Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for November 2007
30/11/2007
Communities across the Thames Gateway are to benefit from £275 million of investment to transform the area and deliver local economic sustainability. A new Strategic Economic Investment fund was announced by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), the East of England Development
30/11/2007
The Scottish construction industry has launched and revised a plan to guide its development over the next five years. The plan by the Scottish Construction Forum (SCF) updates ‘Achieving Construction Innovation and Excellence in Scotland’ which was published in 2003 and led to the creation of the f
30/11/2007
Two out of three (64 per cent) re-mortgagers will be cutting back this Christmas to help meet increased mortgage repayments, according to research from Lloyds TSB Mortgages. Seven out of ten (71 per cent) re-mortgagers expect to see a rise in their monthly mortgage repayments when their current dea
30/11/2007
Affordable housing delivery is at risk from ministers' tunnel vision on allocating regional housing cash, says the South East England Regional Assembly. Ministers this week are expected to announce regional housing budgets for the next three years, but limits on how funds can be used could rule out
30/11/2007
Transport in the East of England received a major boost when Transport Minister Rosie Winterton confirmed the investment of £490 million towards local schemes. With one of the fastest growing economies in the country, and three significant growth areas wholly or partly in the region, the area faces
30/11/2007
Despite daily headlines predicting nothing but doom and gloom for the property sector, there is still ample opportunity for the canny investor according to Mike Goddard, Chief Executive of Belvoir, one of the UK's leading lettings specialists. "Without a shadow of a doubt, property remains an excel
30/11/2007
In response to a recent government consultation 'Strategy for Sustainable Construction', the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has called for a greater emphasis on the 'big picture'. Stephen Wielebski, a CIOB Ambassador said: “There is a prodigious, and urgent, opportunity for us to develop a
30/11/2007
Four giant mild steel weir gates each one weighing as much as an African elephant - were delivered to the Sunbury yard Wednesday 10 October 2007 en route to their new home in Shepperton Weir B. The gates are 3.5m wide and 3.6m high and built by specialist contractor L G Kimber at Brill near Aylesbu
29/11/2007
Billionaire Donald Trump's plans to develop a £1 billion golf resort and complex has been rejected by Aberdeenshire councillors. Mr Trump had planned to build what he calls the "world's greatest" golf complex as well as a major housing development at the Menie Estate. The controversial resort proj
29/11/2007
A facility, which helps young people improve their skills, self-esteem and health and fitness, is almost complete. The Herlingshaw Education Centre in Middlesbrough was officially opened in May this year after regional development agency One NorthEast awarded £220,000 of funding, via Tees Valley Pa
29/11/2007
Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction, services and investment group, wholly owned subsidiary, Connect CNDR, has been appointed preferred bidder for the Carlisle Northern Development Route (CNDR) PPP concession by Cumbria County Council. The concession contract, which is worth
29/11/2007
London 2012 has produced a plan on how it will ensure the 2012 project can be as sustainable as possible. It covers five key sustainability themes: waste, climate change, biodiversity, inclusion and healthy living. It was approved by all members of the Olympic Board representing the Government, th
29/11/2007
The Deputy Traffic Commissioner for Scotland Richard McFarlane took time out from an annual training conference in Cardiff to see the practical measures taken by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to ensure that lorries and buses are operating safely. Senior Traffic Commissioner Philip
29/11/2007
ConstructionSkills has advised the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) Select Committee that flexible funding regimes are essential to ensure appropriate skills provision to the industry's growing workforce. The recommendation formed part of the evidence given by ConstructionSkills to
29/11/2007
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is working with the seven Sub-regional Strategic Partnerships to inject £35 million into a fund to create sustainable properties to support the growth of high quality jobs in the region. The High Quality Employment Floor Space fund aims to create and encourag
29/11/2007
NHBC's latest statistics show that the principal housing type being started in Northern Ireland, England and Wales are flats and maisonettes. With the level of high-rise buildings increasing in recent years, according to NHBC's statistics, flats and maisonettes made up more than half (51 per cent)
28/11/2007
London house prices experienced a greater fall than any other region in October, according to the latest monthly figures from Land Registry. October's House Price Index shows that prices in London fell 0.6 per cent, while the market in England and Wales as a whole demonstrated a slight increase of
28/11/2007
Construction, asset management and project investment company Graham has announced major expansion plans in Scotland, with the opening of two new offices, one in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh. Graham is listed as the UK's number six construction company in terms of turnover growth in a recently publ
28/11/2007
The Final Draft Local Transport Strategy (LTS) 2008-2012 has now been published - and the last round of public consultations on the document will run until mid-January next year. The final draft of the new LTS sets out Aberdeen City Council's vision and objectives for improving the city's transport
28/11/2007
Crest Nicholson PLC, with green living specialists BioRegional Quintain Ltd, have been selected as the preferred developer for the first 600 homes on flagship regeneration site Rochester Riverside. They were chosen from a shortlist of four developers by landowners and project partners Medway Counci
28/11/2007
A cash boost of £89 million to transform five secondary and one special school is due to be considered by Bristol City Council next week. At its meeting on December 6, Cabinet will be considering the replacement or improvement of buildings at Ashton Park, St Bede's, St Bernadette, St Mary Redcliff
28/11/2007
The Government has some tough decisions to make if it wants to avoid one thousand miles of severe congestion by 2041, according to a new RAC Foundation report based on research from a leading transport research team. The reported named 'Roads and Reality' concludes that new road capacity will be es
28/11/2007
Pre-tax profits have risen by 46 per cent to £42.7 million at engineering consultants WS Atkins. Operating profit jumped from 27.3 million to £40.1 million for the six months to September 30. Major projects such as London's 2012 Olympics and framework deals with utilities such as ScottishWater hav
28/11/2007
A public meeting to discuss the current proposals for the Eastern Leisure Centre site, Cardiff, will be held on Thursday, November 29 at 6pm. The Council is currently consulting on proposals to close Llanrumney and Rumney High Schools and co-locate a new school with Eastern Leisure Centre incorpora
