Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for August 2018
31/08/2018
Mace has been appointed to construct Marshgate I, the largest building in the first phase of the new UCL East campus on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The pre-construction phase for Marshgate I begins immediately and will include an early review of the procurement strategy to secure project completi
31/08/2018
A contract has been awarded to Raised Floor Solutions for the development of a new £20m multi-storey car park at London Luton Airport. The firm's specialist car parking division, Metpark, will deliver the 2,000 space five-storey building on the site of the existing short stay car park in the airpor
31/08/2018
Wates Residential has started work on its fifth site to bring new homes to Cardiff as part of the Council's flagship housebuilding programme. The work marks a major milestone in the 'Cardiff Living' programme, a 10-year partnership between Cardiff Council and Wates Residential which will see the de
31/08/2018
Chemical engineer Dame Judith Hackitt is to deliver the keynote speech at the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) Annual Conference and Exhibition. The event will take place from 04-05 October at Chesford Grange Kenilworth, Warwickshire. Dame Judith is known as the author of 'Build
31/08/2018
National trade body The Property Care Association is to host its third annual International Structural Waterproofing conference, immersing delegates into the experience with the latest technology. The conference will feature insight into high-profile projects underground, technical details and an
31/08/2018
Interserve has been awarded a £4.6 million contract to refurbish all three floors of Scunthorpe's new St John's Market. St John's Market forms part of wider plans to transform Scunthorpe town centre with a £60m regeneration project. Starting on site in autumn this year, works will include providing
31/08/2018
Glaston Corporation has appointed Joséphine Mickwitz as its Vice President, Investor Relations, Communications and Marketing. She will also become a member of Glaston's Extended Management Group. Both positions will come into effect from 04 September. Ms Mickwotz will report to Arto Metsänen.
31/08/2018
International manufacturing specialists, Häfele, have revealed how you can create the perfect partition with its Sliding Door Gear Systems. With over 35 years of experience supplying architectural fixtures and fittings, the company takes pride in offering bespoke project support across a wide range
30/08/2018
Amey has announced the completion of its acquisition of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Regional Prime and National Housing Prime contracts. Formerly managed as a joint venture between Carillion and Amey, the contracts include a range of military infrastructure and housing services delivered on behal
30/08/2018
Highways England repair teams are gearing up for the next phase of works on the M5 Oldbury Viaduct. Concrete repairs and waterproofing on the southbound carriageway are now nearing completion along a two-mile section of the viaduct. From Monday 03 September, the entire operation, between junctions
30/08/2018
Property Services group Styles&Wood has officially received a Gold RoSPA award for the 16th consecutive year, retaining their 'Order of Distinction'. The RoSPA Awards are recognised as one of the most prestigious health and safety awards in the world and the Order of Distinction is presented to org
30/08/2018
Aspin Group has announced the appointment of industry leader Graeme Castle as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mr Castle has spent his career in the infrastructure, construction and civil engineering industry. He is known to many from his senior-level roles with Laing O'Rourke, Morgan Sindall, Balf
30/08/2018
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally approved the proposed merger between SSE Retail (SSE) and Npower, finding that the move "does not raise competition concerns". An inquiry group of independent CMA panel members investigated how the merger would affect householders, follo
30/08/2018
A £119,000 road improvement scheme has been announced by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The works on the Trench Road, Lisburn will commence on Monday 03 September. The resurfacing works, on the stretch between Agnatrisk Road and Moira Road, will greatly improve the strength
29/08/2018
Downing Construction has secured two new student development contracts worth over £140 million in Manchester and London. The contractor will deliver more than 1,600 student beds in the cities, with the deals set to push Downing's turnover above the £100m mark for the first time. In London, the com
29/08/2018
BAM has been chosen to carry out a £15 million redevelopment project at Leeds Playhouse. The company will build new entrances and more open spaces across the two theatres to help to boost disabled access, while the scheme forms part of a wider transformation of the local Quarry Hill area as a cultu
29/08/2018
Nearly 600 student beds are to be built in Wembley, London. UK developer Watkin Jones has secured the site from Kelaty Propco, a joint venture (JV) ultimately owned by Singapore incorporated Lum Chang Holdings Limited and Sin Heng Chang Private Ltd. With existing planning consent for a 599-bed stu
29/08/2018
This innovative technology has minimal effect on the structural integrity of a building, making FabricAir Dispersion Systems ideal for retrofitting. In Connecticut, USA the Chelsea Piers Athletics was renovated by Edwards & Zuck Engineers. The large sports arena comprises covered soccer fields, ten
29/08/2018
A machining manufacturer has been prosecuted for serious asbestos safety failings. Birmingham Specialities Ltd of Moor Lane, Birmingham, has been fined £20,000 with over £2,454 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Birmingham Magistrat
29/08/2018
