Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for October 2007
31/10/2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and The Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Working Well Together Group (LNRWWT) are hosting two special workshops in a bid to reduce the high rates of fatalities and serious injuries in the construction industry. The workshops are the latest events in
31/10/2007
The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has reaffirmed it's commitment to sustainable construction by recruiting the services of two members of design and engineering consultancy, Atkins. Atkins will donate Tony Iles, the Associate Director of its Environmental Management team, and sustainability c
31/10/2007
For three and a half decades Sound Service (Oxford) Ltd has been supplying a range of high quality and effective sound insulation and absorption materials to the building industry. With over 80 years of combined technical staff experience, the company boasts a wealth of experience in all areas of
31/10/2007
The TUC has announced a new website for use by the UK’s Polish work force. The website,
31/10/2007
The tenacious takeover attempts by Carillion have been given a helping hand in their efforts to buy up Alfred McAlpine; a key shareholder has had a change of heart. Audley Capital, which has a 5 per cent stake in McAlpine, has said it was now "considering its options" after holding discussions wit
31/10/2007
Consent was given today under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to EDF Energy Ltd for the construction and operation of a 1,270 MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station at West Burton, Nottinghamshire. The station has also been given deemed planning permission under section 90 of the
31/10/2007
London's High Court has awarded a painter and decorator £5 million after a fall from scaffolding. Alan Miah, 45, from Bedfordshire sustained serious injuries resulting in brain damage after falling 26 feet from scaffolding on to stone steps several years ago. Mr Miah’s employer, Thorne Barton Est
31/10/2007
The opening of a new leisure complex in Dumfries has been hit by a further delay. The grand opening of the £16.5 million DG One complex has now been pushed back to 3 March 2008 – the third occasion the project has suffered such a delay. Contractors Kier Northern are now scheduled to hand over the
31/10/2007
The Confederation of British Industry is holding a conference to discuss the major infrastructure projects in the energy, waste, transport and water sectors. The conference will be tackling the government's white paper on Planning for a sustainable future, which has proposed a stream lining to how
30/10/2007
Scotia Roofing Limited, Falkirk, one of Scotland's leading Roof Slating and Tiling Companies, is celebrating 12 years of trading and is in the middle of a progressive expansion program. The family run company was established by the late Bill Smith in 1995 to serve central Scotland with a quality an
30/10/2007
The new national Armed Forces Memorial in Staffordshire has officially opened to the public. A £6 million monument in Staffordshire, constructed as a memorial dedicated to members of the UK Armed Forces who have died since World War II, has been officially opened to the public. The stone circle a
30/10/2007
Skanska has been awarded a £150 million contract to design and construct The Walbrook, a new office and retail development in the centre of London. The Walbrook will provide a gross area of 600,000 square feet for the client Minerva, including 410,000 square feet of Grade A area and 35,000 square f
30/10/2007
A new framework to deliver a transport system to support the economy and reduce carbon emissions has been unveiled by Ruth Kelly today. 'Towards a Sustainable Transport System' is the Department for Transport's response to both the Eddington Transport Study and the Stern Review of the Economics of
30/10/2007
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), the representative body for over 20,000 town planners, is asking the government to rethink its proposals on carrying out "needs testing" on commercial properties. The institute has pinpointed the practice of 'land banking', a development stunting exercise
30/10/2007
Construction of the new Arts and Crafts Centre at Princetown near Tavistock is set to go ahead after a £1.7m funding package was agreed between Government Office South West, SW Regional Development Agency, the Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council. After agreeing the final elements of the deal
30/10/2007
After seven years, Blaise Castle Estate is set to celebrate the completion of its £5.6m Heritage Lottery Fund restoration project. The celebrations begin today at 2pm. Later in the afternoon Bristol's Lord Mayor, Councillor Royston Griffey will cut a ribbon with a large pair of shears to officially
30/10/2007
Inside sources at the T5 project at Heathrow have revealed that the build may be £100 million over budget. The construction industry source stated that the number of electrician hours had escalated by almost 50 per cent, and the allocated six million mechanical and electrical man hours rose to almo
30/10/2007
An online poll has revealed that the construction industry prefers David Cameron to Gordon Brown. The poll was conducted at the website for Interbuild, a construction industry events organiser, and over 1,200 respondents cast their vote. Cameron's policies received almost 800 votes compared to a m
29/10/2007
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced funding grants of more than £132 million towards supporting rail freight. The awards will improve freight infrastructure on four specific projects across the country and reduce dependency on road transport, removing around 300,000 lorry journeys from
29/10/2007
Changes to the proposed master plan for Eastgate Renewable Energy Village in Weardale will be the subject of a fourth round of community consultation as the submission of the planning application nears. In November, homes and businesses in Wear Valley will receive a newsletter giving a full update
29/10/2007
A report by a key housing advice body has asked the Government to increase its house building levels and has warned house prices in South West and East England could become "worse than London by 2026". The report comes in response to the Government's housing green paper, Homes for the Future, which
29/10/2007
Construction has begun on a second building at the Liverpool Science Park (LSP). The second, 40,000 sq ft Innovation Centre at the site will cost around £8m and will be based next to the city's Metropolitan Cathedral. Since opening in 2006 the existing LSP Innovation Centre has experienced rapid g
29/10/2007
North Lincolnshire Council will today showcase plans for a major revamp of the Crosby area in Scunthorpe. The council has secured almost £2 million worth of funding to implement the Advance Crosby Project. The project will bring huge changes to the area including the modernisation of current proper
29/10/2007
A worker has been killed while working in a lift shaft in Heathrow's T5. The man was reportedly 'crushed' and was pronounced dead at the scene by the emergency services when they arrived. It is the second fatality at the £4.3 billion project since construction began five years ago. A man was kil
29/10/2007
The Institute of Directors has joined with the Health and Safety Commission to advise directors and boards in how to implement the present health and safety, but a leading construction union has spoken out, calling the present laws "a complete failure." The Union of Construction, Allied Trades and
