Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for June 2008
30/06/2008
Responding to the latest household projections issued by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU), planning and housing charity the TCPA called for bigger plans to be laid for major developments in readiness for a future upturn in the housing industry. TCPA Chief Executive Gideon Amos
30/06/2008
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has published two new reports that it commissioned as part of its market study into the UK homebuilding industry. The first, a report of a survey of purchasers of new homes, found that while many homebuyers experienced defects to some degree, these were often minor
30/06/2008
New research released today by Housing Minister Caroline Flint reveals current support for the development of eco-towns among the general public outnumbers opposition by a ratio of 5:1. The research is published as the consultation process around the Government's vision for the country's first eco-
30/06/2008
As Gordon Brown marks his first year as Prime Minister, the National Housing Federation (NHF) has commented on his record on affordable housing - a key priority of his premiership. David Orr, Chief Executive of the Federation, said: "Gordon Brown should be warmly applauded for setting, very early o
30/06/2008
The Government's drive to deliver much needed new affordable homes and safeguard higher housing standards for 8 million social housing tenants took another step forward as Housing Minister Caroline Flint announced the successful recruitment of two top positions at the agencies charged with achieving
30/06/2008
Concerns have been raised that local roads will face traffic chaos if a proposed eco-town is built at Ford without also funding an A27 by-pass at Arundel. It follows the publication of a report by the Government-appointed eco-town Challenge Panel, which recommends the proposers of the Ford scheme a
30/06/2008
Morrison Construction, part of the Galliford Try group, has secured a £6.8 million contract to construct a new student accommodation building for University of Edinburgh. A former wardens building sited within the Pollock Halls campus will be demolished to make way for the new 47,400 sq ft facility
30/06/2008
Maxima, a provider of software and consultancy to the construction and services sectors, today announced the general availability of its new enterprise resource planning (ERP) software; MAXcel. MAXcel is powered by Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009, and has been designed by Maxima to specifically address t
30/06/2008
Lovell has won the Employer of the Year award at the London Education Partnership Awards. The award recognises the company's outstanding work with schools in Enfield, north London, to enable students to develop their knowledge, skills and employability and learn more about the construction industry
30/06/2008
Failures by a North Wales employer to ensure machinery was properly guarded resulted in serious injuries to two members of staff, and a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who have warned that correct safety precautions should be taken when using machinery. Geraint Jones and Susan
30/06/2008
High performance timber windows and doors from Mumford & Wood's Contemporary range have been specified for a new build development of luxury apartments in Kent. Situated on high ground on a popular golf and country club overlooking the Kentish Weald countryside, the apartments offer four-star accomm
27/06/2008
Hyde Housing Association has withdrawn from the leisure-based regeneration scheme in Waddon and this has left Croydon Council considering whether to carry on alone or seek a new partner to continue the project. The original scheme, which Hyde entered into before the present administration was elect
27/06/2008
Housebuilder and property developer Berkeley Group has reported a 3.2% rise in its yearly profits. However it has warned plunging sales has posed its biggest risk. With turnover at £1.0bn, the latest profit performance gives Berkeley a profit margin of 19.5%. Victoria Mitchell, Chairperson, said:
27/06/2008
A massive investment in renewable energies to reduce the UK's reliance on fossil fuels was unveiled by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Speaking at the Government's Low Carbon Economy Summit, Mr Brown outlined a new strategy to reduce the demand for energy, and to develop and deploy more renewable
27/06/2008
The Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru (CIH) has supported the findings of a new report aimed at addressing the shortage of affordable housing in Wales, but has highlighted the skills and capacity of the housing sector as critical success factors in achieving its recommendations. The Essex Repor
27/06/2008
Victorian terraced homes in the Derbyshire village of Ironville will be transformed by a major housing modernisation programme launched by Amber Valley Housing and Lovell this month. Work is beginning on a £1.75 million scheme to extend and upgrade 32 properties dating from the 1840s. As part of A
27/06/2008
Failures by a North Wales employer to ensure machinery was properly guarded resulted in serious injuries to two members of staff, and a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who have warned that correct safety precautions should be taken when using machinery. Geraint Jones and Susan
27/06/2008
East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) has decided not to proceed with an eco-town expression of interest/bid as proposed. Instead, the Authority will develop its work with local partners to address the key issues of affordable housing, skills, investment and coastal flood defences. Commenting on t
27/06/2008
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has for only the second time in its 174 year history elected an architect as President. Keith Pickavance, who is a Senior Vice President for Hill International, has become the CIOB's 105th President. Commenting on his appointment, Keith said: "The built e
27/06/2008
The National Housing Federation (NHF) has welcomed the publication of yesterday's 'long overdue' renewable energy strategy. Commenting on the proposals, NHF Chief Executive David Orr said: "These proposals are long overdue, but welcome. "The UK is way behind the rest of Europe on renewable energy.
