Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for July 2016
29/07/2016
The future of an £18 billion nuclear plant project is in doubt after the UK Government said it will make a final decision on the scheme in Autumn. Developer EDF Energy approved the final investment decision for Hinkley Point C (HPC) in Somerset at a board meeting yesterday, 28 July. With contracts
29/07/2016
Wates has been selected to deliver a £30 million education campus in Cumbria. Work on the new Campus Whitehaven is to begin in February 2017. The contractor will start developing designs for the new facility until the end of November and planning application submission is scheduled for mid-Decembe
29/07/2016
A VolkerStevin joint venture (JV) featuring Boskalis Westminster and Atkins has been awarded a contract to carry out post flooding reconstruction projects. The Environment Agency (EA) has selected the VBA JV to deliver the multi-site deal in Cumbria, Lancashire and West Yorkshire. The contract has
29/07/2016
Approval has been granted to begin developing a new electric line to connect four wind farms in North Wales. Business Secretary Greg Clark granted the Development Consent Order on 28 July, which will see a 132kv electric line built to connect the Clocaenog, Brenig, Nant Bach and Derwedd Bach projec
29/07/2016
The director of a construction labour supply company has been disqualified for submitting fraudulent tax returns to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Amanpreet Danny Sahota of Dansah Ltd ("Dansah") was disqualified for seven years after causing the company to enter into liquidation while it still owed £
29/07/2016
A concrete products manufacturer has been fined after a worker's arm was severed after it got caught in a conveyor belt. Concrete Fabrications Ltd of Cole Road, St Phillips, Bristol, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974. It was fined £100,000 with
29/07/2016
Ashe Construction has completed a £1.2 million expansion project at two schools in Nottinghamshire. The contractor has delivered modular classroom extensions at Butlers Hill Infant and Nursery School and Broomhill Junior School in Hucknall. The £475,000 scheme at Broomhill School features two new
29/07/2016
Network Rail has reached a milestone on a £85 million project in Greater Manchester. Engineers are to begin restoring the historic Stephenson's bridge in Salford as part of the Ordsall Chord development. The project will connect Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly train stations for the first time
28/07/2016
Keepmoat has secured a £15 million contract to deliver a new housing development in Leytonstone. The housebuilder will work in partnership with housing association (HA) Family Mosaic to deliver 79 homes in Waltham Forest. The project involves building four new housing blocks on two sites called St
28/07/2016
Network Rail has awarded a contract to Jacobs Engineering Group to continue supporting a new rail link development at Heathrow Airport. The scheme will allow passengers from the west of England to travel directly to the airport from Reading and Slough without having to change at London Paddington.
28/07/2016
Planning has been approved for a major estate regeneration scheme in Surrey. The project involves building 922 new homes along with various other facilities on the Sheerwater Estate near Woking. The scheme has been developed by New Vision Homes, a joint venture (JV) between Balfour Beatty and Pinn
28/07/2016
New figures have revealed construction firms are still struggling to recruit skilled workers in the industry. The latest UK Construction Market Survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) states 56% of firms are struggling to grow due to a lack of "appropriately skilled labour".
28/07/2016
HS2 has appointed Gareth Epps as an independent commissioner to oversee any construction issues which may arise on the £42.6 billion project. Having already spent nine years at Crossrail in a senior community relations role and with ten years' experience as a local councillor, Mr Epps is well suite
28/07/2016
Work is to begin on a £14.5 million roundabout improvement scheme in Gloucester. Plans to upgrade the Elmbridge Court roundabout were approved today, 28 July. The project involves creating a new lane through the roundabout and a section of the A40 will be widened to provide a separate bus lane run
28/07/2016
Engineering consultancy Morgan Tucker has selected Jean-Paul Skoczylas as its principal water engineer in London. With almost 10 years of experience in the industry, Mr Skoczylas joins Morgan Tucker after working for three years as managing director (MD) and principal engineer of his own consultanc
28/07/2016
Countryside Properties has reported a "strong" performance in its financial results despite market uncertainty due to the EU referendum. The Group revealed completions were up 29% to 583 units between April and June, compared to 453 units during the same period last year. In addition, its average
28/07/2016
A manufacturing company has been fined after it failed to control the exposure of a hazardous substance to employees. Templetown Canopies Limited, of Shaftsbury Avenue, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulat
28/07/2016
The UK Government must commit to investing in capital projects to allay fears following the EU referendum, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals construction output decreased by 0.4% between April and June.