Up to £20 million is to be invested by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority into creating the new Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal. The Single Investment Funding will contribute to the construction of a new terminal building to replace the current temporary terminal on Princes Dock. Work on
29/08/2018
A project milestone has been reached on a £10 million hostel redevelopment in Coventry. Up to 20 new 'affordable' homes have been developed by Wates at the former Chace Hostel site, marking a major landmark in WM Housing Group's Willenhall development called Brooklands View. The homes for the firs
29/08/2018
More than 15,800 new homes were registered to be built in the UK in July, according to the National House Building Council. A total of 12,087 new homes were registered in the private sector during the month, compared with 8,421 in 2017, while 3,782 were registered in the 'affordable' sector. For t
29/08/2018
Fire protection consultant, Jensen Hughes, is set to expand its services with the UK, Ireland and European markets following the acquisition of Jeremy Gardner Associates (JGA). With seven offices across the UK and Ireland, London-based JGA was founded in 1993 by Jeremy Gardner with a sole focus on
29/08/2018
Nearly £1.7 million is being invested to redevelop Tonypandy Health Centre in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. The Welsh Government funding will be used to create one new integrated health and care centre in the area, as well as improving the infrastructure of the building with upgrades to water, drainage
28/08/2018
The government has announced new tools that aim to improve rescue opportunities for financially-distressed companies. The measures have been announced alongside new reforms that will help the Government tackle reckless directors and improve corporate governance to protect creditors, employees and o
28/08/2018
Taylor Woodrow has launched the inaugural Taylor Woodrow Supply Chain Awards, inviting all of their supply chain to submit their nominations into nine different categories: • Health and Safety Award • Sustainability Award • Quality Award • Innovation Award • Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Awar
28/08/2018
Keller is keen to encourage young people to take up a career in geotechnical engineering and offers many different routes to achieve that. Three members of staff who started their career at Keller and are at different stages of their journey with the company, talked about their experiences.
28/08/2018
Drivers, residents, businesses – and even runners at the Great North Run – are being urged to find out more about what is planned to improve journeys on motorways and major roads in the North East. Highways England will be out and about in Gateshead and South Shields next month letting people know
28/08/2018
Balfour Beatty has launched a strategy to reduce its onsite construction by 25% by 2025. The policy paper – '25% by 2025: Streamlined construction - seven steps to offsite and modular building' – outlines the following: • Balfour Beatty's commitment to the reduction of work undertaken onsite by 25
28/08/2018
Mace has been appointed to project manage the construction of Mai House Hoi An, a new luxury golf and hotel resort in Hoi An, Vietnam. The five star resort will be situated directly on the main beach road between Hoi An and Danang covering a gross floor area of 105,000 sq m. Mai House Hoi An is th
24/08/2018
GRAHAM has secured a multi-million pound contract for the construction of an Innovation Centre in Reading. Procter & Gamble awarded the contracted for the design and build of the facility, which will comprise research and development offices and laboratories for its staff. Tim Brown, Procter & G
24/08/2018
Costain is to develop a new type of enhancing warning technology to reduce the risk at level crossings. Around five people are killed every year at level crossings in Britain, with many more reported near misses. The new warning devices will detect an oncoming train and provide an audible and visi
24/08/2018
UK chartered quantity surveyor firm Derek Gough Associates has achieved ISO 9001 accreditation. Awarding body British Assessment Bureau presented the certification to DGA. Managing Director, Derek Gough, said: "We are delighted to have attained the ISO 9001 accreditation which reinforces our com
24/08/2018
The Chartered Institute of Building Academy's (CIOB) latest massive open online course (MOOC) on sustainable development is to open next month. The new five-week interactive course follows the success of the CIOB's first ever construction-focused MOOC last year. The previous course attracted mor
24/08/2018
Insynth Marketing has produced a new Ebook to help readers improve their product websites and give potential customers a better experience online. The free checklist, Building Websites 101, is a 24-page guide that covers all the essential components of a well-designed website that is easy for decis
24/08/2018
New laser perforation technology has been introduced to make FabricAir dispersion ducts virtually maintenance-free. When choosing between fabric ducting and conventional metal solutions for the supply of hot, cold and/or fresh air, there are many aspects to consider to ensure the ideal indoor clima
23/08/2018
A-Plant has announced that it has made further investments in its powered access fleet, cementing its position as one of the industry's market leaders. The company has invested more than £40m in new innovative equipment and since the acquisition of Plantfinder UK, last year, its fleet has increased
23/08/2018
The number of visitors attending The Homebuilding & Renovating Shows who are working on a live project is increasing year on year, according to new research from the event organisers Future PLC. The last show of 2017 emphasised the quality and commitment of the shows audience with 80 per cent of vis
23/08/2018
Fitters are utilising floorwise's Feel the Difference underlay collection to complete quality work. The collection features three premium qualities in PU, rubber sponge and rubber crumb/felt. "It's great to see Feel the Difference gaining a following on social media," said Richard Bailey, managi