27/06/2008
The Environment Agency has welcomed Sir Michael Pitt's comprehensive final review into the 2007 summer floods as a significant contribution to managing the future flood risk in England and Wales. In welcoming the report, Chief Executive Paul Leinster said the Environment Agency had highlighted the
27/06/2008
Despite current construction market conditions our dynamic industry environment must come to terms with further changes over the coming months. As of the 1 July 2008 the new Part L of the building regulations comes in to force for all new planning applications. These regulations aim to reduce the
26/06/2008
A new report by the Local Government Association (LGA) warned today that Government plans to create eco-towns were "significantly flawed" and that the developments risked becoming "eco-slums" of the future without more input from councils. It says that many councils are dismayed at the way local de
26/06/2008
Results from a new piece of research by The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has revealed that a high proportion of complex construction projects are likely to be finished more than six months late, due to poor time control. The CIOB's research was completed by more than 70 respondents in the
26/06/2008
A national renewable energy blueprint designed to slash carbon emissions dramatically, reduce the UK's dependency on oil and gas and claim a valuable share of global green business opportunity was set out by Business Secretary John Hutton today. Mr Hutton outlined proposals to enable the UK to meet
26/06/2008
Work was halted on several construction sites in Newcastle last week as part of a HSE crackdown on unsafe practices. Inspectors visited 24 contractors engaged on refurbishment sites in the city and served four prohibition notices, effectively stopping work due to concerns about working at height an
26/06/2008
Housing does not have a strong enough role in the new regional decision making processes being drawn up by the Government - according to the National Housing Federation (NHF) , Shelter and the Chartered Institute of Housing. The Government is consulting on its Review of Sub-National Economic Develo
26/06/2008
Government funding is to be allocated to areas likely to be worst affected by flooding, it has been announced today. Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn has announced the plans in light of Sir Michael Pitt's final report into the summer floods. Mr Benn said: "I welcome Sir Michael'
26/06/2008
Chesterfield Borough Council (CBC) is playing its part in ensuring the continuation of traditional building skills in the local economy. "The Council's Operational Services Division has for a number of years realised the benefit of investing in young people, and we have probably the biggest and bes
26/06/2008
Birmingham City Council beat competition from high profile opponents from Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Genoa on Tuesday night when it scooped top honours at one the world's most illustrious regeneration awards ceremonies. Held in Valencia, Spain, the BEX 2008 International Awards celebrate excellence
26/06/2008
Colin Fearns, Morgan Ashurst Business Development Director, recently handed over a set of brass Victorian keys to Martin Lloyd, Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) Head of Property, to celebrate the completion of preservation work on three historical buildings in the Ancoats quarter of Manc
26/06/2008
Liquid Plastics, manufacturer of quality seamless protection systems, has supplied a Balcons Deco waterproofing system to protect the balconies of the new-build Wulfstan Way Flats in Cambridge. Designed by architects Bland, Brown, and Cole the flats will provide sheltered accommodation for the elde
26/06/2008
Moderneon London Ltd, providers of custom made signage, manufacturing, installation and maintenance of handmade neon and cold cathode lamps, was first established in the 1950's with its first place of residence in central London WC1. As a lighting company it is striving to produce long life lamps w
26/06/2008
M-Cut Anchors, the company which scooped second prize in the Innovation Awards at Practical World in March, have taken design to new heights to enable you to achieve two things: faster placement of fixings in a variety of materials and security equal to or in many cases better than comparable screws
25/06/2008
The Welsh Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies, has welcomed the findings of a report which proposes the Assembly Government leads a 'programme of change' in order to address the shortage of affordable housing in Wales. The Essex Report is the work of an independent review of affordable hous
25/06/2008
Construction union UCATT have slammed ceiling company Pan Interiors after they carried out threats to make workers redundant and replace them with migrant workers on lower wages. The employees concerned have been working for Pan Interiors on the multi million pound Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcas
25/06/2008
Construction work is now underway on the permanent new bridges to be built in the Olympic Park, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced yesterday. The work will see the construction of more than 30 new bridges in the Olympic Park to create new connections across the site and leave an open an
25/06/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning employers that they must ensure the safety of drivers who load and unload goods. This follows an incident where HGV driver Nigel Sargeant, 46, of Boston fell 15 feet from his trailer and suffered fatal head injuries. Saint Gobain Building Distribut
25/06/2008
HBG Construction South East has announced it will both design and construct the new £140 million facilities which will be based at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge. HBG recently won the Building Better Healthcare contractor of the year award for its work on the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre. HBG's
25/06/2008
A Suffolk-based company has Australia in its sights, after enrolling in UK Trade & Investment's Passport to Export Programme. The programme, delivered in the East of England by East of England International (EEI) provides support to new and inexperienced exporters, to expand into new markets and in
25/06/2008
An international construction and management company, Turner & Townsend plc, has appointed Gordon Horsfield as its first Non-Executive Director. This appointment is the next step in the company's commitment to list on the London Stock Exchange. Gordon Horsfield spent the principal part of his care
25/06/2008
BRE and a team of construction industry experts and educational suppliers are carrying out a 'Changing Rooms' type makeover of an Ealing School this week to mark National School Environments Week. They will transform three key areas of Southfield Primary School during a five-day project to show how
25/06/2008
Homes in the Llwynhendy area of Llanelli will be made more energy efficient in a pilot scheme being launched this month. Loft and cavity wall insulation will be carried out by the Home Energy Efficiency Partnership, a partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council and the company Miller Pattiso
25/06/2008
Housing associations have delivered around £360m in operating efficiency gains during 2005-07 says the Housing Corporation as it publishes the 2007 Operating Cost Index (OCI) results for the largest housing associations in England. Published for the fourth year, the OCI allows the comparison of cos
24/06/2008
The chiefs of the UK's six largest energy firms will face firm questions from MPs over the massive rise in household energy bills. The Business Enterprise and Select Committee will probe Chief Executives from EDF, npower, E.ON, Scottish Power, Scottish & Southern Energy and British Gas. The averag
24/06/2008
Fifteen experts on the Eco-towns Challenge Panel have set out a series of recommendations for potential eco-town developers, designed to improve their plans to create world-leading sustainable developments. Many bidders have been praised for their vision and commitment but others are warned that th
24/06/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning companies that employees must have adequate training before undertaking work. The warning follows HSE’s prosecution of the owner of a Rotherham scaffolding firm for not providing adequate training or equipment for his employees before instructing the
24/06/2008
The actions of housing managers and their residents will be key to cutting carbon emissions from UK homes, which account for 27% of the nation's total emissions, according to the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). A new book, 'Housing, the Environment and Our Changing Climate', will lay the foun
24/06/2008
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has awarded a key contract to Fitzpatrick Contractors Ltd for maintenance and construction works on the highways within the Olympic Park. The three year contract will allow the ODA and delivery partner CLM to maximise the use of the highways within the Olympic P
24/06/2008
Nottingham's skyline has been transformed with the installation of the final section of Aspire, Britain's tallest free standing public work of art. The Aspire tower at The University of Nottingham stands 60 metres tall - higher than the Angel of the North and taller than Nelson's Column and the Sta
24/06/2008
