Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for February 2008
29/02/2008
The application by Trump International Golf Links Scotland to develop a golf resort will go to a Public Local Inquiry. Ministers called in the planning application for a development at Balmedie, Aberdeenshire on 4 December. Announcing the decision Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Grow
29/02/2008
Wales is rising to the challenge of the changing world of energy and leading the way in the UK, First Minister Rhodri Morgan told delegates at his Energy Summit today. The First Minister said that since he last met delegates at the annual summit, the pace of change in the energy sector has continue
29/02/2008
Gordon Brown has called for businesses and supermarkets to phase out the use of plastic bags, despite nearly 1m branded bags being handed out by government departments last year. The figures, obtained through parliamentary questions, show that more than £90,000 of taxpayers' money has been spent on
29/02/2008
House prices in England and Wales increased by just 0.9% in January, according to the latest monthly figures from Land Registry. The increase takes the average house price to £186,045. However, the data shows a decline in annual house price changes, from 6.7% last month to 6.4% this month. London e
29/02/2008
Every 25 minutes, someone breaks or fractures a bone at work according to the latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This week, the HSE launched the 'Shattered Lives' campaign, to highlight the devastating consequences of simple slips, trips and falls - including falls from hei
29/02/2008
Dr Roopa Salwan, a Consultant Cardiologist at the Max Devi Vascular Unit in New Delhi, India and John Armitt Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority have both been awarded the Chartered Institute of Building's (CIOB) Presidents Medals. The President's medal is presented each year at the CIOB's A
29/02/2008
The UK is among the world's leading nations for eco-friendly inventions, it has been revealed today. The news comes as the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) launches a competition to encourage Britain's youngest inventors to think green when coming up with new ideas. Research by the UK-IPO,
29/02/2008
The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) has announced the programme for its annual conference on Thursday 10 April. The venue will again be One Great George Street, Westminster, London SW1. Greg Wood, the BBC's Business Correspondent and presenter of Radio 4’s agenda setting 'Today' programme
29/02/2008
One of Britain's premier home builders, Barratt Homes has appeared in court to face the penalty for breaching the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991. The case first came to light in October 2007 when Bury Council's Trading Standards received a complaint. Barratts advertised in a local newspaper tha
29/02/2008
Maidstone Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Tony Harwood, will be helping to roll out the borough's new fortnightly recycling service. The first 20,000 homes will have the new service by the end of this month. Another 20,000 will receive it in October and everyone will have an improved fortni
28/02/2008
Network Rail has been fined a record £14 million by the Office of Rail Regulation for engineering work which overran during Christmas and the New Year. The fine was imposed for three serious overruns during the festive period, the worst of which was on the West Coast Main Line at Rugby in the West
28/02/2008
The Government has today announced the regional distribution of more than £1bn to revitalise the housing market in key areas and restore stable communities. Up to £54m a year will be made available to each of the twelve "Pathfinder" areas over the next three years, under the housing market renewal
28/02/2008
The Government's commitment to renewable energy is demonstrated again today as Malcolm Wicks, the Energy Minister gives permission for three new wind farms to be built. An 85 Megawatt onshore wind farm has been planned at Keadby, North Lincolnshire. The development by Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (
28/02/2008
The Government's drive towards zero carbon housing took a step forward yesterday with the announcement that all new homes are to be rated on their green credentials from May 1st. A rating against the Code for Sustainable Homes, which measures nine categories of sustainable design including energy,
28/02/2008
North East Lincolnshire Council has selected its preferred bidder for a multi-million pound gateway scheme at Cartergate. The Cartergate development on the site of the former BLESMA House off Frederick Ward Way will be a mix of office space, urban spaces and mixed use retail and residential buildin
28/02/2008
Funding of £203 million has been announced to revitalise the housing market and restore stable communities in the Yorkshire and Humber region, as part of a £1 billion national programme. Under the Government's Housing Market Renewal programme, South and West Yorkshire will receive £116m over the ne
28/02/2008
The final hurdle for the Durham Road replacement school is expected to be cleared next month, when it is anticipated that the financial agreement between Newport City Council and Vinci Investments Ltd will be signed. The company will be building the school for the council under the government's pri
28/02/2008
Kings Oak Primary Learning Centre in Barnsley has been highly commended in the 'Inspiring Design – Primary School' category at the British Council for School Environments' (BCSE) awards for best practice in design and construction of schools. The centre was designed by HLM architects. Ty Goddard,
28/02/2008
Residents in Amber Valley wanting to carry out work on their home are being advised to make sure they apply for planning permission before beginning their project. Amber Valley Borough Council process over 1,600 planning applications each year, with the majority of residents and developers seeking
28/02/2008
Recycler, the state-of-the-art rapping robot, was invited by St Helens Council to visit eight primary schools in St Helens to spread the word on recycling. The show was aimed at teaching pupils and teachers all about the three Rs: 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle'. Recycler shows children what they can d
27/02/2008
The Chair of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), Judith Hackitt chaired an International Safety Conference hosted by the UK Petroleum Industry Association which brought together experts from the oil industry, regulators, professional bodies and trade associations in order to generate a wider deb
27/02/2008
The danger of the 'zero carbon agenda' that has gripped the UK property industry is that it ignores social and economic sustainability and could result in highly perverse outcomes, leading architects, planners and property developers were warned. Speaking at the Ecobuild conference in London, Dr Da
27/02/2008
To protect essential water and sewerage services for consumers and safeguard the future of those services, bills in England and Wales will rise by a little more than inflation this year. The average increase, which will vary from company to company, is 1.5% plus inflation at 4.3%. This means that t
27/02/2008
A Redrow housing scheme, which brought homes to first-time buyers for less than £50,000, has scooped another national award. The ground-breaking scheme in Rugby, Warwickshire, was the first Redrow development to feature the Debut product range, aimed at helping people to get onto the property ladde
27/02/2008
Disruption to Brentwood drivers and commuters during the construction of Crossrail has been minimised, due to negotiations by Brentwood Borough Council. The Council has secured that Hunter Avenue car park will not be used by the developers for Crossrail and that approximately half of Friars Avenue
27/02/2008
Manchester's regeneration has been given a multi-million pound boost alongside the creation of a new ministerial group to support city leaders in bidding for further projects, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said. Ms Blears announced that English Partnerships have earmarked around £10m to accele