23/08/2018
The national property consultancy Naismiths has strengthened its presence in the Midlands with the appointment of a new lead consultant to its Building Surveying team. Neil Keating, formerly Director at retail developer Realis Estates, will be driving the firm's expansion in the region from the com
23/08/2018
McGoff Construction has announced the appointment of Emma James as Director of Support Services and Business Operations, marking the first female Director appointment since Co-Director and founder Ethna McGoff. The appointment represents the next step in the evolution of McGoff Construction, as the
23/08/2018
BAM Construction Training has launched its brand new centre in Binfield, Wokingham. The Ashley Farm facility is part of the company's continuing commitment to address the UK skills gap. It will expand BAM Construction Training's capacity to deliver high-quality CPCS courses and NPORS-accredited
22/08/2018
The British Safety Council has expressed its support for the Equality and Human Rights Commission and their challenge to the government over a "failure to protect lives". The British Safety Council welcomes the challenge to the government that a failure to address the risk to life posed by flammabl
22/08/2018
Tekmar Group has announced that it has signed a sale and purchase agreement for the acquisition of Subsea Innovation Ltd, subject to shareholder approval. The proposed acquisition represents the Group's first transaction since its successful AIM admission in June 2018, launching the Group's strateg
22/08/2018
Wates Construction has said that construction work is continuing apace to rebuild Copley Primary School and Moorside Community Primary School in Ovenden, Halifax. Pupils and staff are due to move into the impressive new buildings in the new term. The project was commissioned by Calderdale Council
22/08/2018
Mace's plans for a 200,000 sq ft commercial development on the site of one of the UK's leading science parks have been approved by South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City planning authorities. A Section 106 agreement for 1 – 21 Cambridge Science Park was completed on 17 August 2018, enabling the de
22/08/2018
Balfour Beatty has been awarded a £5 million contract by Leeds City Council to deliver phase one and two of the East Leeds Orbital Route. Works will include improvements to a number of existing Outer Ring Road junctions and the widening to three junctions along the A6120 Ring Road. Balfour Beatty w
22/08/2018
Smart infrastructure solutions company, Costain has announced another good first half year performance with progression in Group margin generating an increase in underlying operating profit. The Group remains on course to deliver full year results in line with the Board's expectations and announce
21/08/2018
Network Rail has urged passengers to plan their journeys in advance as the rail company delivers more than 400 projects as part of a £84m investment across the country. As part of Network Rail's Railway Upgrade Plan, a 9,600-strong workforce will work around the clock over the bank holiday weekend
21/08/2018
Amey has announced that it has secured "major power wins" and re-entered the telecoms market. In a joint venture with GE Power's Grid Solutions business, Amey has been awarded a four-year extension to the existing Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks' (SSEN) 400kV framework for the civil and
21/08/2018
Costain has been awarded a technology contract to work in collaboration with Highways England, the Department for Transport, Transport for London (TfL) and Kent County Council to design, install and implement one of the UK's first pilot connected vehicle corridors on a live road. Under the contract
21/08/2018
Persimmon has reported a 13% increase in its profit before tax in the first six months of 2018. Results for the year until 30 June include: • New home sales increased 4% to 8,072 (2017: 7,794) - an additional 278 new homes delivered • New home average selling price of £215,813 up 1% (2017: £213,
21/08/2018
The government must develop a coherent approach to infrastructure across the UK to avoid the risk of regions being left behind whilst others pull ahead in a two-speed England, according to the CBI. With record levels of public investment in the transport system, and a commitment to developing major
21/08/2018
A 152m crane has been constructed at the Windscale Pile One chimney at Sellafield in preparation for its demolition. The 110m chimney – the scene of Britain's worst nuclear accident – will begin to disappear later this year. The crane is the tallest structure ever built at Sellafield, just six met
20/08/2018
The Government has agreed to provide the remaining funding to deliver the Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick. Construction work at the project was halted earlier this year when main contractor Carillion collapsed into liquidation. With Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust having now secu
20/08/2018
A £10 million housing development has been badly damaged by a fire in Loughton, Essex. The blaze broke out at the scheme in Burton Road on Friday, 17 August. No injuries were reported. Contractor Mulalley was delivering the mixed-tenure residential project on behalf of the council, which comprised
20/08/2018
Interserve has been chosen to deliver a new £13 million child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) unit in Leeds. The project will be developed on the site of St Mary's Hospital in Armley on behalf of West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership. The purpose-built specialist facility w
20/08/2018
NI-based contractor Graham has been selected to deliver a new research facility in Berkshire. Multinational manufacturer Procter & Gamble has chosen the firm to deliver the Innovation Centre in Reading, which will comprise research and development offices and laboratories for the company's staff.