Legendary film director Ken Russell will be leaving his handprints and autograph in concrete on the riverside site of the new City Centre Campus of the University of Wales in Newport to mark the start of the construction phase of the £35 million project. The acclaimed director of films such as 'Wom
24/06/2008
An electricity substation in Leek is to be completely renovated, and the outdoor equipment moved inside a new building, as part of a £2m upgrade project being carried out by Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England. The work, which started on Monday, will see the o
24/06/2008
Plans to improve transport links in Cornwall moved a step closer yesterday after Transport Minister Rosie Winterton approved a £34 million Government contribution towards a major new scheme in the region. The £44 million project includes a new road between Redruth and Camborne, a new dual carriagew
24/06/2008
Architects from Leeds City Council have received two honours for their work on the magnificent Tiled Hall Café at the International Green Apple Awards 2008. The project was named Green Champion 2008 in the Built Environment category at the awards ceremony at the Tower of London. The Internationa
23/06/2008
Real Estate Opportunities Limited (REO), a London listed property company, has launched its new vision and masterplan for Battersea Power Station. The iconic Battersea Power Station is to be brought back to life in the most advanced sustainable development ever to be built in this country. For the
23/06/2008
Network Rail has announced today that it will be conducting a strategic review into the case for building new rail lines across the network of Great Britain. The review will look at five of Network Rail's strategic routes, including the West Coast line to Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, the Ea
23/06/2008
Surrey County Council has voiced concerns about Government plans to transfer the responsibility for regional planning from one body to another. The Government is abolishing the South East England Regional Assembly - the body that represents councils and communities in the region - in March 2010 and
23/06/2008
Statistics from National House Building Council (NHBC) reveal that the number of applications from builders to start new homes fell by more than a quarter year-on-year during the three-month period from February to April 2008, as the effect of the credit crunch forces more builders to slow down acti
23/06/2008
Households at risk of repossession could be protected by a nationwide mortgage rescue scheme run by housing associations, under plans proposed by the National Housing Federation. Under the proposals, housing associations would also buy up thousands of high quality, but currently unmarketable, priva
23/06/2008
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the Government's new £16.8 billion organisation being established in 2009 to deliver housing and regeneration projects, has announced its interest in developing a strategic partnership with the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Exe
23/06/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning construction companies of the importance of implementing safe systems for working at height. This follows the HSE prosecution of a company after an incident in which a worker was seriously injured. Eastern Windows Manufacturing Co Ltd, of Booth Stree
23/06/2008
One of the most spectacular testaments to the Industrial revolution - the world's first iron bridge and a World Heritage Site - has been protected in law by being registered with Land Registry. The official ownership of the Iron Bridge is now safeguarded by the state following the registration of t
23/06/2008
A new motorway junction hailed as the gateway to multi-million pound regeneration scheme Markham Vale, Derbyshire, has been officially unveiled. Children from local schools joined MPs, councillors, company representatives and dozens of local people for the official opening of Junction 29A off the M
23/06/2008
First Minister Rhodri Morgan visited the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth to see how building work is progressing on the centre's latest development. During his visit, the First Minister was taken on a tour of the Wales Institute for Sustainable Education, which is currently under c
20/06/2008
Results from a new piece of research by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has revealed that a high proportion of complex construction projects are likely to be finished more than six months late, due to poor time control. The CIOB's research was completed by more than 70 respondents in the
20/06/2008
Over half of the 4,000 reinforced concrete columns that will form part of the foundations for the Olympic Stadium have been installed. Known as piles, the columns are cast in holes up to 25 metres deep to reinforce the area on which the Stadium will sit. Over 2,100 columns have been completed and t
20/06/2008
Details of Government plans to assist individuals and businesses to better protect their property from the impacts of flooding have been outlined by the Environment Secretary today. Visiting a flood affected neighbourhood in Leeds today, Hilary Benn saw first hand how the impacts of flooding on hom
20/06/2008
Clinica, the world's leading news service for the medical technology industry, has learned that staff and visitors to London's Houses of Parliament have been at risk of exposure to high levels of asbestos contamination for significant periods during the last three years. This news comes despite warn
20/06/2008
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has launched a new guide to repairs and maintenance that will help the sector improve performance and be more responsive to tenants. The new Guide from the CIH, funded by the Housing Corporation and supported by Kier Group, will show how using new technologi
20/06/2008
Construction firms carrying out refurbishment projects on Newcastle are being targeted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for the second time in five months in order to crackdown on dangerous working practices. A series of random spot checks in February on several contractors led to work bein
20/06/2008
Delivering his final keynote speech to the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) conference in Harrogate, Housing Corporation Chief Executive Steve Douglas has called for the public sector to provide leadership and help the Government reach its target of three million affordable homes by 2020. In hi
20/06/2008
The Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries' new facility has made its mark on Cardiff's rapidly developing city centre. Its home, the 'ATRiuM', features several complex shapes and contours and is furnished in a striking pure white cladding system supplied by Euroclad. Boasting state of
20/06/2008
Plans for the regeneration of Bideford have taken a step forward with the appointment of a specialist team to draw up proposals for the transformation of five key sites in the town. The sites at the Livestock Market, Kingsley Road, The Pill, Bridge Street and Brunswick and Clarence Wharves were ear
20/06/2008
More than 900 children in eight schools across Birmingham have enjoyed taking part in a play designed to teach them how to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint. Called 'the Town of Total Darkness tour', the play involves crime detectives Sherlock Holmes and Watts-on being transported into
19/06/2008
The Renewables Advisory Board (RAB) has reported that the UK could generate 14% of its total energy from renewables by 2020 if a set of identified radical policy changes are put into effect quickly. Recommendations include accelerating grid studies, streamlined consenting processes, early introduc
19/06/2008
Croner, experts in workplace and construction safety issues and part of Wolters Kluwer UK, has produced a new guide designed to give construction businesses all the legal and management information they need to run a safe and efficient enterprise. Published in conjunction with the Chartered Institu
19/06/2008
A specialist Leicestershire training firm is celebrating signing up their 200th candidate in NVQ Level 2 Plant Operations, with help from Train to Gain, the Government's flagship skills service run by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) aimed at helping businesses to succeed. Keith Cook Training
19/06/2008
Construction firms carrying out refurbishment projects on Teesside are being targeted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for the second time in five months in order to crackdown on dangerous working practices. A series of random spot checks in February on several contractors led to work being
19/06/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today announced CAPITA as its preferred bidder in the competition to provide a new gas installer registration scheme in Great Britain. This scheme will replace the one currently operated by CORGI. The new scheme, which will start in April 2009, is set to bring
19/06/2008
CDE have been confirmed as sponsors of Showcase - the UK quarry industry's annual gathering. The event, which takes place on 3 July in the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London will be hosted this year by Channel 4 broadcaster, Krishnan Guru-Murthy. The Quarry Products Association (QPA) Showcase is the mai
19/06/2008