29/10/2007
Housing and town centre regeneration in Bedford has been given a boost after planning approval was given for a range of major schemes which together will create over 700 new homes. Riverside Square will provide 149 new apartments, retail and restaurant units and a foot/cycle bridge. Town centre reg
26/10/2007
England is heading for a housing crisis if current housebuilding levels are not increased, according to a report. The National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU) published the report in response to the Government’s current target of building an extra three million homes by 2020. The NHPAU ha
26/10/2007
The information Commissioner has demanded the disclosure of information by NHS Lothian on its £1.2 billion building contract. The landmark ruling could engender a sea change in the controls private contractors have over the release of information when working for the public sector. NHS Lothian h
26/10/2007
Affordable housing provider, Lovell, has appointed Scott Mercer as its commercial manager for Scotland. Former Project Commercial Manager for Carillion Construction, Scott, 44, will be based in the company's Glasgow Business Park offices and will be responsible for the commercial management of all
26/10/2007
A heritage and conservation trust in Glastonbury has been selected to transform Northover Mill at Morlands, after it went on the market to local community groups this summer. Beckery Island Regeneration Trust (BIRT), submitted the winning bid, which was selected by the South West of England Regiona
26/10/2007
The City of Edinburgh Council has approved plans for the design, construction and maintenance of the city's tram network German consortium BBS were recommended by Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (Tie) Limited to carry out the work, which is expected to cost around £500m. An overwhelming majority
26/10/2007
DCS Training CIC have recently been part of a partnership project with Fairbridge, National Charity dealing with young adults and children with drug and alcohol problems. DCS provided construction training to 10 young adults who have now taken these new skills and are servicing elderly peoples hom
26/10/2007
CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) has announced its sponsorship of a new high profile professorship at the University of Reading, the home of the UK's leading Real Estate and Planning Department. This new role, entitled the CB Richard Ellis Professor of Real Estate Finance, has been created in light of the i
26/10/2007
A traffic management system that will help keep motorways moving and allow motorists to drive on the hard shoulder during busy times is to be extended to other parts of the network according to Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly. Following a successful trial on the M42 the system will be rolled out on
26/10/2007
Makita has launched a completely new range of high power SDS+ rotary hammer drills which "set new standards" in impact performance for 2kg and 3kg machines. With high rpm levels, increased joules of impact energy and increased blows per minute, Makita claim these rotary hammer drills will dramatic
25/10/2007
Although the controversial law restricting building in Northern Ireland's countryside - PPS 14 – has now been declared unlawful, it does not mean the law will be dropped immediately. There is therefore little likelihood of an immediate countryside-based building boom. Mr Justice Gillen made his de
25/10/2007
The construction industry has proved to be a major focus for the Northern Ireland Executive. This week’s high profile announcement of the long-awaited Programme for Government includes the aim of taking forward major building projects at more than 100 schools over the next three years. The creatio
25/10/2007
Transport for London (TFL) has today announced that it has lodged a formal bid to take control of Metronet. Metronet is responsible for maintaining, replacing and upgrading all infrastructure on nine of London Underground's Tube lines. However, the company went into administration in July 2007 afte
25/10/2007
BP has announcing 350 job cuts at the North Sea headquarters in Aberdeen as part of a restructuring operation. Of those affected 250 will be onshore BP staff, while the remaining 100 will be contracted workers. The changes are intended to simplify the organisation and improve the efficiency of wor
25/10/2007
Gretna Football Club have confirmed they are in talks with the Scottish Executive over the construction of a new Eco Stadium for the club. A plot on the outskirts of Gretna has been earmarked for the pioneering structure, which will house the Scottish third division fans in an environmentally frie
25/10/2007
Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (Tie) Limited has recommended BBS (a consortium comprising Bilfinger Berger and Siemens Group) as its preferred bidder for the contract to carry out the design, construction and maintenance of Edinburgh’s tram network. The Edinburgh trams infrastructure contract is o
25/10/2007
Cornwall-based Zoeftig & Company has recently won a £330,000 contract to supply departure gate seating for Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport with help from UK Trade & Investment. Zoeftig & Co manufactures public beam seating and executive office furniture. Previous ventures include stools
25/10/2007
The Cockburn Association, one of Edinburgh's main heritage watchdogs is fuming over the handling of the immense Caltongate scheme by the council. A formal complaint has been lodged by the group over plans for a huge regeneration project in parts of the old town, which is being undertaken by Moungr
25/10/2007
As part of its ongoing commitment to the environment, Aga has developed biofuel-ready cookers. Most of each Aga produced is made from materials previously used for another purpose. £7 million has also been spent on ensuring emissions from the Aga foundry in Coalbrookdale - an original site where Ab
25/10/2007
New details for a major scheme to reduce congestion and improve safety on the A14 in Cambridgeshire have been welcomed today by Transport Minister Tom Harris as he announces the preferred route for the A14 improvement between Ellington and Fen Drayton. The preferred route, which forms the western p
25/10/2007
A scheme to install a new lighting system at the M56 Junction 9 Lymm interchange will get underway on Sunday October 28. Engineers will replace the existing overhead lights on the link roads that connect the M56 with the M6. The project is the final phase of upgrades to the ageing lighting system
24/10/2007
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) are to invite 1000 new-build home owners to take part in a study offering them the opportunity to contribute to its home building market study. The study is looking at potential competition and consumer concerns within the private home building market. Home owners w
24/10/2007
A total of £18 million over four years towards the construction of the White Cart flood prevention scheme has been awarded to Glasgow City Council from the Scottish Government. Michael Russell, Minister for Environment, has announced a further instalment of the grant to meet the construction of sto
24/10/2007
Work is due to commence on the long-delayed £3.5bn Thameslink rail project. Network Rail's Thameslink Programme is the biggest rail project ever proposed in the UK and will tackle overcrowding on some of the country's busiest routes by increasing passenger capacity north-south, to and from London.