27/02/2008
The Ringwood based Raymond Brown Group has announced the delivery of five Volvo A25E articulated haulers. Long term user of Volvo Construction Equipment products, the Raymond Brown Group has augmented its plant fleet with the addition of five A25E articulated haulers. "We've been associated with
27/02/2008
A scheme to reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses in Rothes has been given the go ahead. Minister for Environment Michael Russell said: "I am pleased to confirm that Moray Council can go ahead with a sound flood prevention scheme for Rothes. "The three small burns (Burn of Rothes, Ba
27/02/2008
Uponor Housing Solutions UK Ltd is exhibiting its products and services from the 10 - 13 April at the Homebuilding and Renovating show, held at the Birmingham NEC. At the show visitors will be able to watch live UFH demonstrations, ask questions about pipe related issues and enter competitions. Vi
27/02/2008
Efficient, dust-free drilling in interiors is now possible with the launch of a lightweight, compact hammer drill, the GBH 2-23 REA Professional, by Bosch Professional Power Tools. The drill has an integral but removable dust extraction unit, incorporating an exchangeable filter. The unit's design
26/02/2008
The Government has given a controversial super-casino plan the axe. However, plans for a new casino development in Stranraer have been given the green light. Culture Secretary Andy Burnham confirmed the decision to go ahead with 16 large regional casinos today, but drop the proposed huge gambling
26/02/2008
The Scottish Government has announced its support for the Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) schools design programme. Fiona Hyslop, the Education Secretary, opened an exhibition with blueprints for futuristic school designs in Glasgow. It features ideas for schools with no corridors, flexible
26/02/2008
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has issued High Court proceedings against letting agent Foxtons in relation to certain terms in Foxtons’ lettings agreements with landlords. The OFT is also seeking an injunction against Foxtons preventing it from using the terms. The action taken by the OFT is in
26/02/2008
Turner & Townsend's Scottish Environmental team are increasingly working with a diverse range of high profile clients; committed to seeking new benchmarks and key innovation for long-term sustainability. The Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA) as an Executive Agency of the Scottish government
26/02/2008
The CIBSE/ASHRAE Conference 2008 will tackle the major issues that managers, clients, architects and planners alike all face in the fight to produce green buildings, says John Armstrong, President of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). "The industry and the public want
26/02/2008
Danestone Primary School in Aberdeen is opening its doors to encourage parents and community groups to get involved in its activities. The traditional open day goes ahead every spring and involves the whole school, parents, retired staff, carers, and friends, who also have the chance to join childr
26/02/2008
To enable the industry to meet the new requirements of the 17th Edition, the Electrical Contractors' Association has published a comprehensive, user-friendly book for electrical contractors, apprentices, designers and installers alike. Simply laid out using a series of clear tables and diagrams, 'G
26/02/2008
The Major Contractors Group (MCG) has announced that, following a review identifying Supervisor Health & Safety training as an operational priority, all supervisors on their sites must attend ConstructionSkills' Supervisors Safety Training Scheme as part of their commitment to Health and Safety trai
26/02/2008
The Environment Agency has welcomed the Government's announcement of a boost in funding for its work programme for 2008/09. "We have a lot of work to do this coming year. Flood risk management, climate change adaptation, water resources, river quality, agricultural pollution and cracking down on en
26/02/2008
Lancashire County Council has announced it is investing millions in highways, social care and the environment while still delivering an inflation-beating council tax increase. Council bosses pledged to save even more money, with £859,000 being carved from the budget on top of £8.6m efficiencies alr
25/02/2008
Power distributor National Grid has been fined £41.6 million for restricting competition in the UK's gas metering market. Energy regulator Ofgem said the company, which owns 99% of the UK's gas meters, had "severely restricted" rival suppliers from replacing its equipment with cheaper or more advan
25/02/2008
Following a joint investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and Kent County Council's Trading Standards, a trader who allegedly put vulnerable people at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning will appear in court. The hearing of trader Tommy Smith, at Margate Magistrates' Court will take plac
25/02/2008
New nuclear power station operators will be required by law to set aside money from day one of generating electricity for their eventual decommissioning and waste costs, Business Secretary John Hutton has announced. Draft guidance published sets out how clauses in the Energy Bill requiring operator
25/02/2008
A £1.5m grant has been approved towards the construction of EA Technology’s Energy Innovation Centre by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). The Capenhurst Energy Innovation Centre will be a unique new facility, desined to enable start-up companies and individuals to turn innovative id
25/02/2008
Swale Borough Council has appointed Urban Initiatives to prepare the master plan and strategy for Sittingbourne town centre. This is the project to develop the vision for the regeneration of Sittingbourne and provide a clear policy for development. Public involvement will be very important in shapi
25/02/2008
Two Medway beauty spots are being made even safer by security cameras. Infra-red CCTV cameras are being installed at Capstone Farm Country Park in Chatham and Riverside Country Park in Gillingham during February to monitor the security of the parks, as well as checking for intruders and fires in th
25/02/2008
Bus passengers in Hexham could be looking forward to a new modern transport facility in the town, following a study into the best location and the facilities needed for effective and customer focussed bus services. Consultants have looked at options for the future, which included redeveloping the s
25/02/2008
Proposals to transform Blackburn with Darwen's secondary schools were given the final go ahead by the Council's Executive Board. Councillors voted in favour of plans to build, remodel and relocate eight of the borough's high schools between 2010 and 2016 as part of Building Schools for the Future (
25/02/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning those with a responsibility to maintain and service gas appliances in schools and other public buildings to ensure that they have a robust gas safety management system in place. The warning comes after Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council was fined
25/02/2008
The Construction Youth Trust (CYT) is set to launch the 'Budding Brunels' pilot scheme and is looking for support from charitable trusts and industry bodies. The Budding Brunels project is an opportunity to excite and inform pupils in Year 12 (aged 16-17) about the building and engineering professi
22/02/2008
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced an increase in funding for clean energy technologies, investments and enterprises to over £400 million over the next three years. As part of the domestic Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF), the Carbon Trust will recei
22/02/2008
Six construction companies were ordered by the High Court to shut down operations, following an investigation by Companies Investigation Branch (CIB) of the Insolvency Service. The companies were found to have obtained residential building work by advertising on the internet and approaching potenti