Regional Development Agency Yorkshire Forward has announced it is to make over £43 million available to businesses across Yorkshire and Humber to help them develop innovative new products over the next six years. The grants for research and development are intended to encourage companies to drive f
19/06/2008
Birmingham will go head-to-head with high profile competition from Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Genoa next Tuesday 24 June, as it competes for top honours at one the world's most illustrious regeneration awards ceremonies. Set to take place in Valencia, Spain, the BEX 2008 International Awards celebra
19/06/2008
The £500,000 first round of a competition to encourage communities in the east of England to cut their carbon emissions has closed - attracting 24 entries requesting just over £2 million in funding. The 'Cut your Carbon' campaign, led by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), is a funding c
19/06/2008
Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, is putting out a special safety warning for summer show organisers after two potentially life threatening incidents over the weekend involving marquees. The incidents happened at a village fete in Thurlaston, Leicestershire
18/06/2008
The estimated cost of the 2012 Games has hit £525 million, it has been revealed by an Olympics' watchdog. London Mayor Boris Johnson commissioned the review, which has found that the figure for the 80,000 seat stadium in Statford, east London, had accelerated by £29 million since November. However
18/06/2008
Council leaders have called for radical reform of the housing finance system claiming the current system is not fit for purpose, and an obstacle to tenants getting the homes and services they deserve. The call was made by Sir Simon Milton, Chairman of the Local Government Association, at the Charte
18/06/2008
The Carsberg Review of Residential Property should be the basis for major reform of the residential property sector, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). RICS endorses the view that consumers should be central to any reform, with emphasis placed on providing better inf
18/06/2008
Employers have been warned they must take appropriate measures to protect employers from falls, after a Darlington building firm was fined £15,000 following an accident in which one of its workers was seriously injured. Bussey and Armstrong Ltd, of Brinkburn Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty of brea
18/06/2008
A £6.7 million new primary school will be built on part of the site of Manchester City FC's former Maine Road stadium in Moss Side, if plans are endorsed by councillors on Wednesday 25 June. Members of the City Council's top-level Executive will be asked to approve plans for the establishment of a
18/06/2008
Cherwell District and Oxfordshire County Councils have joined forces to ask the Government and potential eco-town developers Parkridge to develop a programme of local consultation around proposals to build an eco-town at Weston, near Bicester. In an effort to kick start the public consultation proc
18/06/2008
Inspace, the social housing specialist that is part of Willmott Dixon Group, has announced tough new targets in a bid to be the most sustainable house builder in the UK. The company, which builds 1,800 new homes a year as well as repairing and maintaining a further 90,000, aims to send zero constru
18/06/2008
Construction union UCATT have given a warm welcome to a new report 'A Crisis for Enforcement' published by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies. The report found that in 2006-7 twice as many people died at work than were murdered. The report also found there were more serious injuries at work r
18/06/2008
Construction consultants Turner & Townsend has been providing project management services on The Art House, a £3m building in the city centre of Wakefield created to provide inclusive, flexible and innovative workspace facilities for the visual arts community. The Art House is a national charitable
18/06/2008
A new report published argues that local councils should offer financial support to homeowners threatened by the credit crunch. The New Local Government Network (NLGN) argues that local authorities should adopt US style Mortgage Support Plans and offer below market rate, whole or partial mortgages
17/06/2008
Housing starts for 2008 are forecast to be the lowest since 1945 according to the latest Construction Output Forecasts from the Construction Products Association, which have been revealed today. The forecasts point to little more than 147,000 new housing starts in Great Britain this year, a fall of
17/06/2008
The Government is taking the first steps to making every new school building zero carbon from 2016, Children's Secretary Ed Balls has announced. Mr Balls confirmed that architect Robin Nicholson will chair an expert task force to advise ministers. He also announced the group's formal terms of refer
17/06/2008
Plans to greatly improve the basic site infrastructure, including access roads, car parks and walkways at Morriston Hospital have been approved by the Health Minister Edwina Hart today. The proposals by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust are a core enabling component of a phased major rede
17/06/2008
The Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks, has given the go ahead to Helius Energy plc to construct a 65 MW biomass power station near Stallingborough in North East Lincolnshire. When it is built, the plant could produce enough green energy to power the equivalent of about 100,000 homes. It is expected t
17/06/2008
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has paid tribute to journalists and crew killed upholding freedom of speech at the unveiling of a memorial at BBC Broadcasting House in central London. At Monday night's event, the Secretary-General dedicated a light sculpture, called 'Breat
17/06/2008
A revolutionary road-building product could help prevent hundreds of tonnes of waste a year in the UK, and save the average construction company thousands of pounds a year. As a re-usable alternative to timber profiles, the Cross-Bone is designed to have an immediate and measurable impact on waste
17/06/2008
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Angela Eagle has announced that the Government's plans to extend the Landlord's Energy Saving Allowance (LESA) to corporate landlords have been given formal state aid approval by the European Commission. The scheme, which provides incentives for landlords to impr
17/06/2008
A year after being awarded Environmental Management Standard ISO14001, Swish Building Products has been commended by the British Standards Institute (BSI) Auditor for its environmental progress. Since achieving ISO14001 certification Swish has continued to improve the environmental performance of i
17/06/2008
The award winning 'Blue Cube Building' at Mounts Bay School, Cornwall will be officially opened at a special ceremony at 6.30pm on Wednesday, June 18. The Blue Cube Building - a flexible performing arts space - was designed by students as part of the 'joinedupdesignforschools' initiative run by the
17/06/2008
Housing Minister Caroline Flint has launched a new guide showing how housing and regeneration professionals can successfully reach Muslim communities and improve their participation and acceptance in the wider community. The new Guide to Engaging Muslim Communities from the Chartered Institute of H
16/06/2008
Capita Symonds has announced the acquisition of M&E engineering consultancy Pearce Buckle Ltd for an undisclosed sum. Pearce Buckle is one of the UK's leading engineering consultancies in the custodial sector, with key alliances on the HM Prison Service Constructor Framework Agreement. It has also
16/06/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned companies to protect employees from flammable cleaning liquids after a Leicester man suffered burns to his hands and legs after some acetone caught fire. Leicester-based Parmeko Plc was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £1,910 costs on Friday 13 June
16/06/2008
The country's biggest property developers believe that a branded rental sector could offer ministers and home builders a lifeline in bringing vital investment into housing. The report, 'The Future of Renting', is a response to a government review of rental, and report calls for a radical reshaping
16/06/2008
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is advising how consumers and businesses can establish what benefits their green electricity tariff delivers above and beyond the supplier's existing legal obligation to provide electricity from renewable sources. Environment Secretary
16/06/2008
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) will be outlining its policy priorities to Government this week, designed to support the troubled housing sector through the credit crunch and beyond. CIH President, Paul Diggory, will announce a series of policy ideas for debate at CIH's Annual Conference a
16/06/2008
The National Landlords Association (NLA), which represents almost 14,000 landlords, has said that the fundamentals of UK buy-to-let remain strong. Despite a reduction in available mortgage products, NLA Mortgages continues to offer landlords the chance to access mortgage finance and benefit from a
16/06/2008
Efforts to make Birmingham a 24-hour cosmopolitan city which residents can enjoy at any time of day or night, are set to be given a major boost next week when Cabinet is asked to approve new planning guidelines regarding the lighting of major buildings and the public realm at night. If approved, t