20/08/2018
Civil engineering firm Britcon has reported a 67% rise in net profits for trading in 2017. With turnover rising 4.5% compared with 2016 to £45 million, the figure consolidates the near 30% growth in turnover seen between 2015 and 2016. Britcon said much of its success is attributed to growth in th
20/08/2018
A landlord has been prosecuted for serious gas safety failings at his rental property in Plymouth. Lokendra Kumar Khadka of Albert Road, Plymouth, has been sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, with £4,904 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Regulations 36 (3)(a) and
20/08/2018
Contractors TRJ are continuing work on a £2.6 million library extension project in Carmarthen, Wales. The Y Stordy scheme involves building an archive extension to the rear of Carmarthen library. In addition to the extension, external works will be carried out along with internal alterations to th
17/08/2018
Construction work is to begin on a new £105 million college facilities project for Durham University. An Interserve-led consortium has reached financial close for the project, which will see two new college facilities built with a total of 1,000-student bed spaces at Mount Oswald. Other features w
17/08/2018
Concerns have been raised over the fees accountancy firms can charge when a company falls into administration after it was revealed Carillion's appointed liquidator, PwC, charged on average £356 per hour for its services. In a letter to the joint parliamentary select committee inquiry into Carillio
17/08/2018
Work has started on a £13.3 million project to protect villages on both sides of the river Trent in North Lincolnshire. The scheme, located in Scunthorpe, was awarded to VBA, a joint venture comprising VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and SNC-Lavalin's Atkins business. The project will see 3.8k
17/08/2018
SP Energy Networks is continuing work on a power cable upgrade project in Liverpool. The scheme involves renewing six existing 33,000 volt circuits that support Liverpool City Centre, reinforcing the security of electricity supplies for local homes and businesses. Engineers have been working in th
17/08/2018
The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has appointed Alison Baptiste as their new Director of Operations. Alison Baptiste will start her role from early October, leading the team which provides support and assurance to government departments with projects on the Government Major Projects P
17/08/2018
More than 240 student bedrooms have been built in Derby. Clegg Construction has delivered a new nine-storey high block in Agard Street for developers Jensco (Derby) on behalf of the University of Derby. The 26-metre-tall building comprises 244 bedrooms and contains a series of communal areas inclu
17/08/2018
The Costain Skanska joint venture (CSJV) Crossrail delivery team have achieved Gold in the internationally-renowned RoSPA Health and Safety Awards, the longest-running industry awards scheme in the UK. The RoSPA Awards scheme, which receives entries from organisations around the world, recognises a
17/08/2018
Skanska's Worthy Down project team recently saved the day for some uninvited feathered guests: two abandoned owlets. The construction team, based in Hampshire, are redeveloping the military camp for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. They called in r
16/08/2018
Sheffield City Council has approved plans for a mixed-use residential and student development on Hoyle Street in the centre of the city, proposed by Mace. The proposed development will bring a neglected part of Sheffield's industrial heritage to the fore, making the iconic Grade II listed cementati
16/08/2018
Wates Living Space has been appointed by Barnet Council to deliver housing maintenance works for 98 public buildings across the borough, including libraries, leisure centres, offices and care facilities. Wates will deliver both planned maintenance and a reactive and ad hoc repairs service as part
16/08/2018
International support services and construction group, Interserve has announced a plan to introduce a new simplified organisational structure that will combine both UK and International divisions. This change supports the Group's strategic priorities to define and deliver consistent propositions f
16/08/2018
Social housing association tenants across the Midlands will be given the opportunity to own their home, as the Ministry of Housing launch the Midlands Voluntary Right to Buy Pilot today, Thursday 16 August, 2018. Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said this is the first step in helpi
16/08/2018
More than 420,000 people have used the government's Help to Buy schemes to help them realise their home-owning dreams, new figures show. First-time buyers continue to open new Help to Buy: ISA accounts, with more than 1.2 million accounts now opened, offering government bonuses of up to £3,000 on t
16/08/2018
Lambson's Hire, a leading South African equipment rental organisation, has strengthened their hire fleet with the purchase of eight Trime X-ECO LED lighting towers from Mayday Equipment who are the official South Africa distributors for Trime. The balance of the first container ordered will be for s
15/08/2018
Kier has been appointed to deliver a brand new health research facility for the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), providing state-of-the-art facilities for scientists to work on some of the major health issues facing the world today. The scheme will consist of three-storeys abov
15/08/2018
A new garden communities programme has been announced by the Communities Secretary, James Brokenshire MP, who has called for "an increase in garden towns in England". The programme will see more high quality homes built and green spaces created, expanding on the government's plans for more locally-
15/08/2018
