Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for January 2017
31/01/2017
Record levels of construction activity are being reported in UK regional cities, according to a new survey. In its Real Estate Crane Survey, Deloitte has revealed Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Belfast are experiencing significant growth in offices, residential, hotels, retail, education and stu
31/01/2017
Plans have been approved for the first phase of a major housing development in London. A joint venture (JV) between Places for People and Balfour Beatty Investments will deliver the first phase of East Wick & Sweetwater, comprising of two new neighbourhoods in London's Olympic Park. The schemes wi
31/01/2017
ISG has won a £32.5 million contract to build a new office development in Cardiff. The Central Square project is being delivered for Rightacres and marks the second contract secured with the developer. ISG is already underway with work to build a new BBC Cymru Wales headquarters adjacent to Cardiff
31/01/2017
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff has been appointed to help deliver the '3 Arena Central' development in Birmingham. The consultancy will provide a range of multi-disciplinary services for Arena Central Development as the developer aims to build the third building of the city centre scheme. Designed by
31/01/2017
John Sisk & Son has won a contract to build a new £83.7 million International Convention Centre in Wales. Funding for the ICC Wales scheme has been agreed between the Welsh Government, Celtic Manor Resort and NatWest. Excavation work has already started on land adjacent to the Resort Hotel and exi
31/01/2017
Network Rail is to begin work to upgrade railway station platforms in Nottinghamshire. Work at Fiskerton and Lowdham stations will begin on Saturday, 18 February. The project involves driving steel piles deep into the ground to install foundations for the new section of platform. Gary Walsh, area
31/01/2017
Morgan Sindall has announced the creation of a new supported housing investment fund, which aims to deliver over 500 homes across the UK. The Supported Housing Investment Limited Partnership (SHIP) has been launched by Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and Morgan Sindall Investments Limited
31/01/2017
The Prince's Trust Built Environment Leadership Group (BELG) has selected Adrian Ringrose as its new Chairman. Mr Ringrose, who is currently Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Interserve, will take over from current chairman James Wates CBE in March 2017. He said: "It is a win-win situation for the
31/01/2017
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded £1.8 million towards a heritage restoration project in Stockport. The 'Rediscover the Underbanks' scheme aims to repair and re-use historic buildings, including the reinstatement of traditional shop fronts and features, in the town's historic high street.
31/01/2017
An unregistered gas fitter has been fined for carrying out unsafe gas work. Mr Fergus Leask, of 17 Fowler Rd, Farnborough pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, for carrying out gas work without being gas safe registered and Regulation
30/01/2017
Osborne has won an £18 million contract to create a new 2.7km dual carriageway in Liverpool. The contractor will widen the A565 (Great Howard Street/Derby Road) as part of the city council's wider £250m Better Roads programme. In addition, the scheme will allow for a major revamp of the historic R
30/01/2017
Plans have been unveiled for a new £50 million mixed-use development in Rotherham. A joint venture (JV) between Dransfield Properties and Harworth Group is proposing to build a new 12-acre retail, office and leisure scheme as part of the 740-acre Waverley development in the town. A planning applic
30/01/2017
A consortium of British and European banks have agreed to provide a £200 million loans package for a major investment project at the Port of Dover. Allianz Global Investors (£55m), RBS and Lloyds Bank (£35m) and the European Investment Bank (£75m) have each confirmed funding for the Dover Western D
30/01/2017
Asphalt contractor Specialist Surfacing has won a deal to carry out all road maintenance and associate works for Associated British Ports (ABP) Humber. The contract will see the company help to maintain ABP's four Humber ports in Hull, Goole, Grimsby and Immingham. Features include responsive main
30/01/2017
Network Rail has completed work to repair a damage stretch of railway line near Lewisham. Over 50 metres of line was damaged when a freight train derailed from the route last week. Engineers and contractors moved the two derailed wagons, shifted 30 tonnes of spilled sand manually with shovels, rel
30/01/2017
Fragrance Group Limited (FGL) is set to create a new four-star hotel in Liverpool. The Singapore-based property company will turn the city council's former Municipal Building headquarters into a new luxury hotel. A report recommending the sale of the Grade II listed building to the developer will
30/01/2017
TVH Group has confirmed it will not raise its bid to takeover Leicestershire powered access business Lavendon. The Belgian group had previously been engaged in a bidding war with French firm Loxam to acquire the company, with the offer price rising from 205 pence per share to 270 pence per share of
30/01/2017
A company has been prosecuted after a worker was hospitalised due to being exposed to carbon monoxide. Westlands Construction Ltd, Sproatley, Hull pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £16,000 with over £847 in costs. Hull Magistrates Cou
30/01/2017
Three new members have joined trade organisation Build UK. Derwent London, British Land and Keltbray Group have all joined the association, which aims to provide a "strong collective voice for the construction supply chain". The new members will join six existing private developers who are already
30/01/2017
Morgan Sindall is continuing work on an £8.2 million primary school expansion project in Berkshire. The contractor is expanding Claycots Primary School in Slough, the UK's largest primary school. Work to erect the three-floor steel frame is now complete, which will eventually comprise of 15 new cl
27/01/2017
Work is continuing on the £117 million New Wear Crossing project in Sunderland. The scheme's contractors, Farrans Construction and Victor Buyck Steel Construction (FVB), will lift the 100-metre centrepiece pylon into position over the next two weeks, depending on whether conditions. The 1,550-tonn
27/01/2017
Work is progressing on a £1 million rehabilitation centre scheme in Leicestershire. The Get Busy Living Centre is being developed by local charity The Matt Hampson Foundation at the Burrough Court Estate in Burrough-on-the-Hill. Demolition works have now been completed by AR Demolition, which invo
27/01/2017
Willmott Partnership Homes has completed an £8.5 million housing project in the city. The major redevelopment project was delivered for Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH) at the 15-storey Marwood Towers in Everton. Designed by John McCall Architects features include refurbishing the original 57 flats as
27/01/2017
T Clarke is still continuing legal proceedings to recover £2.2 million of "misappropriated funds", it has announced. Last year, the firm revealed a former employee had taken the money over a number of years from the accounts of its subsidiary business DG Robson Mechanical Services (DGR). In a trad
27/01/2017
Nearly £1 million is to be invested in a bypass drainage and resurfacing project in Cumbria. Highways England will start work to redevelop the A66 Brough bypass on Sunday, 29 January. The £938,000 scheme, which involves rebuilding parts of the carriageway to create safer journeys for motorists, is
27/01/2017