27/11/2007
Building firms in the south west of England are struggling to recruit enough skilled staff, a survey has revealed. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) conducted the survey amongst its members and found that 45% of tradesmen were facing difficulties when filling vacancies. Carpenters and electr
27/11/2007
Thousands of homeowners who might not have been able to have a loft conversion under the Planning White Paper, published in May 2007, will now be able to do so under revised proposals in the new Planning Reform Bill announced today. The government has accepted the arguments from the Federation of
27/11/2007
The government are investing a further £4bn into delivering 'better, more integrated local transport' over the next three years, according to Transport Minister Rosie Winterton The Local Transport Capital Settlement will allow local authorities to plan and fund important community projects, such a
27/11/2007
The final design for the Biota! Aquarium in Silvertown Quays, London, has been revealed by Terry Farrell & Partners. The £90 million Biota! will now be linked to the nearby Thames Barrier Park via a Arup and Patel Taylor designed pedestrian bridge. Designs show a translucent ETFE roof made from th
27/11/2007
A new Bill which aims to make the planning system quicker, more transparent and easier for the public to become involved in will be published today by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears. The Planning Bill will reform the planning system for major infrastructure projects which is increasingly strugg
27/11/2007
A high-level fact finding trip to view successful social housing schemes is being undertaken with a view to interpreting such initiatives into a Northern Ireland context. The NI Assembly's Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, is meeting with UK Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper to hear how
27/11/2007
The slowdown in the output of Irish construction has led to an industry forecast group to reduce its output figures for next year's European market. Euroconstruct, an organisation that spans 19 countries across Europe, has predicted a reduced growth of 1.4% in European construction next year. In Ju
27/11/2007
A policy meeting of the construction industry's contract writers has asked whether sustainability performance should be written into builder's contracts. The Joint Contracts Tribunal, meeting in the Swiss Re tower in London, attracted 15 senior executives from organisations across the industry, as
26/11/2007
Following a recent speech by Gordon Brown heralding the Government's energy efficiency focus and Green Homes initiative, a conference is set to reiterate many points raised by the Prime Minister relating to energy efficiency in the home. The conference organised by the Local Government Association
26/11/2007
Morrison Construction have been awarded a £32m contract to build a public-private partnership hospital and health care centre in St Andrews. Construction will begin immediately on 10,800 sq m of land to the south of St Andrews. Facilities at the hospital will include:
26/11/2007
A new sheltered dwelling facility for dementia sufferers has been officially opened in Coleraine. Assembly First Minister Ian Paisley was on hand to launch the state of the art housing project, the Brook Centre of Excellence,. It provides specialist, homely living accommodation and support service
26/11/2007
Using timber frames in the construction of houses could help the building industry combat increasingly extreme weather in the UK, it has been claimed. Scotframe, a company that manufactures timber frame kit homes and supplies kit packages for self-builders, said that using timber frames is one of t
26/11/2007
Maintenance to the Scottish executive building is costing taxpayers over a million pounds per year. Since the building opened in 2004, £2.2 million has been spent on repairs. The cost excludes the repairs to the debating chambers roof, which cost almost half a million. One Scottish MP has already
26/11/2007
The Government has got itself into "a complete mess" of its own making over its proposed changes to Capital Gain Tax and the introduction of a 18 per cent flat rate. The Government needs to do more than rethink its proposed increase; it needs to do a complete u-turn, according to the Federation of M
26/11/2007
TufSound wall and ceiling panels provide a high level of impact resistance as well as acoustic performance. Hodgson & Hodgson has announced that its TufSound panels achieved an impressively high impact resistance rating in recent tests. TufSound is a decorative treatment, used in application which
26/11/2007
Energy reports help all homeowners reduce their carbon footprint as well as saving energy and money. The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is best known as a compulsory component of the HIP that empowers home buyers by giving them the ability to easily compare properties in terms of fuel bills a
23/11/2007
The latest research by the British Bankers' Association (BBA) shows mortgage lending rose more slowly and approvals, particularly for house purchase, were significantly lower in October. Unsecured lending remained very subdued and personal deposits were weak. Lending to companies was above recent
23/11/2007
Gleeds, the international management and consultancy company which acted as cost advisors to the HELIX bid to the BIG Lottery Fund’s Living Landmark programme, has joined in the celebrations following the award of £25 million of funding. The HELIX will transform the landscape between Falfirk and Gr
23/11/2007
Mark Clare, Chief Executive of Barratt Developments has been appointed Chair of the UK - GBC task group on zero carbon homes. The group are to report to Government on the definition of zero carbon, recommending a way to include off-site renewables within the definition. The group of 12 includes re
23/11/2007
According to a recent study by KPMG and Middlesex University, high levels of CO2 in the air could be adversely affecting conditions in offices up and down the UK. In modern office buildings - with sealed windows, draught exclusions and insulation - natural ventilation is minimal, causing air to be
23/11/2007
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has spoken out to say it is delighted to see a bold Ministerial response to tackling land banking as set out in the Callcutt Review of housing delivery. Yvette Cooper has announced she will consult on a new legal definition of what constitutes 'starting on s
23/11/2007
Government funding of £70 million has today been announced by Transport Minister Rosie Winterton to allow a new Lincolnshire road scheme that will ensure better links to the rest of Eastern England. The new A1073 has been given the final go-ahead in order to improve safety and relieve congestion in
23/11/2007
The fragmented structure and work practices of the construction industry continue to inhibit progress to high performance, according to one of its most senior figures. At the annual JCT Povey Lecture last week, more than 100 industry leaders heard Bob White, Chairman of Constructing Excellence in t
23/11/2007
Bristol City Council is staging a series of 'roadshows' offering the public the chance to find out more about its plans to demolish 549 pre-cast reinforced concrete homes (PRCs) and re-develop the land in a number of areas of the city. Following consultation on draft planning briefs in September an