27/07/2016
Plans have been approved for a £344 million expansion project at London City Airport. The major investment programme was given the go-ahead today, 27 July by Chancellor Philip Hammond, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and Communities Secretary Sajid Javid. The development will create 500 constru
27/07/2016
Growth in the UK's infrastructure sector has "ground to a halt", according to the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA). In the first quarterly Workload Trends Survey since the EU referendum, six out of 10 sub-sectors have reported fallings workloads. According to the statistics, only 2
27/07/2016
ISG has secured a £13 million contract to redevelop a listed building into a four-star hotel in Manchester. The company will transform the Grade II-listed Corn Exchange as part the second phase of a £30 million investment programme to turn the building into a leisure destination. The development i
27/07/2016
Police are appealing for witnesses after an arson attack left two vehicles badly damaged at a construction site in Surrey. The incident occurred sometime between 4pm on Friday, 01 July and 7am on Saturday, 02 July in the closed section of road works in Tandridge Lane, Oxted. A 14-tonne excavator w
27/07/2016
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved clearance for Breedon Aggregates to acquire Hope Construction Materials. The company expects to complete the £336 million deal on 01 August, which will see it operate over 200 readymix (RMX) sites across England, Wales and Scotland. Competit
27/07/2016
Construction consultancy Pick Everard has appointed Jon Parry as its new Northern regional director. With over 20 years' experience in the industry, Mr Parry will join the firm's Manchester office and is responsible for leading the firms multi-disciplinary services in the North. With a background
27/07/2016
Pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has unveiled plans to invest £275 million at manufacturing sites in England and Scotland. The major development programme aims to boost production and support delivery of the company's respiratory and large molecule biological medicines. The firm will i
27/07/2016
A major steel firm has been fined after two employees sustained serious hand injuries while working with machinery on two separate occasions. Tata UK Limited, of Millbank, London, pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined £
27/07/2016
Work is to begin on a railway signalling upgrade project in Worcestershire. Network Rail will continue its equipment improvement scheme between Worcester Shrub Hill and Droitwich Spa stations from Saturday, 06 August. The work involves refurbishing existing parts of equipment, some of which was in
27/07/2016
Work has been completed on a £1.5 million housing development in Cheshire. Harbur Construction has built 13 new family homes on the former site of the Robin Hood hotel in Helsby. The Cheshire Plains scheme was delivered on behalf of Halebank Developments and features five three-bedroom properties,
26/07/2016
Morgan Sindall is continuing work on a £10 million expansion project at City University London. The firm is extending the ground floor and level one of the university campus hub building in Northampton Square. In addition, the company will create a 240-seat lecture theatre and remodel the main ent
26/07/2016
A total of £60 million is to be invested to expand a biomedical centre of excellence in Manchester. Science park operator Manchester Science Partnerships (MSP) is planning to upgrade Citylabs on the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT) campus. The two-phase developme
26/07/2016
Work is to begin on a railway flood alleviation project in Oxfordshire. Network Rail engineers will start raising the height of tracks which run through Hinksey to prevent them from flooding on Saturday, 30 July. The railway will be increased in height by more than half a metre with large pipes, o
26/07/2016
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has committed to investing just under £5 million in 15 industry-led projects. The investment represents the second funding announcement since CITB began is project funding process last autumn. Overall, the organisation is supporting 36 projects valued
26/07/2016
Skanska has posted a "strong" set of results for the first six months of 2016. The company revealed its revenue was £836 million, a 24% increase from the same period in 2015. While its operating income was £16.5m the firm has secured a number of contract wins so far this year, including a £45m dea
26/07/2016
The British Property Federation (BPF) has welcomed a housing report by the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs. In its publication, the Committee "strongly recommends" the Government increases its homes target by 50% and build 300,000 new houses each year. Ian Fletcher, director of
26/07/2016
Van Oord has reached a major milestone on a £7 million marine pipe replacement project in Scarborough. The engineering contractor is carrying out the scheme for Yorkshire Water to replace 2.5km of sea outfall pipe at Wheatcroft. The company has now installed a new steel pipe in an excavated trench
26/07/2016
Arup has been appointed to help deliver the worlds tallest wooden residential building in Amsterdam. Working in partnership with Lingotto, Nicole Maarsen, TEAM V Architecture and Nederlandse Energie Maatschappijhe, the London-based firm will provide multi-disciplinary engineering services, includin
26/07/2016
A company has been fined after a worker was crushed by a three-tonne road roller. Quantum Exhibitions & Displays Ltd of Brow Mills Industrial estate, Hipperholme pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £70,000 with over £4,139 in costs. Cald
26/07/2016
Plans have been approved to redevelop a former prison site into new housing in Portsmouth. Developer City & Country is proposing to build 230 new apartments on the site of the former Kingston Prison. The Grade II-listed cell block will be restored and converted into the units, with further plans t
25/07/2016
Midas Construction has started building work on a new police centre in North Somerset. Work is underway to develop the project at Weston Gateway and the facility is to be completed by April 2017. Features of the new centre include two interview rooms for voluntary attendees and one area will be le
25/07/2016
Around half a million workers covered by the Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) have received a pay rise from today, 25 July. Negotiations between union UCATT and the CIJC resulted in a two-year deal which will see a 2.5% rise this year, with a further 2.75% increase the following year. In
25/07/2016
Keepmoat has began work on a £20 million housing development in Hull. The contractor will build 229 new homes on Hawthorn Avenue East as part of a £150m housing and regeneration scheme. The 12-year programme will see Keepmoat build over 1,400 homes in the Newington and St. Andrew's area of West H
25/07/2016
The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) has appointed Isabel Martinson as its new Executive Chairman. As the former Chairman and Company Director of the Trade Association Forum, Ms Martinson has held positions in the trade association sector and military service. In her new role, she will seek t
25/07/2016