Over 300 industry figures have taken part in an event aimed at raising mental health awareness in the construction sector. The second annual Health in Construction Leadership Group (HCLG) summit was held in London on Thursday, 26 January. With the first inaugural event in January last year focusin
27/01/2017
Network Rail has revealed plans for a railway track upgrade project on the East Coast Main Line. The company has submitted a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling for approval. The scheme involves removing a critical bottleneck between London and the North whic
27/01/2017
Briggs & Forrester has restructured its board room under its plans to expand the Group's activities. Paul Burton has been appointed as Group Chief Executive, and was previously Managing Director (MD) of the Engineering Services business. In addition, Ian Lawrence has been appointed as MD of the Gr
27/01/2017
Yorkshire Water has invested nearly £1 million into upgrading the flood resilience of a pumping station in York. The company worked alongside the Environment Agency and City of York Council to install new pumps and electrical panels at the Castle Mills sewage pumping station. Proposals are also in
27/01/2017
The Commissioning Specialists Association (CSA) is calling on businesses to submit entries for its 2017 CSA Awards. The organisation launched its industry-wide awards programme in 2015 to bring together the entire commissioning sector in a celebration of business and professional excellence. The
26/01/2017
Work has started on the £6 billion Meridian Water regeneration project in London. Developer Barratt is working alongside Enfield Council to deliver the first 725 new homes as part of the 20-year scheme. Overall, the development will deliver 10,000 new homes and 6,700 new jobs in North London. With
26/01/2017
Vinci Construction UK has won a £60 million contract to deliver the first phase of a student accommodation scheme in Coventry. The contractor has started work on the city centre Bishop Gate project for Barberry Developments. Completion is scheduled to be in time for the 2018/19 academic year. Desi
26/01/2017
Mears Group has won an £86 million housing repairs and maintenance (R&M) in Manchester. The company was selected for the programme by the city council and its housing management organisation, Northwards Housing. The 10-year deal will begin on Monday, 03 April and runs until 02 April 2021, with the
26/01/2017
Kier has secured a number of contract awards worth more than £1 billion since mid-November 2016, according to the Group's latest trading update. In its latest update for the half year ended 31 December 2016, the company revealed its trading performance was in line with expectations, with its constr
26/01/2017
HS2 has selected Mark Thurston as the organisation's new Chief Executive Officer. With over 30 years' experience in the rail industry, Mr Thurston is currently European regional Managing Director (MD) for CH2M. He also worked on the London 2012 Olympics and Crossrail, where he was lead for the Pro
26/01/2017
SES Engineering Services has completed a £6.5 million mechanical and electrical (M&E) services contract at the University of Hull. The engineering specialist was appointed by Sewell Construction to help deliver a new £30m student accommodation scheme at the University. Features of 'The Courtyard'
26/01/2017
Planning consent has been approved for a two new student accommodation developments in Birmingham and Sheffield. The projects, by Unite Students, are worth a combined £75 million and total 1,186 student bedrooms. The new scheme at International House in Birmingham is located alongside the develope
26/01/2017
Three companies have been prosecuted after a worker fell through a fragile roof during maintenance work in Essex. Ernest Doe & sons Ltd, of Ulting, Essex, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 22 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. It was fined £360,000 with £10,000 in co
26/01/2017
RDF Building Services has delivered a new housing delivered in Leeds. The developer worked in partnership with the city council to transform the former Lord Cardigan pub site in Bramley, which was demolished as part of the council's derelict and nuisance programme in 2012. The 'Cardigan Green' dev
26/01/2017
B&B Attachments has announced it will be exhibiting at the UK Concrete Show 2017 in the NEC Birmingham on 15 – 16 February. As the UK's leading supplier and manufacture of forklift truck attachments, the company will showcase its BlockMaster K320 and PowerMount Attachment on stand D15 at the show.
25/01/2017
U+I Group has revealed plans for a £300 million regeneration project in Birmingham. An application for the New Garden Square mixed-use scheme has been submitted to the city council. Proposals involve creating hundreds of new apartments and commercial space on a 10-acre site on the west side of the
25/01/2017
Wates has won a £33 million contract to build a new a new office block in Bristol. The contractor will develop 15,000 sq ft of new office space for Salmon Harvester at Bristol's Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. The seven-storey '3 Glass Wharf' scheme includes speculative retail space to the ground
25/01/2017
Concerns have been raised over the implementation of an 'Immigration Skills Charge' from April 2017. The new levy means employers who sponsor a migrant worker for a Tier 2 visa will pay £1,000 per migrant, per year, with a reduced rate of £364 for small businesses. The scheme is aimed at reduce Br
25/01/2017
FM Conway has been appointed by Balfour Beatty to the Supply Chain Sustainability School. The School is an award winning initiative which represents a common approach to addressing sustainability within supply chains. Balfour Beatty's Group Procurement Director, Chris John, said signing its 2,000t
25/01/2017
A new £40 million secondary school is set to be built in Essex. Plans for the new 1,200-place school at Beaulieu in Chelmsford were approved by the council on Tuesday, 24 January. The development will be built by Kier, who will begin to draw up detailed designs for the project. Subject to planning
25/01/2017
New research has revealed nearly half of small to medium sized (SME) construction firms are struggling to hire skilled labourers. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) State of Trade Survey for Q4 2016 states around 46% of SMEs are reporting difficulties hiring roofs, while 41% are struggling to
25/01/2017
Redrow has announced the acquisition of Radleigh Homes from Ark Capital Group. The residential developer purchased the East Midlands-based company to expand its operations in the region. The deal will see Radleigh rebrand to Redrow, with 70 employees becoming part of the new Redrow Homes East Midl
25/01/2017
Lakehouse has reported a £31.7 million operating loss in what Executive Chairman Bob Holt called a "challenging" year for the Group. In its full year results for the year ended 30 September 2016, the company reported underlying turnover had declined from £336.6m last year to £305.8m in 2016. Reven
25/01/2017
Work is underway on a £40,000 subway upgrade project in West Lancashire. Plans for the Parbold train station refurbishment scheme includes installing two new beams, new brickwork to strengthen the roof and repainting the inside of the building. The project is being carried out as part of Network R
25/01/2017
Each manufacturing industry has its own requirements, but all use threaded fasteners – nuts, bolts, screws and washers. Challenge Europe addresses these varying applications with the experience and technical expertise which can save manufacturers' time, money and concerns about quality. Industries
24/01/2017
Plans have been approved for a £40 million multi-use development in Redhill, Surrey. Property developer Coplan Estates will deliver a multiplex cinema, restaurants and shops complex in the town's centre. Designed by architects PRP, features include 153 studio one and two bedroom flats, as well as
24/01/2017