22/02/2008
Energy regulator Ofgem has launched an investigation into the markets in electricity and gas for households and small businesses. Ofgem's inquiry follows a series of inflation-busting price hikes announced recently by big energy firms. The regulator has no strong evidence of failure in the gas an
22/02/2008
Mole Valley District Council has teamed up with British Gas to offer discounted wall or loft insulation and a £75 council tax rebate. This scheme is open to residents of Mole Valley who own their home or rent from a private landlord. It is being delivered in partnership because large energy suppl
22/02/2008
Work has begun on a new £1.5m business centre with a top level environmental rating in Ludlow. The Enterprise Centre has been designed to provide sustainable workspaces for up to 21 businesses, with the potential to create almost 100 jobs. Cllr Lee Chapman, deputy leader and economic portfolio hol
22/02/2008
As part of the £100 million redevelopment of Hardwick, work has started on the construction of a new state-of-the-art primary school. Hardwick Green Primary School will open its doors to pupils in January 2009 and will offer 210 places with a 26-place nursery. The new £4 million school is being bu
22/02/2008
Plans to build a new state-of-the-art school and children's centre 'fit for the 21st century' in North Reddish, Stockport, have moved a step closer. Both Stockport Council's Planning and Highways Regulation Committee and the Schools Adjudicator have given the go-ahead for the new school at Harcourt
22/02/2008
People across St Edmundsbury will have more choice about where they live due to a new choice-based lettings scheme introduced this month. The new scheme, Home-Link, will see people on the housing register bidding for their preferred property. All available homes in St Edmundsbury, as well as those
22/02/2008
One of Scotland's leading specialist timber companies marked the start of a new era this week, with the official opening of its new premises by His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent. The Royal opening was the culmination of an ambitious expansion programme which resulted in the company relocating to
22/02/2008
Over three weeks remain until the frame of Swansea's multi-million pound new retail complex is complete. Visitors to the city centre will have noticed steelwork at the former David Evans site coming on in leaps and bounds as plans to unveil a flagship three-storey facility in the autumn stay on tra
21/02/2008
British Gas profits soared by 500% to £571m last year, a massive rise from �95m in 2006. Its owner, Centrica, reported a 40% increase in year profit, up to £1.95bn from £1.39bn. The figures look certain to generate an outcry from consumer groups, which saw gas and electricity prices increase on
21/02/2008
Five has commissioned Windfall Films to produce two major engineering series. 'Big, Bigger, Biggest' is a new series that uses ground-breaking CGI animation to explore the engineering inventions that have allowed buildings to grow in size and scale, whilst the third series 'Monster Moves' follows t
21/02/2008
New proposals aimed at helping reduce disruption by ensuring that road works are carried out efficiently, safely and to the highest standards, were unveiled today by Transport Minister Rosie Winterton. The proposals would see qualified workers being reassessed every five years to ensure their knowl
21/02/2008
Work on a major £1.5m international-standard indoor bowls stadium is nearing completion. The bowls carpet at the Landore stadium will soon be laid down as decorative and internal preparations reach their final stages. The Swansea Council stadium at Beaufort Road in Plasmarl will boast six rinks ca
21/02/2008
Bell Equipment UK has delivered five new generation B30D articulated dump trucks to Lancashire-based P. Casey (Plant Hire) Limited. The deal forms part of Casey's continuing expansion, driven largely by increased demand from customers. The addition of the new trucks to Casey's catalogue of hire eq
21/02/2008
The future use of Eurokent, land to the south of the emerging Westwood Cross town centre, is up for public debate after East Kent Opportunities launched a major community consultation programme, including a series of public events. Eurokent, the 40 acre site situated next to the A256 Haine Road, is
21/02/2008
Consumption of timber board products from Norbord is set to increase at the Grangemouth factory of Carronvale Timber Frame, one of Scotland's leading timber frame manufacturers. Carronvale, which supplies many major housebuilders and developers as well as its own residential development division, s
21/02/2008
Free places to an exclusive energy efficiency seminar are being offered to private landlords. Held at Crawley Civic Hall on Tuesday 18 March from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, the evening will offer expert speakers about financial assistance for insulation and some heating measures, as well as the 'Landlords E
21/02/2008
Corus UK Ltd, trading as Corus Packaging Plus have been fined £250,000 at Swansea Crown Court following a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the death of employee Francis Coles. Mr Coles died after being struck on the head by a piece of machinery at the Trostre Tin Plate works in
21/02/2008
The second phase of a £420,000 project, funded by the Park Royal Partnership and British Waterways, to upgrade a two-mile section of the Grand Union Canal Paddington Arm towpath between Scrubs Lane and Abbey Road is underway. The West London works, which include towpath resurfacing and widening, re
20/02/2008
Entry forms are now available for the 2008 Natural Stone Awards, the 14th organised by the Stone Federation Great Britain. These are the most prestigious awards available to those who work with stone, whether they are specifying, supplying or building. Entries have to be submitted to the federation
20/02/2008
A Scottish Edwardian theatre is set to receive a £2m makeover as part of a project to boost cultural facilities in the area. New facilities for young musicians, artists' workspaces and the development of an arts centre are also proposed for Perth Theatre. A council spokeswoman, said: "Having acces
20/02/2008
Manchester master planners URBED (Urbanism Environment and Design) have been appointed by Bury Council to draw up a regeneration for Prestwich Village to assess the current health of the town centre. It follows similar studies that have been carried out for Bury and Radcliffe. The purpose of the st
20/02/2008
Alnwick District Council has been short-listed for three awards that celebrate best practice among local authorities, in the North East. There are 10 categories in the Shine Awards 2008, which have been organised by the Association of North East Councils and sponsored by the Improvement Partnership
20/02/2008
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) is running a new series of technical courses for Spring/Summer 2008, with an emphasis on environmental issues and craft skills. The courses are specifically designed for those working with historic buildings. Covering subjects ranging from
20/02/2008
Stroud District Council is working with parish and town councils to introduce a scheme of watercourse wardens to help prevent flooding. The plans are thought to be the first of their kind. They involve working closely with communities to prevent flooding, literally at ground level, rather than deal
20/02/2008
A new fountain - which doubles up as a stage when dry - is proposed as the centrepiece of a redeveloped Winckley Square in Preston. The imaginative and eye-catching design also includes granite walkways and fibre optic lights, as well as the creative use of sculpture and metal artwork. The winning
20/02/2008
High Peak Borough Council and the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre would like to invite people in the High Peak to 'Leave It Off' for 24 hours as part of the national Energy Saving Day (E-Day) event. E-Day will be happening between 6pm on Wednesday 27 February 2008 and 6pm on Thursday 28 February.
