Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for March 2009
31/03/2009
Sir Michael Pitt was announced as the chair of new Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC). Housing and Planning Minister Margaret Beckett confirmed Sir Michael's appointment following his endorsement from the CLG Select Committee last week. Sir Michael will officially take the role on 1 May with
31/03/2009
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has announced that £22million is to be invested in renovating more than 1,300 of London's abandoned, derelict and blighted buildings and turning them into family homes. The announcement means that the Mayor is on course to meet his manifesto pledge to invest a t
31/03/2009
The Chartered Institute of Housing South West (CIH) is asking the Government for more support for tenants and home owners in the region to ride out the current financial crisis. CIH South West's Housing Manifesto 2 calls for a policy push from the Government to support South West housing through th
31/03/2009
Barnsley is in a celebratory mood after being awarded £2.6 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the creation of a major new museum and archives centre within the Grade II listed Town Hall. Leader of Barnsley Council Cllr Steve Houghton said: "This is fantastic news which keeps Barnsley at
31/03/2009
Eleven would-be young plumbers from south Hampshire walked away with 6022 and 6032 City & Guilds plumbing certificates having 'graduated' through the first ever 3 week 'Get into Building Services' course initiated by Hedge End based Apprenticeship Training Ltd (ATL) in conjunction with the Princes'
31/03/2009
A ceremony was held to mark progress on the site of The East Manchester Academy in Beswick, east Manchester. The traditional breaking of the ground to mark the start of construction is to be performed by Principal Designate Guy Hutchence, Councillor Sheila Newman, Manchester City Council's Executiv
31/03/2009
The treasury needs to commit to a range of fiscal incentives to refurbish the UK's existing housing stock if we are to have any chance of making it greener and more energy efficient said the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) at the launch of a new report on Energy Efficiency and Jobs. Richard Dim
31/03/2009
More than 100 port operators, developers, investors and wind manufactures from across the UK met yesterday with the Government to cut through a potential bottleneck in offshore wind farm development. With the potential market for UK ports worth £1bn up to the year 2020, there is an extraordinary op
31/03/2009
Apprentices from across the UK will soon be battling it out to become this year's best trainee tradesperson and flying the flag for their region in Britain's biggest skills competition, SkillBuild, which is organised by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry. La
31/03/2009
A Shropshire-based window blind specialist, Whiterowes Blinds, is continuing to target both its trade customers and the general public with a range of professional quality products. A spokesman said they are able to supply a top product as "a fraction of the cost of most blind companies". "Our ser
30/03/2009
£170 million of funding is being allocated to 29 transport projects that will support the development of new housing, announced Housing Minister Margaret Beckett and Transport Minister Paul Clark. Good transport links are essential to any new housing development, and this funding will unlock the po
30/03/2009
The number of mortgages approved for house purchases in Britain has jumped by 19% in February, figures have revealed. Bank of England figures showed there were 38,000 approvals last month, up from 32,000 in January. It suggests that record low interest rates and the recent decline in house prices
30/03/2009
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced that two hire centres for tools and plant will soon be available to contractors in the Olympic Park. The new centres will reduce the number and length of journeys made, as contractors will no longer have to leave the site to collect and return hire
30/03/2009
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and three other leading housing charities launched a joint campaign to win better protection for tenants who face sudden homelessness because their landlord is repossessed. Shelter, Citizens Advice, Crisis and the CIH are raising the alarm over growing numbe
30/03/2009
Surrey County Council has taken another step towards its goal of providing over 70 children's centres in Surrey, after plans for a new £500,000 site were given the green light by senior councillors. The latest centre will be housed in a new building at Bristow Infant and Nursery School, James Road,
30/03/2009
A meeting of key county-wide stakeholders took place in Arun with the aim of trying to address housing problems across West Sussex. Hosted by Arun District Council and organised with the help of housing and homelessness charity Shelter, around 60 delegates met to discuss how best to deliver more s
30/03/2009
Energy company E.ON has announced the launch of 'FixOnline' - the cheapest dual fuel energy product available, despite other suppliers' price decreases. FixOnline is priced to include E.ON's forthcoming 9% electricity price decrease. E.ON's electricity price decrease is effective from 31 March and
30/03/2009
Councillors helped construction work get under way on a redevelopment scheme set to bring new life to the St Dials neighbourhood of Cwmbran in South Wales. The £7 million development 'Blenheim Chase' will replace the Blenheim Square shopping precinct with 53 new homes - for sale, affordable rent an
30/03/2009
A £5.67 million primary school in Derbyshire has opened its doors in preparation for pupils beginning lessons there next month. Cutting edge facilities at Sharley Park Community Primary School have been officially opened by Councillor Joyce Sanders, chair of Derbyshire County Council. Pupils aged
30/03/2009
Conventional dimmers can exhibit undesirable effects such as buzzing in the dimmer and the lamps, which in turn can reduce lamp life. In addition dimmers can be damaged by power surges and overloading. Conventional dimmers (which are called leading edge dimmers) also require interference suppress
27/03/2009
Carillion and its 50:50 joint venture partner, Morgan Est, has begun the construction phase of the Dishforth to Leeming section of the Highways Agency's scheme to upgrade the A1 between Dishforth and Barton. This Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract was awarded to the Joint Venture in 2004.