A Parliamentary committee has called on the Government to provide better assurance for communities at risk of flooding across England. Since the publication of the 'Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee's future flood prevention report' in 2016, the House of Commons environment food and rura
24/01/2017
Approval has been granted for a shopping centre redevelopment project in Barking. The Vicarage Field shopping centre transformation will see hundreds of homes delivered in the town centre, as well as new shopping, leisure and community facilities. Features include 900 new homes, a 150-bed hotel, a
24/01/2017
Crest Nicholson has reported strong financial growth in its final results for the year ended 31 October 2016. The housebuilder revealed it had reached its £1 billion sales target, with volumes of completions up 5% to 2,870 homes (2015; 2,725). In addition, pre-tax profit rose 27% to £195m (2015: £1
24/01/2017
A new report has revealed the cost of offshore wind energy in the UK has fallen by 32% since 2012. The annual Cost Reduction Monitoring Framework (CRMF) report, delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult on behalf of the Offshore Wind Programme Board (OWPB), states the industry targe
24/01/2017
Changes to how the industry pays grants to construction companies could help small to medium sized (SME) firms, according to the National Federation of Builders (NFB). The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has revealed plans to introduce a new automated grant payments system in April 2018
24/01/2017
Network Rail is to begin a railway platform extension project in Cambridgeshire. The company will work alongside contractor VolkerFitzpatrick to expand platforms at Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton stations. The scheme is part of the Government-sponsored Thameslink Programme, which aims to improve no
24/01/2017
Vodafone has been prosecuted by Transport for London (TfL) for failing to properly manage streetworks in the city. The telecommunications company pleaded guilty for failing to serve the required streetworks notices at the start and end of their work in Archway Road on 22 May 2016, as well as failin
24/01/2017
Following the busy Christmas Period, it can be nice to give the house a new look to carry forward into the New Year. Blueprint Joinery thinks installing new stair cladding can give your staircase, and your entire home, a new lease of life. Once you have picked out your stair cladding, you are goin
24/01/2017
As the UK distributor for German Slate Veneer manufacturer Slate Lite, Lite Stone has revealed its new 2017 catalogue, with new technical data and fixing guides. Slate Lite is a stone veneer with a real stone surface and a fibreglass or flexible cotton based backing. The method makes it possible t
23/01/2017
R. Durtnell & Sons has won a contract to deliver the first phase of the major Royal Pavilion Estate restoration project in Brighton and Hove. The historic contractor will begin works on the £21 million first phase in early February 2017. Designed by architect Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCB Stu
23/01/2017
Volker Fitzpatrick has started work on a £25 million project to redevelop Hackney Wick Overground station. The scheme will see the station redeveloped on behalf of the London Legacy Development Corporation and completion is scheduled for January 2018. Designed by architects Landolt Brown, features
23/01/2017
Prime Minister (PM) Theresa May has unveiled proposals to significantly invest in the Northern Powerhouse as part of the UK's post-Brexit plans. In her first regional Cabinet meeting today, 23 January, the PM set out her Modern Industrial Strategy which involves boosting the Northern Powerhouse wit
23/01/2017
A joint venture (JV) between Laing O'Rourke and Ferrovial Agroman is to start work on the £1.2 billion Northern Line Extension. The FLO JV will begin building two new 3.2km tunnels for the scheme this March. Completion is set for 2020. The structures will extend the Northern line between Kenningto
23/01/2017
Blakes Hotel has selected Meinhardt UK to help deliver a new five-star boutique hotel scheme in Shoreditch, London. The multidisciplinary engineering and consultancy firm will be responsible for the structural and MEP work on the project, which is due to begin on site early this year. The 87-room
23/01/2017
Residents are being invited to submit their views on plans to widen the A12 road in Essex. The scheme is part of a £15 billion investment programme by the Government in England's motorways and major A roads. A consultation has been launched today, 23 January, on four options for the project; • Op
23/01/2017
Industry experts are claiming there is a "huge opportunity" to boost the UK's offshore wind sector. Brian McFarlane, Head of Projects - Offshore Development at SSE, said projects such as the £2.6 billion Beatrice scheme, as well as the Dogger Bank and Seagreen projects, could help boost the UK's do
23/01/2017
Nearly 20 staff members at the Fellside CHP plant, Sellafield, are to escalate industrial action with employer Cape Industrial Services. A total of 19 workers, including scaffolders, thermal insulation engineers and labourers, have been engaged in an eight-month dispute over gaining improved terms
23/01/2017
Manchester City Council has unveiled plans to build 2,000 new affordable homes in the city each year. The new housing affordability framework was approved earlier this month. So far, 2,721 new homes have been built through the Affordable Homes Programme over the past five years. Wates Residential
23/01/2017
Work on a new council housing development in Brighton and Hove is now complete. A total of four 'affordable' homes were developed on the site of a former garage block in Pierre Close, Portslade. The Pierre Close scheme, off Foredown Road, is part of the city council's New Homes for Neighbourhoods
20/01/2017
Plans have been approved for a new major office development in Ealing. Proposals for the 170,000 sq ft Grade A office scheme were granted by Councillors on Wednesday, 18 January. Developers CEG will invest £50 million on the scheme, which marks the first major office development in Ealing for almo
20/01/2017
An asbestos analyst has been prosecuted for deliberately forging an asbestos air clearance certificate. Barrie Lyons, of Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was fined £2,000 with over £3,905 in costs. Greater
20/01/2017
The UK Government spent £100 million on a now cancelled carbon capture storage (CCS) competition, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). In a new report, the NAO states the Government has "not achieved value for money" after axing the initiative in 2015. Peterhead power station in Aberdeens
20/01/2017
A British construction worker has been killed while working in Qatar. It is understood the victim was building the flagship 2022 World Cup, the Khalifa International stadium, in Doha. Unite acting general secretary Gail Cartmail expressed their condolences to the victim's family and called for an
20/01/2017
Residents are being invited to submit their views over planned flood defences in Bampton and Tiverton, Devon. It is estimated around 100 properties are at risk of flooding in Brampton, while between 1,000 – 2,000 properties are at risk in Tiverton. The Environment Agency (EA) is organising the dro
20/01/2017
Barratt Developments has revealed its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Neil Cooper, is stepping down from his position with immediate effect. The housebuilder's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), David Thomas, will assume temporary responsibility for the finance function. He previously held the role of C
20/01/2017
Planning permission has been granted for a new care home development in East Hertfordshire. The 66-bed facility will be built by LNT Care Developments the site of the former Sainsbury Depot in Buntingford. Features include accommodation with fully en-suite bedrooms, spacious communal areas, and mo
