economic growth in the Tees Valley area. Plans for the corporation, the first of its kind outside of London, were revealed by Lord Heseltine today, 19 February. A number of local leaders have been put in 'pole po
19/02/2016
A number of 'innovative' construction techniques have been utilised on a bridge replacement project in Wales, Network Rail has announced. Engineers are underway with work to replace the Windsor Road bridge in Cardiff. The structure, which spans five railway lines, is being replaced as part of Netw
19/02/2016
Maintenance works are due to begin on the A27 road in West Sussex, Highways England has announced. Sections of the Upper Brighton Road at Sompting will be resurfaced between Grove Lodge roundabout and Manor Road roundabout. The five-week project will take place overnight between 8pm and 5am beginn
19/02/2016
For many years Delta Membrane Systems has been highlighting the suitability of its basement damp‐ proofing systems for use in flood renovation of damaged properties, or for use in new‐build properties at risk – and this is the case for a house in Burnham Overy Staithe in Norfolk. The a
18/02/2016
Jacobs Engineering Group has been selected to provide engineering services on the £1 billion Manchester Airport Transformation Program. The ten-year project by Manchester Airports Group (MAG) involves the phased delivery of 60 enhancements, as well as significant airside and landside development.
18/02/2016
REL Electrical has carried out mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works at a new primary school development in London. Lakehouse selected REL to deliver the £1.75 million MEP package at its £10 million Prendergast Primary School project in Lewisham. Works included installing all lighting, d
18/02/2016
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed to improve transport connectivity between Scotland and the north of England. Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown signed the deal with Transport for the North's (TfN) board member Nick Forbes yesterday, 17 February, at the Improving Connectivity c
18/02/2016
A former company director has been sentenced to six months in prison after he was found to be managing a construction company while being disqualified. Robert Porter, 67, from Hampshire, pleaded guilty to one count of being being concerned in the management of a company whilst disqualified from doi
18/02/2016
Welsh Communities Minister Lesley Griffiths has written to councils and registered social landlords urging them to take action on the dangers of asbestos in housing. Following meetings with union UCATT, Ms Griffiths has agreed that the issue must be addressed 'as a matter of urgency'. In addition,
18/02/2016
A fit-out contractor based in Glasgow is targeting northern England maintenance contracts with its round the clock emergency repair service. Recently, Morris & Spottiswood has limited its Leeds and Warrington-based operations to fit out work. However, the firm has announced it believes there is 'g
18/02/2016
North Midland Construction (NMC) has revealed a series of long-running contract disputes has cost the business over £3 million. In a statement today, 18 February, the firm announced a number of legacy contract issues have been resolved. However, the lengthy quarrels have cost the company £3.1m in
18/02/2016
An Exeter-based plumber has been given a suspended jail sentence after undertaking illegal gas work which left a customers home in a 'dangerous state'. Colin Jones, 59, of Linda Close, Exeter, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(3) and 26(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations
17/02/2016
Carillion has been selected to develop a £176 million project in London. The contractor will build a new skills centre for Lambeth College at the college's site in Vauxhall. The development will include a construction skills academy, a four-star training hotel and 176 apartments. The academy will
17/02/2016
The board of ISG has conceded defeat in their fight against a hostile takeover bid from Cathexis UK Holdings. The US-owned investment fund, which already owned 30% of ISG before its bid, made a cash offer of 171p per share at the end of January. Previously, its opening offer of 143p was rejected b
17/02/2016
Skanska has secured a £16 million highways services contract with North Somerset Council. The two-year deal will see the company maintain 679 miles of roads across the region. Skanska will also support the council to develop the highways network and deliver improvement projects. Features of the c
17/02/2016
Approval has been granted for a new £96 million motorway bypass project in Lincolnshire. The Secretary of State George Osbourne has given the green light for the Lincoln Eastern Bypass scheme to progress, following a Public Inquiry in August. The two-year project aims to minimise traffic congestio
17/02/2016
Eric Wright Construction has been selected to develop a new secondary and sixth form free school in Burnley. The multi-million pound contract was commissioned through the Education Funding Authority (EFA) Regional Contractors Framework on behalf of Chapel Street Community Schools Trust. Designed b
17/02/2016
A temporary footbridge has been opened to reconnect the east and west sides of Tadcaster in North Yorkshire. Balfour Beatty has been selected to repair the main Tadcaster Bridge after it partially collapsed due to flooding and bad weather over the Christmas period. The temporary bridge, which was
17/02/2016
The Welsh Government's Finance Minister Jane Hutt has visited the site of a new £30 million learning campus project in Flintshire. Ms Hutt attended the construction site alongside representatives from the council on Tuesday, 16 February. The Holywell Learning Campus scheme is being built by Gallif
17/02/2016
Mott MacDonald has appointed Gary Bacon as MD of its business in north east Asia. As a chartered quantity surveyor with over 26 year's experience in the industry, Mr Bacon joined Mott MacDonald in 2007. Recently, he was manager of the company's advisory and management services business in Europe.