23/11/2007
Ken Campbell is to take on a non-executive role for Elphinstone Holdings when he stands down as Group Director of the Glasgow-based property group next month. With over 43 years experience throughout the UK property market, Ken joined Elphinstone eight years ago and has been a key figure in the hug
22/11/2007
The Dalby Forest Visitor Centre in Yorkshire has won an award dubbed the 'Oscar' of the construction world. The centre, which was built by Miller Construction, won the Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award at the 20th annual British Construction Industry Awards. The awards – which aim to r
22/11/2007
A chronic lack of construction workers could bring drive the proposed Commonwealth Games' developments to crises point, according to industry experts. Over £570 million worth of new stadia, accommodation and infrastructure regeneration is required for the Games in 2014, but a boom in construction a
22/11/2007
The government's present investment plan for local homes has been described as 'alarming' by a rural watchdog. The Commission for Rural Communities has revealed research showing that proposed levels of investment in affordable rural housing by Regional Assemblies is underestimating the needs of the
22/11/2007
First time homebuyers will see their upfront costs drop and all home buyers will receive A-G green ratings for their properties, with the roll out of Home Information Packs (HIPs) and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) announced today. Buyers whose homes score poorly with energy ratings of F or
22/11/2007
French company Decopierre is to launch five new dealerships throughout the UK. The wall decoration company is to open up outlets in London, Cornwall, North Wales, Derby and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Decopierre, a wall coating resembling natural stone, is a mixture of crushed limestone and powdered marb
22/11/2007
The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) has awarded six universities Full Accreditation for their degree programmes in Architectural Technology. The Robert Gordon University, Sheffield Hallam University, Southampton Solent University and University of Hudersfield all received
22/11/2007
Startling new research carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveals that nearly one in three construction sites inspected put the lives of workers at risk. This follows the release of figures showing that during 2006/07 a total of 77 fatalities occurred on construction sites, a rise
22/11/2007
Conservative candidate for Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP outlined his vision for housing in London in a keynote speech at NHBC’s Annual Lunch yesterday. "We are going through a period of expansion faster than anything we have seen in the last 40 years, and if that growth is to be successfully m
22/11/2007
The South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) has signed a deal to transform part of Osprey at Portland into an exciting £30 million year-round tourism and leisure destination. Award-winning regeneration company the Sutton Harbour Group has been signed as the RDA’s partner for an eigh
21/11/2007
The latest Government initiative to create a 'one-stop-shop' service to make homes greener - the Green Homes Service - needs more than just information if we are to create greener homes and meet the Government’s target to reduce carbon emissions, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian
21/11/2007
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has resulted in the offshore industry receiving a stark warning that 'more must be done' to improve their safety record. The message came at the launch of the KP3 report after a three-year investigation and the inspection of nearly 100 offsh
21/11/2007
Ward Insulated Panels has teamed up with roofing contractors Cladanco Ltd to supply and install 750 square meters of Ward Topdek, an all-in-one single-ply insulated roofdeck, for the showroom of the new Porsche dealership on Manchester Road in Bolton. Ward Topdek is a factory pre-engineered composi
21/11/2007
One NorthEast Chief Executive Alan Clarke has thrown his backing behind plans to develop a major new import centre and warehouse facility in the Tees Valley. Mr Clarke welcomed an announcement by PD Ports that it had submitted plans for the new building which would create over 800 new jobs over the
21/11/2007
Communities across Wales in need of regeneration will receive more than £25 million in housing renewal aid from the Welsh Assembly Government. Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies announced the grants totalling £25.65 million to support 39 renewal areas in 19 local authorities. Each council
21/11/2007
ConstructionSkills and British Gypsum have this week launched three new Dry Lining apprenticeship courses at Academies in Kirby Thore in Cumbria, East Leake in Loughborough and Erith in Kent. The course consists of a 12-week training course which will subsequently lead to the achievement of an NVQ2
21/11/2007
A public inquiry in Perth has been set up to examine plans to erect new power lines from the Highlands to Central Scotland. The inquiry into the Scottish and Southern Energy's (SSE) plan was set up after SSE submitted plans to erect new infrastructure of 212ft pylons along the route from Beauly, ne
21/11/2007
Thomas Mitchell Homes - designers, manufacturers and suppliers of timber frame house kits - has appointed a new Land Director. Graeme Reay takes up the role, which will see him tasked, among other things, with securing new development opportunities throughout Scotland as part of the company’s growt
20/11/2007
Leading business organisation, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) is calling on MPs to investigate skills shortages and the conduct of recruitment agencies in the construction industry. A new select committee has recently been formed to oversee the work of the Department for Inno
20/11/2007
A campaign to enlist the experience and skills of Scotland's construction workers has been launched to ensure future construction students and apprentices receive the best possible training and education. With 7,000 recruits each year, a major drive to encourage skilled workers to use their pract
20/11/2007
Ambitious plans for a £9.5 million co-location, signalling the new build of a school on site of Colebourne Primary School in Hodge Hill, accommodating existing pupils and those from Beaufort Special School in Stechford begins on Friday The start of the construction follows Cabinet approval on July
20/11/2007
Two 'eco-towns' may be built in the East Midlands, which would result in the construction of around 12,000 homes, it has been revealed. Developers believe the settlements, at Grovewood in South Derbyshire and New Kingston near Gotham in Nottingshire would produce much of their own power and would b
20/11/2007
Work has begun to prepare the former diesel depot site by Temple Meads, paving the way for the mixed-use development which may include an Arena for Bristol. Contractors are beginning a six-month programme of clean up work on the nine-acre site by Temple Meads station. It is hoped that this will be
20/11/2007