20/01/2017
Graham Construction has opened a new regional office in Leeds, Yorkshire. The new Carrwood Park facility marks the 14th UK office to be established by the company and is part of a five-year growth plan to increase revenues across the group. The new office will provide Graham's full service offerin
20/01/2017
Network Rail is to begin the next phase of its £1 billion railway electrification upgrade programme across the north. The scheme will see the line between Poulton-Le-Fylde and Salwick upgraded to prepare for electrification of the route from 2018. Work will start on Saturday, 21 January. So far, t
20/01/2017
A new report has set out how a series of major improvement schemes could help strengthen Coventry's roads network. The 'Connecting Coventry' report reveals how the local authority can work with different agencies and nearby local authorities to boost its road network, ensuring major routes are kept
19/01/2017
Morgan Sindall has been selected to deliver a £47 million expansion project in Liverpool. The contractor will carry out two schemes as part of Liverpool City Council's £1 billion extension to the Knowledge Quarter. The 'Paddington Village' project will see a 30-acre site close to Smithtown Lane de
19/01/2017
Amey's joint venture (JV) with public transport operator Keolis has won a deal to operate Manchester's Metrolink light rail network. The KeolisAmey partnership will operate and maintain the network over the next decade from July 2017. Andy Milner, Amey's Chief Executive, said: "We've worked in the
19/01/2017
Plans have been submitted for a new 19-storey student accommodation tower in Coventry. The 583-bed structure is being developed by Crosslane Student Developments. It will be built at the junction of Friar's Road and St Patrick’s Road. Features include 140 studios and 443 en-suite cluster flats, as
19/01/2017
Geotechnical contractor Van Elle has reported an increase in revenue in its interim results for the six months ended 31 October 2016. Group revenue rose 7.6% to £43.1 million compared to £40.1m the same time last year. In addition, a solid trading performance saw a gross margin of 36.2% (H1 2016:
19/01/2017
Willmott Dixon has been selected to deliver a new £27 million campus for Aberystwyth University in Wales. The contractor will develop a new Innovation and Enterprise Campus (AIEC) on the university's existing Gogerddan Campus. Proposed features of the facility include a Bio-refining Centre, Future
19/01/2017
Mott MacDonald has revealed Mike Haigh as its new Managing Director (MD). Mr Haigh has worked at the company for over 30 years and joined the consultancy's executive board in 2013. Recently, he was MD of Mott MacDonald's Europe and Africa region. In addition, he has a strong background in general
19/01/2017
Work has begun on the next phase of a railway electrification project between Kettering and Corby. Network Rail is upgrading the Midland Main Line as part of its £40 billion Railway Upgrade Plan. Works include piling, the process of installing foundations, which involves driving cylindrical steel
19/01/2017
Amiri Construction has successfully restructured the Group to introduce a new shareholding and management team. Southampton lawyers at Clarke Willmott LLP advised the company on delivering the succession planning deal, which created a structure to enable the introduction of management shareholders,
19/01/2017
A new Holiday Inn hotel has opened in Stockport. The 115-bed hotel at Stockport Exchange was built as part of the £1 billion Investing in Stockport regeneration programme. It is being delivered by urban regeneration specialist Muse Developments in partnership with Stockport Council. Speaking duri
19/01/2017
Stone supplier Lite Stone has revealed there is still time left to get 20% off all samples until the end of the month. As part of its January Sample sale, customers can use the voucher code – JAN17 - to receive a discount on all samples. After selecting a chosen sample from Lite Stone's online st
18/01/2017
U+I Group has formed a new joint venture (JV) with investment management firm Colony NorthStar. The new platform will invest over £260 million in office refurbishment projects throughout the London, Manchester and Dublin markets. Each partner owns 50% of the JV, which will "add value to underperfo
18/01/2017
Plans have been approved for a major redevelopment project at Ilford Station. Work to build a new station building, as part of the Crossrail programme, was given the go-ahead by Redbridge Council. Proposals include a new facility featuring a glass façade, a new ticket hall with a wide entrance and
18/01/2017
Somerset County Council has selected Skanska for its £175 million highways maintenance contract. The seven-year deal will see the contractor provide a wide range of highway services including structural and routine maintenance, winter and emergency services and maintenance design. The first two ye
18/01/2017
Watkin Jones has reported a rise in profits and turnover in its full year results for the year ended 30 September 2016. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Watkin said it had been a "transformational year" for the Group, which floated on the stock market for the first time in March 2016. With reven
18/01/2017
French industrial equipment supplier Loxam has made a fresh bid to take over British rival Lavendon. The company has offered £459 million for the Leicester-based Group, with an offer of 270p per share. The French supplier raised its previous offer after its competitor, Belgian firm TVH, offered 26
18/01/2017
Interserve has won a £16 million contract to provide total facilities management services to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The one-year deal is an extension of the company's previous contract with the MoJ over the last eight years. The agreement will see Interserve continue to provide a wide rang
18/01/2017
Mitie Group has revealed Group Finance Director Suzanne Baxter is to step down next month. Ms Baxter will be succeeded by Sandip Mahajan, who will take up the role of Chief Financial Officer. Mr Mahajan was previously Group Director of Finance at Balfour Beatty. Phil Bentley, Chief Executive Offic
18/01/2017
Morgan Sindall has been selected to deliver a primary school expansion project in Great Yarmouth. The contractor will build a new £2.9 million stand-alone building alongside Northgate Primary School, with completion scheduled in time for the new academic school year in 2017. Work on the developmen
18/01/2017
Industry materials suppler GRS has purchased two bagged aggregate operations in Staffordshire and Devon. The sites were acquired from Aggregate Industries (part of LafargeHolcim) and marks GRS' second acquisition of the year, having recently completed the purchase of rival Cornish supplier Maen Kar
18/01/2017
Alltrax UK LLP has supplied its Meercam wire free security cameras on a multi-million pound scheme at the King Wood Stud Equine Training Track in west Berkshire. Main contractor Raymond Brown faced a once-in-a-life-time challenge to install a long, artificial- surface training circuit. The circuit
17/01/2017
Wates Residential has been appointed to a £52.8 million regeneration project in Camden, London The contractor will develop Phase One of the mixed-use Abbey Area Redevelopment, with work now underway on the site at Abbey Road and Belsize Road in Kilburn. Features include building 75 new homes for p
17/01/2017
Carillion has started work on a £154 million build-to-rent project in Manchester. The Angel Gardens scheme involves developing a 36-storey tower featuring 466 apartments in the city's North Manchester (NOMA) district. The project, being delivered on behalf of Moda Living's joint venture with Apach
17/01/2017