16/02/2016
Crest Nicholson, in partnership with the Starr Trust, has been selected to deliver a £200 million project for Brighton and Hove City Council. The developer will create a £40m sports centre, 560 flats, and community facilities/commercial space at the King Alfred site in Hove. Both the organisations
16/02/2016
Noisy construction works have been banned from taking place during the weekend in Kensington and Chelsea, it has been announced. Councillors have approved a new Code of Construction Practice which prohibits building works from taking place on a Saturday. The new guidelines were drawn up in respons
16/02/2016
Sandwell Council has reached a 'major' milestone on a £50 million programme to upgrade its property portfolio. The internal improvements and refurbishment package is being carried out by three construction partners: Lovell Partnerships, VINCI Facilities and Wates Living Space. Lovell has now compl
16/02/2016
Mace Group has won an accolade at the the UK Rail Industry Awards in London. The company took home the 'Outstanding Project over £20 million' category for its work on Birmingham New Street Station. The £750m five-year project involved working in partnership with Network Rail to create a new triple
16/02/2016
Four nuclear power plants across the UK are to have their operational lives extended, EDF Energy has announced. The French company has revealed Heysham 1 and Heysham 2 in Lancashire, Hartlepool in Teesside and Torness in East Lothian, Scotland will be kept open longer than originally scheduled. He
16/02/2016
Network Rail is underway with a £17 million maintenance project in Cheshire. The scheme will protect some of the county's most iconic railway bridges on the line from Crewe to Manchester and Sandbach to Northwich. As part of the company's Railway Upgrade Plan, the Grade-II listed viaducts at Holme
16/02/2016
Work is underway to build a new transport hub in east London. The project is taking place at Whitechapel station ahead of the arrival of Crossrail services in 2018. A significant amount of development has already taken place at to rebuild the station and create new tunnels, however some train serv
16/02/2016
Architectural works are now complete at a biomass plant in Sheffield, E.ON has revealed. The Blackburn Meadows Biomass Plant has been designed in partnership with BDP to create a 'striking' new landmark for the city. The plant's exterior is clad in black profiled steel and dark brick, with an oran
16/02/2016
A contractor has been fined for disturbing asbestos material during a roof refurbishment project in Northampton. Amey Communities Limited (ACL), of Edmund Halley Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. It was fined £2
16/02/2016
Preparatory work is underway at a development site in Daventry, it has been announced. Foliage is being removed over the course of three weeks to prepare for future build projects at The Knoll in the Marches Industrial Estate. The council has outline planning permission for commercial development
15/02/2016
Leeds City Council has approved plans to redevelop a former manufacturing site into a mixed-use development in Holbeck. Proposals by developer Carillion involve transforming the historic Tower Works site into a mix of new homes, offices, shops and restaurants. Features include ten new buildings as
15/02/2016
A joint venture (JV) between Ansaldo STS and Linbrooke Services has secured a £34.5 million re-signalling contract from Network Rail. The consortium has been appointed to re-signal and upgrade the line from Ferriby to Gilberdyke in North Humberside. Linbrooke will deliver the signalling and power
15/02/2016
Hundreds of Tata Steel employees will join thousands of fellow steelworkers at a protest in Belgium today, 15 February. More than 500 employees, with about 150 workers from the UK, are expected to meet over 5,000 steelmakers in a demonstration against unfair cheap Chinese steel imports. Tata Steel
15/02/2016
