Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for September 2009
30/09/2009
Housing Minister John Healey has launched the second phase of the biggest council house building programme for almost two decades. He also stated that councils must include details of how they will create new apprenticeship schemes if they expect to get a slice of Government cash. Mr Healey wrote
30/09/2009
The OFT has imposed fines totalling £39.27 million on six recruitment agencies for price-fixing and the collective boycott of another company in the supply of candidates to the construction industry. The two other recruitment agencies involved have been granted immunity from fines in return for exp
30/09/2009
Kent County Council has awarded one of its largest ever highways contracts to a VolkerFitzpatrick HOCHTIEF joint venture for phase two of the East Kent Access scheme. The £62.5 million contract involves the construction of 8km of dual carriageway as well as a jacked box structure required to constr
30/09/2009
New homes and local job creation should go hand in hand as the key to creating thriving communities the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) said, as it welcomed Government's announcement of £180m for Round 2 of its Local Authority New Build Programme. The Agency also announced that 12 additional Loc
30/09/2009
New images released by the ODA today show the huge land bridge that will form the main Gateway to the Games' taking shape. The 250m long and 40m wide bridge, made with 1,700 tonnes of steel, will form the roof of the Aquatics Centre training pool and be the main pedestrian access into the Olympic P
30/09/2009
Two UCATT apprentices from Sheffield were at the centre stage of Labour Party Conference when the Government reaffirmed and strengthened their support for apprenticeships. The two apprentices Chris Battisson, 19, and Matt Nicholson, 18, are both employed by Kier Sheffield on local authority mainten
30/09/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning landlords to be extra vigilant in ensuring the properties they own contain safe gas appliances that are correctly checked and certified. It follows the sentencing of Ervin Clarke, of Handle Street, Golcar, who was handed a 16 month sentence, suspende
30/09/2009
London's business leaders have reiterated their support for the Crossrail project on the day Crossrail announces that more than five million tonnes of material excavated from the project will be transported by boat along the Thames for use in landscaping projects. These include a new 1,500 acre na
30/09/2009
The Renaissance Consortium – housing association Adactus, affordable housing developer and regeneration specialist Lovell and Investors in the Community – held a day of celebrations for residents to mark the completion of the first tower block modernised through a major regeneration programme for Mi
30/09/2009
Metrotile UK's first Photovoltaic installation project has been completed on the beautiful island of Fair Isle, a renowned bird watching spot located off of Scotland's north east coast. As Fair Isle is detached from the National Grid it has always been powered by a combination of generators and ren
30/09/2009
Tensar International Corporation's (TIC) solutions for roadway improvement and pavement reinforcement have moved upward – literally. With it's acquisition of the assets and business of Endurablend Systems, TIC adds a composite micro overlay system to its innovative product offering. The newly acqu
29/09/2009
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and the London region of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) have agreed £54.4 million of funding, to upgrade and refurbish over 400 properties adjacent to the A406 in Enfield. Many of the properties have, to everyone's consternation, languished in disrepair
29/09/2009
Enterprise, the infrastructure maintenance support services company, has announced that it has been appointed preferred bidder for a contract to maintain and renew clean and waste water assets on behalf of United Utilities Water plc ("UU" or "United Utilities"). The programme is expected to have re
29/09/2009
An innovative partnership scheme is beginning to pay dividends. University Partnership Programmes (UPP) have successfully transacted a £133 million initiative with the University of Exeter establishing a long-term partnership to increase the amount of on-campus residential accommodation available t
29/09/2009
Thousands of jobseekers in Bath and the South West are set to get a helping hand from an award winning recruitment firm, which opened its doors in the city recently. Despite the current bleak job scene, SkyBlue, now with an office in Ernest Ireland House, Bath, has maintained an average of 2,000 wo
29/09/2009
Construction union UCATT have received a significant boost in their campaign to have the Gangmasters Act extended to the construction industry. Yesterday, UCATT seconded the contemporary issue on employment rights which called for the Gangmasters Act to be extended to the construction industry. The
29/09/2009
Inspace, Willmott Dixon Group's social housing specialist that provides repair and maintenance services to Berneslai Homes, has been appointed to bring more houses in Barnsley up to the Decent Homes standard. Berneslai Homes has awarded the company a £1.8 million contract to improve 202 homes in Ho
29/09/2009
Building work has started on a new low carbon housing scheme on Portland in Dorset that aims to be an exemplar of green development. Sustainable developer ZeroC, in partnership with the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency), is building 77 low carbon homes on RDA-owned land at Osprey Quay.