Plans for a new £2.8 billion electricity cable tunnel below Morecambe Bay are starting to take shape. The 22-kilometre structure is being developed for National Grid as part of the North West Coast Connection (NWCC) scheme. The project will link the 3.4MW Moorside nuclear power station near Sellafi
17/01/2017
Work is to continue on a £220 million East Sussex shopping centre expansion project after confirmation an international investor has agreed to support the scheme. Legal & General Investment Management Real Assets (LGIM Real Assets) has agreed to a joint venture (JV) with the unnamed partner to fund
17/01/2017
Meinhardt UK has been selected to help deliver a new secondary school project in Hertfordshire. The multidisciplinary engineering consultancy will provide civil and structural engineering services for the new Hertswood Academy in Borehamwood. Designed by Bond Bryan Architects alongside Imtech, who
17/01/2017
The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has called on the Government to discuss Brexit plans with the industry. Speaking today, 17 January, Prime Minister Theresa May spoke of creating a "phased approach" towards leaving the EU once the UK triggers Article 50. Marie-Claude Hemming, He
17/01/2017
Seddon has secured a place on a four-year £390 million Construction Projects Framework. The developer successfully bid for lots 2, 4 and 5 of the five lot programme, which will be used by Staffordshire County Council and other local authorities in the Midlands, Cheshire and Greater Manchester regio
17/01/2017
Network Rail is continuing work to build a new depot in Lancashire. The company is developing a new facility at Blackburn to support wider improvement works across the North West railway. The latest phase of works includes developing new drainage, track and signalling work. Work is scheduled to be
17/01/2017
A roofing contractor has been prosecuted for carrying out unsafe work at height while removing a chimney in Rochdale. MW Roofing (NW) Ltd of Bury Road, Bamford, Rochdale pleaded guilty to two breaches, Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety
17/01/2017
Applicants still have time to submit their entries for the 2017 Pump Industry Awards. The deadline for applications is Monday, 23 January. Are you an engineer who has made a positive contribution to an interesting pump product or project? Or does your company have a pump product or system which h
16/01/2017
An additional 25,000 homes a year could be built if steps are taken to increase the level of output from SMEs, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF). In a new report, 'Reversing the decline of small housebuilders', the organisation has set out a range of proposals to address the finance,
16/01/2017
A joint venture (JV) between BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald is to begin a £14 million flood alleviation scheme in Teignbridge, Devon. BMMJV will start work on the Dawlish beach management scheme later this month, which aims to help protect more than 2,900 properties around the River Exe from floodi
16/01/2017
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has unveiled plans to introduce a new, "more relevant" levy for the industry. Under the proposals, the PAYE Levy on the direct workforce would be reduced from 0.5% to 0.35%. No changes would be made in the net (CIS) Levy charged at 1.25% on the subcon
16/01/2017
Specialist brick manufacturer Michelmersh Brick Holdings (MBH) has sold a landfill site for £2.68 million to London Green Resources. In a trading update today, 16 January, the company revealed it has exchanged contracts for the 25-acre former Dunton Brothers brickworks site at Chesham in Buckingham
16/01/2017
Work is to begin next month on a £6 million railway improvement project in North Yorkshire. Network Rail will start upgrading the East Coast Main Line from Sunday, 26 February. The 11-week scheme involves renewing switches and crossings, known as 'points', as part of the company's Railway Upgrade
16/01/2017
A new online course is being launched to educate industry professionals on ethics and compliance in the sector. The massive open online course (MOOC) will begin on Monday, 30 January. It has been devised by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Academy in collaboration with a number of experts
16/01/2017
A joint venture (JV) between Balfour Beatty and VINCI Construction has selected Mark Cutler as the new Managing Director of its HS2 JV. The partnership is currently shortlisted for four of the seven £4 billion main civils works packages on the major infrastructure project. With 26 years of experie
16/01/2017
Wates Living Space has revealed plans to expand its business in the North East. As part of growth plans to double the Group's turnover to £2 billion, the business will expand its portfolio of planned and responsive maintenance services it delivers for local authorities and registered social landlor
16/01/2017
PEFC has appointed a new industry member to its UK Board. Elisabeth Piveteau, UK & Ireland Export Manager at PiveteauBois, brings a fresh new voice to PEFC and also brings invaluable knowledge of the European timber supply chain and issues surrounding sustainable forestry. PiveteauBois is one of Fr
16/01/2017
Amadeus Acoustic Solutions (AAS), in partnership with Italian manufacturers BOXY, has completed their largest ever modular studio installation at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester. The £850,000 project saw theatre space previously used for small-scale productions and concerts c
13/01/2017
Plans have been approved to create a new £110 million cultural arts venue in Manchester. Manchester City Council granted permission for 'The Factory' development on Thursday, 12 January. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2017. Designed by architects Office for Metropolitan Architecture
13/01/2017
The Government has unveiled a new £1.2 billion local roads funding for English councils. Announcing the fund today, 13 January, Transport Minister Andrew Jones said the money will be used to improve roads, cut congestion and improve journey times. The finance, from the new National Productivity In
13/01/2017
The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has welcomed plans to build a new road tunnel near Stonehenge. Proposals for the 1.8-mile dual carriageway tunnel underneath the World Heritage Site were unveiled by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling on Thursday, 12 January. The scheme is part
13/01/2017
J. Murphy & Sons (Murphy) has announced the appointment of Peter Anderson as its new Managing Director to lead its southern business units. With experience in delivering business transformation and leading multi-disciplinary teams, Mr Anderson will take up his new position in February. He joins th
13/01/2017
SIG has reassured its shareholders over its group performance despite having issued a profit warning in November. In a trading update today, 13 January, the company revealed total sales rose 11% year-on-year to £2.74 billion, as a result of a decline in the value of the pound against the euro, and
13/01/2017
Plans have been approved to build a new Centre for Creative Learning at an independent girls' school in London. Designed by architects BDP, the scheme at Francis Holland School involves building a single-storey facility featuring a rooftop garden with informal learning space below. In addition, a
13/01/2017
All Brick and Stone Ltd has started looking towards the summer period as winter begins to comes to an end. Winter can be harsh on brickwork, especially older work that hasn't had regular maintenance over the years. A fallen, or otherwise in disrepair, wall is almost to be expected after the gales a
13/01/2017
Challenge Europe's range of threaded fasteners supports its mission to provide standard and bespoke components, along with both technical and supply expertise in sourcing of specialist specifications. Kevin Moorcroft, Managing Director, said: "We aim to help manufacturers specify, source and ensure