24/10/2007
Ice skating, Wi Fi and a youth pavilion are just a few of the ideas students from Marlborough and Francis Bacon secondary schools plan for the future development of Verulamium Park, St.Albans. Using disposable cameras, the 22 sixth form and year nine students spent a morning in the park creating a
24/10/2007
Aberdeen suspension bridge has been raising eyebrows among councillors as it is announced the renovation work will cost £995,000. The money will go to reopen the Wellington Bridge on Riverside Drive to pedestrians and cyclists. The original estimate was a relatively modest £776,000; the new figure
24/10/2007
Bristol City Council will demonstrate support for initiatives to save energy, reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change when it participates in Friends of the Earth's (FoE) latest 'Blackout Bristol' campaign on October 31. The FoE campaign asks businesses, organisations and individual resid
24/10/2007
Staff from the Highways Agency's National Traffic Control Centre will be on hand to help local businesses at an event at Towcester Racecourse on November 6. The Agency, which is responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England's motorway and major 'A' road network, has organised the eve
24/10/2007
Winchester has been ranked the least green city according to a new league table of mainland UK cities by WWF. Residents in Winchester are having the most in impact on the environment whilst people Plymouth and Newport are having the least. The report ranks the 60 cities in England, Scotland and Wa
24/10/2007
Overnight resurfacing work on the A12 North near Gorleston will start on Monday 29 October until Thursday 8 November. The work will take place on the north and southbound carriageways between the Middleton Road roundabout and the Links Road roundabout. The new surface will reduce noise for people l
23/10/2007
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is to deliver a seminar on the progress and implications of the ongoing Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation into corruption within the UK construction industry. The OFT has been examining allegations of bid rigging by construction companies througho
23/10/2007
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has launched a competition to design a ‘landmark’ apartment building. The new structure will be sited on a prominent plot near the sea front at Ardrossan main beach in Ayrshire. The competition has been organised by the RIAS on behalf of McLa
23/10/2007
A report by the Bank of Scotland has revealed a severe shortfall of construction industry workers in Scotland. The engineering and construction sector were rated as most in need of both permanent and temporary staff, followed a close second by nursing, medical and care. Martin Ellis, Chief Economi
23/10/2007
A new online tool that will help construction companies plan carbon-wise projects and reduce their carbon footprint has been launched by the Environment Agency. The spreadsheet-based tool, which from November 2007 will be mandatory during the planning stage on all major Environment Agency construct
23/10/2007
The largest civil court to be built for more than 100 years in England or Wales opens its doors for business on Wednesday. The Manchester Civil Justice Centre is a state of the art landmark building with first class facilities in the heart of Manchester's business area. The 14-floor building was
23/10/2007
The UK’s fourth largest house builders, Bellway, have announced record profits of £1.4 million pounds and claim the bouyant Scottish housing market helped them achieve it. Turnover for the group, which focuses on the lower end of the market, stood at £1,354 million last year, soaring £114 million
23/10/2007
The Welsh Deputy Minister for Skills John Griffiths has opened West Monmouth School new Haberdasher building constructed with £6 million worth of Welsh Assembly Government funding. The construction of the new building is part of Torfaen's school reorganisation programme. The Assembly Government has
23/10/2007
Planning permission has been granted for a new multi-million pound headquarters for Dundee City council. The new development will be located in he city’s North Lindsay Street, paving the way for the demolition of Dundee’s most unpopular building. Tayside House. Construction is expected to begin i
23/10/2007
Proposals for easing the burden of regulations on employers providing pension schemes were unveiled today by Minister for Pensions Reform Mike O'Brien. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has published its response to the findings of an independent review of pensions regulation carried out by
22/10/2007
The sum of £750 million has been advanced by leading housing organisations as the figure Scotland needs to create more affordable homes. The coalition, which includes Shelter Scotland, the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) and the Scottish Counci
22/10/2007
With Belfast's newly completed Grosvenor Road underpass already in daily use, this week's completion of a key road bridge over the same location is a major fillip for Belfast's multi million pound Westlink development. Drivers crossed the bridge for the first time on Monday morning and work has alr
22/10/2007
A £30 million regeneration scheme spearheaded by the South Humber Bank Partnership has won a prestigious national award for excellence and innovation. The partnership stood out against 150 regeneration schemes from all over the UK to receive the 2007 British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) Aw
22/10/2007
Builders, plumbers, electricians and certain specialist contractors are being invited to tender for ongoing maintenance work on Devon County Council’s schools, libraries, social service buildings and offices. The contract will be for the next four years and cover works up to £5,000 per job. Notice
22/10/2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning employers to ensure they take proper precautions over the management of asbestos in their buildings. This follows HSE's prosecution of a South London NHS Trust. St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, Tooting, Wandsworth was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay
22/10/2007
The Chief Executive of the London Development Agency (LDA), Manny Lewis, has announced new plans for the massive regeneration of Crystal Palace Park. Developed by the LDA, Design for London and award winning architects Latz & Partner, the masterplan will see the park return to being one of the most
22/10/2007
Work to improve the road surface and strengthen bridges between junctions 14 and 15 of the M4 will begin on October 22 2007 and should be completed in March 2008. The £3.6m scheme involves renewing seven miles of the road surface on the westbound carriageway of the M4 near Baydon. Work will also t
22/10/2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning employers to ensure that machinery has adequate safety guards and there are safe systems of work in place. This follows HSE's prosecution of an Enfield timber manufacturer after a machine operator lost parts of two fingers. Jennor Timber Ltd, of Loc
22/10/2007
Trend has just launched their new 2008/9 Routing and Woodworking Catalogue. The catalogue launched on September 3, shows their complete range of router cutters, power tools, routing jigs, woodworking accessories and Snappy tooling. It features over 100 new and innovative products, including the T4