Balfour Beatty have published its half year results to the end of June, 2018. The figures show that underlying profit from operations (PFO) increased by 69% to £66 million, up from £39m in 2017. Other results include: • Average net cash £161 million (2017: £45m); half-year net cash £366 million
15/08/2018
Peter Brett Associates has announced that they have signed a letter of intent to join international consultancy Stantec to fulfil its strategy to grow and diversify the business. Headquartered in Canada, Stantec is an international consultancy with a strong record of growth. It shares PBA's growth
15/08/2018
Two new major Belfast developments worth a combined £70 million have received the green light from Belfast City Council's Planning Committee. Members approved proposals for the £50m first phase of the landmark Belfast Waterside development and the £20m 11-storey Graham House development on Albert S
15/08/2018
Disc Springs, also known as Belleville Washers, are commonly used in high load engineering applications such as clutches and valves. In precision or safety critical products these basic springs may not offer the accurate loading or dimensional tolerances required of the application. Smalley's range
14/08/2018
Henry Boot Developments (HBD) has revealed plans for the redevelopment of the former Imperial Tobacco site in Nottingham, submitting a planning application with the potential to create more than 500 new jobs. The landmark 48-acre site had been home to Imperial Tobacco's UK production and distributi
14/08/2018
BESIX has won the contract to design and build the Nachtigal dam on the River Sanaga, 65 kilometres north of Yaoundé. The hydroelectric dam will increase the country's supply of renewable energy. The Nachtigal amont hydropower project is one of the very few public-private partnership hydro-electri
14/08/2018
A new green paper on social housing which aims to rebalance the relationship between landlords and residents, tackle stigma and ensure social housing can act as a stable base and support social mobility, has been published today, Tuesday 14 August, 2018. Residents across the country were asked for
14/08/2018
Unite members at Ainscough, the UK's premier mobile crane company, are preparing to begin balloting for industrial action in a dispute over pay. The 400 plus Unite members are "furious" that after nearly eight months of negotiations Ainscough management has tabled a pay offer which will result in m
14/08/2018
Leeds City Council has announced that Newlay Bridge in the city will be closed for two days to allow a key element of maintenance work to take place. The council and contractor AE Yates Ltd began work last month to improve and protect the condition of the bridge, which is a Grade ll listed structur
14/08/2018
The number of visitors attending The Homebuilding & Renovating Shows who are working on a live project is increasing year on year, according to new research from the event organisers Future PLC. The last show of 2017 emphasised the quality and commitment of the show's audience with 80 per cent of
13/08/2018
Galliford Try has signed contracts with Coventry City Council to build the new 50m swimming pool at the Alan Higgs leisure centre. The £11m development is being built within the centre, on the former indoor 3G football pitch and includes an eight-lane, 50m swimming pool with moveable floors and bea
13/08/2018
Brockton Capital have selected Balfour Beatty to deliver a new, luxury residential scheme at 60 Curzon Street. Located in the heart of London's exclusive Mayfair district, Balfour Beatty will draw on its experience in operating within a constrained city-centre environment, to deliver 32 luxury apar
13/08/2018
A development agreement has been signed between Transport for London (TfL) and HB Reavis to build a 138,000 sq ft (Gross Leasable Area) mixed use scheme above Farringdon's new Elizabeth line platforms on the corner of Cowcross Street and Farringdon Road. The site in Clerkenwell will be transformed
13/08/2018
Keller UK has said that it is "delighted" to have successfully completed its recent audit for several important health, safety and environmental standards. The company has been recertified for ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 and has migrated from OHSAS18001 to ISO45001:2018. It also completed it
13/08/2018
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has launched an investigation into an incident on the Leeds to King's Cross rail line, in which a track worker was nearly struck a high-speed train. At around 10:52 hrs on 20 July 2018, a track worker, acting as a site lookout for another track worker,
13/08/2018
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has called for a 'New Approach to Migration', highlighting to key recommendations in its new report on how migration can work post-Brexit. The new CBI report, 'Open and Controlled – A New Approach to Migration', provides evidence from 129,000 firms across
10/08/2018
Interserve has a secured a £7.75 million contract for the extension and partial refurbishment of South Cliff Holiday Park in Bridlington for East Riding of Yorkshire Council via the YORbuild framework. The scheme will see the redevelopment of the caravan and camp site and will provide new amenity b
10/08/2018
Construction output rose by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter of 2018, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The statistics, published today, show that from April to June the sector output recovered from a 0.8% drop in the 1st quarter, January to March. The quarter-o
10/08/2018
Adur District Council has unanimously given its backing to a multi-million pound plan to revamp a Shoreham yacht club and open up the riverside to the public. With progress to transform River Adur's Western Harbour Arm moving forward, Sussex Yacht Club (SYC) applied for permission to create a new p
10/08/2018