12/01/2017
A Government-commissioned review has supported developing Tidal Lagoon energy in Britain, effectively backing plans for the £1.3 billion Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project. Former Energy Minister Charles Hendry has made 30 recommendations in his report, stating the evidence is clear that tidal lagoon
12/01/2017
The opening date of the new £92 million Bristol Arena has been pushed back until autumn 2020, it has been announced. Work is now expected to start on site in spring 2018 after contractor Bouygues UK walked away from the project due to a dispute over the price of the development. The contractor had
12/01/2017
Plans have been unveiled to build a new dual carriageway tunnel under the historic Stonehenge site in Wiltshire. The scheme is part of a £2 billion investment to cut congestion roads congestion in the south-west. Proposals involve upgrading a seven-mile single carriageway stretch of the A303 near
12/01/2017
Chelsea Football Club (FC) have gained approval for a new £500 million stadium in Fulham. Hammersmith & Fulham council's planning committee unanimously granted permission for the project on Wednesday, 11 January. Designed by architects Herzog & De Meuron, proposals involve redeveloping Chelsea's c
12/01/2017
New figures have revealed output in the construction industry fell by 0.2% in November 2016. The latest Office for National Statistics report states output declined largely due to a contraction in non-housing repair and maintenance. However, total all work was up 1.6%, with new work rising 4.3%. P
12/01/2017
Highways England is to begin a £3.6 million carriageway stabilisation scheme on the A38 in the Glynn Valley. The four-month project involves reinforcing the carriageway at Lower Lodge, building a new retaining wall, installing a vehicle restraint barrier, drainage improvements, resurfacing and asso
12/01/2017
Barratt Developments has revealed market conditions are 'healthy and strong' in its trading update today, 12 January. The company's Profit before tax for the period is expected to be around £315 million, 7% higher than the same period last year (£295m). In addition, completions outside London are
12/01/2017
Kier has been selected to carry out pre-construction works on a new multi-million pound leisure centre project in Chelmsford. The contractor will work alongside the design team, focusing on ensuring value for money procurement and sequencing the works, as well as making sure the project will be del
12/01/2017
Residents are being invited to attend an informational event about works on the multi-million pound High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project in London. From late January to April, teams will be carrying out ground investigation surveys near Kilburn. A number of survey methods will be used to obtains sample
12/01/2017
If you're a customer using plain stretchfilm, Printed Polythene Ltd asks have you ever looked into the costs for having it printed? By spreading the cost across the number of units it's protecting, customers will find the difference between plain and printed stretchfilm almost negligible. Add in t
11/01/2017
A joint venture (JV) between Bouygues Travaux Publics and Laing O'Rourke has won a major contract to help deliver Hinkley Point C in Somerset. Developer EDF Energy has selected the JV to build two European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) nuclear reactors for the £18 billion power station project. The dea
11/01/2017
Plans have been revealed for a new £50 million research facility at the University of Reading. The Health & Life Sciences Building will be built on the site of the current Engineering Building, which is to be demolished in early 2017. Subject to planning permission, the facility will offer 7,557m2
11/01/2017
Interserve has warned of a 'disappointing performance' in its UK construction division ahead of the publication of its annual results next month. The first said expectations for full-year headline results are unchanged as overall trading has "remained in line with previous guidance". It added that
11/01/2017
Skanska UK has become the newest member of a leading industry research centre in Coventry. The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is one of the UK's High Value Manufacturing 'Catapult' centres and develops new manufacturing processes and technologies to benefit the construction industry. Workin
11/01/2017
The Government has appointed Lord David Prior as its new construction minister. In his new role, Lord Prior will be responsible for the construction portfolio at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The announcement was welcomed by Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the
11/01/2017
Lovell has revealed plans to build 420 shared ownership homes across the UK. Over £11.7 million has been awarded to the company by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) via the Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme 2016 to 2021. New housing will be developed across the UK, principally i
11/01/2017
Keepmoat is continuing work to build a new £2.7 million housing development in Sheffield. The contractor is delivering 24 apartments on land off Park Grange Road in Norfolk Park. The scheme, which is being delivered in partnership with Sheffield Housing Company (SHC) and Sigma Capital Group, is pa
11/01/2017
Castleoak has delivered a new multi-million pound retirement village scheme in West Sussex. The specialist contractor has built 46 new independent living apartments spread over three buildings at Charters Village in East Grinstead. The project, which includes cottages spread around a village green
11/01/2017
A £300 million fund has been unveiled for improvement works to be carried out on the Southern and Thameslink railway networks. The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed the funding package will be delivered by Network Rail to boost the resilience of the railways infrastructure. Works will i
11/01/2017
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson has appointed Robert Allen as its new Group Finance Director. With over 20 years experience in the sector, Mr Allen will take up his new position on 13 February. He will take over from Patrick Bergin, who has been selected as Chief Operating Officer. Previously, Mr Al
10/01/2017
Construction teams have reached a major milestone on the £600 million Mersey Gateway Project in Widnes. One of the scheme's giant bridge-building machines, Trinity, has completed work to cast the final central span of the elevated north approach viaduct. The movable scaffolding system (MSS) has de
10/01/2017
Network Rail has been fined after a track worker was seriously injured during maintenance work in Surrey. The rail operator was prosecuted by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for contraventions of sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined a total of £800,0
10/01/2017
A joint venture (JV) between VolkerStevin and Boskalis Westminster (VSBW) has won a £115 million contract to upgrade the Port of Dover. The JV will deliver the marine structures and bridge contract stage of the Port's Dover Western Docks Revival (DWDR). Features include the design and build of two
10/01/2017
Morgan Sindall has started work on a £3.1 million police station improvement project in Norfolk. The three-phase scheme is being carried out at the Grade II-listed King's Lynn Police Station. The first phase of works involves demolishing the rear part of the building to facilitate the installation
10/01/2017
The Environment Agency (EA) is hosting a series of drop-in events over plans to build a future flood alleviation scheme in Middlesbrough. Residents are being invited to attend the meetings to submit their views on proposals for a project to protect properties from flooding from Marton West Beck. E