20/02/2008
The £7m, 43,500 sq ft Westfields office development in Sandbach, home to Congleton Borough Council, is one of only seven developments in Cheshire to be named as a contender for one of the North West's most prestigious property awards, dubbed the 'OSCARS'. The building has been entered into the Comm
20/02/2008
Green-fingered youngsters in Angmering did their bit for the environment by planting new trees at Palmer Road Recreation Ground as part of the Tree 4 Life scheme. The trees were supplied by Angmering tree warden Ken Penny. The planting also commemorated last year's 20th anniversary of the great sto
19/02/2008
A new "Superhospital" in Scotland will cost taxpayers £842m, it has been revealed today. Local health board NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) have recommended public funding as opposed to private for the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow. The move follows controversy over the use of priva
19/02/2008
In a move that will be closely watched by supporters of environmentally friendly energy on both sides of the Irish Sea, proposals for making Wales self-sufficient in renewable energy within 20 years are being launched today by the Welsh Assembly Government. The Welsh Environment Minister Jane David
19/02/2008
Encouraging drivers to shift from private vehicles to public transport in London fails to recognise the need of consumers and builders alike, who need to enter London's congestion zone to carry out essential repairs to maintain the fabric of London's built environment, warns the Federation of Master
19/02/2008
People receiving Pension Credit are being urged to apply for grants to help insulate their homes against the cold and rising fuel bills. Following recent well-publicised increases in energy prices, it's more important than ever that people apply for all the help available to them to make their home
19/02/2008
Work has begun on a £167k project to light the city of Inverness' main river crossing. Ness Bridge is to be fitted with colour changing Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lighting to reflect on the water and in doing so, will become a striking new addition to city's nightime scene. As soon as the work i
19/02/2008
Hospitals across Wales are to be given a share of almost £33m to buy new equipment and improve patient facilities, Health Minister Edwina Hart has announced. New diagnostic equipment such as an MRI scanner, x-ray and endoscopy machines will be bought with the money along with providing teleconferen
19/02/2008
Examples of bad and even dangerous working practices have been found by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors during random spot checks on refurbishment sites in Dundee and Angus last week. Seventeen sites received an unannounced visit from the HSE last week, and as a result, prohibition not
19/02/2008
The latest phase of the Exe Estuary Trail will be officially opened with a special ceremony next week. The £2.2m scheme, which stretches from Marine Way in Exmouth to Sowden Lane in Lympstone, opened to the public at the end of last year. To celebrate its completion, Devon County Council Chairman
19/02/2008
A thriving renewable energy connection business has won a contract that could help develop the UK's first 'Renewables Ready Region'. Econnect, based in Hexham, Northumberland, has been awarded the contract by regional development agency One NorthEast, to complete a feasibility study based around co
19/02/2008
A new range of roof and wall systems which simplify the specification process by providing an innovative install solution, has been developed by Euroclad. Elite Systems are designed with the environment and performance top of the agenda. Consisting of steel outer and liner sheets with mineral fibr
19/02/2008
With emphasis increasingly upon ensuring a comfortable and safe working environment for truck operators, the Terex TA30 articulated dump truck with independent front suspension has been given a vote of confidence from the drivers of Denny Plant Hire in Scotland. Stirlingshire-based Denny currently
18/02/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has again urged construction companies to take sensible, effective precautions to protect employees and others affected by work at height. This follows a sentencing hearing on Friday at Aylesbury Crown Court, at which Environmental Reclamation Ltd (ERL) of St A
18/02/2008
A major development opportunity at Kings Waterfront in Liverpool city centre has been released to the market. Landowner, national regeneration agency English Partnerships, and city centre urban regeneration company Liverpool Vision, are seeking expressions of interest for the development of two adj
18/02/2008
The Pan Peninsula development, the UK's tallest residential building, is expected to make carbon emissions savings of 207 tonnes per year, thanks to the inclusion of onsite CHP provided by Manchester-based cogeneration specialist Ener-g. By generating its own heat and electricity onsite, the Londo
18/02/2008
A new hotel at Ratho Park close to Edinburgh Airport has been given the green light by Edinburgh City Council planners. Developed by The EDI Group Limited (EDI), the 97-bed hotel will go on site in April 2008, opening to guests next year. Set in landscaped grounds and operated by Travelodge, the h
18/02/2008
The hotly anticipated report from the Competition Commission has recommended that no major changes should take place in the grocery market. Despite hopes from campaigners - and recommendations in a previous report in October 2007 - supermarkets will not have to sell any of their current reserves of
18/02/2008
A £2.7m makeover for derelict land surrounding the site of Glasgow's new Riverside Transport Museum has been approved by the city council’s Executive Committee. The area, at Pointhouse Quay in Partick, which also takes in a public slipway for river access, a public square and approach to a new pede
18/02/2008
One of the UK's leading timber and panel products distributor, James Latham is to establish its first Scottish site at the Eurocentral business park in Lanarkshire. James Latham, has agreed a deal to take a 40,000 sq ft warehousing and distribution unit at Eurocentral on a 17-year lease. The new f
18/02/2008
A music and science block at a secondary school in Harrogate is now hitting all the right notes thanks to a £900,000 makeover from Senior Aluminium Systems (SAS). SAS worked in partnership with fabricators Skipton Glass to create the right chemistry for the revamp at Granby High School on Ainstry R
18/02/2008
The Myers Group, the Huddersfield-based building material supply group has recently installed two new vehicle lifts from Stertil Koni. The 28-tonne capacity in-ground lifts have been fitted as part of a major workshop refurbishment. The Myers Group owns and maintains its own fleet of plant and mac
18/02/2008
Swish Building Products, specialists in PVC roofline and cladding systems, has been selected by national new build developer Barratt Homes for a large building project in Swansea, South Wales. The five-year scheme, which began in 2006, involves supplying coloured grey fascias for 550 new ipad apart
15/02/2008
A contractor has been fined £25,000 by Newry Crown Court after pleading guilty to a breach of Regulation 6 of the Northern Ireland Construction Regulations. The negligence case against Paul Casement Contracts arose following the investigation of an incident where a 52-year-old worker was seriously
15/02/2008
The Competition Commission is expected to publish today the widely anticipated report into whether there should be tighter rules on where and how many supermarkets are built. It is likely the report will recommend changes to the planning system and propose the introduction of a new competition test
15/02/2008