29/09/2009
The government has launched a search for local authorities, charities and social enterprises to take up the challenge to help communities fight climate change. Communities can apply for a share of a £10 million fund as part of the Low Carbon Communities Challenge to build on existing low carbon sch
29/09/2009
Geotechnical specialists, Maccaferri has designed what is thought to be amongst the tallest reinforced earth retaining walls ever to be built in Europe, for a motorway construction project in Albania. It is one of 30 reinforced earth retaining walls, all over 15m tall, designed by Maccaferri for th
29/09/2009
BJP Insurance Brokers walked away with the Commercial Lines Initiative of the Year award at this year's UK Broker Awards 2009. Their first class construction sector product was recognised by their peers. Commenting on the award, Managing Director Barry McGoun said: "We are very pleased to have wo
29/09/2009
Bison Manufacturing has launched a new website which provides users with details on the company and represents a valuable practical resource for contractors and structural engineers specifying its extensive range of precast concrete products. The site outlines the new philosophy which lies behind B
28/09/2009
A manufacturer of bridge equipment, Mabey & Johnson, has appeared at Southwark Crown Court for sentence in relation to admitted offences of overseas corruption and breaching UN sanctions. The company is to pay £6.6 million. This is the first prosecution brought in the UK against a company for thes
28/09/2009
Galliford Try, the construction and housebuilding group, has secured two contracts in the education sector worth a total of £26.1 million. In higher education, Galliford Try has been awarded two projects by Lancaster University totalling £18.1 million to build a new sports centre and a four-storey
28/09/2009
Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps has reacted to new research that shows many Housing Association Chief Executives are raking in six figure salaries. An investigation by Inside Housing magazine has revealed that top salaries leapt by 7% as repossessions soared and housing waiting lists rocketed.
28/09/2009
Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction, investment and services group, has announced that it has been selected as preferred bidder for the £120 million West Sussex National Academies Framework for West Sussex County Council. The framework comprises four academy schools being re
28/09/2009
Six out of 10 people on lower incomes believe they have little or no chance of getting a social home - with the same number not understanding how they are allocated, according to new research. The National Housing Federation said the results showed there was a desperate need for a radical overhaul
28/09/2009
E.ON, one of the UK's leading energy companies, is guaranteeing that customers who take a new product launched today will have the cheapest gas bills this winter. The new product, called WinterGas, would save an average customer £77 a year compared to the average UK standard gas bill and guarantees
28/09/2009
Centrica has been ranked the top performing UK utility by the Carbon Disclosure Project, an independent not-for-profit organisation holding the largest database of corporate climate change information in the world. The company's score puts it in the top 25 companies in the world for carbon emissi
28/09/2009
Millbrook Distribution & Spares have been established as a plumbing and heating merchant that has been supplying the industry for over twenty years. With an excellent range of plumbing, heating and bathroom products. Millbrook Distribution & Spares have relocated to new premises in South East Lond
28/09/2009
Display Lighting Ltd has expanded its highly popular Spectrum spotlight range to include the SPECTRUM LED PRO Spotlight. Each Spectrum LED Pro spotlight has a sleek design and a multi-directional head that perfectly encapsulates a high power Luxeon LED with a 50,000 hour life. These cool- running L
28/09/2009
Delta Climate Control has announced the creation of four new jobs with more in the pipeline after winning two major contracts. The company, which is based in Ecclefechan, specialises in energy efficient heating and cooling systems, such as air source heat pumps and cellar cooling systems. Two of
28/09/2009
Don Construction Products (DCP) Ltd's high performance industrial flooring systems have been used during the refurbishment of a London showroom for sports clothing company, Peak Performance. Designed by interior specialists BG Arkitekter, the showroom required a coloured, aesthetically pleasing, d
28/09/2009
Banbury Innovations Ltd has just completed work with one of the U.K.’s leading contractors to provide a blend of glass reinforced concrete and glass reinforced plastic cladding to a 10 storey block of student accommodation at Sheffield University. The firm has also clad a bridge in imitation brick
25/09/2009
The Housing Finance Corporation (THFC) has announced that the European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide £345 million long term funding to be invested housing regeneration projects in the Regions of the UK. This will be the sixth tranche of funding EIB has provided for this purpose thro
25/09/2009
Around half of the 260,000 new homes projected to be built in England this year and next will be directly funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) it is revealed today. The Agency's Corporate Plan, which covers the period April 2009 to March 2011, outlines how it will use £6.75bn of its bud