A planning application has been submitted to expand a major shopping centre in Scotland, London property firm Hammerson has announced. Union Square is seeking to carry out a multi-million pound expansion of its current facilities in Aberdeen. Proposed plans include a 120-bedroom hotel, an expanded
15/02/2016
The Help to Buy scheme has created a surge of new homes being built and bought, according to new research. A new report has found 43% of new homes have been built as a result of the equity loan scheme since 2013. In addition, 82% of buyers would not have been able to purchase their own home, with
15/02/2016
Planning permission has been granted for a £40 million development in north Wales. Proposals by Conygar Investment Company include building new retail and leisure facilities on council-owned land at Llandudno Junction. Features of the project include a new retail superstore, a petrol filling stati
15/02/2016
Wates has reached a major milestone on a primary school project in Blackburn. The contractor has completed the steel frame of the new two-storey Olive Primary School on Meins Road. Work on the new 2,943 sq m building began in September last year. The 630-capacity school is set to move into its ne
15/02/2016
Telford Homes has sold a residential development to L&Q Housing Association for £66.75 million in north London. The Pavilions scheme, which is currently under construction, contains 156 homes on Caledonian Road. L&Q will let 96 of the properties under its Private Rented Sector portfolio, while the
15/02/2016
Construction output in the last three months of 2015 shrunk by 0.4%, according to new figures. Recent Office of National Statistics (ONS) data reveals the downward pressure came from the repair and maintenance (R&M) sector, which fell 1.4%. While all new work increased by 0.2%, new infrastructure
15/02/2016
A scaffolding company has been fined after a worker fell from the roof of a barn and suffered life-changing injuries. Hemel Hempstead Scaffolding Limited of Seymour Crescent, Hemel Hempstead pleaded guilty to breaching section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act, 1974. It was fined £110
12/02/2016
Kier Property has revealed plans to create new student accommodation in Newcastle. The company has purchased the former Liquid Envy city centre nightclub amid plans to turn it into a 329-bed student residence on New Bridge Street. The £37.5 million project includes 209 en-suite cluster bedrooms an
12/02/2016
Willmott Dixon is looking for a buyer to purchase its Support Services business, it has been announced. The housing maintenance and energy services business has been put up for sale as the company looks to focus on core new build activities. Ernst & Young has been appointed as advisors and submiss
12/02/2016
ISG has won a £12.4 million contract to refurbish an office building in London. The firm will redevelop a former RBS office for Derwent London on Whitechapel High Street. The eight-storey building will be extensively stripped out to provide 200,000 sq ft of office space. In addition, a new entran
12/02/2016
Plans for a £21 million district heating scheme have been backed by Leeds City Council. The investment would involve developing a proposed underground network to pipe heat from the city's recycling and energy recovery facility (RERF) to homes and businesses. It is thought the project could benefit
12/02/2016
Carillion has reached a 'major' milestone on a football stadium expansion project in Liverpool. The firm has been working to extend Liverpool Football Club's (LFC) main stand at Anfield since January last year. A topping out ceremony has now been held to mark the project reaching its highest point
12/02/2016
Lovell has appointed Martin Boyce as project director for a £320 million regeneration project in London. With over 30 years experience in the construction industry, Mr Boyce will lead the new housing project in Woolwich. The scheme will transform three council estates and create 1,500 new homes.