19/10/2007
While there are conflicting signals on the cost of buying property nationally, Northern Ireland town's and cities now occupy all but two of the Halifax's Top 10 most sought-after places to buy a home, with the overall list topped by Newtownards. Although predictions of a UK house price crash have s
19/10/2007
A selection of top organisations have signed up to switch off with CIBSE's 100 Days of Carbon Cleaning Up Campaign, which helps to raise awareness of simple behavioural steps and managerial initiatives that can cut carbon emissions from buildings. The 100 Days of Carbon Clean Up Campaign is run by
19/10/2007
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is on a "green" mission to help people make smart choices and reduce the environmental impact of their home. Cutting through the confusing information that exists about energy efficiency, the FMB is advising homeowners about the practical and affordable renova
19/10/2007
Work gets underway this week to remove the roof of the cinema in St Austell, as the £75 million town centre redevelopment scheme continues. £31.5 million has been invested in the project by the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) with the remainder of funding coming from David M
19/10/2007
Carmarthenshire councillors have announced they have backed detailed plans for the new Scarlets stadium at Pemberton. The meeting of the planning committee approved the reserved matters application by Llanelli Scarlets. Outline planning permission was given for the Pemberton development in December
19/10/2007
Devon County Council is to carry out a series of improvements on the B3362 in West Devon, including work on the historic Greystone Bridge. Night time resurfacing of the road between Edgecombe and Eastacott at Milton Abbot begins on Monday, October 22. The road will be closed from 7pm to 7am until F
19/10/2007
Seven young building apprentices and four members of staff from the Shard End Community Building Project are packing their tools for a once in a lifetime construction project - to rebuild a school in Azad Kashmir. To fund the unique trip the teenage trainees secured £9,000 from the Youth Opportunit
19/10/2007
Trend, the UK market leader in routing technology, is launching a light duty plunge router which is ideal for the hobbyist or as a second router for the craftsman where weight and size are important. Available from September, the T4EK is a 230v 1/4" shank portable plunge router with a variable spee
19/10/2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers of the need to make proper risk assessments to manage their employees' health, safety and welfare. The warning comes after an HSE prosecution resulting from the death of a Wirral lorry driver. TNT Logistics UK Ltd of TNT House, Holly Lane,
18/10/2007
Work to widen the M27 around Southampton is due to begin early next year now that the Highways Agency has awarded a contract for the £36 million scheme. Approximately 4km of the motorway will be widened to four lanes in both directions between Junction 3, Nursling, and Junction 4, Chilworth. All th
18/10/2007
Thousands of tonnes of rock are being placed in Portland Harbour this week as work gathers pace on the new £21 million Portland Marina. The 600-berth marina is part of the multi-million pound regeneration of Osprey Quay at Portland and will involve 200,000 tonnes of Portland Stone being used to con
18/10/2007
Dumfries and Galloway Council has sent letters to parents of Dumfries High School pupils after serious structural flaws were found in the fabric of the building. Work to improve the disability access at the school uncovered problems with the building, which led to a detailed investigation by the Co
18/10/2007
The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) is to seek expressions of interest from developers and investors for the development of its Elwick Road site located within Ashford Town Centre. The site totals approximately 6.65 acres, with the potential for up to 500,000 sq ft of new floorspace f
18/10/2007
An Edinburgh firm is challenging its employees to go green and reduce their carbon footprint by 10 per cent. Home Scotland has decided to adopt the policy after a recent report showed that each year Home employees drive over 2.5 million miles to do their jobs, which equates to approximately 577 ton
18/10/2007
A report by the UK’s Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has released findings, which suggest a slowing housing market is dampening the confidence of the Construction sector. According to the institute, workload growth has bounced back in the public works, public housing and private indus
18/10/2007
CIRIA - the UK's leading member-based research and information organisation dedicated to improvement in the construction industry - has announced that it will present a series of environmentally-themed technical seminars, hosted at the UK's largest civil engineering exhibition, Civils 2007. These f
18/10/2007
Architecture firm, Lawrence McPherson Associates, is proving to be a good sport by sponsoring the ladies Ayr hockey team. The company, which has offices in Ayr and Musselburgh, donated £800 to the teams for their new strips. Founded in 1994, Lawrence McPherson Associates is the largest architectur
17/10/2007
Construction and support services company, Alfred McAlpine, has rejected a second multi-million pound bid from its rival Carillion. McAlpine has hit out at the offer, which it believes seriously undervalues the 8,500 employee strong company. The offer valued its share price at 570p each, but the b
17/10/2007
Surrey-based Mouchel Group (formerly Mouchel Parkman) has announced a pre-tax profit of £48 million – a staggering 82 per cent rise over 2006’s figure of £26 million. The latest annual results (12 months to July 31st) show an increase in revenue of 20 per cent to £448.4 million. Approximately 70
17/10/2007
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is calling for incentives to promote small-scale new housing developments, which focus on existing neighbourhoods, villages and towns, as opposed to creating large new settlements, in its response to the Government's housing green paper. Brian Berry, Director
17/10/2007
Due to demand, the presentation of the prestigious LEAF Awards 2007 will now take place at the distinguished Waldorf Hilton Hotel in Central London on 29 November 2007. The LEAF Awards 2007 have set a new record, receiving their highest ever number of entries for their 11 categories that include th
17/10/2007
Paxton Restoration has restored 40 timber sash windows with Mighton Ventlocks at an old dairy in Hertfordshire, which has been converted into four luxury apartments. Craig Boddington from architects Michael Cook Associates, who designed and specified the project, stated: "Mighton Ventlocks were rec
17/10/2007
Welding and cutting specialist Butters AMT has launched the Rasor TP 47K-gen - a versatile, single-phase inverter-based plasma cutting machine. The Rasor TP 47K-gen functions best in a variety of light to medium on-site plasma cutting applications. It benefits from being used where only a single-p
17/10/2007