Operatives across the building services contracting sector will receive salary increases of more than 5% by 2020, following the latest round of national wage negotiations between employers and the trade union Unite. The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) – representing the industry's
10/08/2018
Balfour Beatty VINCI have announced the appointment of Mark Davies as Managing Director of its HS2 Joint Venture. Mr Davies will take over the role from Mark Cutler who leaves after a short handover period to take on a new opportunity outside of the Balfour Beatty Group. Mark Cutler led the Balfour
10/08/2018
Builders' merchants have reported a double-digit increase in June, with average daily sales up 11.2% up on June 2017. Their performance reinforces today's release of ONS data that has found construction output grew by 0.9% in Quarter 2 on 2018. The data on builders' merchants is produced for the Bu
09/08/2018
International infrastructure group, Balfour Beatty has been awarded the 'Hinkley 400kV Cable Works (Mendips)' contract by National Grid as part of the 'National Grid Underground Cable Framework'. The cabling works will form a critical part of the Hinkley Point C (HPC) connection scheme, which will
09/08/2018
Willmott Dixon has secured a £46.5 million contract to deliver a new home for the University of Birmingham's School of Engineering. This is the second time that Willmott Dixon has been appointed by the University for a major project this year - bringing the value of work being delivered by the comp
09/08/2018
North Midland Construction (NM Group) has announced a 19% rise in turnover in the first half of 2018, totalling £160.86 million. Profits are also on the rise for the national engineering and construction company, with the half year financial announcement showing £2.51 million (pretax profit), which
09/08/2018
Work has begun on a 3,500-capacity digital arena at the heart of a major regeneration scheme in Swansea. Work teams and excavators have moved onto Wellington Street to take the first physical steps in helping Swansea Council deliver phase one of the vast Swansea Central project. By the end of 2020
09/08/2018
Construction work has begun on the main part of the £2.5million Monkton Flood Alleviation Scheme in South Tyneside. The work, being carried out by contractor Balfour Beatty will protect around 100 homes and businesses from surface water flooding. To minimise disruption, work that needs to take pla
09/08/2018
One of the UK's leading construction companies, Bouygues, has announced the appointment of Rob Bradley as its Chief Executive Officer. The appointment comes following the resignation of Lionel Christolomme, who is returning to France to pursue other opportunities after 28 years with the Bouygues Gr
08/08/2018
Kier has announced that it is continuing to grow its industrial portfolio, with its latest appointment to deliver a £39m regional distribution hub facility in Wixams, Bedford, for developers UK Land and Property. The facility will be occupied by B&M Retail Ltd and will serve as its Southern Distri
08/08/2018
Rhodar has won a tender process, which will see it demolish three 18 storey tower blocks that have stood empty for over 10 years. As part of plans to regenerate a key area of Halifax in Calderdale, Rhodar has been appointed by Together Housing Group, one of the country’s largest social landlords, t
08/08/2018
Morgan Sindall has announced a 28% rise in its operating profit to £31.9 million in the first half of 2018. Publishing it's half year results, the construction and regeneration group reported profit growth in the first half of this year with adjusted operating profit up 28% to £31.9m (HY 2017: £24.
08/08/2018
Nationwide building services contractor TClarke has announced a 7% increase in revenues to £153.5 million in the first six months of 2018. Publishing its results for the first half of the year, the building services group reports that all regions became profitable, with year on year net cash rising
08/08/2018
Sales of construction and earthmoving equipment in the UK market grew by 3.8% in the second quarter of 2018, compared with the same period in 2017, according to the UK equipment statistics exchange. The results show a continuing trend of a slowing rate of quarterly growth compared with 2017, with g
08/08/2018
Activity in the construction supply chain "significantly picked up in the second quarter of 2018" according to a survey of product manufacturers, contractors, civil engineers and SME builders by the Construction Products Association. The Construction Products Association's Construction Trade Survey
07/08/2018
Willmott Dixon has won a £46.5 million deal with the University of Birmingham to deliver a new home for the School of Engineering. The development, which will accommodate both the School and the UKRRIN Rail Digital Systems Innovation Centre, will result in a signature building for both the School a
07/08/2018
Liquidators have secured agreements to transfer the last of 278 contracts provided by the Carillion group, seven months on from the industry giant's collapse. A further 429 roles have also transferred over to new suppliers, taking the total number of roles safeguarded to 13,945. However, a furthe
07/08/2018
Work is continuing on a multi-million pound teaching and communal facilities expansion programme at Torquay Academy, Devon. Morgan Sindall has started work on a £2.2 million scheme to create a new 300-seat theatre for the Academy, as well as carrying out upgrades to the school's dining and sports f
07/08/2018
A climate change charity has launched legal action against the Government over its plans for a multi-billion pound expansion project at Heathrow Airport. Plan B claims Transport Minister Chris Grayling's plans to build a £14 billion third runway at Heathrow breaches legal obligations in the Plannin
07/08/2018