27/03/2009
Refurbishing empty properties to bring them back into use as affordable housing is just one part of the solution to meet housing demand and simultaneously stimulate supply, according to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Speaking at the Empty Homes Agency conference in London, Trevor Beattie t
27/03/2009
Ofgem has demanded significant improvements from energy suppliers in the way they manage monthly direct debit payments and is consulting on the need for changes to supply licences to secure improvements. Ofgem's action results from a review the regulator has conducted into the direct debit arrang
27/03/2009
Kier Moss has just completed its £43m project for City College Coventry's new campus. The two buildings form one of the first parts of Coventry's Swanswell Initiative, a £600m regeneration programme for the area. The buildings draw together three separate college centres from across Coventry and in
27/03/2009
The contractor has been appointed to build the London 2012 Handball Arena, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced. Buckingham Group Contracting won the contract through a highly competitive public procurement process and work is on track to start this summer. During the Olympic Games t
27/03/2009
Celebrations have been held to mark the official opening of a new Derbyshire extra care development. Waltham House in St John's Road, Wirksworth, was officially opened by Derbyshire County Council chair Councillor Joyce Sanders on Wednesday 25 March. The £5.8 million development has been built in
27/03/2009
An established company that specialises in the design and build of high quality exhibition stands is urging clients to get organised now for a major building expo this Autumn. RS Displays, in Doncaster, boasts over 25 years experience "in portraying the right image for clients". According to a s
27/03/2009
As a family-orientated business, TBS Fabrications are particularly keen to play a key role in providing safe, modern and attractive washroom environments for the education sector. With this in mind they were thrilled to have been involved with the highly anticipated washroom refurbishment at George
27/03/2009
Some of Liverpool's iconic landmarks will be left in the dark on Saturday - to raise awareness about climate change. The world famous Three Graces, St. George's Hall, the Anglican Cathedral, Empire Theatre and Radio City Tower are just some of the buildings which will be taking part in Earth Hour,
27/03/2009
Starbeck Baths in Harrogate will officially reopen on Monday 6 April 2009 after a £250,000 refurbishment. In 2007, Harrogate Borough Council announced a 10-year £760,000 investment package to keep the pool open. Work included improvements to the changing facilities, repairs to the poolside floor a
26/03/2009
The Government has set out its proposals for helping rural communities to thrive in the 21st Century by providing more affordable housing and greater freedom to develop strong local economies. Responding to Matthew Taylor MP's 2008 Review into issues facing rural communities, Housing Minister Marga
26/03/2009
Faithful+Gould has been appointed to Northumberland County Council's technical consultancy framework as the sole provider of quantity surveying, employer's agent and project management services. The framework will consist of various new build, extension and refurbishment projects on a mixture of pu
26/03/2009
Trading Standards officials in Sandwell have welcomed the successful prosecution of a cowboy builder who conned a resident out of more than £16,000. David Lutwyche, aged 28, of Slough, Berkshire, was jailed for two years when he appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday. He admitted conspiri
26/03/2009
A new fixture on the Darlington skyline is helping to cut carbon dioxide emissions. The wind turbine at the Environment Agency's depot in the town will save the equivalent of a small house's CO2 emissions each year and is part of efforts regionally and nationally to cut energy consumption and waste
26/03/2009
Construction has started on the London 2012 Velodrome, in the same week as the Track Cycling World Championship's start in Poland where Great Britain's medal winning cyclists from the Beijing 2008 Games will be back in action. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is working with contractors, archit
26/03/2009
Construction union UCATT have had victory confirmed in a two year battle over holiday pay and sham contracts, with housing giant Redrow. UCATT's victory was confirmed this week when the Court of Appeal refused Redrow leave to appeal against a ruling made at an Employment Appeals Tribunal last Octob
26/03/2009
Bristol City Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Sports, Culture and Capital Projects Cllr Simon Cook has moved to reassure residents and partner organisations that plans to build a multi-million pound leisure centre at Hengrove Park are still being taken forward, despite concerns about the
26/03/2009
The new Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) redevelopment will provide all its own energy, aims to be carbon-free, and supply some 20% green energy to other parts of the site as well as aiming to have 20% more capacity to treat sick children by the end of the redevelopment in 2016. The new 30,000 s
26/03/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned construction site managers in Cambridge to put health and safety at the top of their priority list after a week of visits revealed problems including unsafe work at height in the city. HSE carried out a week of targeted inspections in March as part o
25/03/2009
New research from Which? Money reveals that energy suppliers are effectively using their customers' money as 'interest-free loans', by taking unnecessarily high direct debit payments each month. Four in five people surveyed by the consumer group said that they pay their energy bills by monthly dire
25/03/2009
Health and safety standards on construction sites in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have been praised following a series of visits by inspectors from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). HSE carried out a week of targeted inspections earlier in March as part of its 'Shattered Lives' and 'Hidden Killer'
25/03/2009
Quarterly rent payments will be due today for commercial property tenants across the country, with some fearing that retailers risk being pushed over the brink as deflation begins to take hold and cash flow dries up. Retailers, led by Top Shop boss Sir Phillip Green and Carpetright owner Lord Harri
25/03/2009
Responding to Ofgem's proposals on the energy market, the National Housing Federation (NHF) said the move to make pricing "cost reflective" could have disastrous consequences for Britain's six million prepay customers. Bob Wilson, Assistant Director at the NHF said: "This could be another kick in t
25/03/2009
Plans to connect vast amounts of future offshore wind energy to the national grid have been firmed up. The new regime could help connect enough wind-generated electricity to power the equivalent of more than 10 million homes by 2020. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and Ofgem ann
25/03/2009
Roath woman Stephanie Jones is proving that the construction industry is no longer a man's world with help from Cardiff-based Lovell. The company is providing the trainee tiler with a three-month work placement to gain the practical experience she needs to complete her qualification. "I spend one
25/03/2009
Leading tap and shower manufacturer Deva has added to its multi award winning, water saving Satinjet™ range with the launch of the sleek, modular Tahi to offer the ultimate in luxury eco showering. Tahi’s striking architectural design incorporates the revolutionary Twin-Jet™ Technology and require