Floods Recovery Minister John Healey has confirmed an interim Bellwin payment to Hull of £1,800,693 which will cover some of the costs incurred during last summer's floods, with the possibility of a further payment to follow. Mr Healey and European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hubner vi
15/02/2008
East Lothian Council has been awarded the Carbon Trust Low Carbon Building Award 2008 for the design and project specifications of the new Windygoul Primary School, Tranent. Jim Mather, Minister of Enterprise, Energy and Tourism presented the award to Cllr Paul McLennan from East Lothian Council at
15/02/2008
The Management Recruitment Group (MRG), a construction industry-based executive search agency, has announced the appointment of Michael Hewlett as Senior Practice Manager at their Twickenham office. The announcement signals a major expansion of the organisation prior to the opening of new offices
15/02/2008
Ambitious plans to redevelop Twechar's canalside will soon be realised after representatives from East Dunbartonshire Council and the Twechar Regeneration Group attended an official groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday 13th February 2008 to mark the beginning of construction work. Councillor Billy
15/02/2008
Professor Robert Watson, Chief Scientific Advisor at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has been named winner of the 2007 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) International Scientific Cooperation Award. He was cited for his outstanding contributions
15/02/2008
The UK's biggest independent supplier to the fish and chip industry is aiming to slash the costs of fuelling its fleet of vehicles by making its own biodiesel from used cooking oils. Henry Colbeck's new onsite biodiesel-processing facility has begun recycling waste oils collected from shops across
15/02/2008
A consultation paper seeking views on implementation of the changes and recommending a reduction in the time limit for appeals to be lodged from six to three months is published today. The paper also recommends that appeals against most decisions delegated to planning officers will be heard by coun
15/02/2008
Changes have been made to New East Manchester's regeneration plans for the next decade following a major consultation exercise that involved 30,000 households in east Manchester. Local people were asked to comment on a draft document that identified three core objectives and eight key priorities
14/02/2008
Many new homes could be unsaleable, uninsurable and uninhabitable unless stricter planning controls are introduced, insurers have warned. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has said tougher planning controls are needed if flood insurance is to remain widely available for new homes. Accordin
14/02/2008
A pioneering 3D model commissioned by urban regeneration company, New East Manchester and funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has been commended at the RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) Awards 2007. The interactive computer generated model, which covers 50 acres of the Anc
14/02/2008
Tourism and conferencing in the North East received a boost today after plans for a 155-room hotel were unveiled. A new Holiday Inn is planned for the entrance to the Newburn Riverside business park, on the outskirts of Newcastle upon Tyne. The proposed six-storey full service hotel will boast mee
14/02/2008
A leading construction and management consultancy has secured further use of its expertise in large scale industrial buildings within the Chinese market. Turner & Townsend has been commissioned to support the construction of a new Bosch Siemens factory based on its campus in Chuzhou, Anhui Province
14/02/2008
British Waterways is set to commence a £575,000 access improvement project on the Erewash Canal Corridor after securing funding from the East Midlands Development Agency's (emda's) Waterways Regeneration Fund. The project will deliver for the first time, a Community and Visitor Access Strategy for
14/02/2008
An extension to the M74 which will significantly reduce congestion on the busiest stretch of the M8 through Glasgow and provide a major economic boost to the west of Scotland has been given the go-ahead. The tender price bid by the Interlink M74 is a fixed price of just under £445m plus an allowanc
14/02/2008
A Lowton company who design and manufacture security bollards have seen their international business increase more than ten-fold since seeking help from UK Trade & Investment. ATG Access manufacture everything from residential bollards to protect private homes to the high-tech, anti-terrorist bolla
14/02/2008
A property company has signed an agreement with Liverpool Vision and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to develop a key city centre site at West Moorfields. The site, which forms a gateway into the expanding Commercial District, comprises Cross Keys House, a large open space currentl
14/02/2008
Plans for a new £50m hospital in Plymouth have gone on show as part of a special exhibition and briefing by international architects Foster + Partners. The proposed new centre of clinical excellence is being planned for land on the Plymouth International Medical and Technology Park at Derriford. I
14/02/2008
Work has begun on an £8m project to provide state-of-the-art cancer services at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. Robertson Highland will construct the specialist concrete bunkers for two new linear accelerators. The work will also see the development of a new Medical Physics Workshop and the refurbi
13/02/2008
Portsmouth is getting a major fillip with news that a £17 million contract for a naval vessel has been granted. The project, to refurbish a Type 42 destroyer, the HMS York, has been awarded to Portsmouth-based Fleet Support Ltd (FSL), the Ministry of Defence has announced. Work for the upkeep incl
13/02/2008
A multi-million pound biomass unit is due to be opened in Scotland, it has been announced. UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks will open the factory at the European headquarters of Norbord near Stirling, which will be used to power its Cowie factory and subsequently cut the level of emissions. Speaki
13/02/2008
The Highways Agency and Gloucestershire County Council are joining forces to improve a major transport route into the city, with an improvement package to the A40 between Over and Highnam in the region of £10m. Managed by the Highways Agency, the dual carriageway section between the roundabout at O
13/02/2008
Housebuilder Barratt Developments plc and E.ON, one of the UK's leading power and gas companies, have teamed up to deliver low cost and reliable solutions to meet the Government’s zero carbon homes agenda. The alliance is the first of its kind in the UK and will draw on Barratt’s expertise in energ
13/02/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had to stop work at ten sites during random spot checks on refurbishments sites in Aberdeen last week. The HSE said examples of bad and even dangerous working practices had been found by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors in Aberdeen last week. E
13/02/2008
Defence Secretary Des Browne has witnessed the start of an investment project to modify the dockyard at Rosyth, in preparation for the assembly of the two Royal Navy super carriers. The two 65,000 tonne aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, are to be constructed in section
13/02/2008
The Flat Roofing Alliance (FRA) has announced its Annual Awards Ceremony, the FRA Awards. This year sees the FRA highlighting small contractors through its special achievement award, inviting them to enter their best bituminous flat roofing project of up to 250 m2, thus giving acknowledgement to th
13/02/2008
Ofwat has granted Independent Water Networks Limited (IWNL) its second inset appointment to enable it to provide water and sewerage services to a new development in Corby, Northamptonshire. The inset appointment allows IWNL to supply water and sewerage services to a major development of nearly 5,10