Ashe Construction has reached a major milestone on a £800,000 school refurbishment project in Derby. Work to renovate the interior of Murray Park School is now complete and the second phase of the scheme will begin later this summer. The two-phase project is funded by the city council and includes
25/07/2016
Railway electrification work is to begin on the Severn Tunnel in Wales. Network Rail engineers are training at a facility in Nantgarw to prepare for upgrade works on the 130-year-old structure, which will begin on 12 September. The six-week project involves installing Rigid Overhead Conductor Rail
25/07/2016
Skanska has announced a new supply chain framework which will see drone technology deployed on construction projects. The programme comprises of three companies who will complete remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) based work on behalf of the contractor. Each company, Resource Group, Skycap a
25/07/2016
A historic building in Stockport is to reopen this weekend following a £1.6 million redevelopment project. The Grade-I listed Bramall Hall was closed in September 2014 to undergo renovation works funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Features of the project included the restoration of the Wit
25/07/2016
The founder of Lakehouse, Steven Rawlings, has died after a short illness. The energy support services company confirmed the news in a statement this morning, 25 July. Mr Rawlings, 62, had recently returned to the company after a long-running dispute with its boardroom following its float on the L
25/07/2016
A school in Essex has been fined after asbestos was disturbed during a refurbishment project in the building. The Boswells Academy Trust, of Burnham Road, Chelmsford, Essex, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 – Sections 2(1) & 3(1). It was fined £26,000 with £20
22/07/2016
A final investment decision is to be made next week on a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset. Developer EDF Energy confirmed a meeting will be held on Thursday, 28 July to decide whether to build two new EPR reactors at the Hinkley Point C (HPC) facility. The £24.5 billion project
22/07/2016
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has secured a four-year pay increase deal with trade union Unite. The 4.5% rise involves a 2% increase in wages from October this year, with a further 2.5% rise from October 2017. Increases to weekly sickness and accident benefits, along with ra
22/07/2016
Gatwick Airport has selected 17 contractors for its £1.2 billion Capital Investment Programme. The five-year initiative will focus on developing the airports existing infrastructure as well as increasing future passenger capacity. In addition, Gatwick is awaiting a final decision to be made on pro
22/07/2016
Network Rail has reached a milestone on the Crossrail project in London. Engineers building the new dive-under at Acton have reached structural completion and the development is on schedule to open in 2017. The project involved over 34,000 tonnes of earth being excavated from the five-metre wide s
22/07/2016
Work is to begin next week on a road maintenance project in East Yorkshire. Contractors will start resurfacing sections of the westbound M62 between junction 37 at Howden and junction 38 from Monday, 25 July. The project is to take place between 7pm – 7am and includes repainting white lines and re
22/07/2016
Willmott Dixon has been selected to carry out a refurbishment project for the University of Chester. The contractor will redevelop a building at the University's Thornton Science Park to house a multi-million pound Intelligent Energy System Demonstrator (IESD) programme. The scheme is being projec
22/07/2016
Infrastructure investment firm First Reserve has agreed to purchase Morrison Utility Services (MUS). The company will acquire MUS from Bregal Capital and Motion Equity Partners by November 2016, subject to European Commission antitrust approval. Bregal Capital and Motion Equity Partners purchased
22/07/2016
A company has been fined after an employee fell down a service riser shaft and sprained both his ankles at a construction site in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Meldrum Construction Services (MCS) Limited of Panteon Building, Lancaster Road, Dunston, Gateshead, was fined £120,000 and ordered to pay £1,969 in
22/07/2016
Amey has appointed three Managing Directors (MD) to lead new divisions in the company. The firm's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Andy Milner, has selected James Haluch as MD of Highways, Nicola Hingle as MD of Consulting & Rail, and Rob Edmondson as the MD of Environmental Services. Since Mr Milne
22/07/2016
The Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI) at Swansea University's brand new Bay Campus concentrates its research in the energy sector. The Institute is supported by industry sponsors. It focuses on the safety issues surrounding the development and expansion of existing energy processes, as well
21/07/2016
Costain is continuing with work on a £39.8 million project to rebuild the railway between Folkestone and Dover. Network Rail has now confirmed the route will be reopened this autumn. Engineers are working to build a new 235-metre-long viaduct after bad weather caused severe to a sea wall on Christ
21/07/2016
Willmott Dixon has been selected to deliver a £34 million museum project in Plymouth. The company will redevelop the City Museum and Art Gallery, Central Library and St Luke's Church buildings into a new Plymouth History Centre by spring 2020. The facility is to provide a home for the city's histo
21/07/2016
Work is underway to develop a new professional services academy for Weston College in Weston-super-Mare. Midas Construction has began enabling work/asbestos clearance at the Winter Gardens site and main ground works are scheduled to begin soon. The development is being funded by the West of Englan
21/07/2016
Balfour Beatty has warned the UK Government that major infrastructure projects are under threat following the country's decision to leave the European Union. In its 'Infrastructure 2050' report, the contractor said prolonged periods of uncertainty will impact infrastructure investment "in the mediu
21/07/2016
One of China's largest construction companies is to invest £1 billion in Sheffield, it has been announced. The 60-year partnership agreement deal was signed between the city council and Sichuan Guodong Construction Group. The first tranche of funding will see £220 million fund four or five city ce
21/07/2016
The UK's decision to leave the European Union (EU) has had a detrimental impact across the commercial property market, according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). In its Q2 2016 UK Commercial Property Market Survey, the organisation said Brexit had resulted in a "significant dro
21/07/2016
Skanska has won a contract to demolish a building London. The contractor has been appointed by Cheval Property Holdings to level the building behind 55-91 Knightsbridge in anticipation of redevelopment. The deal involves removing the building down to basement level as well as retaining the Grade I
21/07/2016
Yorkshire Water has awarded a three-year extension to its contract with Morrison Utility Services (MUS). Valued at £250 million, the extended Water Services Agreement (WSA) contract will see MUS carry out all water networks repair and maintenance (R&M) activities, as well as developer and metering
21/07/2016