12/02/2016
An increasing number of local authorities are charging Council Tax on housing projects before they are finished, it has been announced. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) said this practice is hindering SME developers as it would make them inclined to hold back completing projects until they h
12/02/2016
Falling workloads in the infrastructure sector is threatening UK economic growth, according to the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA). Recent ONS figures show at 0.4% fall in the last three months of 2015, while new infrastructure work fell 3.9%. The recent CECA Workload Trends Surve
12/02/2016
A £59 million housing investment is due to be approved next week by Birmingham City Council. The fund will be given the go ahead at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 16 February. Around 5,800 homes will undergo improvement works including new kitchens and bathrooms, upgraded heating systems, insulatio
12/02/2016
A leading galvanizing company is celebrating after its services were called upon by long-standing customers for a large sustainable project aimed at reducing Buckinghamshire's environmental impact. Caunton Engineering Ltd called upon the team at Worksop Galvanizing – part of Wedge Group Galvanizing
11/02/2016
The Government has revealed it will conduct an independent review into tidal lagoon energy within the UK. The feasibility and practicality of the process will be reviewed amid delays to the £1 billion Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project. Supporters of the project have warned the scheme could be at ri
11/02/2016
Essential Living has been granted approval by Ealing Council for a £200 million development in London. The build-to-rent specialist will redevelop a 2.8-acre disused perfume factory site into 500 new homes in North Acton. Designed by architects Squire and Partners, the scheme includes developing t
11/02/2016
Specialist builder Box & Charnock has won an £11 million M&E contract for a mixed-use project in north London. The contractor will carry out works for the St James Group's new Smithfield Square development in Haringey. Plans for the 5.25 acre site include building 440 apartments, a large Sainsbury
11/02/2016
Kier has been awarded a £160 million highways extension contract from Surrey County Council. The deal is part of a four-year extension to the company's current road maintenance contract that began in 2011. The scope of works in the current contract will be expanded to develop a Surrey Highways ski
11/02/2016
CLS Holdings has gained planning approval for a revised £400 million twin-tower scheme in London. Amendments to the existing application at Vauxhall Square have been approved by Lambeth Council. The developer originally proposed building a four-star hotel at the site, but now over 100,000 sq ft of
11/02/2016
Wates has been selected to deliver an interior fit-out project at a £100 million office scheme in Leeds. The firm is currently delivering the 11-storey Central Square scheme on the site of a former Royal Mail office in Wellington Street. The development will comprise 220,000 sq ft of Grade A offic
11/02/2016
A joint venture (JV) between North Stone and White Mountain has secured a £20 million refurbishment contract from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). The Northern Irish JV will refurbish one of two runways at RAF Valley in Anglesey. In addition, the contractors will link taxiways and pr
11/02/2016
Amey has announced Andy Milner is to become the company's new CEO in March. The firm's current boss, Mel Ewell, is to step down after 15 years in the role. As a Chartered Civil Engineer, Mr Milner was appointed MD of Amey's Consulting and Strategic Infrastructure division in 2008. He joined the c
11/02/2016
Work to install a new footbridge over the A1 carriageway is due to begin this week, Highways England has announced. Contractors will begin installing the 60 metre structure at Gatesehead on Friday, 12 February. The footbridge, which is being delivered in three pieces, is part of a £61 million sche
11/02/2016
The Department for Transport (DfT) has appointed Tricia Hayes as its director general of roads, devolution and motoring. She will take up the position in March. With over 28 years of experience, Ms Hayes has occupied a number of senior posts at the DfT, where she is currently aviation director. S
10/02/2016
J. Murphy & Sons has secured a £60 million contract to carry out rail infrastructure works in London. The firm will work on a £133m project to electrify the London Overground route from Gospel Oak to Barking. The enabling works contract was awarded by Network Rail, working on behalf of Transport f
10/02/2016
Work is underway to repair a partially collapsed road in Cumbria, Highways England has announced. The A591 at Dunmail Raise, which runs through the Lake District, was badly damaged by storms in December. Kier Highways has now began repairing the route after the Government made £40 million availabl
10/02/2016
VolkerFitzpatrick has started developing a £23 million office project in west London. The 'Foundry' is being built on behalf of Axa Real Estate and its development manager Bell Hammer. The project is part of the wider three-acre 'Assembly' office development on Fulham Palace Road in Hammersmith.