13/02/2008
Balfour Beatty announced yesterday that it has agreed to buy the military accommodation business of GMH Communities Trust for $350 million. GMH is responsible for the development, renovation, financing, operation and management of military accommodation projects for the US Department of the Army,
13/02/2008
With demand growing for carbon free protection, Solar Gain Dales are representing their Solar Shade/Brise Soliel systems in a new, easy to read, brochure which is now available from the company or on download from the website
13/02/2008
The construction sector in Newcastle has been warned by the HSE that spot checks on refurbishment projects will be out to ensure workers’ lives are not being put at risk and the sites are in good order. Last year, 77 workers in the UK were killed on construction sites, and 60% of the fatalities occ
12/02/2008
The Government is investing almost £400m to transform Birmingham New Street station and make journeys easier for millions of passengers, the Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, announced today. The Government has provided all the funding grants sought by Birmingham City Council, Advantage West Midland
12/02/2008
A varied supply of affordable housing is vital to ensure the successful development and regeneration of Glasgow and Clyde Valley, the Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell told housing and planning representatives today. Speaking at a Housing Supply Task Force's Glasgow seminar Maxwell reinforced th
12/02/2008
Drivers were able to cross the Forth and Tay road bridges free of charge from midnight last night as all tolls were abolished after more than 40 years. Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "For the first time in more than 40 years, travellers driving across the Forth and Tay Bridges can trave
12/02/2008
The redevelopment of the University of Sheffield's campus moved a step closer to completion this week with the topping out of the Jessop West building. Located at the heart of the Sheffield campus, the new energy-efficient home for the Department of History and the Schools for English, and Modern L
12/02/2008
Work is due to start on United Auction's new £11m Mart at Hill of Drip, Stirling with Bruce Crawford, Scottish Minister for Parliamentary Business conducting a formal turf cutting ceremony. The ceremony is the culmination of more than four years' of work by Elphinstone and United Auctions, to repla
12/02/2008
Designs for the proposed Mersey Observatory have gone on public display. The landmark structure will replace the existing radar tower at the mouth of the river near Crosby Beach, home to Anthony Gormley's 'Another Place' sculpture. Five shortlisted entries were chosen from 92 submitted by architec
12/02/2008
Work has begun on a multi-million pound project to update Norwich Cathedral. The £4m project will see the construction of a welcome area, an education centre and an exhibition centre. A song school and music library and a community room are also to be built. The development is being built on the s
12/02/2008
JELD-WEN's door manufacturing site in Penrith, Cumbria, is celebrating achieving the prestigious ISO14001 accreditation, the international standard for environmental performance. The award gives a clear indication that the company adheres to strict environmental policies and procedures in all areas
12/02/2008
The Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) is once again supporting the annual Waterwise Water Efficiency Conference – The Road to Water Efficiency in the UK - to be held as part of UNESCO's World Water Day events programme on 8 and 9 April 2008 at Keble College, Oxford University. The event brin
12/02/2008
Thomas Mitchell Group has appointed a regional sales manager for its Timber Frame division in a bid to expand this highly successful part of the business into the South of Scotland. April Smith, who has worked in the production and sales of timber frame for over 20 years, will adopt the role of re
11/02/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today released the date of its spot inspections on refurbishment sites in Bedford, Luton and Peterborough. Teams of HSE inspectors will be targeting the refurbishment sites - where construction work is carried out on existing properties, in the area on Febr
11/02/2008
Construction contractors working on refurbishment sites in Sunderland and Durham have been told they should do more to ensure the safety of employees during random spot checks by the Health and Safety Executive. A total of 14 contractors had an unannounced visit from the HSE last week and as a resu
11/02/2008
The Countess of Chester Hospital has benefited from Marley Waterproofing's Goldseal Plus system. The high performance waterproofing system was installed on the new 5000m2 roof of the Chester Hospital Women and Children's Maternity Block, the largest specialist centre in the North of England. The wa
11/02/2008
A record Private Finance Initiative (PFI) investment of £225 million, to benefit the streets of Hampshire, Southampton and West Sussex, has been announced today by Transport Minister Rosie Winterton. The biggest streetlighting PFI ever will allow Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council a
11/02/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has reminded companies to ensure that they pay attention to trainees' health and safety needs and that they are supervised properly. The warning came after three companies and a manager were fined a total of £217,500 plus a total of £125,000 costs at Manchester
11/02/2008
Construction and maintenance companies who work near watercourses are being reminded that pollution incidents are avoidable by careful planning. The call comes as new pollution prevention guidelines are published by the Environment Agency. Steve Wenham, Technical Advisor at the Environment Agency,
11/02/2008
The Panel appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to advise on the draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West has published its recommendations. The board has recommended the building of 6,400 new homes in East Dorset over the next 20 years, with 3,000 of th
11/02/2008
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has announced the winners of the 2007/08 Sir Ian Dixon Scholarships. Ben Potts from Killby & Gayford and Edward Basterfield from Costain received the accolades from the CIOB in conjunction with the Worshipful Company of Constructors, which has run the Sir
11/02/2008
In a move to broaden its Timber Frame Division south of the Border, Thomas Mitchell Group has appointed a further regional sales manager, Iain Neil, to cover the North East of England, as well as the Lothians and the Scottish Borders. Iain Neil is the latest addition to a growing team of dedicated t
11/02/2008
Efforts to create a new cultural quarter in the heart of historic Gloucester have taken an important step forward. The South West of England Development Agency (RDA) and Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company (GHURC) have started work in earnest to investigate how to bring forward Fleece Ho
08/02/2008
The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) has today confirmed it has fined Southern Water a total of £20.3m for deliberately misreporting information and delivering poor service to customers. Southern Water’s shareholders will bear the entire cost of this fine. It will not be passed on to its
08/02/2008
One of Scotland's leading business figures has been appointed to a key role in delivering the "best ever Commonwealth Games" in Glasgow in 2014. Sir Robert Smith, Chairman for The Weir Group plc, former CEO of Morgan Grenfell Private Equity and BBC Governor and Chairman for the Broadcasting Council
08/02/2008