Work is underway to build a cold steel rolling mill in Caerphilly, South Wales. The project is part of a £1 million investment by steel framing specialist Caledan and supported by £134,000 from the Welsh Government. The facility is to create 28 new jobs and will process/supply ready made sections
21/07/2016
Leeds City Council has been urged by union UCATT to take action after reports of a construction contractor shortening the length of break times for workers. The organisation said Bam Nuttall employees working on the Thwaites Mill section of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme reported rest breaks on
20/07/2016
Councillors are set to approve a three-month consultation on a major regeneration scheme in Leeds. The local authority will discuss proceeding with a public consultation on the redevelopment of the South Bank area at a meeting on Wednesday, 27 July. As one of the largest developments of its kind i
20/07/2016
Cable inspection work on the M48 Severn Bridge is continuing ahead of schedule. Westbound lane closures on the bridge, which were to be removed in early September, are now scheduled to be lifted by early August. The structure will be fully closed this weekend to allow contractors to move an inspec
20/07/2016
Hundreds of welders and engineers are to lose their jobs at a car parts firm in Shropshire. Union Unite said the loss of 251 posts at GKN in Telford is a "body blow" for the local economy. The jobs are being cut after contracts for building the Defender chassis platforms for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR
20/07/2016
Engineers have completed repairs to a railway line at Forest Hill in east London. Network Rail and Thames Water spent over a day mending the route after a sink hole opened up between Norwood Junction and New Cross Gate yesterday, 19 July. A spokesperson for Network Rail said: "Engineers found the
20/07/2016
Morgan Sindall has been selected as one of four companies on National Grid's £800 million Engineer, Procure and Construct (EPC) framework. The four-year programme features projects valued from £2m - £50m and involves the design, construction and commissioning of 11kV to 400kV cable systems across N
20/07/2016
The UK's skills shortage is a "catastrophe waiting to happen", according to Develop Training Limited (DTL). The training specialist has called on Prime Minister Theresa May to introduce initiatives to attract workers into the utilities sector. Chris Wood, Chief Executive Officer of DTL, said the c
20/07/2016
Work is continuing on a £124 million link road project in Lancashire. The Heysham Link scheme began in January 2014 and is expected to be completed in October. As part of the development, the northbound M6 slip road out of Lancaster will be closed for 10 days from 22 July until 01 August as part o
20/07/2016
M+W Group has been appointed to build a new £105 million scientific centre in Kingston upon Hull. The contractor was selected by health and hygiene company RB to develop its R&D Centre for Scientific Excellence (CfSE) at Dansom Lane in the city. The sustainable building will contain a Good Manufac
20/07/2016
Celtic FC and Ferco Seating made history last Thursday, 14 July, as the installation of the first safe standing seating system (RailSeat) in the UK got underway at Celtic Park. An area of the stadium will feature standing on the terraces for the 2016 – 17 season. With Celtic pushing for this for
19/07/2016
Work is underway on a £13.7 million shopping centre extension project in Leeds. Morgan Sindall will deliver the 65,000 sq ft scheme for Land Securities at White Rose Shopping Centre. Features of the project include an 11-screen cinema, six restaurants, new public realm, outdoors spaces and six ret
19/07/2016
Plans have been approved to expand a radioactive waste disposal facility in Cumbria. The project involves building two new vaults and expanding a third vault at the UK's Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) near Drigg. The scheme will create around 120 construction jobs and work is expected to start
19/07/2016
The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) has secured a four-year wage increase deal for the industry. The deal was agreed with union Unite and will see wages rise by 10.25% up until 2020. Key features of the agreement, which is to take effect from January 2017, includes: • Wage increases of
19/07/2016
Heathrow has appointed architectural firm Grimshaw to produce concept designs for its £16 billion expansion project at the airport. The practice was selected from a shortlist of four of the UK's top architects including Zaha Hadid, HOK and Benoy. The announcement follows on from the appointment of
19/07/2016
A new £7.5 million leisure centre facility has been opened in Gloucestershire. The Tewkesbury Leisure Centre was built by Willmott Dixon for the local authority in Gloucester Road. Features include a main 25-metre pool and a 20-metre learner/training pool, as well as a 60 station gym, sauna and st
19/07/2016
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed the appointment of the new Housing and Planning Minister, Gavin Barwell. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the organisation, said Minister Barwell has assumed the position at a "critical juncture" in the wake of the EU Referendum. "We welcome the
19/07/2016
Highways England is to begin a road resurfacing programme this weekend in Middlesborough. Contractors will start resurfacing the A66 between the A19 and Teesside Park from Sunday, 24 July until Friday, 12 August. The project is to take place between 9pm – 6am and slip roads at the A19/A66 Stockton
19/07/2016
Construction SMEs are still facing challenges in avoiding late payment and accessing public procurement, according to the National Federation of Builders (NFB). Despite making up 18% of all businesses in the UK private sector, NFB Chief Executive Richard Beresford said construction SMEs are still o
19/07/2016
Engineers have discovered a sinkhole on a railway in the Forest Hill area of east London. Network Rail and Thames Water confirmed the discovery in the early hours of this morning, 19 July. It is thought the hole has been caused by a collapsed active sewer and work is underway to design a repair pl
19/07/2016
Berkeley Homes has appointed Elements Europe to deliver 120 bedrooms at a Premier Inn hotel site in Woolwich. The modular solution specialist will help develop the six-storey building on Beresford Street. The scheme, which is part of Berkeley's Royal Arsenal Riverside project, involves manufacturi
18/07/2016
A major milestone has been reached on the £14.8 billion Crossrail project in London. Almost 75% of the scheme is now complete and two new platforms have been installed at the new Elizabeth line station at Liverpool Street. The two 240-metre long platforms were pre-fabricated in more than 500 piece
18/07/2016
Balfour Beatty has been selected as the main contractor for the £1 billion One Nine Elms development in London. Developer Wanda One has awarded the company a pre-construction services agreement and details of the final contract award are expected by the end of this year. Features of the mixed-use
18/07/2016
Recovery work is ongoing at the site of the collapsed boiler house at Didcot power station in Oxfordshire. The bodies of three men are still missing after a section of the former boiler house collapsed during demolition preparation works on 23 February. Recovery work was halted in May when contrac
18/07/2016