10/02/2016
A new expert panel has been formed to explore how best to regenerate some of the most deprived estates in Britain. The 17-strong panel, co-chaired by Lord Heseltine and Housing Minister Brandon Lewis, will look at how an estates layout can be best used to deliver more buy and rent housing. In addi
10/02/2016
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced it is to cut staffing levels by 30%. In its three-year business plan, the organisation said the move is necessary in order to make itself more responsive to industry needs, return maximum Levy value to construction employers, and make th
10/02/2016
The Midas Group has appointed Rob Bradley as its new Executive Director. As former Regional MD for Bouygues UK, Mr Bradley has over 20 years' experience within the construction industry. He has also held senior management roles at Willmott Dixon and Pearce. In his new role, Mr Bradley will workin
10/02/2016
A waste operator has been fined for storing construction debris at an unlicensed site in Torquay. Armabridge, of Torquay, South Devon, pleaded guilty to three offences under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (2010) and Environmental Protection Act (1990) including operating a regulated facil
10/02/2016
Keepmoat is seeking to recruit local contractors for its new housing scheme in Hull, it has been announced. Work is due to begin soon on the 227-home development at Hawthorn Avenue East. The scheme is part of a collaboration between Keepmoat and Hull City Council to regenerate the Newington and St
10/02/2016
Eric Wright Group has begun a Special Educational Needs (SEN) redevelopment project in Blackpool. The builder is transforming the former Westbury Lodge council office block into a 4,000 sq ft SEN facility. The 18-week six figure project, designed by architects Cassidy + Ashton, is being delivered
10/02/2016
The British Property Foundation (BPF) has called for Government to promote a "sensible" Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) regime after new research shows over 30,000 build to rent units have planning permission. The organisation is urging the government to protect large-scale investment in residential pro
09/02/2016
Ardmore has secured a £80 million contract to develop the first phase of a mixed-used project in London. The contractor will deliver stage one of Project Light at Canada Water in Southwark. The scheme, for Notting Hill Housing and Sellar Developments, involves building 1,030 new homes with a range
09/02/2016
Construction workers who were blacklisted by major industry companies have begun to receive compensation, UCATT has revealed. A total of 71 union members have received full and final settlements worth £5.6 million from companies involved in blacklisting. The reimbursements are due to breaches of c
09/02/2016
The British Property Foundation (BPF) has said the UK Government is "moving in the right direction" to address problems within council planning departments. Secretary of State Greg Clark MP announced yesterday, 08 February, he will consult on allowing well-performing planning departments to increas
09/02/2016
Ask Real Estate has been selected to lead a town centre regeneration scheme in Cheshire. The Manchester-based developer will spearhead the redevelopment of Macclesfield town centre after it agreed to buy the Churchill Way car park. Features of the project include a multiplex cinema, restaurants an
09/02/2016
SSE has built an energy centre for a new mixed-use development in London. The Scottish company's Enterprise Utilities business has delivered the multi-utility facility for the Riverlight project on the banks of the River Thames. Features of the energy centre include a Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
09/02/2016
A new solar farm has been installed at an existing wind turbine site in Bristol, the council has announced. The project is expected to generate enough power for over 4,000 homes and save over 7,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The new solar PV farm has a 1.8MW capacity and is estimated to generate 1.8
09/02/2016
Redrow has announced 'record' first half results in its latest trading statement. The house builder revealed its Group revenue rose 8% to £603 million, up from £560 million in 2015. In addition, an 18% increase in completions [2,178 units] boosted the company's homes revenue by 14% to £584m. Howe
09/02/2016
The Department for Transport (DfT) and Great Western Railway (GWR) has revealed funding will be made available for a new south west railway improvements study. Network Rail are due to carry out investigations into upgrading the route between London and Devon and Cornwall. The study, funded and com
09/02/2016
Procurement consortium LHC has began the tender process for its new Pitched Roofing framework. A contract notice for the programme, worth an estimated £100 million over four years, has now been issued by the local government organisation. Features of the framework include the removal of existing r
09/02/2016
Highways England has completed a £100 million 'smart' upgrade along a stretch of the M6 in the Midlands. Around 6.8 miles from junction 11a to junction 13 has now been expanded to four lanes. The work is part of a larger project to redevelop a ten mile section of motorway between junctions 10a and
08/02/2016
Chancellor George Osbourne is being urged to press ahead with plans to expand Heathrow Airport, it has been announced. Thirteen of the largest construction firms in the UK have written a letter to Mr Osbourne calling for him to support plans to build a third runway at the airport. The Airports Com