16/06/2008
A landmark agreement has been reached between government and industry which aims to remove aviation and radar barriers to the major expansion of wind energy that has been outlined by Business Secretary John Hutton. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by government departments, agencies and indu
16/06/2008
Energy company E.ON has given a £15,000 grant under its SOURCE community initiative to Carno Community Centre towards the cost of replacing its old oil boiler with a new, greener wood pellet burner. As well as providing heating and hot water, the centre wants to use the boiler to raise awareness of
16/06/2008
Proposals to undertake more detailed work on the long-term future of Hartlebury Castle has been agreed by Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet. The County Council's Museum is a tenant on the castle site, which is owned by the Church Commissioners. The castle has been home to the Bishop of Worces
13/06/2008
Poorly performing properties could be hit with vehicle excise duty style levies, a leading property chief has warned. Speaking at the SCORe conference run by refurbishment specialists Overbury, Matt Fulford, Head of Sustainability at EC Harris, also warned that even those buildings that meet all Pa
13/06/2008
Four new prison workshops were officially opened yesterday by Justice Secretary Jack Straw as part of the Government's drive to increase prisoner work programmes and partnerships with the private sector. The workshops at Stocken Prison in the East Midlands will give prisoners the chance to learn jo
13/06/2008
Communities interested in finding out more about hosting an underground disposal facility for radioactive waste were invited yesterday to open no-commitment discussions with the Government. A geological disposal facility will provide a permanent solution for our higher activity radioactive waste. S
13/06/2008
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has welcomed the publication of the 'Strategy for Sustainable Construction', and commends the Government for working with industry to create a long-term vision for a more sustainable built environment. Steven Wielebski a CIOB Ambassador said: "The strategy
13/06/2008
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) is introducing new standards for industry professionals who act for lenders on newly-built property transactions. The new procedures, which come into effect on 1 September, will ensure that the conveyancing and valuation processes capture the true value of the
13/06/2008
All tenants of affordable housing should be given the same level of protection regardless of their landlord and should have greater powers in the management and regulation of their housing, according to the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). The professional body for housing, along with others i
13/06/2008
Homelessness Minister Iain Wright has praised the achievements of local authorities as new figures revealed that the numbers of households in temporary accommodation fell by 11% in comparison to the same period last year. The Minister welcomed the news that the numbers were continuing to move in th
13/06/2008
Councils must get tough on protecting people in flood risk areas, Minister for Planning Caroline Flint has announced. New guidance published gives councils five clear steps for maximising the planning rules to better manage flood risks in their area. It is now compulsory to consult with the Enviro
13/06/2008
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has launched a nationwide search for Britain's greenest builder - one who knows about energy efficiency measures and can turn their hand to installing insulation, wind turbines and even solar panels. With energy efficiency such an important factor in home imp
13/06/2008
The planning application to develop the former Demaglass site in Whittington Moor with new retail and business premises and a new stadium for Chesterfield Football Club will be considered at a meeting of Chesterfield Borough Council's Planning Committee on 1 July. The meeting will be held at the Wi
12/06/2008
Barratt Developments firms share price plunged 35% yesterday (Wednesday 11 June) causing fears for the housebuilding industry. As one of Britain's largest building companies, its shares also fell 24% on Tuesday and at one point it shares were down by a massive 40%. In a statement the company said:
12/06/2008
Clever engineering techniques on the A38 Dobwalls bypass are being used to construct a new tunnel over the main railway line at Dobwalls, near Liskeard, without interrupting road or rail services. The work is nearing completion and once finished the tunnel will allow traffic to be carried over the
12/06/2008
Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State for Transport, yesterday visited Hull Port, to see the final work of a £14.5 million project to more than double capacity on the rail freight line. This investment is part of the first scheme to be delivered by Network Rail under the Government's Transport Inno
12/06/2008
Twenty seven East Midlands companies and organisations have already won work supplying the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), 11 of them small and medium (SMEs) size, and many more have been supplying the ODA's contractors. The latest London 2012 business engagement figures published today also show
12/06/2008
Drivers on the A14 are to benefit from more reliable and safer journeys as Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly today announced the go-ahead for an £89.5m project to install new jam-busting technology on the route. The scheme will deliver improvements over a total of 62 miles of the A14, from the M1 in t
12/06/2008
The construction industry in South West England is set to reduce its carbon footprint as a result of the 'Sustainable Construction Strategy' launched yesterday. The joint industry and Government strategy has been welcomed by the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA), which is comm
12/06/2008
Keith Clarke has been appointed the new Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (CIC). The Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP, CIC's former Chairman, now becomes Deputy Chairman in accordance with CIC's rules & byelaws. Keith is currently Chief Executive of Atkins, the UK's largest engineering consu
12/06/2008
Faithful+Gould has strengthened its presence in Cardiff, with the expansion of its new office, opened by First Minister for Wales, Rhodri Morgan. The office at Newport Road currently accommodates 40 staff working on a variety of private and public sector projects. The office space, shared with pare
12/06/2008
A solvent free, aqueous, acrylic resin for casting and laminating that is both non-toxic and environmentally friendly is now exclusively available from Bentley Creative Chemicals. "Acrystal" has widespread applications in construction, architectural decoration, restoration, modelling, special effec
12/06/2008
A new initiative by Manchester City Council worth £134,000 is helping vulnerable people, feel safer and more confident in their own homes. Manchester City Council is encouraging people to sign up for one of the The Home Safety Packages (HSP) which are part of the Technology Package Project currentl
11/06/2008
Unite the union has urged oil giants Shell to stop sitting on its hands and act to avert the four day strike by tanker drivers set to begin this Friday, 13 June. Unite Assistant General Secretary Len McCluskey said: "Only Shell sets the terms of this contract and only it can solve this dispute. Thi
11/06/2008
New targets to improve the productivity, efficiency and sustainability of the UK's construction sector were unveiled by the Government and industry today. Business Minister Shriti Vadera launched the joint industry-Government Strategy for Sustainable Construction which sets out challenging but achi
11/06/2008
One in two housing professionals is reporting an increase in the demand for social housing as a result of the credit crunch, according to a new survey from the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). Members of CIH are indicating that the rise in home repossession orders is the main reason for the in
11/06/2008
The housing market is offering little comfort for homeowners as house prices continue to fall. For many with mortgages, the value that has been borrowed could be greater than the value of the property. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) says that although the house price balance has
11/06/2008
The Welsh Assembly Government is providing up to £5 million extra for their mortgage rescue scheme to stop homeowners who face repossession from being made homeless. Deputy Minister for Housing Jocelyn Davies said that additional money was being set aside as a response to the growing number of home
11/06/2008
Yorkshire and Humber is home to some of the country's largest power plants, and has long held a reputation as the powerhouse of the UK. The region has a unique opportunity to become a UK - and global leader - in tackling climate change. Up to 60 million tonnes of the carbon emissions produced each
11/06/2008
Knowsley Council's planning committee has recommended the approval of plans for the borough's biggest ever redevelopment. The £400m scheme, brought by Tesco, will see a new 50,000-seater stadium built for Everton Football Club in the town together with new shops, restaurants, a hotel and offices.