25/03/2009
TLD International Ltd products have been helping to protect construction plant and equipment against theft and vandalism for more than 10 years. Our range includes the unique, patented TrackLock and RamLock devices designed to immobilise the steering mechanisms on a wide range of tracked and wheele
25/03/2009
Marchwood Conservatories is a family run business with over twenty years of experience in the repair, upgrading and supply of new bespoke timber conservatories. Recommended by the top conservatory companies in the country, Marchwood can deal with all your conservatory requirements. Marchwood's work
24/03/2009
VAT should be slashed on long term empty homes to bring up to 300,000 properties back into use, council leaders have said. In a letter to the Chancellor ahead of the budget, Alistair Darling, the Chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA), Cllr Margaret Eaton, has called for the introductio
24/03/2009
Following a competitive tendering exercise to ensure continued high levels of service and value for money, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has published the list of organisations which will act as Local HomeBuy Agents across England for the period 2009-11. Each Local HomeBuy Agent acts as a
24/03/2009
Chris Banks, Chair of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has announced that the LSC's Chief Executive, Mark Haysom has tendered his resignation and it has been accepted. Mr Banks said: "Mark Haysom is stepping down from his role as Chief Executive of the LSC, with immediate effect. "The LSC has
24/03/2009
Shepherd Construction has announced Peter Millett has been appointed Managing Director for its West Division. Peter will also hold a seat on Shepherd's Executive Management Board. He joined Shepherd in 2008 in the position of Divisional Construction Director, responsible for operations within the
24/03/2009
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is urging the Chancellor to use next month's Budget to deliver on a pledge to speed up public sector building in order to support the construction industry and safeguard jobs. Unveiling its Budget submission today, the CBI says it welcomed the announcemen
24/03/2009
The definition of 'Zero Carbon' homes needs to be realistic and not idealistic if we are to having real chance of creating greener, more energy efficient homes, warns the Federation of Master Builder (FMB) in its response to the Government's consultation on the Definition of Zero Carbon Homes and No
24/03/2009
Action to clamp down on unfair practices in the energy market was strongly backed by Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband. The gas and electricity regulator Ofgem unveiled a package of new rules for energy suppliers that will give consumers more power and help to seal the flaws in the re
24/03/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning employers not to ignore basic safety precautions following the death of a lorry driver at a depot in East London. John Peter Wootten, formerly trading as AEP Aggregates, has been fined £4,000 and costs of £750 after pleading guilty to breaching Secti
24/03/2009
Lovell is set to build two housing developments in East Anglia, together worth £3.7 million, for Flagship Housing Group. Later this year, Lovell will start work on a £2.2 million development of 27 new homes at Charles Close, Newmarket. The homes are for Kings' Forest Housing, part of Flagship Housi
24/03/2009
Major stakeholders within the construction and utilities industry have joined together with the Metropolitan Police in a bid to reduce plant theft. The Met's Plant and Agricultural National Intelligence Unit and the Construction Industry Theft Solutions (CITS) – a partnership between the constructi
23/03/2009
Energy regulator Ofgem has unveiled a package of new rules for energy suppliers that will give consumers more power and help to seal the flaws in the retail market identified in the regulator's market probe. The proposed measures will make the market work better for all energy consumers including
23/03/2009
Willmott Dixon has announced that from 1 July 2009, all contractors responsible for the main scaffolding packages on its 150 plus projects must either be members of the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), or in the process of applying to become members. The move is designed to ens
23/03/2009
The Chancellor needs to use his Budget on 22 April to announce a cut in VAT to five percent on property refurbishment in the light of European finance ministers' decision last week to allow EU Member States to reduce VAT on home maintenance and repairs, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
23/03/2009
The Chartered Institute of Housing in the South West (CIH SW) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its popular Housing Event from 1st to 3rd April 2009 at the Palace Hotel, Torquay. This year the event plays host to over 800 delegates and a major Housing Exhibition in the Palace Hotel Arena - a l
23/03/2009
The Highways Agency has published its annual Business Plan for 2009-10, describing in detail how it plans to continue to improve England's strategic road network. Up to £6 billion programme of investment in England's road network was announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) in January - the
23/03/2009
Galliford Try has announced its appointment as preferred bidder on the Big Build project for Rutland County Council at Oakham. The project brings together both Galliford Try's construction and housebuilding skills, comprising a £23 million construction project for a 900 student school and community
23/03/2009
Miller Construction (UK) Ltd collected seven accolades at the national Considerate Constructor Scheme (CCS) award ceremony on 17 March, the largest number ever won by the company at one event. Miller Construction, an Associate Member of the CCS, was presented with three gold; one silver and three b
23/03/2009
Approximately 20,000 people have registered their interest in buying a new home from Barratt under a Government-backed scheme that gives homebuyers the chance to move in for only 70% of the purchase price. The remarkable level of interest underlines the pent-up demand for homes from First Time Buye
23/03/2009
Restoration presenter and author Griff Rhys Jones has presented awards for the best new buildings and renovations in the British Isles. Over 100 locations across the have won Civic Trust Awards at a ceremony at Arsenal FCs Emirates Stadium in North London. The Civic Trust Awards originally attracte
23/03/2009
John Bellman and Associates Ltd are consulting engineers in civil engineering and structural engineering - based in South London. John Bellman and Associates Ltd specialises in providing high quality and quickly designed structural engineering solutions to domestic structural problems, such as subs
20/03/2009
The housing association sector turnover exceeded £10 billion for the first time in 2008, according to the Tenant Services Authority's (TSA) Global Accounts. Launched at the National Housing Federation Finance Conference by Chief Executive Peter Marsh, the Global Accounts 2008 demonstrate the sector
20/03/2009
Design proposals for the basketball arena, the third largest venue on the Park, have gained planning permission. The building will be home to basketball, the Handball finals, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby and will become a holding area for athletes for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