United Utilities (UU) and a contractor have been prosecuted for killing up to 900 fish in a pollution incident in Bolton. UU and KMI+ pleaded guilty to the offence at Bolton Crown Court on Friday, 24 June. UU was fined £600,000 with over £19,000 in costs, while KMI + was fined £333,000 with £26,1
18/07/2016
McBains Cooper has been selected to provide consultancy services on a new Build to Rent (BTR) scheme in London. Real estate company Patrizia UK plans to create a 150,000 sq ft commuter-belt featuring 108 apartments on the site of the former Trocoll House office building in Barking. McBains Cooper
18/07/2016
Gatwick Airport is to invest a further £200 million in its five-year £1.2 billion capital investment plan. The funding boost will be used to transform, revitalise and improve the existing airport. Welcoming the decision, London Mayor Sadiq Khan also called on Prime Minister Theresa May to make a f
18/07/2016
ISG Construction has started building a new £8 million leisure centre in Birmingham. The contractor is delivering the Erdington Leisure Centre as one of three existing leisure centres being replaced across the city by Birmingham Community Leisure Trust (BCLT). A fourth centre will also be built in
18/07/2016
British Land is expecting occupiers and investors to take a more cautious approach towards the property market following the UK's decision to leave the European Union (EU). In a trading statement today, 18 July, the development company said it was too early to properly assess the results impact, bu
18/07/2016
Go Geothermal has achieved a significant milestone this year as it reaches its 10 year anniversary of trading. To mark the event, the company is introducing Price Reductions. Encouraged by customer feedback when it passed on price reductions enjoyed by Go Geothermal back in 2013, the company is k
18/07/2016
G Cook and Sons has won three national accolades at the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) Awards. The Cambridge-based company won a Silver Award in the External Rendering category and a Gold Award in the Judges Award category, as well as the Project of the Year Award. The first project involved
15/07/2016
Plans have been approved to build 3,000 new homes in North Lincolnshire. The development is part of the £1.3 billion Lincolnshire Lakes development, the largest residential led regeneration scheme in the north of England. Overall, the project will see six new villages created on the outskirts of Sc
15/07/2016
Lendlease has been slammed by union UCATT for refusing access to one of its representatives at a £212 million prison building site in North Wales. Prison governor Russ Trent had invited UCATT representative, Terry Renshaw, to tour the site of the new HMP Berwyn Wrexham Prison. However, Site Manage
15/07/2016
The Government must increase its annual new homes target by 50% if it is to solve the UK's housing crisis, the Economic Affairs Committee has said. In its report, 'Building more homes', the cross-party House of Lords Committee stated 300,000 new homes must be developed each year "for the foreseeabl
15/07/2016
Seddon Construction has started work on a £12 million industrial park project in Stockport. A ground-breaking ceremony was held earlier this week to mark the start of construction on the 145,000 sq ft Aurora Stockport scheme. The development is being built for CBRE on an 18-acre site alongside Jun
15/07/2016
New Prime Minister Theresa May should make improving energy efficiency in UK buildings "an investment priority", according to the Federation of Master Builders. The organisation said knock-on effects felt by improving Britain's buildings' energy usage would generate £8.7 billion in net benefits. H
15/07/2016
A £150,000 resurfacing scheme is to begin on the A595 in Cumbria. The work will be carried out over two projects and aims to improve the road surface for motorists near Whitehaven. The first £79,500 project will last for one week and will take place between Parton and Pelican Garage from Thursday,
15/07/2016
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has expanded its senior management team by appointing Kevin Taylor as Head of Technical Services. An NFRC member for more than 10 years, Mr Taylor will lead the organisation's technical operations including flat roofing, sheeting and cladding an
15/07/2016
Network Rail has reached a major milestone on its South Wales Mainline electrification project. The main deck of the existing Bridge Street Road Bridge in Newport was successfully removed by a 600-tonne crawler crane in the early hours of Sunday, 10 July. Engineers worked to reduce the weight of t
15/07/2016
An engineering company has been fined after an employee received serious injuries to his hand while manufacturing aluminum parts. Thornsett Engineering Limited, of Thornsett Trading Estate, Birch Vale, High Peak, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
15/07/2016
North East manufacturer Clayton Glass has completed the acquisition of specialist glass producer Romag. The purchase brings each company under the same ownership, however both will continue to operate as separate businesses in County Durham. In addition, the deal will allow for further opportuniti
14/07/2016
A trio of consultants have been appointed to the £4.2 billion Thames Tideway Tunnel 'super-sewer' project in London. Arcadis, Turner & Townsend (T&T) and Gardiner & Theobold (G&T) will provide commercial services, project and programme management resources on the scheme over the next four years. T
14/07/2016
Developer Argent Related has secured a deal to lead a £1 billion regeneration programme in north London. Plans for the partnership have been approved by Haringey Council, which will see around 800 homes being developed around the Tottenham Hale transport hub, with Victoria line, National Rail and f
14/07/2016
New figures have revealed the UK housing market has declined steeply in June after uncertainty fuelled by Brexit. According to the latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey, buyer enquiries fell for a third consecutive month to their lowest reading since mid-2008. With 36% more respondents reportin
14/07/2016
Plans have been approved for the first stage of a £175 million regeneration project in London. The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) has given the go ahead for the schemes first planning application, which will see 605 new homes built in Hammersmith & Fulham. Around 40% of the n
14/07/2016
A road maintenance programme is to get underway on the A428 in Cambridgeshire. Highways England will begin resurfacing sections of the road between Caxton Gibbet roundabout and St Neots roundabout from Monday, 25 July. The 8.7 mile project is expected to take 17 weeks and will take place between 8
14/07/2016
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded £3.5 million towards four regeneration projects in North East England. The High Street in Skelton-in-Cleveland, North Yorkshire will undergo a £952,200 revamp featuring the reinstatement of shopfronts, sash windows and doors including improvements to the
14/07/2016
New figures have revealed late payments are still continuing following the impact of the UK's construction industry. In its annual survey of UK tradespeople and small contractors, specialist insurer ECIC found 41% of firms experience issues with late payment. With electricians and plumbers impacte
14/07/2016