Network VEKA installer Sash Windows has been hailed as a local hero after rescuing a homeowner’s 80th birthday plans. Pamela Marshall thought she would have to cancel the celebration when another local company left her with an unfinished conservatory at her Huddersfield home, especially when local
17/10/2007
A fully revised and updated edition of CIRIA's best-selling site guidance on setting-out procedures has been released, bringing 21st century practices and techniques to site engineers and others involved in setting-out on site. Based on the experiences of practicing engineers, Setting-out procedur
16/10/2007
A £10.2 billion cash boost for affordable housing in England has been announced today by Housing Minister Yvette Cooper. This will mean 50% more new social houses – 45,000 homes in total – will be built in the year 2010-11 than are being built this year. In all 110,000 more social homes will be
16/10/2007
Consent was given today under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to E.ON UK plc for the construction of a 1,220 MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station at Drakelow, South Derbyshire. The station has also been given planning permission under section 90 of the Town and Country Plannin
16/10/2007
Magistrates at Nottingham Crown Court recently fined a Norfolk construction company £260,000 and ordered the firm to pay £80,000 costs after an employee fell 10 metres to his death. Daniel Askew, 22, from Capel Iwan, Pembrokeshire, was working for FJ Chalcroft Construction when he died. Mr Askew f
16/10/2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and The East Midlands Working Well Together Group (EMWWT) are hosting two special workshops on 17 and 31 October at Bureau Veritas, City Gate East, Nottingham in a bid to reduce the high rates of fatalities and serious injuries in the construction industry. In
16/10/2007
The Irish Arts Minister has announced an international design competition for Dublin’s new National theatre. The new National Theatre, known as the Abbey, will be situated in the Dublin Dockland's at George's Dock. The new build will be over 24,000 sqm and include three theatres and a host of shops
16/10/2007
Site Equipment Demonstration (SED) 2008 is off to a flying start with the number of stand bookings well ahead in comparison to this time last year. The show is taking place a week earlier in 2008 from 13 – 15 May at Rockingham Motor Speedway, in Corby Northamptonshire, the shows third year at the v
16/10/2007
The Actulite Polarised Natural Lighting System from the Aura Corporation has been specified for Cinch Connectors’ new 40,000 sq ft assembly area at its aerospace facility in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Darren Everitt, Project and Maintenance Manager at Cinch had specific requirements for the lighting
16/10/2007
Euroclad continues to lead the metal cladding industry with further product innovation in its spacer bar systems and the launch of Eurobar Extra Mast, the first adjustable spacer system which allows for greater insulating flexibility. Fundamental to any built-up metal roofing or cladding system is
16/10/2007
Award-winning Scottish house builders Manorlane Homes have appointed The Hub Agency as their brand and marketing consultants. The Glasgow based agency will be working to develop the Manorlane brand across every aspect of the company’s sales and marketing activities. Recognised by Zurich’s Buildin
16/10/2007
CALA Homes has announced the appointment of Gill Gray to Media and Communications Director for its operations in Scotland. Gill has been employed by CALA since 1981 and has held a variety of sales and marketing roles since then. In 1999, Gill was appointed Sales and Marketing Director for the compa
15/10/2007
It was announced that over the course of 2007, CALA Homes will have commenced work on new housing with a gross development sales value of £340 million at 15 sites across Scotland. This announcement follows the recent re-structure of the housebuilder’s home-building business within Scotland, which s
15/10/2007
Aylesbury’s Ex-Services Club has received a major boost, following the completion of its new clubhouse in Walton Street. Councillor Netta Glover, Chairman of Aylesbury Vale District Council recently opened the two-storey building. The improved clubhouse, provided by developers Crest Nicholson (Chi
15/10/2007
Ward Insulated Panels has launched a new environmentally friendly, natural colour coated system for its market-leading range of wall and roofing panels. Ward Spectrum is a high-quality, polyurethane coated alloy substrate that is completely free of PVC, Phthalate, heavy metals and Chromate, making
15/10/2007
A number of prestigious construction projects have been shortlisted for top honours at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) Awards for Environmental Excellence, which recognise and reward companies that have introduced successful measures to reduce their environmental impact. Cari
15/10/2007
BP’s new £45m Exploration and Production headquarters in Aberdeen features the latest in sustainable building technology including a Stormsaver rainwater harvesting system. Stormsaver commissioned its bespoke rainwater harvesting system at the three storey office development earlier this month brin
12/10/2007
As part of the continuing program of capital investment in the highway infrastructure, North Somerset Council will be carrying out works on the B3124 Holly Lane/Castle Road, Clevedon from 22 October. The carriageway will be resurfaced from the junction with Walton Road thought to the junction with
12/10/2007
Leading design company, Alexander James Interiors (AJI), responsible for dressing show homes in the Home Counties and London region, has branched out into architectural specification. Within weeks of launching this new service to housebuilders, property developers and private clients, interiors and
12/10/2007
Latest figures show that West Dorset is on track to cut its household energy consumption by almost a third. Results released by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show that West Dorset District Council has the third best performance in the south west region for reduci
12/10/2007
Scots architectural practice Lawrence McPherson Associates is proving to be a good sport by sponsoring Ayr hockey ladies 1st and 2nd XI's. The company, which has offices in Ayr and Musselburgh, donated £800 to the teams for their new strips. Stuart McPherson, Partner, said: "I must admit to having
12/10/2007
A retail development which will breathe new life into a coastal town has just been completed. Byron Place in Seaham is an £18 million shopping complex funded by Modus Properties, and delivered in partnership with regional development agency One NorthEast and District of Easington Council. Work star
12/10/2007
In a bid to save Scotland's array of traditional buildings from falling into disrepair, primary school pupils from across Fife were introduced to a range of traditional building skills in the hope of inspiring them to become the next generation of skilled craftspeople. As part of this year's Nation
12/10/2007
Construction of The Elements – the new £130 million shopping destination set to transform the heart of Livingston – has now reached the half way mark. The first part of the site (the new multi storey car park) will open for business in November 2007. Land Securities also announced that approximatel
12/10/2007