20/03/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning of the need to ensure scaffolding is properly erected, secure and safe for use after two companies were prosecuted for an incident where scaffolding collapsed onto railway line at Aberystwyth station. The call comes at a time when HSE is carrying out
20/03/2009
The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) has published its guidance notes on improving sustainability in construction. Published by Sweet & Maxwell, Building a sustainable future together is available from bookshops now, and is a forerunner to the inclusion of new sustainability clauses in all JCT forms
20/03/2009
Gross mortgage lending declined to an estimated £9.9 billion in February, down 15% from £11.7 billion in January and 60% from February 2008, according to new data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). This is the lowest monthly lending figure since February 2001. February is typically the w
20/03/2009
Four nuclear reactors at Heysham 1 and Hartlepool nuclear power stations, which provide around 2,350 megawatts of electricity generation in the UK, have been returned to service following a 17-month outage. Reactor 2 at Heysham 1 power station, the last of the four reactors to return to service, ha
20/03/2009
Cold Control, the air conditioning and refrigeration specialists, were awarded Contractor of the Year (under £10 Million), at the prestigious ACR News Awards, which were held at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham. The ACR News Awards are designed to reward true innovation, professionalism,
20/03/2009
The latest of four new elderly care facilities to be built in Birmingham, Sheldon Heath Special Care Centre, is already playing a key role in caring for elderly residents from the local community. Built by Wates Construction and designed by architects Glancy Nicholls Associates, the centre is a fu
19/03/2009
More than 200,000 households are projected to join waiting lists for social housing by 2011, as the recession fuels demand - taking the overall number to a record high of around two million. New research by the National Housing Federation (NHF), which represents England's housing associations, show
19/03/2009
The Competition Commission (CC) has ordered BAA to sell both Gatwick and Stansted as well as either Edinburgh or Glasgow. In its final report on BAA's ownership of seven UK airports, the CC also stipulates that BAA must sell all three airports within two years. They are to be sold in sequence, beg
19/03/2009
Housing Minister Margaret Beckett met one of the first people in the country to benefit from the Government's new HomeBuy Direct scheme. Mrs Beckett met Sally Taylor, a 25-year-old policewoman who is buying at Barratt Homes Equinox development in Cheltenham. Sally is buying a two-bedroom flat for £
19/03/2009
Construction union UCATT have welcomed the major conclusions of a new study into apprenticeships undertaken by the Skills Commission. In particular the report argues that an expansion in apprenticeships should not be at the expense of quality. UCATT support this and has been campaigning against at
19/03/2009
The start of construction on a £1 million community sports pavilion serving the new Riverside development and the wider Fletton and Woodston areas in Peterborough will be marked with a formal brick-laying ceremony today. The new 500 square metre community pavilion incorporates a glazed hall, kitche
19/03/2009
Despite the global economic crisis, Barnsley Council is working hard to secure the development of nearly 900 new homes in Thurnscoe that will transform the area through design excellence and high quality green space. The Regeneration project, delivered through Barnsley's Housing Market Renewal Pro
19/03/2009
The restoration of Heaton Hall could soon be a step nearer if a Manchester City Council bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is successful. Restoration of the Hall will be the final part of a three-phase programme of improvements at Heaton Park in North Manchester, which has already seen the reno
19/03/2009
EDF Energy has announced the appointment of Global Action Plan and the MS Society as its two new national charity partners. EDF Energy will be working with Global Action Plan and the MS Society for an initial 12 months, commencing March 2009. The decision to choose two concurrent new national char
19/03/2009
Construction work is set to start on 16 energy-saving, low-carbon homes at St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. The homes are being built by Lovell for Wales & West Housing Association with work on site set to start in April 2009. The £2.25 million development is part of a Welsh Assembly Gover
19/03/2009
Derbyshire Aggregates are one of the leading decorative and specialised landscaping aggregate producers in the UK. Our products are being used successfully in many landscape and construction projects nationwide We have many thousands of tonnes of Decorative and landscape aggregates, rockery stones
18/03/2009
The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has warned the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and Government that regulation of the mortgage market was not a solution to the threat of future house price inflation, the root causes of which lie elsewhere, and indeed could itself exacerbate the problem. And wh
18/03/2009
Small builders need a strong champion within government who can speak up for the building industry at a time when thousands of builders are facing unemployment, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in its response to the Government's consultation on whether there is a need for a 'Chief Con
18/03/2009
The Chancellor's pledge 12 months ago to offer a 'fairer deal' to all low income families who pre-pay for their energy has failed to materialise, with new figures showing they have been charged £100 million in excess charges over the last year. The shocking charges made to prepayment meter customer
18/03/2009
A major shake-up in the way the Welsh Assembly Government provides support for those in fuel poverty was announced by Environment Minister Jane Davidson today as part of new plans to make Wales more energy efficient. The National Energy Efficiency and Savings Plan aims to reduce Wales's greenhouse
18/03/2009
New 'webcams' have been launched giving the public a front-row view of the construction of the Olympic Village. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and Lend Lease have also released new images showing the first residential buildings in the Village starting to rise out of the ground. The three Ol
18/03/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning construction companies and property developers to ensure they provide safe scaffolding, which is regularly inspected, after two companies were fined for a scaffolding collapse in Birmingham City Centre. On 13 December 2006 scaffolding, measuring betw
18/03/2009
Work is getting under way on the first phase of a scheme to relieve one of the biggest traffic problems in Liverpool. The Hall Lane Strategic Gateway scheme is a £20m project which will greatly improve the route into the city centre from the M62 as well as removing a notorious bottleneck. The firs
18/03/2009
E.ON, one of the UK's leading power and gas companies, has called for the Government's forthcoming coal consultation to identify sufficient incentives for companies developing carbon capture and storage (CCS). Providing such incentives are put in place, the company has also committed to fit the pi
18/03/2009
It is generally believed that the World Wide Web was founded 20yrs ago to this day by Sir Tim Berners-Lee. By February 1999 it was estimated there was over 800 million WebPages but only one UK on-line retailer of greenhouses.