British Telecom (BT) has been fined for a second time in three weeks after carrying out "dangerous and disruptive" roadworks in London. The utility company pleaded guilty to four offences at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 06 July. These were: • Conducting street works without a permit • Unsafe
14/07/2016
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has called on the construction sector to increase its efforts to eradicate modern slavery within the industry. With the release of its new report, 'Building a fairer system: tackling modern slavery in construction supply chains', the organisation is urging
14/07/2016
Instarmac's French partner, Vert Bleu, has supplied world-renowned reinstatement materials to repair a failed manhole on a busy road in Rue des Creuses, France. Municipalite of Annecy required reinstatement materials that would be able to withstand heavy trafficking and endure the constant flow of
13/07/2016
Lovell has secured a £11.7 million contract to build a new 'affordable' housing development in Manchester. The company has been selected by Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG) to develop 130 new 'affordable' homes in Wythenshawe. Work is already underway on land formerly occupied by five bl
13/07/2016
A road worker has been hospitalised with a minor leg injury after being struck by a car on the A56 in Lancashire. The incident occurred at a £4.5 million road improvement scheme at Rising Bridge roundabout near Haslingden on Tuesday, 05 July. The junction was closed for the night as part of the pr
13/07/2016
BAM has won a contract to deliver a £40 million retirement village in Worcestershire. The company will create the facility for BUPA-owned Richmond Care Villages at Wood Norton near Evesham. BAM is also building another retirement village for the client in Witney, Oxfordshire. With design work bein
13/07/2016
Midas Construction is to start work on a £20 million student accommodation project in Cardiff. The company will redevelop four buildings at Fitzalan Court on Newport Road into a 355-bed facility. The scheme is a part of a joint venture between McLaren Group and Cardiff-based developers PMG. Other
13/07/2016
Plans have been revealed for a new conference centre in Blackpool. Proposals for the new facility at the Winter Gardens Complex will be discussed by councillors at a meeting on Monday, 18 July. If approved, formal bids will be submitted for external funding to develop the new centre on the former
13/07/2016
The need for more space has become "increasingly important" over the past two decades, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). A recent poll of small and medium-sized (SME) construction companies revealed two-thirds (61%) believed creating more space was the most important considerati
13/07/2016
Plans have been submitted for two new developments at a former Sainsbury's site in Pembrokeshire. Conygar Investment Company reacquired the seven-hectare area at Slade Lane, Haverfordwest in 2015. The site had planning permission for a 95,000 sq ft retail superstore and a petrol filling station.
13/07/2016
A further 31 new free schools are to be built across the country, it has been announced. On his final visit as Prime Minister (PM), David Cameron announced the new projects during a trip to Reach Academy in Feltham on Tuesday, 12 July. Successful applicants will now begin to confirm the sites, wit
13/07/2016
An engineering firm has been fined for safety failings after a marine hatch and frame seriously injured an employee. Point Engineering (Hull) Ltd of Lee Smith Street, Hull, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. It was fined £
13/07/2016
A joint venture (JV) between North Midland Construction and Barhale (BNM Alliance) has been selected to deliver a £60 million sewer investment programme in Newark. Severn Trent has appointed the JV to carry out the three-year project, which will replace over 20km of pipes and ensures the town has a
11/07/2016
ISG has secured a £21 million deal to fit-out a new pathology laboratory in London. The contract was awarded by HSL (Health Services Laboratories), a joint venture (JV) between The Doctors Laboratory (TDL), University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and the Royal Free London NHS Foun
11/07/2016
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is exploring options to end its housing and maintenance repair contract with Kier, it has been announced. The local authority, which owns around 18,500 houses and a number of public buildings in the city, has been in a joint venture with the company, Kier Stoke Limited,
11/07/2016
Osborne Rail has completed a railway platform extension project at Tooting Station in south London. The development at Platform 2 was delivered as part of the Thameslink Programme and allows the scheme's new Class 700 trains to call at the station. In addition, the extension forms part of enabling
11/07/2016
Wates has started building the second phase of a multi-million pound housing scheme in West Yorkshire. The company's Living Space Homes division is delivering 21 new homes for Together Housing Group in Westfield Lane, South Elmsall. The £2.1m development forms phase two of 'Gordon Place' and adds
11/07/2016
Approval has been granted for the sixth phase of a housing development in Somerset. Persimmon Homes South West will begin building 46 homes at its Heathfield Gardens site in Taunton towards the end of this year. In addition, 12 'affordable' units will also be developed. The development on Hardys
11/07/2016
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has appointed Turner & Townsend's (T&T) Project Management director, Paul Nash, as its new president. With over 30 years' experience in the industry, Mr Nash is one of the few presidents to have worked in both the contracting and the consultancy side of th
11/07/2016
Decorean has selected George Kurcup as its new Senior Contracts Manager. The appointment is part of the London-based company's expansion plans and marks the third key hire in recent months, following that of Guy Rolfe as new Senior Site Manager and Steve Janeway-Smith as Operations Director. With
11/07/2016
A construction company has been fined after an employee received crush injuries during a school demolition project in Cheshire. Complete Demolition Ltd of Stafford House, Westbury Industrial Estate, Hyde pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and
08/07/2016
Willmott Dixon has secured a £17.5 million contract to develop a sustainable office space in Bristol. The company will deliver the BREEAM 'Outstanding' Aurora Office Development for property developer Cubex Land in the centre of the city. The 95,000 sq ft project will be built at Cubex's £250m mix
08/07/2016
Graham Construction has won a £20 million contract to deliver a conservation and extension project in London. The company will redevelop the Great Hall and Library in High Holborn for the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. Work is due to begin next month and the Grade II listed buildings will be
08/07/2016
The UK's exit from the European Union (EU) could open up new opportunities for foreign investors in the luxury property market, according to global consultancy Arcadis. The country voted in favour of leaving the politico-economic union on 23 June. Since the referendum, the value of Sterling has fa
08/07/2016
BAM has been selected by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to deliver a new £21 million academy building project in Swindon. The company will create a three-storey secondary teaching school for Great Western Academy (GWA) at Tadpole Farm in North West Swindon. Work is due to begin in January 2017