Modern purpose-designed eco-friendly offices that are enabling Birmingham City Council to efficiently bring services under one roof have been opened in Erdington. The new building, situated on Sutton New Road is 35,000 sq ft and is occupied by 450 staff who were previously based at two sites - Lanc
08/02/2008
The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) welcomed the recent announcement of a major parliamentary inquiry into engineering to be launched this spring. The Innovation, Universities and Skills Committee will examine some of the wide-ranging issues affecting engineering in the UK. The inqu
08/02/2008
The Ministry of Justice has re-appointed construction and management consultants, Turner & Townsend to provide project management services to HM Prison Service in Nottingham until 2010. Building upon an on-going relationship with the Ministry of Justice, Turner & Townsend will be working with HMP N
08/02/2008
Cornwall County Council's proposals to create a new economic development company to drive investment and regeneration have been broadly welcomed following widespread consultation. The Economic Development Company would focus on delivering regeneration and investment projects. It would work to an ag
08/02/2008
A leading construction company has relocated its headquarters to state-of-the-art premises in Rowallan Business Park in Kilmarnock. A J Clark Group has established its new headquarters in the town with the construction of a 1,600 sq m building to accommodate its future growth. The company is a spec
08/02/2008
Employers have been warned to ensure they have effective measures in place to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, after a maintenance engineer lost the tip of his finger. Pilkington Tiles Ltd of Clifton Junction, Swindon, Manchester was fined £18,000 by the HSE and ordered to pay costs
08/02/2008
Waterwise today welcomed the Government's new water strategy for England and Wales which will help to combat the negative effects of climate change by reducing the water industry's carbon footprint. "We welcome the moves announced today, which give a clear vision for the supply and use of water in
08/02/2008
An environmentally conscious power equipment firm, GenSet plc has announced an order worth almost £3m from the leading UK hire firm, A-Plant. A-Plant has invested in a package of products that includes the latest HireMan generators. The single largest component of this order is for a selection of
07/02/2008
The European Land & Property (European Land) has announced they have selected Holtby Turner recruitment and development consultancy to be their People Development Partner. The senior level people recruitment agency has been selected to help find and develop the right talent required to ensure they
07/02/2008
Work is underway on a new £6.5m spine road which will be good for business and local residents in Thanet. The road will be an important link between Westwood Cross and the Newington estate in Ramsgate, including the Marlowe Academy. It will open up the EuroKent site and will help to improve access
07/02/2008
Rolls-Royce's Order book increased by 76% to a record £45.9bn last year, with the Asia and Middle East order book more than doubling to £20bn in 2007. According to the groups Preliminary Results 2007 sales increased to £7,435m from £7,156m in 2006 however profit before financing dropped from £693m
07/02/2008
Newcastle's St Nicholas Church of England Cathedral will have a share in more than £2m of grant funding for 28 cathedrals across the country in a joint scheme by English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation, it was announced today. St Nicholas' will get £29,000 towards the repair and conservation of
07/02/2008
A commercially viable and diverse renewable heat industry could help serve Scotland's future heating needs and cut emissions, according to a report published today. According to the study, more energy is used for heating and hot water in Scotland than for transport and electricity combined. A repor
07/02/2008
Residents of Dartford and Thurrock are set to benefit from discounts for journeys over the Dartford Crossing, under proposals announced today by Transport Minister, Rosie Winterton. Under the proposals, local people will be able to make 50 free journeys in a year. Once the free journeys are used up
07/02/2008
A high level working group is to be set up investigate the potential for establishing a Welsh national centre of excellence in regeneration based in the Heads of the Valleys area. Leighton Andrews, Deputy Minister for Regeneration, made the announcement when he addressed the Institute of Welsh Affa
07/02/2008
Roofing contractors in the North East are being invited to take a 'bite out' with health and safety with a free breakfast seminar this month. Bacon sandwiches will be on offer at the event held in Newcastle as part of the Health and Safety Executive’s work to reduce the number of injuries as a resu
07/02/2008
A £100,000 Olympic art installation made from pieces of the 'Big Bertha' drill used to dig the rail link route from King's Cross to Stratford, which will also act as anti-terrorist barrier to prevent cars driving into Station Plaza is to be commissioned. According to planning documents, artists ar
07/02/2008
New construction orders in 2007 rose by 1% compared with 2006, and orders in the fourth quarter of 2007 rose by 2% compared to the same quarter a year earlier. Orders in the fourth quarter of 2007 rose by 2% compared to the previous quarter, with increases in all sectors except public non housing
06/02/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning employers to ensure they have suitable controls in place to prevent people being struck by moving vehicles. The warning follows HSE's prosecution of a Coventry scrap and recycling business, after a worker was killed. Easco (Midlands) Limited was fine
06/02/2008
A new rail service which links Ebbw Vale with Cardiff Central station has opened today, marking the completion of an ambitious £30m Welsh Assembly Government-funded project. Leuan Wyn Jones, Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport today travelled on the first passenger trai
06/02/2008
Next week Minehead will witness the sight of an authentic 65 foot long, 50 tonne locomotive turntable being craned into place as part of a £6m Somerset County Council regeneration project. The event will signal the fulfilment of a long term ambition to bring the turntable to Minehead after it was r
06/02/2008
Regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward has announced it will be investing more than £6m as part of a £15m refurbishment extension programme for Sheffield's Crucible Theatre. The modernisation of the theatre, one of the region's best known, is a key part of the ongoing renaissance of the cit
06/02/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it aims to inspect refurbishment sites across Wales throughout February, to tackle poor safety standards. Last year over half of the workers who died on construction sites worked in refurbishment, and the number of deaths on refurbishment sites ro
06/02/2008
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published a report detailing the 2006 UK results under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). The report shows that the power sector was 45.9M allowances short compared to actual emissions. Power stations emitted 181.5Mt CO2 in to
06/02/2008
British Airways has been announced as the newest Tier One partner for the 2012 Games, in the airline category. A firm supporter of the London 2012 bid, the airline will now have marketing rights to the London 2012 Games and provide flights to athletes for the Beijing Games this summer and the Vanco
06/02/2008
The South East of England Development agency (SEEDA) has appointed Dan Staniaszek to the newly created post of Environment Director. Dan has over 20 years experience on issues covering the environment and ecological footprint in both the public and private sectors gained during periods of the Energ