The main construction contractor for Newport’s Riverfront Arts Centre will be talking about the importance of taking health and safety issues into account at the design stage, at a seminar to be held in the venue next month. Wilmott Dixon is just one of the organisations that will be on hand to sha
11/10/2007
Two prestigious awards were last week won by a design and construction project jointly led by Birmingham City Council. The Birmingham Construction Partnership (BCP) - also including contractors Thomas Vale, Wates and GF Tomlinson - won the first-ever Supreme Award at the Contract Journal Constructi
11/10/2007
This year’s JCT Povey Lecture will be given by Bob White, chairman of Constructing Excellence in the Built Environment, non-executive chairman of Mace and Chief Executive of Building Futures Limited, on Thursday, November 15, at the Institute of Physics in London. The subject will be 'innovation in
11/10/2007
Eurocell Profiles Ltd has won the prestigious Derbyshire Business Awards after beating off competition from dozens of entrants. The winner was announced from a shortlist of four finalists at a gala dinner at Chatsworth House in front of more than 100 people from the local business community. Euro
11/10/2007
Tool distributors Rollins & Sons (London) has announced the launch of the Marshalltown Combo Screed, which is set to revolutionize the future of concreting. The launch of the Marshalltown Combo Screed comes after a complete overhaul on the traditional design of a screed. The rationale behind the ne
11/10/2007
Children from Larbert High School in Larbert, Falkirk, are being given the opportunity to experience the world of construction by designing a development for a first-time property developer. The activity, organized by the Scottish Building Federation in conjunction with ConstructionSkills and runni
11/10/2007
A coalition of developers and homebuilders has welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement of further consultation on a charge-based alternative to the proposed Planning Gain Supplement (PGS) to fund regional and local infrastructure. An alliance of the Home Builders Federation, British Property Federat
11/10/2007
Students in the Leeds area can live in style thanks to help from Senior Aluminium Systems (SAS). Working with fabricators Skipton Glass, SAS has installed its high performance curtain wall in the new Carr Mill Complex on Meanwood Road in Leeds. Carr Mill has been purpose built to provide contempor
11/10/2007
According to research carried out on behalf of the education foundation, Edge, a prejudice towards vocational qualifications is mounting, with 35 per cent of parents believing that vocational learning is for people who don’t do well at school. Ian Nicol, Managing Director of Aberdeen-based Active,
10/10/2007
A £350 million development has been announced for Waterfront Barry that will see new standards for sustainable construction in Wales - with all the 2,000 new homes and the commercial development designed to the highest environmental standards. The proposals by a consortium comprising Taylor Wimpey,
10/10/2007
This year’s JCT Povey Lecture will be given by Bob White, chairman of Constructing Excellence in the Built Environment, non-executive chairman of Mace and chief executive of Building Futures Limited, on Thursday, November 15, at the Institute of Physics in London. The subject will be “innovation in
10/10/2007
As builders and developers looking to respond to the Government's 2016 zero carbon target are considering timber frame construction as one way of delivering more sustainable homes The National House-Building Council (NHBC) has launched a training course addressing the issues of this construction met
10/10/2007
Airdrie and Shotts MP, Dr John Reid visited Caldervale Forge to mark the completion of the manufacturing company's £200k extension project. The former Secretary of State and Karen Whitefield MSP were given a tour of the 2,500 sq ft extension which is a valuable addition to the working-space of the
10/10/2007
Freefoam Plastics, a leading manufacturer of environmentally friendly roofline products, has recently launched a new Technical & Specification Manual. This manual is aimed at specifiers and installers of Freefoam products. It covers everything from installation to product guides and product informa
10/10/2007
Fiona Forrest, a Glasgow student, has been presented with £1000 and a trophy as winner of the National Association of Women in Property student awards. The awards, which are part of the Women in Property's 20th birthday celebrations, were open to female students throughout the UK studying a property
10/10/2007
Halcrow has appointed Jamie Baxter as the new regional director for Edinburgh. Based at the global multidisciplinary engineering consultancy’s office in Edinburgh’s New Town, Jamie Baxter is currently project director for the £45m joint venture development of the new West Lothian Civic Centre. Sinc
10/10/2007
Cyril Sweett, the leading international property and construction consultancy, have relocated their Glasgow operation to a larger facility in the city centre. The company has taken a 10 year lease on a 5,760sq ft premises which are located at 180 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5SG. In the last thr
09/10/2007
Facelift Access Hire recently joined forces with Arden Construction and gave Chesterton Windmill new sails. The Warwickshire windmill is a famous national landmark some 370 years old and believed to be one of only two in existence in the world. The sails weighed in at over a tonne each and were h
09/10/2007
Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos from the internationally acclaimed architecture practice, UNStudio, have won this year's Jencks Award. The Jencks Award is presented annually to an individual or practice who has recently made a major contribution both to the theory and practice of architecture inter
09/10/2007
The National House-Building Council (NHBC) is once again running its successful Ground Gases training course, specifically designed to offer a practical approach to evaluating the risks associated with hazardous ground gases. This one-day course aims to give builders and developers an understanding
09/10/2007
The Epwin Group, the specialist low maintenance building materials group, will be showcasing its new generation of advanced sustainable and energy efficient PVC-U products at Eco-Build this coming February. With unparalleled experience in the supply of low maintenance PVC-U products to the home imp
09/10/2007
When a development is located close to coastal scenery, it is essential to make the most of the view in order to maximise the value of the properties. At 'Watersedge', the developer Oakenstead Estates Ltd chose stylish timber windows and doorsets from JELD-WEN. The highlight of the development is a
09/10/2007
The Epwin Group, the specialist low maintenance building materials group, will be showcasing its new generation of advanced sustainable and energy efficient PVC-U products at Eco-Build this coming February. With unparalleled experience in the supply of low maintenance PVC-U products to the home imp
09/10/2007
The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) has announced the appointment of Steve Bratt in the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer. David Pollock, ECA Director, said: "Steve's main role as Chief Operating Officer at the ECA is to enhance the delivery of our services and to oversee