The owners of a recently constructed house in the Mudeford Conservation Area in Dorset will have to partly demolish the building after a Planning Inspector dismissed their appeal against an enforcement notice served by Christchurch Borough Council. In 2002 the owners of The Old Dairy in Farm Lane,
20/11/2007
The speaker of the House of Commons has officially opened a new state of the art headquarters for Glasgow's largest black cab firm. Glasgow Taxis' new headquarters in Dalmarnock was officially opened by Commons Speaker and Glasgow North East MP Michael Martin, as part of a special ceremony attended
20/11/2007
The UK's largest privately owned house building and property firm looks set to be going on sale after an announcement the owners were reviewing their 60 per cent stake. The news comes amid speculation of a feud between members of the founding family of the Miller Group, who hold a 60 per cent stake
20/11/2007
Non electrical qualified staff at SELECT, the Electrical Contractors' Association of Scotland, have participated in a one day Electrical Awareness Course to better equip them to deal with members' technical enquiries. The course has been developed by SELECT in response to a number of requests from
19/11/2007
Public consultation has begun on Ballymore Properties and partners €5.59 billion commercial property development in the London Docklands. The 17.5 acre site in the north-eastern corner of the Isle of Dogs will be transformed into a brand new urban quarter; Wood Wharf with 1,400 homes and 4.8m sq ft
19/11/2007
Plans for a £20 million sawmill for the south west of Scotland have been revealed. Preparations on the site have already began, and Labert based James Jones and Sons plans to create new posts as well as safeguarding the positions of its current 56 staff. The development is planned for completion
19/11/2007
A £50 million new hospital designed by international architects Foster + Partners which will create a minimum of 250 jobs is to be built on the Plymouth International Medical and Technology Park, at Derriford. An outline planning application was submitted by Health Properties (Plymouth) Ltd, on beh
19/11/2007
The top-performing electrical contractors in Scotland have won the recognition of their peers in the profession in this year's prestigious SELECT Eletrotechnical Awards. The annual competition praises firms and individuals who go the extra mile to deliver results that are second to none. At a glit
19/11/2007
One of Scotland's main development agencies has announced plans for its construction work to go carbon neutral, and ensure its clients follow suit. Highlands and Islands Enterprise have set itself ambitious targets at the agencies annual meeting at Sabhal on Skye where a series of proposals were pu
19/11/2007
The Government's Housing and Regeneration Bill is good news for all those waiting on the housing ladder. However, it does little to tackle the urgent need to upgrade existing homes and make them more energy efficient and greener, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian Berry, Director
19/11/2007
The 2007 Construction Manager of the Year Simon Byford, awarded by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), will present his award winning project, the ‘Restoration of the HBOS Edinburgh Mound’ at two major project management conferences in Glasgow and Dublin. These are part of a series of CIOB
19/11/2007
For the first time, two major Scottish companies have announced a new joint £7.3 million residential development for Edinburgh. Applecross and Premier Property Group have got together for the first time to deliver the 23,035 square feet landmark development. Early construction work on the project
19/11/2007
The provision of open space is set to become enshrined in planning policy, as part of new proposals announced by councils. An open space strategy, to protect and improve the amount of open space in Scottish towns and cities will be officially part of the planning departments agenda, as new requirem
19/11/2007
The construction industries largest trade association has spoken out on the recent budget's failure to tackle skills and training in Scotland. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has criticised the 2007 Scottish spending review for overlooking the need for apprenticeships, and the provision of
16/11/2007
Councils have urged the government to bring forward its timetable for investment in flood defences or risk a repeat of the devastation caused by floods during the summer. In an official submission to the Pitt Review into the summer floods, the Local Government Association (LGA) has called for the i
16/11/2007
A report by a UK building Society has revealed Scotland experienced the highest rate of house price growth and is set to outdo the rest of the country. The survey by Lloyds TSB found that overall, Scotland has seen its house prices grow at a faster average rate in the past year than anywhere else i
16/11/2007
A UK-wide initiative that is to offer a total of 7.5 million new training places will include some 120,000 new apprenticeships for the under-25s and 30,000 places for older workers. The scheme sets out to be a major boost for both the construction industry and allied trades and is to be rolled out
16/11/2007
The construction industry has the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) “by the short Olympic rings” according to a Labour MP. Austin Mitchell made the charge following the government’s admission that the entire £2.7bn contingency fund for the 2012 London Games is likely to be spent. The revelation fro
16/11/2007
Specialist contractors are facing longer waits before receiving payment for work that has been carried out. The latest State of Trade report from the National Specialist Contractors’ Council (NSCC) indicated that 21 per cent of workers had reported periods were they had to wait 60-90 days for payme
16/11/2007
Turnberry Golf Club which is set to host the 2009 Open Championship has been put up for sale with a price tag of £100 million. Starwood Hotels, the courses US owners, want to retain a minority ownership and continue managing the site but need an investor to fund a major re-development. The firm sa
16/11/2007
The proposed closure of a vital thorougfare is causing problems in Newtownabbey. The Hightown Road bridge from Glengormley to Mallusk and on to link with north Belfast is to close soon for a full year as a new, permanent structure over the M2 motorway is built. A short period of temporary closure
16/11/2007
Eurocell Building Plastics (EBP) is providing its customers with an environmentally friendly solution to the rising cost of lead by launching Ubiflex from Ubbink (UK) Ltd, a waterproof flashing material that can be used in all applications where lead is traditionally installed. David Salt, Sales an
15/11/2007
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has spoken of its bewilderment at the governments decision make a six per cent budget cut to its plans to provide new affordable homes. The Scottish Executive pledged to allocate £1.47 billion of its budget to housing, but the SFHA have identif
15/11/2007
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) has injected £265,000 into a project which will enable communities across the East Midlands to own and operate their own green energy co-operative. The co-operatives will manage sustainable green energy resources such as wind farms, hydroelectric power plants
15/11/2007