25/09/2009
Shepherd Construction has appointed a new Construction Director in its West Division. Richard Fielding joins the company to oversee and expand its operations in the Division and will be based from Shepherd's Birmingham office. Richard has joined Shepherd from Mansell, where he was a regional direc
25/09/2009
Hot on the heels of announcing a £14m new build programme of 129 council homes in Birmingham, Councillor John Lines, Cabinet Member for Housing, has unveiled ambitious proposals to beat the housing market downturn and offer incentives to developers to once more build houses for sale. Addressing a D
25/09/2009
Energy blls are full of jargon and leave customers struggling to understand how much they owe, a Which? Switch satisfaction survey shows. When Which? submitted a selection of energy bills to the Plain English Campaign, they were described as being peppered with 'gobbledygook'. Terms like 'calorific
25/09/2009
The UK Housing Minister John Healey has called on housing associations to do better. He said they need to "raise their game" and do more to create new apprenticeship opportunities and help people get on the housing ladder and stay in their homes during the downturn. He confirmed that any housing a
25/09/2009
Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has said that he is prepared to go to the Copenhagen climate change summit to clinch a deal. The summit, which starts on 8 December and aims to get an agreement on worldwide cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, is formally for environment ministers - however, the Prime Mi
25/09/2009
A key milestone in the drive to expand Britain’s offshore wind industry was announced by energy regulator Ofgem. Thirteen firms have been selected to tender for the ownership and operation of nine high-voltage transmission links worth £1.15 billion. The tender will grant licences for the nine p
25/09/2009
West Kent's mission to provide the best housing and services received a boost as it was selected to develop a holistic local standard pilot by the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) the national social housing regulator, for its repairs and maintenance service. The association will receive £9,000 to
25/09/2009
Stroud District Council is celebrating a win of £5,000 after its Briquette Project was judged best in Britain by leading fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) in the Affordable warmth - Sustainable world award. The project, which took the regional award for the South West earlier this y
24/09/2009
Interserve, the services, maintenance and building group, has been awarded a prestigious £20 million contract with process engineering contractor Costain Oil & Gas Process Ltd. The contract will see Interserve building 14 modules which, when connected, will construct a large evaporator plant called
24/09/2009
Rok has been appointed by Liverpool Victoria (LV=), to provide building repairs. The agreement, which could be worth up to £40m for Rok over the next three years, secures Rok's position as number one in the buildings insurance repairs market. Rok is one of three companies selected by LV= as part o
24/09/2009
People are more satisfied with their mortgage lender than a year ago, but the big lenders are still underperforming, according to a new survey from Which? Money. The survey found that the average customer satisfaction score for mortgage lenders increased from 58% last year to 62% this year, and man
24/09/2009
Leicester councillors are being asked to back proposals for the part, or total rebuilding of Rushey Mead's Mellor Primary School. The council's Cabinet is to be presented with three options for the school, which include rebuilding the infant block, rebuilding both the infant and junior buildings,
24/09/2009
Millions of pounds have been saved by the existence of the Tenant Services Authority (TSA). In his speech at the annual National Housing Federation (NHF) conference, Chief Executive Peter Marsh explained how better regulation of housing associations has attracted investors and maintained the confi
24/09/2009
Carno Community Centre, in Mid Wales, has replaced its old inefficient oil boiler with a new, more environmentally friendly wood pellet burner thanks to a £15,000 grant from energy company E.ON. As well as providing heating and hot water, the centre will use the boiler to raise awareness of energy
24/09/2009
Community groups across Sheffield have the chance to access part of a £350,000 funding pot available to help reduce the impact of climate change. The funding is available through each of the Sheffield City Council's seven Community Assembly teams. The funding can assist with a variety of schemes pr
24/09/2009
Matthew Taylor MP was today named the new chair of the National Housing Federation (NHF) – and immediately set out his vision for the trade body. Mr Taylor, who will stand down from Parliament at the next election, was elected for a three-year term as NHF Chair at the organisation's annual general
24/09/2009
This Saturday, 26 September, Malcolm Harrison will be holding its latest auction, "The Autumn Plant, Truck & Classic Auction" at Hamberlins Farm, Northchurch, Hertfordshire at 10am. Established in 1975, Malcolm Harrison is a family owned Commercial Vehicles & Plant trading company working within t
24/09/2009