11/06/2008
A £90.4 million scheme to to refurbish the Bell Common Tunnel between junctions 26 and 27 of the M25 near Epping moved a step closer today. Roads Minister Tom Harris announced that the Highways Agency has awarded a contract for the work. The scheme includes the replacement of mechanical and electri
11/06/2008
Miller Construction has been awarded a £28 million project for the construction of a new secondary school in Leamington Spa by Warwickshire County Council. The 80 week project will see Miller Construction demolishing an existing teacher training centre and creating a new community school and arts c
11/06/2008
Energy company E.ON is helping Morven Park Primary School in Kirkby-in-Ashfield to reduce its carbon footprint by installing solar panels on the school's roof. The panels will be used to produce hot water for the school's kitchens and bathrooms to help both minimise the school's impact on the envir
10/06/2008
The country's biggest property developers and investors will hand Housing Minister Caroline Flint a report at today's British Property Federation (BPF) annual conference which offers both ministers and troubled home builders a lifeline in bringing vital investment into housing. While the report, 'T
10/06/2008
A five-metre fall left Rhondda carpenter David Morgan with serious injuries which may well have ended his career. Following the prosecution of his employers for the incident, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning companies to ensure they have safe systems in place for working at height.
10/06/2008
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is calling for Local Authorities to have greater powers to stop cowboy builders in their tracks. In a detailed submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), the CIOB has backed proposals to allow Local Authorities to issue stop n
10/06/2008
An extra £9.6 million to help rough sleepers make a permanent move away from the streets was announced today by Housing Minister Caroline Flint. The funding will support an additional 11 projects and two existing ones to improve and build new hostels and homelessness services across the country, he
10/06/2008
British Energy, owner and operator of Sizewell B nuclear power station, will be holding a series of meetings to talk about potential new nuclear build at Sizewell. The six meetings over three weeks in July 2008 will be held in Yoxford, Westleton, Leiston, Stratford St Andrew, Saxmundham, and Aldebu
10/06/2008
Six councils affected by flooding in several parts of the country in January are being given the chance to claim cash from Communities and Local Government. Local Government Minister John Healey told the House of Commons that the local authorities will get back 85% of the eligible costs they incurr
10/06/2008
Faithful+Gould has strengthened its presence in the Thames Valley by expanding into Oxford. The new office will be led by Nick Surman, Regional Director, as the new head of business under the directorship of Richard Ernest of Faithful+Gould's Reading office, which has been established for 10 years.
10/06/2008
Energy company E.ON has given a £8,900 grant under its SOURCE community initiative to North Nibley Village Hall in Gloucestershire to enable locals to carry out an ambitious energy efficiency makeover. As well as fitting insulation, replacing the heating system and installing energy efficient light
10/06/2008
Forty nine projects in England supported by the Community Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF) are expected to exceed their targets by 100% Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock announced. The CEEF aims to reach 300,000 of the most vulnerable households with campaigns to ensure everyone, including those ab
10/06/2008
Newcastle-based building contractor, Kendall Cross Holdings Ltd, part of Galliford Try has announced the appointment of Jeff Fowler as Group Health, Safety & Environmental Advisor. 38-year-old Jeff, who lives with his family in East Boldon, joins the company from Marshalls plc and is a Chartered Me
09/06/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned companies that they must control the risks from falls in the workplace. This message follows the prosecution of Spray-Craft Coating Limited after an employee fell more than two meters from the top of a spray booth resulting in several fractures and
09/06/2008
Measures outlined by the Government will do little to help the 4.5 million people in the UK that are currently living in fuel poverty according to Cut the VAT Coalition. Richard Hyslop, Cut the VAT Coalition Coordinator said: "This announcement by the Government does not go far enough in helping to
09/06/2008
Housing Minister Caroline Flint has announced that tenants will have the opportunity to reward good practice and take action against poor social landlords as she launched the recruitment for the board of the new social housing regulator, the Tenant Services Authority. The minister called for two so
09/06/2008
Nearly 40% of rural landowners would put forward land at below market value for affordable housing, according to Royal Institute Of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) research. The RICS report that clients, farmers and landowners, would put forward land for affordable rural housing at below the market valu
09/06/2008
A new guide to speed up planning partnerships between councils and developers has been published by Planning Minister, Iain Wright. The new 'step-by-step guide' sets out a logical process for identifying what should be done, when and by whom to reduce problems and speed up new major developments th
09/06/2008
Fans of Chorley's famous covered market have been reassured that major development work would go ahead this year as planned. Chorley Council made the announcement in a bid to quash a series of rumours and set the record straight for traders and shoppers in the town. Councillor Peter Goldsworthy, L
09/06/2008
Farmers, foresters and biomass producers can apply for up to £200,000 each under a new round of grants opened by Environment Minister Phil Woolas. The Bio-energy Infrastructure Scheme will support the biomass industry in England by helping those supplying biomass fuel for use in heat and electricit
09/06/2008
Plymouth's plan to shape development around Sutton Harbour has been declared sound by a Government planning inspector. The Sutton Harbour Area Action Plan sets out how sites in the Barbican, Bretonside and Coxside can be sensitively developed and improved in a manner that will secure its historic i
09/06/2008
International delegates from as far afield as India and Georgia will be visiting Bristol this month for one of the largest environmental events being staged in the city. Coming from both the public and private sector, the delegates are experts in the Environmental Technologies Sector (ETS) covering
09/06/2008
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is set to finalise an agreement with the Institute of International Engineering Project Management (IIEPM) at Tsinghua University Beijing, and The Research Centre for International Construction Economics and Management in Chongqing University (RCICEM), to d
06/06/2008
Crossing the border in style at Lock no. 1 on the already successfully reopened Erne-Shannon Waterway. Picture: Brian McCalden A huge construction project centred on waterway-based tourism is set to be literally 'ground-breaking' if funding is achieved. Lisburn City Council is taking the lead
06/06/2008
The Prisons' Minister has launched a consultation on the development of up to three so-called Titan prisons. The plans were announced last year as part of the recommendation in Lord Carter's review of prisons. The new 'supersize' jails will house 2,500 prisoners. The current building programme a