08/02/2016
Construction will continue to grow in 2016 despite 'intensifying' risks within the industry, according to new research. The Construction Products Association's (CPA) latest forecast estimates a 3.6% growth for this year and a 4.1% rise in 2017. Private housing starts will rise 5% in both 2016/17,
08/02/2016
Villages Housing Association (HA) has selected Forrest to deliver a £7 million energy upgrade across five tower blocks in Merseyside. Plans involve installing a new energy efficient biomass heating system to replace storage heaters for the tower blocks in Knowsley. Each biomass energy unit, one 50
08/02/2016
Keepmoat has been appointed for a £22 million estate regeneration programme in Luton. The Marsh Farm three-phase project is a joint venture between the council and the Marsh Farm Steering Group. It involves redeveloping the central area of Marsh Farm, four miles outside of the town centre in Luton
08/02/2016
A Plymouth builder has been handed a suspended prison sentence after working on gas appliances when he was not registered to do so. Richard Copp, of Hillside Avenue, Mutley, pleaded guilty to three breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was given an eight month pris
08/02/2016
IBI Group has been selected to design a new £40.5 million innovation facility in Wales. The Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus (AIEC) is being built at Aberystwyth University. The scheme will involve researchers working in collaboration with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Rese
08/02/2016
Babcock Rail has been fined after a worker was crushed and injured while carrying out work to a rail track in north-east Wales. The engineering company pleaded guilty for breaches under Section 2(1)of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £400,000. The court heard how a rail worker
08/02/2016
A £1.8 million resurfacing project is to begin in Devon and Cornwall later today, 08 February. Sections of the A38 and A30 are to be upgraded as part of a three-phase project to improve journeys in the region. Highways England will begin resurfacing a four-mile stretch of the A38 westbound from 7p
05/02/2016
Bouygues is to begin developing a £57 million student accommodation project at the University of Gloucestershire, it has been announced. The company will create a new student village at the university’s Pittville Campus in Cheltenham. The project involves building 577 new student rooms as well ref
05/02/2016
Birmingham City Council has granted approval to build a new £22 million National College for High Speed Rail in the city. Preferred bidder Willmott Dixon will begin developing the new three-storey 5,700 sq m building on the site of the former Birmingham Science Park at Faraday Wharf. Designed by B
05/02/2016
McAleer & Rushe has secured a £52m contract to deliver a student accommodation project in Portsmouth. The firm has been selected by Threesixty Developments to develop the Catherine House mixed0use scheme on Stanhope Road. Features of the development involve converting the local Zurich House office
05/02/2016
Skanska has been appointed to West Sussex County Council's £250 million highways framework. The six-year deal is part of a major investment into the country's roads and associated structure. Jobs carried out on the Major Projects Framework are likely to include large bypass schemes, town centre
05/02/2016
Drivers are being urged to take more care on the M11 after reported cases of motorists ignoring closure signs. Resurfacing works are currently underway on the northbound exit slip of junction 13 on the M11 in Cambridgeshire. However, so far there have been three cases of the motorists not obeying
05/02/2016
ISG has secured a £16.9 million office refurbishment project in London. Property investment company GreenOak has appointed the firm to redevelop Dixon House at 72-75 Fenchurch Street. The seven-storey Grade II listed building will undergo partial demolition and three new floors will be added as pa
05/02/2016
Network Rail has completed repair works to a railway line in Northumberland, it has been announced. Engineers have been working since January to clear over 35,000 tonnes of soil and debris after a burst drainage pipe caused a landslip at Farnley Hough near Corbridge. Rail services on the West Line
05/02/2016
Work is underway to remove blockages and silt from culverts in the North East of England. The £475,000 project aims to reduce the risk of flooding to around 1,000 homes at Chapel Beck in Guisborough, Cocker Beck in Darlington, and Loftus Beck in Loftus. Contractors will carry out repairs and remo
05/02/2016
Work is progressing on a bridge installation project in Devon, Highways England has announced. The new £6.4 million Merafield Bridge is being developed over the A38 at Plympton. However, to allow construction work to continue, additional lane and overnight closures are required from Monday, 08 Feb
05/02/2016
A window manufacturing company has been fined after pedestrians filmed workers carrying out unsafe work during an installation project in London. Ideal Glazing (Euro) Ltd of 29, The Green, Southall, Middlesex, pleaded guilty to breaches of Regulation 6(3) and 10(1) of the Work at Height Regulations
04/02/2016