18/03/2009
Anderson Floorwarming are proud to announce that they have achieved BRE accreditation as Microgeneration Installers of Heat Pumps, one of only six companies in Scotland to date. The BRE Microgeneration Certification Scheme is designed to ensure that the Government's (i.e. taxpayers) grant money i
16/03/2009
Be switched on by switching off - is the message being sent out to all Liverpool residents. The city council is one of the latest in the UK to sign up to Earth Hour to highlight the importance of climate change. The special event arranged by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) asks people to swit
16/03/2009
Sustainability experts BioRegional recently held a 'designing out waste' workshop for the emerging design of a new head office building of a major UK retailer. The session looked at strategies for re-using and recycling waste, and more importantly identified ways to prevent that waste from occurring
16/03/2009
Council Leader Mehboob Khan, Head Teacher Richard Dodd and pupils from Paddock J and I school recently spent an afternoon in Kirklees Council's Design and Property Services' Kirkgate Buildings putting together plans to develop a new play area for the school and local children to enjoy. Landscape Ar
16/03/2009
For the fifth time in six years, Harrogate Borough Council's housing team has been assessed as the country's top performer. This follows an independent report by Housingqualitynetwork into the country's 222 housing authorities and has proved once again that Harrogate is the 'best of the best'. The
16/03/2009
HSS Hire, the national tool and equipment hire company, is to launch an internal reward scheme for its 2000+ staff. Heroes of Hire will recognise and reward the exceptional people that work for HSS, acknowledging their efforts towards the company, customers and CSR commitments. Heroes of Hire all
16/03/2009
Supplying flood gates to the Environment Agency on the Carlisle Flood Alleviation Scheme 2008 Defence Doors Ltd has secured the contract for the design, manufacture and installation of a series of steel flood gates to be used in the major works on the Carlisle flood defence scheme. Carlisle has a
16/03/2009
Planning and housing charity, the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) is setting out an 'agenda for action' on 'developing in a downturn' and 'planning for the upturn'. The TCPA is calling for councils and housing associations to join forces to act as planner-developers to deliver homes in
16/03/2009
Kingfisher Access offers a comprehensive choice of Open Courses at our All-Weather Training Facilities in Essex, Hornchurch, Telford, Sheffield, Camberley, London, Glasgow, Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham and Manchester. Open courses are the ultimate cost-effective training solution for Individual
13/03/2009
Hotels, banks, schools, local authorities and 5,000 other large organisations could all be slashing their energy bills and carbon emissions as part of a new government initiative aimed at boosting energy efficiency and tackling climate change. A new guide is published today by the Department of Ene
13/03/2009
Construction union UCATT have welcomed the statement from Harriet Harman the Leader of the House of Commons and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party that the Government is committed to making blacklists illegal. At Business Questions in the House of Commons in a reply to a question asked by Michael Cl
13/03/2009
Thousands of school modernisation projects across England can start 12 months early after £919 million was brought forward to boost the construction industry, Children's Secretary Ed Balls and Schools Minister Jim Knight have announced. More than 100 local authorities in England will share £499m br
13/03/2009
Youngsters in Lincoln will soon have a world-class youth centre to call their own after a successful government funding bid has brought in £4.82m for the project. Although a location for the project has not been decided, one area for development has been earmarked off Tritton Road. The new venue fo
13/03/2009
Workers on the Olympic Park have achieved a million hours worked without a reportable accident, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced. It is the seventh time this milestone has been achieved since the ODA gained possession of the Park in July 2007. Lord McKenzie, Department for Work a
13/03/2009
Following requests from their users Mardak has developed sophisticated Excel Automation to compliment their Mardak Construction Accounts (MCA) system. Benefits of Excel Automation include advanced reporting - reports can combine data from multiple MCA sources, for example, Nominal and Contract Ledge
13/03/2009
During the London 2012 Diversity Week, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has launched the search for an innovative swimming pool lift that would enable improved access for disabled swimmers. The ODA is exploring options for an affordable alternative lift to those currently available on the marke
13/03/2009
BAM Construction has appointed its team to lead construction of the new stand and facilities at Carnegie Pavilion for Leeds Metropolitan University. The major UK contractor will deliver the stunning new Carnegie Pavilion which is a joint venture between Leeds Metropolitan University and Yorkshire C
13/03/2009
The Free Kirklees Warm Zone home insulation project is returning to the Spen Valley this month when it enters the Liversedge and Gomersal ward. The scheme, backed by Kirklees Council, will visit every household in the area, street by street, offering free loft and cavity wall insulation to every su
13/03/2009
HSS Hire, the national tool and equipment hire company, has this week released its 2009 Tool and Equipment Hire Guide. The 328 page full-colour Hire Guide features a host of brand new and revised products as well as colour coded indexing, an improved branch directory and a comprehensive range of s
12/03/2009
UK building firm Rok has reported that its profit before tax plunged 76% to £5.9 million, from 24.5 million in the last year. The profit figure includes £12.2 million of restructuring costs, but does not include an £18.6 million loss from the closure of Rok Development. The firms annual revenues f
12/03/2009
Crossrail has announced that it intends to appoint Transcend, a joint venture between AECOM, CH2M Hill and Nichols Group, as its Programme Partner for the Crossrail project. Following a competitive tender process, this significant appointment, worth in the region of £100 million, means Crossrail r
12/03/2009
A Loughborough-based property developer is supporting a new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) campaign designed to build awareness among those involved in developing property as part of their business. Rob Page, who manages Loughborough-based firm Mercian Building Services, specialises in developin
12/03/2009
The Olympic Park workforce has achieved another set of a million hours worked without a reportable accident, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced. This means that the construction project will have clocked up seven sets of a million working hours without a reportable accident since th
12/03/2009
European Finance Ministers have voted to allow EU Member States to charge VAT at five percent on home maintenance and repairs marking a big victory for the 'Cut the VAT' coalition which has been campaigning to get the UK Government to cut VAT for all maintenance and repair work. The news has been w
12/03/2009
Almost nine out of ten councils are experiencing or anticipate an increase in demand for social housing because of the recession, new research published has revealed. A survey of council leaders conducted by the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England, shows that 57
12/03/2009