Scottish building firm Rok has begun work on an affordable housing development in Inverness. Working alongside the Cairn Housing Association, the company will build 16 low-cost flats in the Merkinch area of the city as part of a £1.9 million regeneration project. Upon completion, half of the flats
15/11/2007
Work is due to start on a highly anticipated Somerset County Council led project to deliver a £6 million boost to West Somerset. The development, at Mart Road, Minehead, will deliver modern workspaces for businesses, a 110-space car park, and will provide the popular West Somerset Railway with a tu
15/11/2007
A self-employed CORGI registered gas installer, Azam Siddiqi, has been fined £500 and ordered to pay a contribution towards costs of £2,500 after pleading guilty to installing a gas fire, but leaving it in a dangerous condition, in a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Thi
15/11/2007
Midlothian's planning committee has approved a proposal for a new Sainsbury store in the centre of Dalkeith. The site was previously home to an old bus station, post office and train station. The remaining structures are to be examined for contamination to ensure they are safe for construction to g
15/11/2007
A leading Scottish architectural practice has been appointed to design the £80.4m scheme to convert Marischal College into Aberdeen City Council's new corporate headquarters. Holmes Partnership, which has offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, will act as lead consultant on the Marischal Project, as par
15/11/2007
Councils in Scotland will be required to prepare an open space strategy to protect and improve open space, as part of a new planning policy issued by the Scottish Government today. The move will protect existing valued open space and identify requirements for new and improved spaces. Strategies wil
14/11/2007
Blackwood Plant hire has recently made two innovative new additions to its 57-strong fleet by purchasing a Terex TC125 midi-crawler excavator, the first of these models in Scotland. The 10.9-tonne TW110 purchased by Blackwood will first be put to work on a new road and sewer project led by RJ McLeo
14/11/2007
The Bank of Scotland has signed a £360 million deal to fund the building of a huge media complex, the first of its kind in the UK. The bank has teamed up with Peel Holdings to deliver MediaCity:UK, a hugely ambitious project that will span over 200 acres and provide over seven million square feet
14/11/2007
A South Devon roofer has been found guilty of three offences of making false statements under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and one offence of attempted deception under the Theft Act 1968, at Plymouth Crown Court on Monday 12 November. The case against Michael Barney, aged 45, of Summer Lane, Tei
14/11/2007
St Pancras International is back in business after an £800 million reconstruction. Work on the station began in 2001 enabling it to accommodate Eurostar trains in addition to Mainline services, Thameslink and high-speed commuter services to Kent. On the new Eurostar 186mph rail-link passengers c
14/11/2007
Midlothian Council has pulled building contractors Skanska into crisis talks over the continuing delays to the opening of several new schools. The council is reportedly 'irate' over the latest set back after receiving assurances from the contractor that the work would be completed on time. The co
14/11/2007
A search is underway to choose a site for a proposed new museum in Inverness. Public opinion is being sought for the possible venues for the Highland Gallery and Museum, with three sites under consideration. The Town House car park in Castle Street, the Midmills Buildings and Northern Meeting Park
14/11/2007
The Scottish Government has set its targets on re-invigorating the Scottish infrastructure as a way of allowing "Scotland to flourish." In an announcement of a new government Economic Strategy plan, given at Glasgow University, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, detailed ambitious plans to bolst
14/11/2007
John Laing and residential partner Gladedale have concluded a deal to build new college facilities in Hastings, East Sussex The £75 million Hastings College project will include facilities for up to 2,500 students, as well as housing, healthcare, parking and a business and technology centre. The d
13/11/2007
A set of new environmental construction standards for housebuilders that go far beyond current sustainability requirements under building regulations are being launched by the South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA). The Green Charter, introduced in collaboration with Creative Environmenta
13/11/2007
Aberdeen has re-ignited its demand for the construction of a 50 metre swimming pool on the back of the Commonwealth games announcement. Leader of Aberdeen City Council, Kate Dean, has pledged to work tirelessly to ensure the city secures such a facility, ear marked for use as a training base for at
13/11/2007
The £53 million redevelopment of a Scottish College is setting a new precedent by using redundant equipment to help the lives of the worlds poorest. Around 65 tonnes of redundant items from Jewel & Esk college, which is being refitted, will be recycled, re-used or repaired before being shipped in 4
13/11/2007
Glasgow was the scene of the first turf cut on what will eventually be the largest museum in Britain. Lord Provost of Glasgow, Bob Winter, broke new ground leading the ceremony for the £45 million Riverside Museum site, designed by the prize winnning Zaha Hadid. Funded by Glasgow City Council, wit
13/11/2007
A tattoo session was cut short when nearby construction workers caused a series of prolonged power cuts. Blackouts have affected a score of businesses near a multi million pound university development as work on Edinburgh University's new informatics research centre plays havoc with the areas power
13/11/2007
A new innovation for ceiling and wall sanding has been just announced to the dry lining industry. Described as a 'drive along' ceiling and wall sander, a new tool called the Vezos HandySand, has just been introduced to the UK & Irish Dry Lining industry. Manufactured in Greece with full CE certifi
13/11/2007
A specialist door manufacturer is expanding its premises to open a frame and doorset centre, creating 20 new jobs. Conduit Construction Network Ltd, based in Cramling, Northumberland, manufacture specialist timber door sets in the commercial construction market, including soundproofing or fireproof
13/11/2007
A report by one of the UK's main property firms valued the Scottish Commercial property market at £7.34 billion, but says the Government has "hampered" the industry with its lack of essential statistics. In what is believed to be a first of its kind report for Scotland, Property Advisors GVA Grimle
13/11/2007
The Scottish Minister for Health visited Glasgow today as building work on Victoria Hospital has reached a vital landmark. Health secretary Nichola Surgeon preformed the 'trowel off' as the £100 million project completed its major structural works. Building work on the hospital began in November 2
12/11/2007
Scotland is to receive a Commonwealth face-lift for 2014, with the announcement of new arenas and upgrades to many of the old. The new venues announced include; The National Indoor Sports Arena, which will be built next to Celtic Park primarily to house over 5,000 badminton spectators; The National
12/11/2007