08/07/2016
Construction consultancy Pick Everard is to open a new office later this month Birmingham. The move is part of the firm's plans to expand its presence in the city and the West Midlands following a number of new contracts wins in the region. Recent awards include being a partner on the UK's first I
08/07/2016
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has appointed Mr Simon Girling as its new national chair. Mr Girling has been a member of the NFB for 15 years, and he was sworn in at the NFB's annual general meeting at Girton College on 06 July. In addition, he is a director of Ipswich-based constructio
08/07/2016
A Somerset-based Timber company has been fined for carrying out unsafe work at height at a construction site in Oxfordshire. The Timber Frame Company (TFC), of Red Cross Hall, High Street, Bruton, Somerset, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
08/07/2016
"Panelling is the future of Construction...", said David Evans who heads up the Company and has been at the epicentre of insulated technology for over a decade. "Zip Panelling will without a doubt be at the very forefront of this transformation." For a certainty this cutting edge building product i
07/07/2016
Five men have been killed after an industrial accident at a recycling facility in Birmingham. The incident occurred at Hawkswood Metal Recycling in Aston Church Road, Nechells this morning, 07 July. Emergency services were called at around 8:30am to reports that a wall had collapsed. A West Midla
07/07/2016
A new report has recommended altering the route and station proposals for the HS2 in South Yorkshire, in a move which could reduce the cost of the project by around £1 billion. HS2 Chairman David Higgins has proposed a new option, which would result in services between London and Sheffield taking a
07/07/2016
Carillion has been selected to develop the first building of a £500 million transformational scheme in Birmingham. The company will deliver the seven-storey One Chamberlain Square building as part of the Paradise development, a new multimillion-pound city centre mixed-use development. Designed by
07/07/2016
An £800 million gas plant project in Manchester looks set to be cancelled after the UK Government withdrew a subsidy for the project. Energy firm Carlton Power was originally awarded the subsidy for Trafford Gas Plant in 2014, however it failed to secure appropriate funding by the deadline set out
07/07/2016
Haringey Council has shortlisted three contractors for its £2 billion regeneration programme which is set to create thousands of new homes over the next two decades. The shortlisted bidders include: Lendlease, Morgan Sindall with Affinity Sutton and Circle, and Pinnacle with Starwood Capital and Ca
07/07/2016
New figures have revealed UK house price growth has slowed to 8.4% in June. Prices in the last three months were 1.2% higher than the same period last year, according to Halifax's house price index. However, this was slightly below May's 1.5% increase and is the lowest rise since December 2014 (1%
07/07/2016
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has supported a call by the Local Government Association (LGA) for a resurgence in council house building. The LGA stated "bold new action" is needed in the housebuilding industry following the economic uncertainty resulting from the UK's decision to leave th
07/07/2016
Network Rail has revealed details of a £23 million project to repair a landslip on the Settle to Carlisle railway line. Engineers will build a concrete and steel tunnel-like structure to stabilise the 500,000-tonne gorge bank above the River Eden, which gave way due to erosion in February. The str
07/07/2016
New figures have revealed 43 construction workers were killed in work-related accidents during 2015/16. In an annual report published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), statistics show there was a fatal injury rate of 1.94 per 100,000 workers, a slight decline compared to a five-year average
07/07/2016
Early in the year, Amadeus took a call from well known composer for TV, film, advertising and video games – Ed White. Ed asked for guidance in designing and constructing a bespoke, cedar-clad studio at his home in London. Carl Freslov, Operations Director, surveyed the proposed site in mid-February
06/07/2016
A social housing provider has secured a £50 million bank loan to support its housing development scheme. Stonewater agreed the deal with Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking and the terms have been tailored to the circumstances of its corporate structure. Jo-Ann Bonham, Relationship Director in Lloyds B
06/07/2016
An inquiry has been launched into the housebuilding industry to see if the sector has the required capacity to meet demand for new homes in the UK. It is expected the Communities and Local Government Committee will invite chief executives of major developers to give evidence. In addition, the inqu
06/07/2016
The Government must show what the future holds for the building industry following the UK's exit from the EU in order to boost sector confidence, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Following recent figures which shows the UK construction sector has fallen to its weakest overall p
06/07/2016
Kier Living has started building work to develop 90 new houses in Cornwall. The Homes and Communities Agency and Cornwall Council awarded £3.2 million funding to Coastline Housing to build the new homes. The development at Heartlands in Pool will include a national first, with 20 of the homes on s
06/07/2016
A street lighting upgrade scheme has been completed in Coventry. A total of £55 million has been invested in the 'Lighting Coventry' project which has taken over five years to complete. Construction firm Balfour Beatty carried out the works which included thousands of lighting column types replace
06/07/2016
Almost £8 million in fines has been paid out by construction companies since new guidelines came into force in February. According to risk law firm BLM's Health and Safety tracker, out of 101 health and safety fines that were issued, 38% affected the construction industry. Under the new guidelines
06/07/2016
UK construction firm BAM has selected Mr Douglas Kellor as its new Executive Director. He will replace Mr Richard Bailey who served 39 years with the firm. Mr Keillor, who will take up the post on 01 August, has 26 years service with the company and has been regional director of BAM Construction i
06/07/2016
Costain has acquired of SSL, a provider of technology-based solutions, primarily for the highways sector, for £17 million. SSL provides integrated hardware and software-based solutions across a broad spectrum of traffic monitoring and management requirements. SSL has an established blue-chip custom
05/07/2016
Spencer Group is underway with work to create new biomass facilities at Tyne Dock in South Shields. The multi-million pound deal was awarded by Lynemouth Power and will see up to 200 construction jobs created. Features include the design and construction of a facility for the handling, storage and
05/07/2016
Bam Nuttall's joint venture with Mott MacDonald (BMM) is to begin the next phase of a £32 million flood defence scheme in Exeter. The development aims to reduce the flood risk to 3,200 homes and businesses in the city. Phase one of the scheme got underway in 2014 and saw construction work taking p