08/10/2007
The Government has given the green light to the £16 billion cross-London Crossrail project. Announcing that funding is now in place for the long-delayed scheme, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was a project of "enormous importance, not just for London but for the whole country". He said the sc
08/10/2007
In a bid to save Scotland's rich heritage of traditional buildings from falling into disrepair and ensure that our buildings can be enjoyed for generations to come, National Construction Week (NCW) is searching for the future prodigies of the construction industry. As part of a nationwide programme
08/10/2007
A new report from leading industry group, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has highlighted potentially serious recruitment challenges and skills shortages in the consultancy and engineering sector ACE’s Skills Shortages and Recruitment Agency Behaviours report outlines an urgen
08/10/2007
Californian energy giant Clipper Windpower is to develop a new generation of offshore wind turbines in the North East of England. The decision was hailed by the UK Business and Enterprise Secretary John Hutton as further evidence that "the UK is fast becoming a magnet for renewable energy investment
08/10/2007
From 19 October, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will start charging penalties for all CIS returns not received by the due date, namely the 19th of every month. This includes returns due from the start of the new scheme between May and September, including nil returns. After this date, any return not r
08/10/2007
The new Contour Clean-Line radiator guard offers unrivalled practicality for accessing the radiator and guard interior for cleaning and routine maintenance. It is so simple to use, that it can eliminate the need for maintenance staff to be involved in routine cleaning of radiator guards, as the doo
08/10/2007
Contour Casings Limited, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of pre-formed pipe boxing solutions have announced the introduction of eight, new, lightweight, pre-finished profiles that will give specifiers and end-users even more options and flexibility for covering up unsightly exposed pipework. The
05/10/2007
Land Development Partnership LLP (TAL) has appointed Karen Campbell as Chief Executive and Angus Kennedy as Construction Director to drive and co-ordinate the new £330 million development at Eurocentral. The development on the former Chunghwa site is the largest speculative business space project e
05/10/2007
Concrete evidence of serious recruitment challenges and skills shortages in the consultancy and engineering sector is revealed today with the launch of a damning new report from leading industry group, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE). ACE’s ‘Skills Shortages and Recruitment Ag
05/10/2007
Distinguished architect Richard Rogers is set to deliver the 2007 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Trust Annual Discourse on 10 October 2007. Established in 1957, the Annual Discourse's central remit is to invite international speakers to address themes and issues relating to a wider co
05/10/2007
The search is on for four young professionals from the world of architecture and building for the unique SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) Scholarship 2008. The successful applicants will hit the road together next year on a journey of discovery that will take them the length a
05/10/2007
Acclaimed British Designer Wayne Hemingway MBE is to host an exclusive seminar at next year’s Tile & Stone Show. Exploring ‘design for the masses rather than the elite’, the seminar will take place on the show’s second day, Monday 30 June, at ExCeL London. It is set to attract leading architects an
05/10/2007
The Pier Arts Centre in Orkney, Scotland boasts an impressive collection of British Modernist Art – and now Osmo treated flooring. The eye-catching harbour-side Gallery re-opened this July following a major regeneration project. The contemporary design had to remain sympathetic to the traditional b
05/10/2007
More than 20 teams of housebuilders descended on the Hope Valley in the Peak District to take part in the gruelling two-day NHBC HopeBuilder Charity Challenge in September. As the culmination of a year of fundraising for international housing charity Habitat for Humanity (HFH), NHBC invited housebu
05/10/2007
The Network VEKA sponsored expedition to cross the Gobi Desert in Mongolia entirely by kite power has gained a place in the famous Guinness World Records book. The three adventurers crossed over 1,000km of hostile terrain, riding specially adapted kite buggies to claim the record for the longest ev
04/10/2007
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has replaced the current series of RIBA Standard Forms of Appointment with the updated RIBA Agreements 2007. The new suite of RIBA Agreements 2007 are designed to provide the components of a flexible system which can be assembled to create contracts
04/10/2007
Construction product sales have again risen during the third quarter despite recent financial upheaval, according to the latest Ernst and Young/Construction Products Association Activity Barometer. The third quarter of 2007 records a score of 73 compared to the record high of 80 in the second quar
04/10/2007
Phil Dinning, Managing Director of leading loading bay equipment supplier, Easilift Loading Systems Ltd, has been appointed President of the Association of Loading and Elevating Equipment Manufacturers (ALEM) for the next two years. He succeeds Ross Cargill, Manufacturing Director of Ross & Bonnyma
04/10/2007
The website offers an industry spanning sales platform linking up all building and civil engineering contractors and their sites regardless of size of project or parent company. Users will encounter a familiar style online sales website, with clear categories and the option to sell at auction or t
04/10/2007
Sapa Building Systems' fabricator SRS has become one of just a small handful of aluminium fabricators in Scotland to be awarded the much coveted Secured by Design accreditation. With Secured by Design becoming ever more important in Scotland, SRS is now able to offer Scottish specifiers and contrac
04/10/2007
The world famous March Stand at Goodwood Racecourse has been overhauled with Decothane Delta 25 - a hardwearing liquid roof coating from leading high performance weatherproofing supplier Liquid Plastics. The March stand, originally opened by the Queen in 1980, has a striking barrel shaped roof made
04/10/2007
Dust extraction is an increasingly important requirement when power tools are in operation and the new Makita 447M dust extraction unit meets the highest levels of the performance embodied in the EN 60335-2-69 standard. Class M regulations require the dust extraction machine to be able to remove d
04/10/2007
LST radiators, offering three-way protection, have been launched by Contour Casings. The Trionic LST combines low surface temperatures with safe corners and is the only LST on the market to use BioCote anti-microbial paint finish to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, including MRSA. Contour C
03/10/2007