Flood defences to the value of £17 million have been announced as part of the £42 million plans by the Scottish Government to limit future flood damage. The proposals will protect the notoriously flood prone areas of Forres and and Bo'ness. £13.5 million will go to Forres to protect it from the ban
12/11/2007
A Scottish qualification for masonry conservation has been launched for the first time, back by the Herritage Lottery fund. Culture Minister, Linda Fabiani, announced the move in response to the rate of maintenance carried out in the Scottish construction sector. Repair and maintenance work makes u
12/11/2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning consumers to check gas fitters are CORGI registered before allowing them to work on domestic gas appliances. The warning comes after a gas fitter from Wrexham was prosecuted by HSE for carrying out work at a house without being CORGI registered. Nige
12/11/2007
A builder who carried out wheelchair-friendly renovations to the home of a disabled customer has been named the most "heavenly" in Britain. Dave Stowell from Pembrokeshire in Wales, was awarded the title at the Master Builder of the Year ceremony. Mr Stowell was nominated by pensioner David Edward
12/11/2007
Derwent Fencing Limited of Hilton, Derbyshire has pleaded to keeping, treating and disposing of waste without a licence. The charge was brought by the Environment Agency under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Derwent Fencing Limited was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of
12/11/2007
Work has begun on Somerset County Council’s new Children's Centre for Huish Episcopi and the surrounding area, which will provide local support and advice for parents and carers of children under five. The centre, due to open in spring 2008, will create a single point of access to services for fami
12/11/2007
Unless climate-proof labelling is introduced in time, the buyers of the millions of new homes announced in this week's Queens Speech will face unprecedented risk with their property investment according to climate change strategy experts Alexander Ballard Limited (ABL). ABL says that house buyers n
09/11/2007
Glasgow could be set for a wave of regeneration after the city was chosen to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. A budget of £288 million is said to have been made available for the event, with the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council providing the funds. While 70 per cent of the infrastruct
09/11/2007
Bovis Lend Lease has signed a contract to develop the 37-acre site at the heart of Media Centre in Salford. Bovis, one of the worlds leading project management and construction companies, has been appointed as Management Contractor for the initiative sited alongside the Manchester Ship Canal. The
09/11/2007
RENEW Northwest is delighted to announce a doubling of its industry coverage in its programme supporting pan-professional continuing professional development (CPD) for sustainable communities in the Northwest. A further eight organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding which commits to
09/11/2007
Universal Aerial Platforms recently worked alongside Mike Smith Studios to help install Channel 4's impressive new 'Big 4' sign, situated on the forecourt of the famous television centre headquarters. The steel sign measures a huge 16.6m in height, has a footprint of around 12.2m, took three months
09/11/2007
A revolutionary new foundation system for conservatories and lightweight structures, which uses unique modular plastic beams on top of screw piles, has earned a top industry award - before it has even been launched. The Wykamol Group beat off competition from over 180 other products to take the cov
09/11/2007
The design team behind The Angel of the North and The National Police Memorial in St James's Park has been chosen to create a permanent memorial to the victims of the 7/7 bombs in London. Following a competitive tendering exercise run by the Royal Parks, lead consultant and engineering services wil
09/11/2007
A Scottish developer has submitted plans to build 50 log cabins for tourists on the site of a First World War prisoner of war camp in the Borders. A previous attempt to get planning permission failed in 2005 due to risk of flooding, but developer, David Sands, has submitted innovative plans to buil
09/11/2007
The site of a former Tesco supermarket in Shrewsbury may be used to build more than 100 new houses. Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council has received an application for a residential development from Cheshire-based Morris Homes Ltd, who paid £8 million for the site earlier this year. Under the pl
09/11/2007
Stockport builders' merchants Travis Perkins have joined forces with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to help reduce the risk of customers injuring themselves in falls from vehicles. The Workplace Transport Campaign 2007 aims to increase the standards and awareness of risks involved in falling
08/11/2007
Employers, researchers and students are mounting an offensive on the under-representation of women in the construction, forestry and timber industries. Throughout November, representatives on behalf of the ‘firrs’ project will be speaking at events organised by Napier University with the support of
08/11/2007
SED (Site Equipment Demonstration) is not a show which lets the grass grow under its feet, which is why after 42-years, the show remains the UK's premier construction event. SED endeavours to introduce new innovations year on year, and for SED 2008 (13 – 15 May), Rockingham Motor Speedway, Corby,
08/11/2007
Constructing Excellence and its regional partner, the East Midlands Centre for constructing the Built Environment (EMCBE), are today hosting a major regional roadshow in Melton Mowbray. The event, entitled '2012 Construction Commitments: A Winning Business Strategy', focuses on how the industry can
08/11/2007
A scheme set up to help landlords improve housing for tenants has signed up its 100th member. The Landlords' Accreditation Scheme, run by West Dorset District Council, is going from strength to strength and recently signed up member Joe Meier. Mr Meier, of Stockwood Lettings and Property Management
08/11/2007
The Home Office spent £28 million on an asylum centre that was never built, it has been revealed. The National Audit Office – a spending watchdog- said the Government planned to build the detention centre near Bicester in Oxfordshire. However, local opposition, a rise in costs and a fall in the nu
08/11/2007
Mumford & Wood Ltd, a leading specialist manufacturer of bespoke, premium quality windows and doors, can now offer the consumer an extended service which includes a complete survey and installation package through its new sister company, Mumford & Wood Installations Limited (MWI). This brand new Es
08/11/2007
Reading-based building supplies company Wolseley PLC has spent £84 million on the acquisition of five companies. Four of the companies are US-based, with deals being struck for Wolseley to take over Architectural Building Supply Company, Jacobi Hardware, KBC Construction, and the inventory of JD's
08/11/2007
In the week Birmingham hosts the 4th National Science Cities Summit an innovative energy scheme will be launched to drastically cut carbon emissions from many of the City's most famous buildings. The launch is set to be officially opened on Thursday November 15 by Deputy Leader of Birmingham City
08/11/2007