More than 100 new 'affordable' homes are to be built near Mildenhall, Suffolk. Clarion Housing has acquired a 10-acre site on Aspal Lane in Beck Row and will work with Lovell to build 115 new houses on the land in a £24 million development. The new homes will include a range of properties, from -b
07/08/2018
A company and its director have been prosecuted for failing to adhere to prohibition and improvement notices relating to safety issues on a construction site. Awad (UK) Ltd of Fourth Way, Wembley, Middlesex, has been fined £37,500 with £10,000 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation
07/08/2018
Amey has secured a new deal to develop temporary power stations as part of the HS2 project. The public services provider will deliver the design, installation and construction of two new temporary substations to support the delivery of the Chiltern Tunnel south portal. The first facility will conn
07/08/2018
Four firms have secured work on a new five-year framework with UK sports charity, the Football Foundation. Industry consultancy Gleeds and specialist sporting architecture firm LK2, along with Couch Perry Wilkes and engineers BSP Consulting, have been appointed to provide services which will improv
07/08/2018
Work on a new £3.5 million community facility in Bicester, Oxfordshire is now complete. The Kingsmere Community Centre, which has officially opened, was built by Deeley Construction on behalf of site owners, Countryside Properties. The project was managed by Buro Four, designed by Robothams and me
07/08/2018
Ashbridge Roofing is celebrating after achieving a Gold Constructionline accreditation. The firm, which is part of the Ongo partnership, has previously been silver accredited in Construction Line and achieved gold in their latest audit. Being rated gold means that Ashbridge Roofing meets higher le
06/08/2018
Plans have been submitted to transform Brighton's Madeira Terrace into a new retail and leisure facility. Boxpark revealed its plans, which involve reviving the crumbling Victorian arches, and incorporating a new premium hotel operator. The development would see the arches augmented with a new bui
06/08/2018
Construction work has been completed on a new 306-home student development in Acton, west London. The Chapter White City development is located on the site of the former Savoy Cinema. Developed by Tide Construction and its offsite manufacturing company Vision Modular Systems, Chapter White City
06/08/2018
Gallagher Group CEO Nick Yandle is to step down at the end of the year. Mr Yandle has been with the company for 13 years, and will remain with the company on an advisory basis. He said: "My time with Gallagher has passed very quickly, with many highlights. This is testament to our varied activit
06/08/2018
Permasteelisa has secured a £62 million contract to complete façade work as part of the Battersea Phase 3A project. The work involves the design, supply and installation of more than 27,000 sqm of complex façade. It is part for the bigger transformation of Battersea Power Station. The building
06/08/2018
Works to modernise the electrical network in Liverpool are progressing with SP Energy Networks expected on site in Edge Lane next weekend. The work is part of a £6.5 million investment plan in Liverpool's electrical network. SP Energy Networks will carry out the work in Edge Lane from 8pm on 10 A
06/08/2018
Groundwork and materials supplier Rudridge has appointed Dave Rudd as its new Brentford Branch Manager. Mr Rudd has more than 10 years experience working in the civils and drainage industry. His most recent position was as Branch Manager at Rudridge's sister company Keyline Norwich. In his new ro
03/08/2018
Work on a new £30 million student accommodation complex in Durham is now complete. ENGIE has delivered 274 en-suite studio apartments across six blocks on Duresme Court, including a cinema lounge, games room, and state-of-the-art gym. Based on the edge of the Durham Conservation area, the site was
03/08/2018
Dyer & Butler has been chosen to deliver the first two phases of the Valley Gardens project in Brighton. More than £10 million is available for the first two phases of the scheme, which aims to simplify the highway network that runs from St Peter's Church down to the Palace Pier roundabout. Phases
03/08/2018
More than 1,100 new homes are to be built in Birmingham. Construction work has started on the first 77 houses at Icknield Port Loop, one the UK's most significant brownfield regeneration schemes. The area is being transformed via a joint venture (JV) partnership between Places for People and Urban
03/08/2018
More than £10 million has been awarded to active travel projects in Wales. Transport Secretary Ken Skates said the funding will "create new active travel routes across Wales, connecting people's homes to schools, jobs and their local community with the aim of encouraging more people to walk or cycl
03/08/2018
Birmingham City Council has reached a milestone on its award-winning house-building programme, Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust (BMHT). The local authority has completed its 3,000th home of the programme, wuth 1,714 homes built for rent and almost 1,286 built for sale since its launch. To mark t
03/08/2018
Work is to begin on a £6.5 million electricity modernisation project in Liverpool. SP Energy Networks will begin working in Edge Lane from 8pm on Friday, 10 August until 6am on Monday, 13 August. Traffic management will be in place during the project. Since May, the company has been working to rep
03/08/2018
A property management company has been prosecuted for asbestos safety failings during work two extensive refurbishment projects, Thistlemoor Healthcare and Management Ltd has been fined £15,000 with over £1,805 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 5 of Control of Asbestos Regulati
03/08/2018