06/06/2008
The Crown Estate has launched its round 3 leasing programme for the delivery of up to 25 gigawatts (GW) of new offshore windfarm sites by 2020. The announcement was made at the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) conference in central London. The programme for round 3 is expected to accelerate
06/06/2008
Three former bosses of a UK metal trading firm have been imprisoned for a total of 25 years and six months after defrauding £359 million from creditors. Virenda Rastogi, Anand Jain and Gautam Majumdar who worked for RBG Resources were all sentenced at Southwark Crown Court. The three men were foun
06/06/2008
Following the death of an employee in March 2006, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) pursued a prosecution against Berser International Cargo Services Ltd for alleged breaches of health and safety at work legislation. Legal proceedings were brought after Martyn Simm (45), a lorry-driving employe
06/06/2008
Cherwell District Council's Executive agreed the next phase towards the reopening of the open air pool at Woodgreen by appointing consultants to oversee the finance, design and completion of the scheme. The pool is set to be overhauled later this year under the guidance of project managers and tech
06/06/2008
Bob Petrie, a leading figure in the North East health and safety sector, has joined Faithful+Gould's Newcastle office as a Senior CDM Co-ordinator. In his new role Bob will be taking on the responsibility of advising clients of their health and safety responsibilities under the Construction (Design
06/06/2008
A carbon free minibus powered by three different green technologies - the first of its kind in Europe - was unveiled in Wales yesterday. The clean, green emission free tribrid bus is the result of an international collaboration, led and co-ordinated in Wales by the University of Glamorgan with fund
06/06/2008
The new £1.6 million Barle Enterprise Centre in Dulverton is officially opening next week. The event marks the beginning of a huge economic boost to West Somerset and the culmination of a successful partnership between Somerset County Council and West Somerset Council. Graham Watson MEP will open t
06/06/2008
The shortlist for the 2008 Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy has been announced, and Arun District Council is a finalist thanks to it's work to improve energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions. The awards promote the use of sustainable energy, and the economic and social benefits it can bring
06/06/2008
Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, is taking its electricity safety vehicle into two Bilston schools this month to teach children about the dangers electricity can pose. Children from Villiers Primary and Field View School will play laptop games to identify
05/06/2008
A 0.5% cut in interest rate is now imperative or rapidly deteriorating conditions in the housing market risk causing a serious economic slowdown, a situation unique in living memory that needs a fresh approach - HBF warned yesterday. In the three previous post-war housing slumps, sharply higher int
05/06/2008
The rising costs of transport and raw materials and a shortage of tradesmen is pushing up the costs of home improvements, according to new figures by RICS Building Cost Information Service (BCIS). BCIS' updated Property Makeover Price Guide gives homeowners an accurate guide to what they should exp
05/06/2008
Thousands of pounds worth of home improvements can now start on each of 4,250 former Manchester council homes after they switched ownership to a new not-for-profit landlord. The move to City South Manchester Housing Trust (CSM) will see a massive £92 million spent on improving every home as well as
05/06/2008
The Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has welcomed a brand new centre for low carbon technology in buildings at London South Bank University (LSBU) which will help put London at the forefront of the fight to tackle climate change. Funded by the London Development Agency and the Higher Education
05/06/2008
Local leaders will have a stronger role in shaping the future development of our towns and cities under a new planning policy announced by Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint. The new Planning Policy Statement 12 on local spatial plans means that local plans - which collectively map out th
05/06/2008
A network of specialist "housing enablers" will be expanded across rural Wales to increase the supply of affordable housing in a new scheme announced by the Welsh Assembly Government. The Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies, who attended the launch of the Joseph Rowntree Commission’s report
05/06/2008
Regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward, has welcomed the announcement that the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) is providing an additional £500,000 of funding for the Community Energy Solutions project which aims to reduce fuel poverty across the region. Commu
05/06/2008
LACORS is marking World Environment Day today with the launch of its updated Climate Change Toolkit. The toolkit - the first guidance on tackling climate change produced specifically for council regulatory services - highlights the ways in which councils are reducing their community's carbon footpr
05/06/2008
Industry Development Services Ltd (IDSL), part of E.ON's Energy Services business, has been named as one of the best in its field at the 2008 Gas Industry Awards. IDSL was awarded the 2008 Energy and Utility Skills Business Skills Awards for training Young Apprentices at NVQ Level 2. The award was
05/06/2008
AccentHansen, one of the UK's market-leading steel door manufacturers and installers, has announced the launch of its new FastTrack Service. AccentHansen has been making steel doors for almost 40 years and its new FastTrack Service offers a wide selection of doors in a variety of colours - from or
04/06/2008
A man has been killed after the roof of a block of flats collapsed in West Bromwich. The incident, above an estate agents, happened in High Street just after midnight. Detective Chief Inspector Danny Long, from West Midlands Police said the man was believed to have lived in the one of the two flat
04/06/2008
Cherwell District Council's Executive has restated its opposition to the construction of a proposed eco-town near Bicester and its intention to look at possible grounds for a legal challenge to the proposal. The Local Government Association (LGA) is considering a legal challenge and the Council wil
04/06/2008
A Yorkshire-based housebuilder has announced it will be making a number of redundancies as a result of the persistent problems with the housing market. A spokesman for Persimmon said that although no offices would be closing, "several hundred" staff would be made redundant as the credit crunch cont
04/06/2008
Construction work has started on the Olympic Village keeping plans on track to deliver accommodation for athletes and officials during the London 2012 Games, and leaving a lasting legacy of thousands of new homes in the heart of east London. The announcement was made by the Olympic Delivery Authori
04/06/2008
Plans for a private care home at the former Llwyngwern Care Home have been approved by Carmarthenshire planners. Consensus Support Services Wales applied to Carmarthenshire County Council for full planning permission to refurbish and extend the former local authority care home at Heol y Parc, Hendy
04/06/2008