The Government is being urged by a prominent housing group to rethink its recent plans for building millions of new homes – simply reuse our old ones. The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) has hit out at the Government for ignoring a major untapped resource in the form of existent unused pro
07/11/2007
An inferno at an under construction Scottish Primary School has forced the closure of roads and nearby buildings because of safety concerns. The current Maddison Primary School in Falkirk, which sits adjacent to the now gutted new development, and roads surrounding the site have all been closed by
07/11/2007
Plans have been announced to redevelop the former Ebbw Vale garden festival site in Wales. London-based Chester Properties have bought the site for £19.5 million and they plan a major refurbishment and extension to improve the shopping centre and attract business from the four million tourists who
07/11/2007
Liverpool Football Club has received the green light for their resubmitted plans for a new £400m stadium. The plans for a 60,000-capacity ground based on Stanley Park in the city were unanimously approved by Liverpool City Council. The new stadium will hold 15,000 more supporters than the clubs ex
07/11/2007
The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform has presented petitions in the High Court to wind up six building companies in the public interest. The petitions to wind up the companies were presented following confidential enquiries carried out by Companies Investigation Branc
07/11/2007
Welsh Deputy First Minister leuan Wyn Jones and Education Minister Jane Hutt visited the construction site of a new £2.5 million unit for the Teenage Cancer Trust at University Hospital Wales, on Tuesday 6 November, to mark the launch of the Economy & Transport and Children, Education & Lifelong Lea
07/11/2007
The multi-million re-development of Symes Avenue in south Bristol is finished, marking the latest milestone in the ongoing regeneration of south Bristol. A Morrisons superstore and a purpose-built community building containing a library will open for business on November 12 in a move that will bene
07/11/2007
A North East business has scored a real world first by designing a fuel cell to power a lighthouse. The historic South Gare lighthouse at the mouth of the River Tees leads to one of the River Tees leads to one of the busiest ports in the UK and is an exposed and hostile location for a fuel cell. T
07/11/2007
The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and the West of England Partnership, which includes North Somerset Council, is pioneering a new approach to communicating climate change. As part of this new approach a life-size model house full of energy saving ideas and gadgets will be on show at the Campu
07/11/2007
Facelift Access Hire has recently confirmed its 750,000 order to Finnish based supplier on today’s market - a Bronto 90m HLA (High Level Access). This increases its fleet of machines reaching 34 metre plus to well over 30 units. The 90m HLA is the latest in high-level access from Bronto, and is on
06/11/2007
Edinburgh Council has provided a grant of £4.4 million towards the cost of developing a flood prevention scheme for the Water of Leith. The scheme, which already has secured funding of £30 million, aims to protect vulnerable residents and businesses from the threat of flooding, following breaches b
06/11/2007
Work on the Olympic Stadium is due to commence three months earlier than original estimations. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Olympic Delivery Authority Chief Executive, David Higgins confirmed that construction would now get underway in April or May 2008. "The quicker we start the mor
06/11/2007
Scottish Culture Minister Linda Fabiani has announced the Government will commit to building on the architectural ambitions of Scotland for the future. Ms Fabiani, speaking at the UK Society of Chief Architects of Local Authorities (SCALA), spoke of the need for Scotland to maintain a high standar
06/11/2007
A commercial property report for Scotland has revealed that the investment property market has finally hit a long expected slowdown. The report, published by the property firm Ryden, showed that prices dropped 5 to 10 per cent from their peak, warning that commercial rents could rise as property pr
06/11/2007
The construction of a new £29 million sports facility at the former Ravenscraig steelworks in North Lanarkshire has been given the go ahead. The Scottish Government, through the national sports agency, sportscotland, has backed North Lanarkshire Council and Ravenscraig Limited's £29 million Ravens
06/11/2007
Over 150 representatives of Scotland's construction sector will discuss the implications and opportunities for the industry of embracing sustainable development when they meet for the annual conference of the Scottish Construction Forum in Perth on Friday 9 November. Opened by Mr Jim Mather, MSP, M
06/11/2007
A ground breaking ceremony in Wales has marked the start of work on a landmark project for the Isle of Anglesey County Council. Anglesey's first 'green' school will be built in Llangefni and the new Ysgol-y-Graig, on Lôn Talwrn, with the aim of setting a new standard of environmental design and sus
06/11/2007
Councils could offer thousands of affordable housing deals to help key workers and first time buyers onto the property ladder under a groundbreaking scheme. This marks a return of the local authority to the centre stage in providing homes for communities but in a new way - through Local Housing Com
06/11/2007
A survey conducted by Scottish housebuilder, Rok, has revealed the Scottish public is overwhelmingly in favour of the new plans to build affordable housing. Over 81 per cent of Scots said they would be happy, not only for new housing to be built, but to be built near them. The figures demonstrate
05/11/2007
The head of the National Trust has announced a new policy of obtaining green field sites in order to subvert the government's recently proposed housing plans. Sir William Proby, chairman of the trust, made the announcement at the National Trust's annual general meeting in London, and outlined his p
05/11/2007
A new engineering and construction vocational training college has opened in Basildon, one of the most deprived wards in the country. The £5.3 million vocational college, which stands on the site of an old plastics factory, is one of the few centres in the UK able to offer aeronautical engineering
05/11/2007
The Alfred McAlpine board has unanimously agreed to recommend the latest bid from Carillion. A finalisation of the deal will mean McAlpine and Carillion will be the second largest construction firm in the UK. The new offer valued McAlpine's shares at 585p, and is worth almost £600 million. A spok
05/11/2007
As part of the company's expansion plans, a leading firm of Welsh architects' Boyes Rees Architects has made three key appointments at director level. The third largest architects firm in Wales has appointed Chris Owen as Project Director, heading up a team of eight people at the practice and will
05/11/2007
One of the leading trade associations in the UK building industry has urged people to make sure any builders they employ are reputable, after a conman tricked pensioners out of £8,000. 46-year-old Tudor Davies from Llanelli in Wales, was jailed for four and a half years at Cardiff Crown Court afte
05/11/2007