The organisers behind Interbuild have revealed that the event will now happen every year. In response to exhibitor and visitor demand, show organisers, EMAP Construct, made the decision to switch to a yearly event on the back of the success of several other changes it has put it into place since
03/10/2007
South West England could lead the world in generating clean and secure electricity from the seas, according to a report. The 'Tidal Power in the UK' report by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), was part funded by the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) and was a year
03/10/2007
Proposals to cut the 109 million tonnes of waste produced annually on construction sites in England and Wales have been broadly endorsed by the building sector. Responses published to a Government consultation show that 75 per cent of respondents support the idea of legally binding Site Waste Manag
03/10/2007
Customers are enjoying the benefits of a major modernisation programme after Ward End Library reopened its doors on September 27 following a £170,500 revamp. Led by John Hunt Associates, a Birmingham-based interior design practice, the renovation work has transformed the library into an exciting,
03/10/2007
A Thorworld Industries mobile yard ramp is playing a key role at a busy Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) operated by Veolia Environmental Services at its 175 hectare integrated waste management site in Rainham, Essex. Incoming mixed recyclable material, which includes paper and card, plastic bottl
03/10/2007
Hanson Formpave, a leading manufacturer of standard and specialist concrete block pavers and permeable paving solutions, is the exclusive sponsor of the Geotechnical trail at Civils 2007. The Geotechnical trail provides a fast-track route around the show for anyone wanting to meet specialists in ge
03/10/2007
Coltman Precast Concrete is continuing to build on its reputation as one of Britain's leading suppliers of quality structural precast concrete products to the building and construction industry. The West Midlands based company is a major supplier of precast concrete components to the housing, comme
03/10/2007
The UK’s leading workwear manufacturer Dickies has an extensive range of high visibility garments that include a number of jackets, ideal for winter. The Motorway Safety Jacket, High Visibility Bomber Jacket and the versatile 5-in-1 High Visibility Executive Jacket offer excellent protection from b
02/10/2007
Leading construction firm, Mansell, has been awarded a major contract to build a multi-million pound, state-of-the-art, medical teaching and training complex in Aberdeen. Mansell has been appointed by the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian to deliver the new £18.5m centre, which will be constr
02/10/2007
Network VEKA members are just weeks away from reaching their biggest milestone ever – £500 million of accumulated sales. Meanwhile, the organisation has also announced it will run a third burst of TV advertising throughout the autumn. The milestone comes from more than 125,000 installations around
02/10/2007
Miller Cromdale has announced that it has agreed a pre-let deal on its latest Aberdeen office development with international energy services company, the John Wood Group plc ('Wood Group'). The Wood Group will take 150,000 sq ft of the office development providing grade-A office accommodation for o
02/10/2007
Taylor Wimpey, the UK’s largest homebuilder, has appointed Willie McDermott as director and general manager for the Bryant West Scotland region. Mr McDermott will establish a new office for the strengthened team, and will lead the company as it aims to consolidate and grow its position in the west o
02/10/2007
Manorlane almost tripled turnover in its second year of trading according to latest results issued by the Scottish housebuilder. The results came as Manorlane announced plans to create assisted living communities for the over-60s under its new Active Living brand. Final results posted by Manorla
02/10/2007
Leading national plumbing and heating supplier William Wilson is moving forward with plans for a roll out of its new Express business, with the launch of its first Scottish branch. A new concept in plumbing and heating supply, the arrival of William Wilson Express north of the border comes on the b
02/10/2007
Train 4 Trade Skills’s new home-learning plumbing courses have so far attracted over 2,500 would-be plumbers, including over 100 women, since their launch in 2007. The company is now supplementing the theory and PC based training with new, hands-on, residential workshops in Southampton, Guildford a
02/10/2007
The lead sheet industry has introduced a new EN-norm. The new standard, EN-norm 12588, is a development of the previous standard, but with additional criteria resulting from recent scientific findings and an updated assessment of market requirements. As the common standard for all European rolled l
01/10/2007
Natural Building Technologies' (NBT) ThermoPlan thin bed solid wall building system has been used to construct Lincold Grove, an exclusive residential development in Oxfordshire by housebuilder, Kingerlee Homes, which has been designed and constructed to achieve Ecohomes Excellent standard. Borderi
01/10/2007
Property professionals who are members of Hipag, the Home Information Pack co-operative, have pronounced Hipag a success, despite a few minor teething problems. Hipag CEO, Rob Hailstone, said: "It was never going to be easy, but the overwhelming response from our members tells us that the introduct
01/10/2007
The Highways Agency has awarded a contract to construct two new climbing lanes on the M27 between junction 11 and junction 12 in the South East of England. Construction of the £18 million project is due to start in January 2008. Two climbing lanes will be constructed, both approximately 2km in len
01/10/2007
Funding of £8 million has been approved by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to support the enhancement of the existing Manchester Metrolink service into Salford Quays. The funding will support major service improvements on the Eccles to Manchester City Centre line between the networ
01/10/2007
Survey Support have announced that they will be handling the UK distributorship for Softelec GmbH. Survey Support will now be selling the VPHybridCAD range of software for digital management of scanned paper plans. This market-leading software is unique in its ability to allow real time adjustment
01/10/2007
Financial results for the first half of the year have shown ongoing growth at Screwfix with a 30.3 per cent increase in sales to over £200 million. Driven by an expanded catalogue which now contains over 17,000 high quality, low cost building, maintenance and refurbishment products, the strong sale
01/10/2007
Floorstyle 2008, a brand new exhibition for the flooring industry, will be launched at ExCeL London next summer. Running from 29 June to 1 July, Floorstyle is set to attract over 100 exhibitors from the wood, laminate, vinyl, rubber and linoleum sectors, as well as suppliers of associated accessori
01/10/2007
Rhondda Cynon Taff Council's engineers (RCT) are using Tensar International's ground stabilisation solutions to repair a partial landslide with site-won material in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales. The four month project is due for completion in October 2007. Stabilising an old landfill in Danylan