10/01/2017
Unions are warning industrial action could take place if planned cuts to 16,000 nuclear workers' pensions goes ahead. Unite is calling for an urgent meeting with Energy Minister Jesse Norman over proposals by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) for a £600 million 'raid' on workers' pensions
10/01/2017
Speller Metcalfe has strengthened its senior team by appointing Martyn Osborne as its new Regional Manager for the South West. With nearly 30 years' experience in the industry, Mr Osbourne has held senior roles at Alfred McAlpine, Kier, and most recently as Regional Managing Director at Balfour Bea
10/01/2017
Work has started on a £500,000 bridge maintenance project in Cumbria. The scheme, along the A66 between Cockermouth and Workington, involves replacing expansion joints on a structure which carries a single carriageway section of the A66 over the River Marron near Bridgefoot. Temporary bridging pla
10/01/2017
SWH Civils is continuing work to build a new roundabout in Somerset. The contractor is delivering the junction on behalf of Taylor Wimpey on the A358 at Bishops Lydeard. The project is part of a legal agreement linked to the construction of new homes in the village. As part of the scheme, schedul
10/01/2017
According to the British Crime Survey, over 50% of the burglars avoid security systems and 56% of the jobs are done at night with the majority of the breakers living nearby. 64% of households confess leaving doors open while away and 6% of the victims experience a violent crime. Installing surveil
09/01/2017
Willmott Dixon has won a £41 million contract to deliver a new building for Kingston University in London. The contractor will build a new landmark Town House building at the University's Penrhyn Road campus. Work is scheduled to begin in spring, with completion due by the start of the academic yea
09/01/2017
New research has suggested it will cost £14 billion to repair the UK's potholes by around 2019. Statistics from the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) states pothole repair times have surged in recent years, from 10.9 years in 2006 to 14 years in 2016. With an average of 12,000 potholes for each loca
09/01/2017
BAM has been selected as the preferred contractor for the pre-construction phase of a £26 million leisure centre project in Dover. The company has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the Dover District Leisure Centre scheme, with contract terms currently being finalised. The facility is being
09/01/2017
Styles&Wood has acquired specialist industry consultancy GDM Group for £4 million. The fit-out contractor said purchasing the mechanical, electrical and environmental consultancy reinforces its growth plans and increases its skills/expertise in the sector. Kent-based GDM currently employs over 50
09/01/2017
A major milestone has been reached on the £120 million New Wear Crossing project in Sunderland. The 100-metre pylon centrepiece for the structure arrived at the Port of Sunderland from Belgium on Saturday, 07 January. The pylon is made from over 1,000 tonnes of steel and 550 tonnes of concrete. It
09/01/2017
Thousands of building firms have reported a rise in the cost of materials, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). New research by the organisation has revealed 70% of SME's have seen an increase in prices due to the depreciation of the pound following the EU referendum. With additio
09/01/2017
Housebuilder Taylor Woodrow has strengthened its senior team by appointing Gary Mayo as Divisional Commercial Director. With over 25 years' experience in the infrastructure sector, Mr Mayo is replacing Les Thorneycroft who is retiring. Previously, Mr Mayo worked at Costain where he was Sector Comm
09/01/2017
The Chief Executive of Bovis Homes, David Ritchie, has announced his intention to step down from the company. Having spent 18 years at the housebuilder, serving as Chief Executive over the last eight years, Mr Ritchie will remain with the Group to assist the transition process until 28 February. F
09/01/2017
Morgan Sindall has secured a place on Transport for London's (TfL) £500 million Surface Transport Major Projects Framework. The contractor has been appointed to one of three places on the four-year programme, with the framework scheduled to begin early this year. The scheme involves the design and
09/01/2017
An LED lighting upgrade project is underway on the M4 near Bristol. New energy and economy-efficient LED lanterns are being installed between junctions 19 and 20 of motorway from Monday, 09 January to Friday, 20 January. The new equipment uses LED technology with central management capability, mea
06/01/2017
ISG has won a £21.7 million contract to redevelop an office building in London. The contractor will modernise and extend the 1930's Walsingham House building close to Fenchurch Street Station. Features include demolishing the interior structure of the building while retaining its Portland stone f
06/01/2017
A consortium of landlords is to invest over £335 million to build thousands of new homes across Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham and Preston. Having secured an £87.3m grant from the HCA's Shared Ownership Affordable Homes Programme, JV North plans to build nearly 3,000 homes over the next four yea
06/01/2017
Work is continuing on the £400 million Kirkstall Forge regeneration scheme in Leeds. Wates has started fitting out a seven-storey office development at the 57-acre site and completion is scheduled for autumn 2017. The 110,000 sq ft Grade A office scheme is being delivered on behalf of CEG, the dev
06/01/2017
A new Innovation Lab has been unveiled by the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC). The facility will identify and address systemic challenges facing businesses in the built environment sector. Lead partners on the nine-month programme are Canary Wharf Group, Land Securities and Marks & Spencer. H
06/01/2017
Morgan Sindall has been selected to deliver a new laboratory for the University of Birmingham. The two-storey Collaborative Teaching Laboratory (CTL) will be built at the University's main Edgbaston campus. Work is set to begin later this month. Designed by architect Sheppard Robson, the 72,120 sq
06/01/2017
Avonside Group has purchased eco-roofing specialist Ploughcroft for an undisclosed sum. As one of the UK's largest roofing companies, Avonside said its acquisition of the Yorkshire-based eco-roofing contractor will accelerate its expansion into the domestic Yorkshire market, as well as creating 25
06/01/2017
Staffordshire County Council has awarded BAM a place on its new multi-million pound major projects capital procurement framework. The local authority estimates the four-year initiative will produce around £30m - £60m of schemes, with work comprising mostly of schools, sporting and day care faciliti
06/01/2017
Network Rail has delivered over £30 million worth of improvements at Paddington, Hayes & Harlington, Acton, Royal Wootton Bassett and Chippenham stations. The work was carried out over 10 days during the Christmas period and included platform extensions, signalling works, and piling work. The proje
06/01/2017
Industry consultant Turner & Townsend (T&T) has selected Aileen Jamieson as its new Global Director of Downstream. With almost 20 years of downstream industry experience, Ms Jamieson will be based in London and responsible for the downstream sector's business growth, strategy and marketing. In addi
06/01/2017
More people are investing in solar technology due to falling costs, according to Midlands-based green energy expert Ron Fox. With the cost of renewable technology now more affordable than ever before, Mr Fox said more people are starting to realise the long-term advantages of solar power for electr
05/01/2017