Savills has named the top 12 lenders for the UK property market this year. Of this, eight are German banks and only two are UK lenders. Savills interviewed in excess of 100 global lenders, over 40 of whom claim to have an appetite to lend to UK property, albeit on varying terms. However, many organ
12/03/2009
Designing family homes to Passivhaus standards could be the most effective approach for social housing developers to reach the energy standard of level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes when tackling fuel poverty, according to new research published by sustainability consultancy Inbuilt. Code le
12/03/2009
The national tool and equipment hire company, HSS Hire, has been awarded ISO 14001 certification, the international standard qualifying an organisation's Environmental Management System (EMS). Head of Health and Safety at HSS, David Wilson commented: "We were already consistently working to most of
12/03/2009
After a judging process that would put even the Oscars in the shade, leading paint brand Leyland Trade is thrilled to announce that it has chosen three painters and decorators to become the faces of the brand in 2009. The 'Get on With It!' competition was launched at the end of last year to find th
11/03/2009
Costain has announced that it has been awarded an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council for the Port Talbot Peripheral Distributor Road (PDR). The total construction budget for the scheme is £84 million. Design work will start in March and last for
11/03/2009
Up to 600 jobs are at risk, with news that a leading construction company has gone into administration. Shropshire-based Wrekin Construction Group, which banks with Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), said it was forced into administration because of the bank's "inflexibility" in releasing funds. Wrekin
11/03/2009
The contract to build the world-class White Water Canoe Centre for the London 2012 Games has been awarded by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). The new facilities at Broxbourne will be constructed by Morrison Construction. They will include a 300m course, warm-up course and finish lake. The cou
11/03/2009
The Chartered Institute Of Building (CIOB)-backed ACT-UK Simulation Centre - the UK's first construction management simulation centre - is on course to open in September in Coventry. Work on the centre is progressing well with a topping out event held at the end of last year and the building due fo
11/03/2009
Buyer enthusiasm continued to grow in February with interest in London at a high not seen for more than two years, according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors' (RICS) UK housing market survey. Interest in the market increased for the fourth consecutive month. 20% more Chartered Surveyor
11/03/2009
Energy company E.ON is to launch a state-of-the-art web resource designed to attract the UK's engineers of the future. Called plugin2engineering, the system is designed to encourage schoolchildren to become tomorrow's engineers as the country looks for the new talent that can build and maintain th
11/03/2009
Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has named Sir Michael Pitt as the preferred candidate for the post of Chair of the new Infrastructure Planning Commission and announced it will be located in Bristol. Sir Michael will be the first Chair of the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), which is bein
11/03/2009
Lovell welcomed students from Pontypridd and Deputy Minister for Skills, John Griffiths AM, to the company's Maes Ifor housing development at Taffs Well, just outside Cardiff. The visit was arranged through Lovell and Sector Skills Council ConstructionSkills to enable Year 10 students from Pontypri
11/03/2009
Acoustic engineering group Hodgson & Hodgson has completed a contract worth over £3.5 million to supply acoustic enclosures for portable power generation units. The project makes the acoustic specialists the first company to manufacture flat-packed, fully transportable large acoustic enclosures de
11/03/2009
Launching the new Force X diamond blade range, Toolpak took an award for excellence at the Executive Hire Show. With innovative packaging and point of sale, the new multi-material diamond blades were a hit. Of particular interest was the new Force X toolbar with inbuilt DVD demonstration promoting
10/03/2009
The number of new homes built in England in 2009/10 could slump to its lowest level since 1921 - with two thirds of all new properties being supplied through housing associations, new research has revealed. The National Housing Federation (NHF) predicts the number of new homes built in England duri
10/03/2009
A school earmarked for a major improvement scheme to give pupils' first-class facilities has been given Grade II listed status - to the disappointment of Derbyshire County Council. The authority had advanced plans to transform the learning environment at Darley Dale Primary School to give children
10/03/2009
Jocelyn Davies AM, Deputy Minister for Housing, met some of the first people to move into new social housing bought with some of the £42 million funding, aimed at helping to boost the economy. In December, Ms Davies announced that the Strategic Capital Investment Fund (SCIF) money would be availabl
10/03/2009
Lambeth council is celebrating the opening of yet another new school building created under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project. The Elm Court School boasts an impressive range of 21st century facilities that will nurture the special educational needs of students. The school now occu
10/03/2009
Savills has recently been appointed by Strategic Sites to let the office element at its Waterfront Quarter scheme in Huddersfield. The £175 million mixed-use regeneration project will be built on a six acre site near the town centre, which is bounded by Chapel Hill, Manchester Road and the River Co
10/03/2009
The British Property Federation (BPF) has said that, despite the current economic situation, the commercial property industry would continue to meet strict green targets with sustainable, energy efficient buildings. Speaking at the Ecobuild conference in London, BPF Chief Executive Liz Peace said t
10/03/2009
Atkins, Faithful+Gould's parent company, has once again been named one of the 20 Best Big Companies to Work For by the Sunday Times - the biggest survey of workplace engagement in the UK. Atkins came 10th in the 2009 list of the country's best big employers following a confidential and independent
10/03/2009
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, will promote London as the top choice to do business and beat the recession, during a visit to MIPIM, the world's premier property conference in Cannes. He will highlight the multitude of investment opportunities that London offers - from the 2012 Olympics, to m
10/03/2009
Sixty-four families across the country have slashed their energy use and carbon emissions by a quarter as part of a year long energy efficiency challenge which has just finished recently. The findings, from the British Gas Green Streets programme, show that if every household in the country followe
09/03/2009
Housebuilder Bovis Homes has announced a £78.7 million pre-tax loss for 2008, compared to a £123.6 million profit in 2007. The company completed 1,817 homes in 2008, about a third fewer than the number completed in 2007. Commenting on the results, David Ritchie, the Chief Executive of Bovis Homes
09/03/2009
People who are thinking about making developments to their properties or perhaps considering a development project in Hull will shortly be able to get help on what's involved in the planning application process. With the current economic climate, people who were considering moving to a larger prope
09/03/2009
Construction union UCATT are demanding immediate Government action to outlaw blacklisting, after an investigation undertaken by the Information Commissioner revealed that the practice is endemic in the construction industry and that the vast majority of the major companies are involved in the practi