05/07/2016
The UK Government "must respond quickly" to damage in investor confidence by giving the go-ahead for a third £17.6 billion runway at Heathrow, according to the Trade Unions Congress (TUC). The call was made following the release of new UK building sector figures yesterday, 04 July,
05/07/2016
Clugston Group has blamed "challenging conditions" as it posted a turnover of £143.4 million in its financial results, down from £253m in 2015. In addition, it recorded a pre-tax loss of £2.2m, down from £5.1m compared to last year. Chief Executive Stephen Martin said while the company continues t
05/07/2016
Wates has appointed Will Freeman as its Design Director across London and the South. With 15 years' experience, Mr Freeman joins from Atkins and will lead Wates' design management function in the region, increasing early tender involvement and improving quality of design information. At Atkins, he
05/07/2016
Housing developer Stonewater has secured a £50 million funding deal which will help thousands of new UK homes be delivered over the next 10 years. Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking has agreed to provide the new revolving credit facility as Stonewater plans to build 5,000 'affordable' units by 2027. T
05/07/2016
Balfour Beatty has scooped a £170 million contract to improve baggage screening and handling systems at Heathrow Airport. The project involves upgrading/installing new baggage screening and handling systems at the airport's eastern baggage facility. The contract was awarded through the Heathrow Ai
05/07/2016
Network Rail has completed a major bridge rebuilding project in South Wales. The Windsor Road Bridge, which connects Adamsdown and Splott in Cardiff, was reopened on Saturday, 02 July. The project was part of Network Rail's scheme to electrify the South Wales mainline. Engineers demolished the 10
04/07/2016
SES Engineering Services has won a £1.4 million contract to help improve police facilities across South Yorkshire. The firm will work alongside Willmott Dixon to deliver mechanical and electrical (M&E) services for the new Barnsley Custody Suite on Churchfield. The 20-cell facility is to form part
04/07/2016
New figures have revealed UK construction output fell steeply in June due to uncertainty over the outcome of the EU referendum. The latest Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI posted 46.0 in June, down from 51.2 in May and dropping below the 50.0 threshold for the first time since April 2013. In additi
04/07/2016
House builder Redrow has been selected to deliver new homes on a major residential scheme in Cambridgeshire. Urban&Civic has appointed the company to build out 200 plots at Alconbury Weald over a 16.6-acre area of land. Hopkins Homes are currently on site developing the first of two plot parcels,
04/07/2016
Kier has revealed it will take a £53 million cost-hit as it continues with its Group restructuring plans. The company is preparing to sell its Mouchel Consulting business as part of the process, which is expected to make an £8m profit this year and has net book assets of £25m as of 30 June. The Gr
04/07/2016
Engineers are to begin piling work as part of a £40 billion Railway Upgrade Plan to electrify Great Western Main Line. Work in the Newbury area is to begin in July and involves installing foundations for overhead lines that will power a new fleet of electric trains. A public drop-in event displayi
04/07/2016
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has developed a construction computer game for children, aimed at attracting a new generation of industry professionals. 'Craft your Future' targets children aged between 12 – 14 and takes place in Minecraft, a popular sandbox video game. A series of four
04/07/2016
Vodafone has been fined for failing to provide a statutory streetworks notice as part of a roadworks scheme in London. The utility company pleaded guilty to the offence at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 29 June. It was fined £1,250 and ordered to pay over £1,386 in costs. The court heard the co
04/07/2016
UK construction firms are being called on to install fire protection systems during the opening stages of a new building project. Fire safety specialists Gunfire Limited issued the plea to contractors, stating passive fire protection isn't being implemented early enough to improve safety for constr
04/07/2016
London-based Decorean has appointed Guy Rolfe as its new Senior Site Manager. With over 16 years' experience in the industry, Mr Rolfe has previously worked for a number of companies including at Jones Lang LaSalle as Assistant Projects Manager and at Feltham Construction as Interiors Site Manager.
04/07/2016
MiniTec UK has announced it will be attending the Manufacturing & Engineering North East exhibition this year in Newcastle. On show will be the flexible MiniTec aluminium profile system which can be used in a huge range of applications including machine frames, safety guards, workstations, conveyor
01/07/2016
Lincolnshire County Council has chosen four firms to bid for a £96 million deal to build Lincoln's Eastern Bypass. The firms shortlisted are: Hochtief UK and Carillion Construction; two joint ventures have also been short-listed, the first of which is John Sisk and Lagan, and the second John Graham
01/07/2016
A new hub for digital and creative businesses is to be developed in Manchester after over £5 million funding was approved to refurbish One Central Park. The building, at Central Park business park, was acquired by Manchester City Council two years ago and consists of 83,203 sq ft of lettable office
01/07/2016
Two firms have been fined after a worker was killed following a fall through a roof. A-Lift Crane Hire Limited was fined £83,300 and ordered to pay costs of £21,500. Premier Roofing Systems was fined £140,250 and ordered to pay costs of £41,428. Northampton Crown Court heard how an employee of A-
01/07/2016
The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has appointed a new Chairman. Mr John Nolan has taken up the position with immediate effect. He succeeds Tony Burton. Mr Burton has now taken up the Deputy Chairman post for a year, in accordance with CIC's rules and by-laws. Mr Nolan is a past President of
01/07/2016
Galliford Try has completed a £4.5 million scheme to develop a new footbridge for Network Rail. The Lincoln High Street footbridge, which has been officially opened, will give pedestrians an alternative to waiting at the level crossing when a train is due or passing. The bridge is a single-span (
01/07/2016
Improvement work is to begin at the Barnsley Main site to mark the 150th anniversary of the Oaks Disaster, the worst mining disaster in English history. The Barnsley Central Area Team is working with the Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, to deliver a commu
01/07/2016
The British Council of Offices (BCO) has selected the Sweett Group to provide multidisciplinary professional services on a four year research study for the Civil Service Government Hubs Programme. The government estate comprises around 8.6M m² and offices make up approximately half of this space.
01/07/2016
Construction firm Morgan Sindall has partnered with Bournemouth University (BU) to design and build a new development. The Bournemouth Gateway Building, if given planning permission, will house the University's Faculty of Health and Social Sciences and Morgan Sindall is in advanced discussions with