Deputy first Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones has revealed proposed details of a major multi-million pound investment programme to improve the rail network of Cardiff and the Valleys corridor. The £30 million project, being carried out parallel to Network Rail's £200 million Cardiff Area Resignalling proje
04/06/2008
To coincide with World Environment Day Carlisle City Council has pledged to cut its carbon footprint and reduce its energy consumption. Carlisle City Council is one of 74 local authorities from across England, Scotland and Wales to take part in the latest phase of the Carbon Trust's Local Authoriti
04/06/2008
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), last week welcomed Helen Jones, MP for Warrington North together with Warrington Wolves’ Steve Pickersgill and Chris Bridge, to officially launch its state-of-the-art Wind Turbine. To recognise World Environment Day later this week (Thursday 5th Jun
04/06/2008
E.ON, one of the UK's leading power and gas companies, has launched its Energy Manifesto for the coming decades as the UK looks to reduce emissions, ensure energy is as affordable as possible and address the need to keep the lights on. The Manifesto was launched by Dr Paul Golby, E.ON UK Chief Exec
04/06/2008
Lovell is starting work on a new £6 million development of 61 flats in Basildon, Essex. The scheme will create 49 homes for rent for housing group Family Mosaic, including homes for key workers, and 12 homes for open market sale. The first residents are set to move in during March 2009 with the ov
03/06/2008
A multi-million pound programme has been announced which will see Wales' Newport train station revamped in time for the 2010 Ryder Cup. Deputy First Minister Luan Wyn Jones announced the £22 million joint funding agreement yesterday - between the Welsh Assembly Government and Network Rail - that wo
03/06/2008
Improvements to North Middlesbrough's transport infrastructure have been given the go-ahead with over £12 million of Government funding, Transport Minister Rosie Winterton announced today. The North Middlesbrough Accessibility scheme comprises a number of improvements within the area including a ne
03/06/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers to ensure they assess workplace risks for young people. The warning follows HSE's prosecution of a metal fabrication company in Suffolk, after a young worker's finger was amputated by unguarded parts of a machine. Sharward Steel Fabrication
03/06/2008
The skyline of Cardiff City Centre is changing, and Miller Construction's Major Projects Unit held a topping out ceremony at the £30m Meridian Gate project in Cardiff to mark the structural completion of the 22-storey, 250,000 sq ft mixed-use development. The development for Imperial Properties whi
03/06/2008
TV presenter and property expert Melissa Porter yesterday launched Architect in the House, a fundraising initiative run by Shelter and the Royal Institute for British Architects (RIBA), offering the public the opportunity to create their dream home, while raising money for homeless people. Melissa,
03/06/2008
Turner & Townsend's Project Management Team has been appointed by Alba Capital Partners Limited as the project manager providing superintendency services for the procurement of the Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence (P.A.C.E.) development in Brisbane, Australia. Alba, whose shareholders includ
03/06/2008
Niamh Treacy, who is studying Interior Architecture at RGU's Scott Sutherland school, has been announced as regional winner of the Association of Women in Property (WiP) National Student Awards 2008. Niamh wins £500, and will visit Houston through the WiP links set up at OTC in 2007. Last year's tr
03/06/2008
One of Europe's largest insulation manufacturers is investing more than £66 million in the South Humber Bank after deciding to open its first UK plant in Yorkshire and Humber. Spanish owned Ursa Insulation has this week signed up to develop a 65,000 sq m site outside Grimsby, on the South Bank at
03/06/2008
A £4.75 million 2,000 sq m development of new space - funded by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to encourage new and small enterprises - has been opened. Newhaven's Enterprise Centre was officially opened on 21 May by SEEDA Chairman, Jim Brathwaite. The Centre has been developed
03/06/2008
The former Princess Royal Pit Head Baths at Bream are to be returned to nature later this year following a local developer's withdrawal of plans to redevelop the site. In 2006 the site's owner, the South West of England Regional Development Agency (South West RDA), invited developers to submit prop
02/06/2008
The Local Government Association (LGA) said the Government's announcement on fuel poverty was a move in the right direction but is calling for energy companies to make the same contribution as householders to pay for a national programme, to ensure that every home in the country is insulated. This w
02/06/2008
Communities secretary Hazel Blears has announced a major expansion of Planning Aid today to ensure that people have the advice, skills and professional support they need to have a proper voice in the planning process. Planning Aid works with community groups to develop their understanding of the pl
02/06/2008
Civil engineering contractor Edmund Nuttall Limited has been awarded a £5 million contract by Network Rail. The project involves the removal of existing rail, sleepers and ballast from Hampstead Heath tunnel which is approximately 1,100m long and will be replaced with concrete track slab system.
02/06/2008
More than 30,000 pupils in schools across England will be wearing green and thinking green, as they focus all their attention on climate change during Britain's first-ever 'green day' on Thursday 5 June. The green day, devised by The Commission for Architecture and Built Environment (CABE) and coin
02/06/2008
With house prices continuing to fall and energy prices rapidly on the increase it appears to be taking its toll on builders as 80% of them are unhappy in their jobs according to the fifth annual City & Guilds Happiness Index. Construction workers ranked number seven out of 10 professions, although
02/06/2008
A project designed to create safer streets and a more inviting look around Stonehouse in Plymouth has been shortlisted for a national planning award. The Adelaide Park Home Zone has made the final round of the Royal Town Planning Institute Planning awards 2008 under the Renewed Neighbourhoods categ
02/06/2008
Galliford Try has appointed Stuart Gibbons as Managing Director of its Building Division 1 July 2008. Stuart is currently Managing Director of Galliford Try Partnerships and also a member of the Building Division Board. Over the past three years he has been responsible for expanding Galliford Try P
02/06/2008
Interior Services Group (ISG) has signed a £50 million pre-construction agreement to fit out KPMG's new UK HQ building in Canary Wharf. The 15-storey office building totalling over 400,000 sq ft comprises general office accommodation, client meeting suites, staff restaurant facilities, client dining
02/06/2008
GB Building Solutions has just awarded a £14 million contract to build a leisure centre at Botwell Green by The London Borough of Hillingdon. Botwell Green leisure centre will be a horse-shoe shaped building containing a multi-use leisure complex and community centre with 25m eight-lane pool, a le
02/06/2008
Energy consultancy Enact has secured a pioneering partnership with supermarket giant Tesco to manage the new Tesco Home Insulation Service. Together Enact and Tesco's will be creating what is believed to be the first and largest home insulation service of its kind in Great Britain. The scheme will