09/03/2009
Lovell has been awarded housing improvement work worth £20 million by Northamptonshire-based Wellingborough Homes. Under the contract, Lovell will carry out internal and external improvements to 3,000 homes in the Wellingborough area over the next four years for the housing association. The contrac
09/03/2009
While the Home Builders Federation (HBF) welcomes the fact that the Government is clearly taking the recommendations made in the Killian Pretty Review seriously, the measures proposed in the Government response must be implemented promptly and in full if they are to make any significant improvement
09/03/2009
Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has announced new support to help councils cut their planned rent increases for tenants in the current economic climate. The average guideline rent increase for 2009/10 will be halved from 6.2% to 3.1% for local authority tenants, to encourage councils to reduce th
09/03/2009
A third of housing associations are now paying people to sit on their boards - and the move has been hailed as having an "overwhelmingly positive" impact on governance, according to a new guide. The National Housing Federation's (NHF) updated Board Member Pay - Principles and Practicalities - found
09/03/2009
Housing minister Margaret Beckett met with residents of Bicester and surrounding parishes to discuss the potential eco town concept proposed by Cherwell District Council, at Bicester Country Club. Part of the Government's consultation exercise into the viability of proposed eco towns, the meeting g
09/03/2009
Local people in South Gloucestershire are being given the chance to find out more about Oldbury's potential for a new nuclear power station at a series of public exhibitions to be held by leading energy company E.ON. E.ON is one of a number of companies that have expressed an interest in developing
09/03/2009
A review of construction contracts commissioned by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has found that the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) Constructing Excellence agreement satisfies all the principles of the OGC's Achieving Excellence in Construction initiative. The recognition that the contrac
06/03/2009
An investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has uncovered a database containing details on 3,213 construction workers which was used by over 40 construction companies to vet individuals for employment. The information includes sensitive personal information such as constructio
06/03/2009
Construction union UCATT have published the dossier they have submitted to the Government's Inquiry into construction fatalities. The Inquiry chaired by Rita Donaghy is due to publish their findings by the end of April. Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "This inquiry is crucial to con
06/03/2009
The North Bristol NHS Trust has announced that it intends to appoint support services and construction company Carillion as the preferred bidder to deliver the new hospital at Southmead, Bristol. Carillion, in a 50-50 joint venture with Bank of Scotland Corporate (part of the Lloyds Banking Group),
06/03/2009
Red tape busting reforms to the planning system which could save the economy up to £300 million a year were announced by Housing and Planning Minister Margaret Beckett. A series of measures to ease the pressure on businesses and cut down their costs during the challenging economic climate have been
06/03/2009
A provisional deal has been struck to save a state-of-the-art environmentally-friendly eco-homes scheme which is being built in Sheffield. A Sheffield City Council scheme to build 'Bright Green Homes' at Norfolk Park - a group of homes that are cheap to run and will reduce the city’s carbon footpri
06/03/2009
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), have unveiled a multi-million pound initiative which will help thousands of Londoners to get onto the property ladder as well as providing millions of pounds to kick start affordable housing developments that have stalled
06/03/2009
A new online service highlighting the potential for small-scale wind power generation at specific locations has been launched. The innovative web tool has been developed by applying science from the Met Office and follows a study commissioned by the Carbon Trust. By simply entering a postcode, use
06/03/2009
A leading architecture and town planning academic from Canada has urged the UK housing sector to use the recession as an opportunity to innovate and look at new ways to build long-term sustainable communities. Professor Avi Friedman, from McGill University in Montreal, suggested it was the wrong ti
06/03/2009
Five firms - Capita Architecture, Lewis & Hickey, Space Solutions, Todd Architects and ttsp - have been appointed to an innovative Architect's Framework to deliver refurbishment projects for Mapeley Estates, one of the UK's leading commercial landlords. The Framework Agreement - an eagerly-awaited
05/03/2009
Building tender prices will decrease by at least 20% in the current cycle with falls of up to 25% in the hardest hit sectors, according to the latest forecast produced by Built Asset Consultancy, EC Harris. The figures, which are published in the EC Harris 'Market View', indicate that the industry
05/03/2009
The Government has called on the social housing sector to keep building more homes to support the economy, maintain employment and continue to create new housing opportunities for people - an issue Government believes remains unaffected by the current economic downturn. The comments were made by Ri
05/03/2009
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is urging the Government to create a strategy for dealing with the UK's existing building stock. Speaking at Ecobuild, the world's largest event dedicated to the built environment, Richard Diment, Director General of the FMB said: "The UK's building stock is
05/03/2009
New research shows that older carpenters who were heavily exposed to asbestos before they were 30 have a one in 10 chance of dying from mesothelioma or asbestos related lung cancer. The risk for plumbers, electricians and decorators of developing mesothelioma is one in 50 and for other construction
05/03/2009
There are renewed concerns that the current high levels of job losses in the construction industry may take years to recover and will erode the sector's capacity to build new homes - to the standards expected - once the current recession ends. Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) So
05/03/2009
Sheffield residents will be the ultimate winners after Sheffield City Council was given national recognition for the way it is building new homes across the city. The Authority has been awarded Beacon status at a prestigious award ceremony in London last night. Council leaders were given the award
05/03/2009
DONG Energy, E.ON and Fred Olsen Renewables have announced they have formed a consortium to bid for thousands of megawatts of offshore wind capacity in UK offshore waters. The consortium has bid for exclusive rights on a number of zones as part of The Crown Estate's Round 3 Offshore Wind Farm progr
05/03/2009
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is set to partner the Leonardo da Vinci funded project 'PROCONSTR'. PROCONSTR aims to improve vocational education in the construction industry by identifying and recognising qualifications across the European Union. The CIOB will be responsible for prepar
05/03/2009
UK architectural practice Pick Everard has announced it has been appointed for the £35 million redevelopment of Franklin College, in Grimsby, due for completion in 2011. A multi-disciplinary Pick Everard team has been commissioned under the Learning Skills Council (LSC) framework agreement followi
04/03/2009