The world's largest offshore wind farm is set to be built off the Yorkshire coast, it has been announced. DONG Energy has now made a final investment decision to build the 1.2GW Hornsea Project One with construction due to begin later this year. It is understood Hornsea will be the world's first o
04/02/2016
McAleer & Rushe has secured a £26 million contract to build a new hotel development at Stansted Airport. Planning permission for the £45 million 357-bed Hampton by Hilton was secured by developer Urban&Civic. Direct terminal access to the airport will also be provided following a deal to acquire t
04/02/2016
Transport for London [TFL] has chosen 13 property developers to deliver a new housing framework in London. The 13 property partners and consortiums were selected following a competitive procurement process to gain a place on TfL's Property Partnership Framework. It is understood thousands of home
04/02/2016
Birmingham City Council has signed three 'revamped' housing repair deals with a trio of contractors. Keepmoat, Wates Living Space and Willmott Dixon have been selected to deliver services to the councils housing stock over the next four years. Previously, one contractor dealt with repairs while an
04/02/2016
Morgan Sindall has completed a £3.3 million business hub project in London. The Business Innovation Facility was delivered for Beal High School. The three-storey building contains 16 teaching spaces equipped with ICT facilities and several break out areas for students and staff. A modern learning
04/02/2016
Planning permission has been granted for a new £79 million research facility at the University of Cambridge. The 'Project Capella' scheme, designed by architects The Fairhursts Design Group, will be delivered by Kier. The development team includes includes Arup as consulting engineers, Arcadis as
04/02/2016
Mace Group has submitted a planning application for a redevelopment project in Oxfordshire. The consultancy and construction firm has put forward its proposals to redevelop the West Way area of Botley. Features include building 149 new homes, 262-room university accommodation and a new 122-bed hot
04/02/2016
A total of 15 fraudulent construction and civil engineering companies have been placed into liquidation following an investigation by the Insolvency Service. It is understood the 'phantom' firms, with combined sales of over £50 million and assets of £8.4 million, were operated to obtain credit by f
04/02/2016
ISG has appointed Gary Gipson as Board Director of its Fit Out division. Previously, Mr Gipson worked for eight years at M&E contractor Bancroft and also has over 40 years' experience in the construction industry. ISG said his brief is to, "add value to ISG's existing customer relationships, devel
04/02/2016
A scaffolding company has been fined after an employee fell through a roof light during work at an industrial unit in Dorset. Weller Scaffolding Limited of Westway Business Park, Dottery Road, Bridport, Dorset, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It
03/02/2016
Lendlease has secured a £80 million contract to develop a new building for Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). The firm has been chosen as principal contractor to redevelop a former Royal Mail sorting office at Copperas Hill. The new building will contain the University's three libraries as w
03/02/2016
British Gas has revealed it plans to cut 500 jobs from its loft and cavity insulation business. After undertaking a 'wide-ranging strategic review', the company has decided to reduce its workforce in an effort to cut costs. Mark Hodges, Chief Executive, said: "British Gas is well positioned to gro
03/02/2016
Balfour Beatty has secured a £245 million highways maintenance contract in Warwickshire. The firm will carry out the seven-year deal for Coventry City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council. It is understood the three local authorities are working together t
03/02/2016
Planning permission has been approved for a redevelopment project at the University of Oxford. It is understood new chemistry teaching laboratories will be built at the University's Tinbergen Building. The existing Sir Leslie Martin building will be expanded to meet the Department's growth plans f
03/02/2016
REL has delivered a £2.2 million electrical contract in Wycombe. It is understood the contractor delivered all electrical works for the council's £150m Handy Cross mixed-use development. REL carried out works on the scheme's new sports and leisure complex as well as a new 2,300 sq m Waitrose. In
03/02/2016
A major works framework has been launched by the National Federation of Builders (NFB) and Haringey Council. As part of the London Construction Programme, the framework has been developed to avoid 'duplication and inefficiency in spending'. In addition, it will streamline the tendering process for
03/02/2016
Union leaders have called on both the UK and Scottish Governments to make 'urgent interventions' to save the oil and gas sector in the North Sea. It is understood 70,000 jobs have been lost in the industry since the price of oil began declining in January 2015. Union Unite is now urging for furthe
03/02/2016
Kier has been awarded a £27.5 million contract to develop a major office scheme in West Sussex. Development company Bridgecore has selected the firm to design and build the Cornerstone office project in Crawley. The 131,000 sq ft grade A development has been pre-let to Swedish company Elektra and
02/02/2016