05/02/2008
Disaster mitigation and response, traffic management, road maintenance and pollution monitoring are some of the diverse areas set to benefit from £10m investment in research and development by the Technology Strategy Board. The collection of data from a wide range of sources underpins many applicat
05/02/2008
Outline proposals for the restoration of Philips Park in Bury will be unveiled this week. Bury Council's Greenspace Projects Manager, Chris Wilkinson, said: "In terms of history and wildlife, Philips is the Borough's most important park, but it has been in decline for many years and is now a shadow
05/02/2008
Engineering firm Siemens has revealed plans to build a new £40m factory in Lincolnshire. The new plant will be based on Teal Park next to the A46 in North Hykeham. The company’s Ruston works in Lincoln city centre will also stay open. Staff at the gas turbine company will be hoping the move will s
05/02/2008
A bridge over the M5 in Gloucester has finally opened to traffic, 35 years after being built. Lobley's Bridge, known as the "bridge to nowhere", was constructed in 1973 as part of a proposed bypass around the city which was never built. Developments have now been put up on either side of the motor
05/02/2008
Consultancy and construction firm Mace has been appointed as construction engineers on the new development at Tate Modern. The new extension, designed by architects, Herzog & de Meuron, will create a new building adjoining Tate Modern to the south, increasing the buildings size by 60% and adding ap
05/02/2008
A series of targeted public consultations have been completed to ensure the Aquatics Centre meets the needs of the local community after the 2012 Olympic Games. Young people, mothers, older people, multi-faith and disability groups and community swimming clubs across the five Host Boroughs took par
05/02/2008
One of the UK’s biggest building firms has been fined for creating a construction compound without permission. Balfour Beatty Utilities was fined £10,000 by Lancaster Council, after residents made several complaints about the depot in Halton, near Lancaster. A court was told how council planners w
05/02/2008
Support for projects designed to breathe new life into Scottish town and city centres is to be extended. Building on the Government's plan to reduce and for some companies to remove business rates, from April 1, towns around Scotland will be able to apply for a one-off grant to help launch their ow
05/02/2008
Funding of £1.2 million is to be invested in grassroots sports facilities in West Lothian. Community-led projects in Fauldhouse and Broxburn will benefit from the funding, through sportscotland, to support the development of grassroots sport, increase participation and improve health and wellbeing
04/02/2008
Hilary Benn has today announced that at least £34.5m of the £2.15bn total Government flood and coastal erosion spend over the next three years will be allocated to implement the final recommendations from Sir Michael Pitt's report on the summer floods. Mr Benn also announced that the Environment Ag
04/02/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it will inspect 1,000 refurbishment sites across Great Britain throughout February to tackle poor safety standards. Last year 77 workers, 10 of whom were from Scotland, died in the construction industry in the UK, and over half of these were in th
04/02/2008
An industry consultation has been launched by the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) to ask for comments to the suggestion that building contracts should include stronger sustainability performance provisions. Companies and organisations from all sides of the industry, and throughout the supply chain,
04/02/2008
Preventing workplace transport accidents, which claimed 66 lives last year, will be the aim of a conference run by RoSPA and the Health and Safety Executive. 'The Managing Workplace Transport Risks Conference: A Matter of Life or Death' will include briefings on current accident and enforcement tr
04/02/2008
Atos Origin is the Worldwide Information Technology (IT) Partner for the Paralympic Games following an agreement signed with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The company will develop a system for athletes' data, including results, biographical and classification specific information.
04/02/2008
One million hours of work have been achieved on the Olympic Park site without a reportable accident, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced today. Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee, and David Higgins, ODA Chief Executive, marked this significant achievement by visiting site
04/02/2008
Two utility companies in the South West of England have been ordered to pay fines and costs totalling more that £17,000 for road works offences. South West Water was hit with a fine of £8,000 for two counts of failing to sign and guard works and another of failing to supervise works at Higher Barle
04/02/2008
A new Innovation Centre is being built to help nurture businesses and create more than 100 jobs at the Castledown Business Park in Wiltshire. By providing businesses with access to specialist help and advice during their challenging early months, the centre will help to secure long-term economic st
01/02/2008
The Scottish home building industry remains confident of being able to respond to market demand in the year ahead. That is the view of senior industry leaders expressed at a meeting today. Jonathan Fair, Chief Executive of Homes for Scotland, the organisation which represents companies building 95%
01/02/2008
Plans to upgrade Manchester's tram for the 21st century were given the final seal of approval by Transport Minister Tom Harris today as he signed off the last part of a £102m improvements package. Tom Harris confirmed that a further £25.7m will invested in the project, which completes the £58m cent
01/02/2008
A major new parliamentary inquiry by the Innovation, Universities and Skills Select Committee focusing on the provision of engineering skills in the UK, was welcomed this week by industry business group, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE). As long-term advocates on this issue, AC
01/02/2008
The Property Care Association, the trade body representing Northern Ireland's building preservation industry, has created a specialist panel of experts to support the public with detailed technical queries. Matters relating to damp-proofing and timber preservation, as well as structural waterproofi
01/02/2008
A newly created salvage section at Interbuild 2008 will showcase the reclamation of traditional building materials, such as stone, brick, slate and tile; as well as associated services. Located in Hall 4, 'Salvage' will sit alongside two other substantial new sectors to be announced in the next two
01/02/2008
Plans to move forward with a £85.3m refurbishment of the historic Blackpool and Fleetwood tram system were announced by Transport Minister Tom Harris today, with the Government contributing £60.3m to the scheme. The upgrade will bring the network up to 21st century standards and boost regeneration
01/02/2008
Toilets, a sports centre and changing rooms are among the more unusual winners in an awards scheme to honour the best buildings in Mendip. Mendip District Council has handed out 20 accolades to developers, designers and individuals who have planned, managed and constructed some of the best building
01/02/2008
Additional funding has been announced by Rail Minister, Tom Harris, to make rail travel more accessible for disabled and older people and parents with pushchairs. The Department for Transport’s £370m Access for All programme funds the redevelopment of station infrastructure to provide step-free acc