Turner & Townsend, the international construction and management consultancy, has appointed Steve McGuckin as managing director of its UK Programme & Project Management division. This high-profile appointment is for a new role, which will target major programmes and projects in the UK in the privat
04/03/2009
One in 17 British carpenters born in the 1940s will die of mesothelioma - a cancer of the lining of the lung caused by asbestos - according to new research published in the British Journal of Cancer. In the largest global study of its kind - funded by Cancer Research UK and the Health and Safety E
04/03/2009
Terrace Hill Group plc ("Terrace Hill"), a leading UK property development and investment company, has been granted planning permission by Gateshead Council for the Design Centre for the North at its 50 acre scheme, Baltic Business Quarter, in Gateshead. The Design Centre is a public/private partne
04/03/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is to target 1,500 construction sites - including around 80 in Wales - as part of a campaign to tackle poor safety standards. In the coming weeks, HSE inspectors will be out in force in North Wales, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport areas in a bid to reduce the numb
04/03/2009
An annual review by the Bury Housing Forum is to be held later this month, the council has announced. The meeting will take place on Thursday 19 March at the Seedfield Training & Development Centre, Parkinson Lane, Bury. Council officials have urged tenants and residents from across the borough
04/03/2009
Willmott Dixon is in line to create the £23m new premises for Passmores Secondary School and Technology College in Harlow after being appointed by Essex County Council as main contractor. Willmott Dixon, working with architect Jestico + Whiles and consulting engineer Faber Maunsell, was chosen as t
04/03/2009
HLM Architects is the top place to work in architecture and construction having climbed 25 places since last year to secure 37th place in the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work for 2009. The firm, which has an office in Glasgow and is one of the largest practices in Scotland, is th
04/03/2009
Dock specialist Stertil Stokvis has undertaken construction of an external dock pod to provide an additional loading bay for warehousing and distribution expert Promethean. Based in Blackburn, Promethean needed an expansion of its loading bay area but lacked the space, so Stertil was set the chall
03/03/2009
Britain's second largest housebuilder Persimmon has reported a £780 million pre-tax loss for 2008, however the company has renegotiated the terms of its borrowing arrangements. The York based firm has secured an extra £322 million of finance until 31 March 2012, however the cost of its borrowing ha
03/03/2009
The Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) has appointed Michelle Reid as its new Chief Executive. Making the announcement Sara Thakkar, TPAS Chair said: "Tenant involvement has never been more high profile than it is now and I am pleased to welcome Michelle to head up this important phase fo
03/03/2009
Construction union UCATT have welcomed the launch by the Daily Mirror of a major campaign on asbestos and have renewed their call for the Government to restore compensation to victims of pleural plaques. Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "I am delighted that the Daily Mirror has launc
03/03/2009
Detailed designs for a new, multi-million pound leisure centre in Plymouth's Central Park are due to be unveiled next week when the full planning application is submitted. The £46.5 million Life Centre scheme will see the city's biggest ever investment in leisure facilities and underline Plymouth’s
03/03/2009
Osborne has been awarded a £4.4 million design and build contract to develop an office building for leading European developer, SEGRO, at Winnersh Triangle, Reading. Work has just started on site and completion is expected in summer 2009. The 3,460 sq m two-storey building will comprise office acc
03/03/2009
A Mill Hill school is showing its environmentally friendly credentials after installing solar panels which will be used to generate its own electricity. Hasmonean High School for Girls installed photovoltaic panels on its roof during the half term break, which are expected to produce 4,500 kilowatt
03/03/2009
Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, is taking its electricity safety vehicle into two Nottinghamshire schools this month to teach children about the dangers electricity can pose. Children from schools in Mapperley and Newark will play laptop games to identif
03/03/2009
An army of Cat 301.6C and 302.5C mini excavators is helping the White Utilities battalion dig trenches across the UK. Fighting the war against burst pipes, the nine new Caterpillar excavators, purchased from Finning, the UK supplier of Caterpillar equipment, are the ideal machines for the Coventry
03/03/2009
Micronics filtration products have launched their new improved website. With over 50 years in the business Micronics have been manufacturing filtration products giving expertise and support capabilities you won't find anywhere else. Customers across Europe & Aisa rely on Micronics filtration product
02/03/2009
New images released by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and Westfield show the progress being made on the construction of a huge arched bridge that will form a crucial north-south link between the Olympic Village, Westfield's Stratford City retail and leisure development, and the Olympic Park.
02/03/2009
Monthly house prices in England and Wales fell by 0.8% in January, according to the latest figures from Land Registry. The average house price is now £156,753, down almost £28,000 on January 2008. In London the average price fell 14.1% annually to £306,183. It is the seventeenth month in a row w
02/03/2009
Last year over half (52%) of the workers who died on construction sites worked in refurbishment, repair and maintenance, in line with a similar shocking statistic the previous year (2006/07). Today, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced that throughout March it again aims to inspect 1500
02/03/2009
Support services and construction company Carillion got tops marks from teachers after one of its teams returned to the classroom to introduce Surrey reception children to the work they carry out and to highlight safety. Currently Carillion carries out the highway maintenance in Surrey as part of i
02/03/2009
Almost one in five households - over 300,000 - are now living in fuel poverty according to shocking figures released by Consumer Focus. A coalition of ten campaigning organisations, including Consumer Focus, is urging local MPs to back a new Bill that would end the scandal of fuel poverty. The F
02/03/2009
Morgan Sindall's construction business Morgan Ashurst has been awarded an £8 million contract by the University of Sussex. The company will design and build a three-storey teaching block, including lecture theatres and seminar rooms, at the university's Falmer Campus in Brighton. The project will b
02/03/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning contractors to carry out effective asbestos checks before demolition work starts, and to employ licensed asbestos removal companies. This warning follows the prosecution of Waite Construction Ltd, of Denham, Uxbridge, who pleaded guilty to Regulation
02/03/2009
Maximum Cooling Services can provide you with an air conditioning design of any system to suit your specific requirements, and can offer a maintenance contract formulated around your defined operational aspects. This may take the form of 24 hour emergency cover or a standard fixed visit option. Al
02/03/2009
Connaught Plant & Civil Engineering has extended its fleet after purchasing six new Caterpillar hydraulic excavators from Finning, the UK supplier of Caterpillar equipment. Recently delivered, the fleet of Cat 312CL, 320DL and 323DL hydraulic excavators are being used on both excavation and groun