Residential property owner Grainger has acquired a private rental scheme (PRS) for £100 million in Greater Manchester. It is understood the Clippers Quay project will deliver over 600 new PRS homes as well as commercial and amenity space in Salford Quays Currently, the deal is pending the finalisa
02/02/2016
The UK construction industry has experienced a slow start in 2016, according to new figures. The latest Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI survey reveals the sector saw the lowest score returned since June 2013, down from 57.8 in December to 55 for January. Any figure above 50 indicates growth in the
02/02/2016
Strike action at mobile crane hire firm Ainscough yesterday, 01 February, caused a "near total shutdown" of operations, union leaders have said. Operators at the UK's largest mobile crane hire firm voted 'overwhelmingly' for industrial action in a dispute over pay. According to union Unite, less t
02/02/2016
Graham Construction has delivered a new £8.5 million building for Liverpool Hope University. The Health Science building contains specialist laboratory spaces dedicated to nutrition, genomics, cell biology and psychology, along with laboratories and space for sport and exercise science. In additio
02/02/2016
Places for People (PFP) has completed the purchase of Allenbuild from Renew for £2.75 million. It is understood the property developer has paid the second of two planned installments towards the acquisition. The Group purchased a 50% stake of Allenbuild for £1.375m in November 2014. PFP has now b
02/02/2016
SURGO Construction has completed a £3.1 million military base refurbishment project in Tyneside. It is understood the contractor renovated HMS Calliope due to funding from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). New features include a larger area for training, accommodation space for 24 use
02/02/2016
Urgent action is needed to tackle the growing skills shortage in the construction industry, according to union UCATT. New figures from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) forecast the number of new entrants needed in the industry every year between 2016-20 is 46,400. However, the most
02/02/2016
A Cheshire-based firm has been fined after a bricklayer was killed when a pack of bricks fell on top of him in Wilmslow. Edgemere Projects Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) & 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £97,500 with costs of £300,000. Liverpool Crown C
01/02/2016
The construction industry is being urged to encourage more young people to consider a career in the sector, it has been announced. Ministers have today, 01 February called upon the industry to 'remove barriers' and develop 'ambitious plans' for the trade. The Construction Leadership Council (CLC)
01/02/2016
Plans for a £1 billion development in London are to be reconsidered by the projects developers, it has been announced. Original proposals for Paddington Place have been withdrawn due to concerns over the height and impact of a planned skyscraper. Following discussions between the Leader and Deputy
01/02/2016
Costain has secured a £110 million road scheme contract from Lancashire County Council. It is understood the firm has been awarded an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) deal to carry out the Preston Western Distributor and associated Link Roads scheme, following on from the M6–Heysham project. The
01/02/2016
The University of Huddersfield has signed a deal with Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) to help develop its Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology. As one of the world's top 50 contractors, BCEG employs 20,000 people around the world and is part of a consortium investing £800 m
01/02/2016
A design competition has been announced to generate ideas for a nuclear power station project in West Cumbria. Designers from across the world are being ask to draw up architecture and landscape ideas for NuGen's Moorside nuclear development. As Europe's largest new nuclear power station, the proj
01/02/2016
Network Rail has completed a tunnel rebuilding project ahead of schedule in Lincolnshire. Works to the Stamford Tunnel included strengthening it using local Stamford Stone to improve the structures reliability. The project is part of Network Rail's Railway Upgrade Plan and began in September last
01/02/2016
Essex-based contractor Lakehouse has issued a profit warning in its latest trading statement. The firm it is operating 'against a backdrop of active cost reductions' due to a dip in spending by social landlord clients. As a result, Lakehouse said this has led to 'slower than expected first quarter
01/02/2016
Work is underway to deliver a new special needs school in Northamptonshire, it has been announced. BAM Construction is developing the new Daventry Hill School adjacent to the Daventry UTC on Ashby Road. The development has been designed by architects Hunters. It is understood the school will open
01/02/2016
Engineering services provider Renew has purchased specialist nuclear services business Nuclear Decontamination Services (NDSL). NDSL is currently operating at Sellafield and at other UK nuclear installations. It will be consumed by Renew's existing nuclear contract business, Shepley Engineers. It
01/02/2016
A civil engineering company has been fined for safety failings after a worker fell from a dumper truck during excavation work near Cambridge. C R Civil Engineering Limited of North Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 13(2) and 31(2) of the Construction (Desig