The decision by the Government to delay the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates for public and commercial buildings by six months is a disappointing step in helping Britain reduce its carbon emissions, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian Berry, FMB Director of External A
05/11/2007
The Chairman of the National Trust has announced a shift in the organisations policy from preserving stately homes to the protection of the countryside from wholesale housing development. Speaking at the organisations annual general meeting in London, Sir William Proby warned of the "gobbling up" o
05/11/2007
The penultimate phase of a business park in North East England which could create as many as 3,500 jobs is almost finished. Spectrum 4 and Spectrum 5, part of Spectrum Business Park in Saeham, are due to be completed by developers the Hillford Group, at the end of the month. The flexible office bu
05/11/2007
An international design competition has been launched to give access to one of the finest - but most rarely seen - views anywhere in Britain. The competition is to find a replacement for the disused radar tower that stands between Liverpool docks and Crosby Beach. It calls for an Observatory that w
05/11/2007
Figures published by the Heath and Safety Executive show that work related deaths in the construction industry are taking a worrying climb. The macabre results show there were 77 fatal injuries to construction workers in 2006/07 as apposed to 60 in the previous year. Of the 77 deaths, 50 were emplo
02/11/2007
The Highways Agency met with more than 100 key stakeholders from the development and planning sector, this week, to discuss how they can work together to further progress our role in new planning or development proposals. This week, saw the first stakeholder Development Forum, organised by the High
02/11/2007
Support services and construction company Carillion has won three new contracts throughout the UK worth £137 million, including £47 million for the Scottish Prison Service. The international firm also secured a £70 million contract for the new Rolls Royce Building in London, and a contract to provi
02/11/2007
Plans for an 'iconic' new £10 million building in Aberdeen has been approved by Aberdeen city council. The project proposed by Peacock Visual Arts in partnership with the city's arts education, arts development teams and Citymoves will provide a range of educational facilities for the community. T
02/11/2007
A private developer partnership has announced plans for record levels of investment in Wandsworth. The Wandsworth Town Centre Partnership board has drawn up the new business plan, which includes shops, cafes, restaurants, leisure facilities and high quality residential development. It is hoped the
02/11/2007
Homes for Scotland, representatives of the Scottish private building industry, have written to The Minister for Health and well being, Nicola Sturgeon, praising her new approach to housing. Chief Executive Jonathan Fair congratulated the "foresight and ambition" of the discussion paper, 'Firm Found
02/11/2007
Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper, has petitioned housebuilders and councils to make carbon neutral housing a reality within 10 years. The minister also urged partners in the industry to follow suit and 'sign the green pledge' by emailing her department. According to the minister, key members of the
02/11/2007
The first phase in the redevelopment of the former Courage Brewery site in Bristol has begun. The £255 million project will see the one million sq ft site transformed into an all-new quarter in the heart of the city. Apartments, shops, offices, bars, cafes and leisure facilities will adorn the new
02/11/2007
Construction and support services firm Carillion has won three new building contracts worth approximately £137 million. The contracts are for the new Rolls Building in London, two agreements with the Scottish Prison Service in Edinburgh and new offices for the Welsh Assembly Government in Aberystwy
02/11/2007
E.on UK and Lunar Energy have submitted plans to build what will be one of the world's largest tidal stream power stations off the Welsh Coast. The project will see the construction of a field of 60 ft turbines situated on the sea floor near St David's in Pembrokeshire. The two companies have desc
02/11/2007
The construction of a new £29 million sports facility at the site of the former Ravenscraig steelworks in North Lanarkshire, Scotland has been given the green light. National sports agency sportscotland has pledged £7m to the Ravenscraig project, which has also received funding from the North Lanar
01/11/2007
Rogue developers who ignore planning laws will find themselves knee deep in fines if a new regulation by Scotland’s planning authority goes ahead. Greater powers will be afforded to councils to implement a host of alternative fines to developers who flout the Enforcement Notices and Breach of Condi
01/11/2007
A 330 foot tower, which will be the tallest building in the South West of England, has been granted planning permission by Plymouth City Council. Plymouth Hoe, at the edge of the city centre, will be the site for the mammoth new development by Devington Homes. The building will be 31 stories tal
01/11/2007
EDF Energy has been given the go ahead to build a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station in West Burton in Nottinghamshire. The proposed new station is planned to have a capacity of around 1300MW, enough to supply 1.5 million homes. The project is hoped to curtail the effects of the predic
01/11/2007
Skanska has been awarded the £242 million contract to construct Heron Tower by the trustees of the Heron Tower Property Unit Trust. Located on an island site on Bishopsgate, the building will be one of the tallest towers in the City of London upon completion. The 202 metre tall office building wil
01/11/2007
A warning by the National Grid on the capacity of the UK’s energy providers this winter has prompted the Association of Electricity Producers to speak out. The warning, which details a possible shortfall in electricity generating capacity, comes as news emerges on the fragility of the UK’s power in
01/11/2007
Award-winning national recruitment firm SkyBlue has launched a new service to fulfil the needs of many businesses for a centralised and comprehensive recruitment function. Source Smart offers a complete recruitment solution, providing the highest quality temporary, permanent and contract staff for
01/11/2007
The construction industry will not be able to attract the next generation of talented individuals unless industry leaders drastically change their approach, according to author Professor Richard Scase. “Construction companies are managing, not leading," said Professor Scase, author of Global Remix:
01/11/2007
Simon Byford from Kinross has been named Britain's Construction Manager of the Year by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) for the £17 million refurbishment of HBOS' headquarters building at The Mound in Edinburgh. Simon, who is a project manager for Sir Robert McAlpine commented: "It was a
01/11/2007
A 50-tonne demolition machine, one of the largest in Europe, has torn through the 12-storey building that was formerly the University of East London. The building, which has been derelict for a number of years, is one of the tallest in Olympic Delivery Authority’s demolition plan, and its destructi