The UK Government has been called upon to step in and directly fund the completion of the delayed Midland Metropolitan Hospital project in Smethwick. Work on the scheme has stalled following the collapse of industry giant Carillion in January. With the project delayed until at least 2022, it is ex
02/08/2018
Suffolk County Council has appointed engineering specialist Jacobs to carry out an independent costs review of the Upper Orwell Crossings project in Ipswich. A recent internal costs review of the £97 million scheme has estimated the total amount needed to complete the development "could increase si
02/08/2018
New figures have revealed how strong housebuilding demand and a rise in new orders led to an expansion of activity for UK construction buyers in July. The latest IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers' Index® (PMI) posted 55.8 in July, a sharp rise compared with 53.1 in June. For the
02/08/2018
Homes England has unveiled its 19-strong Property Framework team to help support the construction and development of new homes. Members of the framework, which is valued at £150m, will help Homes England market sites to developers, as well as carry out site evaluations, estate management and acquis
02/08/2018
Residents are being invited to view progress on a £32 million flood alleviation project in north Birmingham. The multi-million-pound scheme aims to reduce flood risk for 1,400 properties in the Perry Barr and Witton areas. Work on the first phase of works was completed in spring last year, with im
02/08/2018
Wates has strengthened its team in the Midlands by appointing Lisa Cunningham as Pre-Construction Manager. Ms Cunningham, who previously held the position of Key Account Manager, is tasked with driving ambitious growth plans for the region, focusing on Birmingham where Wates has recently been appoi
02/08/2018
The UK's mineral products market rebounded in the second quarter of 2018 following a sluggish start caused by the bad weather and the collapse of industry giant, Carillion. New figures from the Mineral Products Association (MPA) said , sales volumes for aggregates and ready-mixed concrete increased
02/08/2018
US firm Belcan has acquired Cheltenham-based engineering company, Omega Engineering Services (OES). As an established leader in the testing and development of control equipment for use in the aerospace and industrial sectors, OES offers tailor-made flexible service contracts covering design, sourci
02/08/2018
The Leeds College of Building has announced Derek Whitehead is to become its new Chief Executive Officer and Principal next year. Mr Whitehead, who is currently Deputy Principal at the UK's only specialist Further Education construction college, will take up his new position in January 2019. Speak
02/08/2018
A North Yorkshire-based company has been prosecuted after an employee fell through a roof while working to install a flue system for a biomass heating system at a farm. Duncan Plumbing Heating and Electrics Ltd of Rudgate Business Park, Tockwith, North Yorkshire, has been fined £32,000 with over £2
02/08/2018
Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) is to begin work on a £2.3 million sewer pipe upgrade scheme in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. The year-long project involves laying a new three-mile long sewer pipe from Bagby to its waste water treatment works at Sowerby. Work is scheduled to start on Monday, 06 August. Th
01/08/2018
Union Unite has called upon the UK Government to provide clarity on the Moorside nuclear power station project in Cumbria. Doubts have been raised over the future of multi-billion pound energy scheme following reports of talks collapsing between Japanese owner Toshiba and potential South Korean buy
01/08/2018
More than 1,000 new homes are to be built at Tottenham Hale in London. Develop Argent Related has submitted plans to redevelop the area with six buildings containing a mix of 1,036 affordable, market sale and rental homes. Working with AHMM, Alison Brooks Architects, Pollard Thomas Edwards and Gra
01/08/2018
Interserve has won a new £67 million contract to provide total facilities management services for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The five-year deal will see Interserve deliver a wide range of services including engineering, cleaning, front-of-house support, landscaping and ground mainte
01/08/2018
Plans have been submitted for a mixed-use transformation project in north Oxford. Proposals by planning and architectural consultancy Thomas White Oxford for the Oxford North scheme, submitted on behalf of St John's College, include building 480 new homes, developing 87,000 sq m of collaborative wo
01/08/2018
Up to £1.6 million is being invested to create a new sixth-form centre for Okehampton College in Devon. Morgan Sindall has been selected to deliver the scheme, which will see the former Wardhayes care home renovated to include teaching space, private study spaces, common room and catering facilitie
01/08/2018
Kier has announced a number of Board changes as part of its 'Future Proofing Kier' efficiency and streamlining programme. Current Strategy and Corporate Development Director, Claudio Veritiero, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer, while Executive Director's Nigel Brook Nigel Turner will l
01/08/2018
Former Crossrail Finance Director, Mathew Duncan, has joined Tideway as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Tideway is the company tasked with building the £4.2 billion Thames Tideway Tunnel scheme, a 25km 'super sewer' to help reduce millions of tonnes of raw sewage that overflow into the River
01/08/2018
Housing Secretary James Brokenshire has called upon fire door manufacturers to address safety failings after several doors from five suppliers failed fire safety tests. The Secretary of State for Communities has instructed all major suppliers to meet this week and agree a clear plan of action to ta