BAM has won a £100 million contract to help modernise research facilities for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The company will work alongside BAS between the next seven to 10 years on the programme, with European design consultants Sweco assisting with project delivery. Commissioned by the Nat
05/01/2017
ISG has been selected to deliver a new £70 million medical research facility for the Imperial College London. The Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub will be built at the College's White City Campus and work is scheduled to begin early this year. The 14-storey arrow-shaped facility wi
05/01/2017
Financial close has been reached on a £105 million student accommodation development in East London. The milestone means construction is set to go-ahead on the Duncan House scheme, which will see a mixed-use 33-storey tower built in Stratford. The project is being developed in partnership between
05/01/2017
A £7 billion fund has been released which will help deliver over 200,000 'affordable' homes in England. Housing providers can now apply for a share of the multi-billion fund, which was allocated an additional £1.4 billion at the Autumn Statement to develop 40,000 new 'affordable' housing starts. O
05/01/2017
Plans have been approved for a new care-home development in Chester. The 60-bed facility will be built by LNT Care Developments on the site of the former Red Lion Hotel in Nantwich. Work is scheduled to begin in June. Features will include accommodation with fully en-suite bedrooms, spacious commu
05/01/2017
Plans by the Government to build thousands of new 'Starter Homes' have been welcomed by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said the initiative will help first time buyers "get a foot on the housing ladder". Overall, 30 areas across England will receiv
05/01/2017
A company has been fined after a contractor fell through a lift shaft during work to fit mezzanine floors at a factory in Surrey. M & L Installers Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of the Work at Height Regulations, Regulation 6(3). It was fined £20,000 with over £9,165 in costs. Guildford Crown Cour
05/01/2017
Plant hire company Nixon Hire has purchased a former Hewden depot in Nottingham. The deal saw the company acquiring the plant equipment and premises on Belgrave Road from midnight on 20 December. Hewden entered into administration on 22 November, blaming Brexit for causing market uncertainty which
05/01/2017
S Jones Containers has delivered new bespoke boiler housing for Adams Bakery, trading as Heathrow Bakery. The company, which supplies baked goods for the airline and prepared meal industry, turned to S Jones as their expansion plans required a new bespoke boiler housing. The project resulted in th
05/01/2017
Stone supplier Lite Stone has unveiled details of a new sale running until the end of January. Customers can now use voucher code – JAN17 - to get 20% off all samples. After selecting a chosen sample from Lite Stone's online store, click on the cart to go to the 'My Cart' page, then click the 'Ap
04/01/2017
Student accommodation specialist GSA has launched a new UK-wide £300 million construction programme. The company will build over 3,000 beds in purpose built accommodation for students in Birmingham, Cambridge, Portsmouth and Plymouth. The programme is scheduled for completion by the end of 2019. V
04/01/2017
Over 100 cranes previously owned by plant hire firm Hewden are set to be sold at auction. A total of 127 mixed cranes, including pieces of lifting equipment and general construction equipment, will go under the hammer later this month. Hewden entered into administration on 22 November last year, r
04/01/2017
New figures have revealed the UK's construction new order growth reached an 11-month high in December. The latest Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI posted at 54.2 in December, up from 52.8 in November. With the latest figures suggesting all main construction activity ares are on the road to recovery
04/01/2017
Residential property company Grainger has announced Mark Clare is to become its new Chairman. Mr Clare, who was previously Chief Executive of Barratt Developments, will take up his new role on 13 February after succeeding Margaret Ford, who is stepping down from the company. He is currently Senior
04/01/2017
Highways England is investing £1.5 million to increase safety for cyclists and pedestrians alongside the A585 road in Fleetwood. The improvements involve building a new shared use path alongside a mile-long section of the southbound carriageway at Amounderness Way, between the Eros Roundabout at th
04/01/2017
An engineering company has been fined after two workers received severe chemical burns while cleaning a pipework system in Northumberland. PSL Worldwide Projects Ltd of Bridgewater Lane, Washington, Tyne and Wear, pleaded not guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 197
04/01/2017
Network Rail is continuing work to build the new Cambridge North station. Work on the station is now 80% complete and the project is on schedule to finish in May. Over the Christmas period, engineers carried out work to install tracks for a new bay platform and to fit overhead wires. During the c
04/01/2017
Basingstoke-based engineering company Minitec has produced a new one-of-a-kind nine-metre conveyor belt system. The company was approached to find a solution for a client with a very specific wish list for its factory, including an unusually long and seemless assembly line. The Minitec team quickl
03/01/2017
The UK Government has backed plans to build over 48,000 'garden village' homes across England. The 14 new projects consist of between 1,500 - 10,000 homes and will be built from Devon to Derbyshire, Cornwall to Cumbria. Each scheme will have access to a £6 million fund over the next two financial
03/01/2017
US private equity investor First Reserve has purchased G4S Utility & Outsourcing Services. The deal adds to a number of recent acquisitions by the firm, including Morrison Utility Services (MUS) and Dyer & Butler. Overall, the company will acquire G4S Utility & Outsourcing Services' portfolio, suc
03/01/2017
Work is to start on thousands of new 'Starter Homes' later this year. Housing Minister Gavin Barwell confirmed today, 03 January, the new units will be built on brownfield sites for first-time buyers between 23 and 40-years-old at a discount of at least 20% below market value. With the first wave
03/01/2017
Wates has appointed a new Development Director to oversee its Residential operations in London and South region. Kate Ives will take up her new role this month and will be responsible for growing the company's portfolio of partnership housing and joint ventures. Previously, she worked as a Busines
03/01/2017
Ainscough Crane Hire has strengthened its Executive Team by appointing a new Operations Director - Heavy Cranes. Andrew Winter, who joined the company in 2012, will report to Chief Executive Officer Janet Entwistle. He has vast experience in the industry, having operated in the sector all of his wo
03/01/2017
Morgan Sindall is continuing work on a new £10.3 million leisure centre project in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. The two-storey facility is being built on School Drive and forms part of a major redevelopment scheme throughout the town. Work so far has included erecting the steel frame, installing th
03/01/2017
A property management company has been prosecuted after a man fell five stories down a lift shaft and died. Warwick Estates Property Management Limited, of Edinburgh Way, Harlow, Essex, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £120,000 wit
03/01/2017
Clugston Group has selected Robert Vickers as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). As a former Director at Carillion Construction Services, Mr Vickers has vast industry experience having previously worked in senior roles at Wimpey Construction, Morrisons, Anglian Water Group (AWG), Gleeson Buildi