Masterhitch Europe Ltd have redesigned the Masterhitch to comply fully with the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) requirements following concerns over a number of recent incidents involving Semi Automatic Quick Couplers, none of which incidentally have been with a Masterhitch. The new 'Auto Quad
24/09/2009
The Yorkshire Tile Company Ltd has announced the launch of its latest product – The 'Forest' range. This is a 330x330mm Porcelain tile, made from recycled materials. Many people often associate recycled materials with reduced quality, but be assured that the quality of this tile is just as superio
24/09/2009
Barbour ABI has announced that leading global construction consultancy Davis Langdon has signed up to their construction contracts data service. Davis Langdon's custom is a welcome addition to Barbour ABI's ever-growing list of key clients within the construction industry. The firm will be utili
23/09/2009
UK housebuilders Barratt Developments and Redrow have announced plans to raise a combined £843.5 million to reduce debt levels and to buy cheap land during the housing slump. Barratt hopes to raise a net of £693.5 million from new shares, while smaller rival Redrow is aiming for £150 million from s
23/09/2009
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has approved two new Further Education college capital projects for Manchester and Lancashire. The decision follows the LSC announcement on 1 September 2009 about other college capital projects. Approval was given after the two projects had value for money and
23/09/2009
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has appointed Ms Judy Lowe as Deputy Chair. She will take up her post on 1 October. Kevin Brennan, Minister for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs, said: "I am very pleased to confirm the appointment of Ms Lowe as Deputy
23/09/2009
Lincolnshire County Council has announced the three companies chosen to design and carry out highway works, and run traffic signals for the next five years. It is the local authority's intention to award the role of repair, maintenance and improvement of the highway network to May Gurney. This repl
23/09/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today expressed its deep disappointment at a decision by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to uphold a complaint about its 'Asbestos: The hidden killer' awareness campaign. The ASA has upheld one complaint from a single source challenging HSE on the num
23/09/2009
The Local Government Association (LGA) has slammed construction firms and said there are "simply no excuses for bid rigging or cover pricing". The call follows the announcement that fines totalling £129.5 million have been imposed on 103 construction firms by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The
23/09/2009
Crewe's new £21m state-of-the-art school was officially unveiled by two high-profile guests today, The Duke of Westminster and pop music mogul Pete Waterman – well-known for his links with the town's rail industry . Sir William Stainer Community school, which caters for 1050 students, was built by
23/09/2009
Housing Minister John Healey has announced a multi-million pound boost to job opportunities in coalfield communities during the downturn. It follows a series of new funding for affordable housing that could benefit former coalfield areas by up to nearly £200m. The collapse of the coal industry in
23/09/2009
Thousands of new opportunities will be created by a new road to be built in Colchester providing another link from the town with the A12. The announcement follows close working by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Essex County Council. The scheme is a key part of the transport package re
23/09/2009
John Healey MP, Minister for Housing and Planning, was in Bristol yesterday to visit the first phase of a major housing development. The £20 million development off Whitehall Road, Speedwell, is a mixed one including 151 properties: 32 council social rented houses and bungalows, (part of the pre-fa
23/09/2009
One of the key national figures in planning will be taking a look at the changing face of Plymouth city today. Martin Willey, the President of the Royal Town Planning Institute, is visiting Plymouth to see how planning has shaped and inspired change in the city. Councillor Ted Fry, Cabinet Member
23/09/2009
BAM Nuttall commissioned Foundation Piling Limited to design and construct a 136m length contiguous bored pile retaining wall on the former Vosper Thorneycroft yard, which has been demolished. The contract was for work on the North Eastern edge of the site, for 750mm diameter piles to a maximum dep
22/09/2009
The OFT has imposed fines totalling £129.5 million on 103 construction firms in England which it has found had colluded with competitors on building contracts. The decision made today follows an OFT Statement of Objections in April 2008 after one of its largest Competition Act investigations. The
22/09/2009
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is working with Bolton Council and its partners in Bolton Community Homes to build 6,000 new homes through its ground breaking Transforming Estates initiative. HCA has been working with Bolton Council and its ALMO, Bolton at Home, to develop a partnership whic
22/09/2009
Police are appealing for fresh information after a site manager of a housing development was violently kidnapped from a street in Bacup, Lancashire. Paul Brady, 44, of Rochdale was kidnapped from the Beaufort Road area of Weir, on Saturday 1 August, after police were alerted to the incident at 2.10
22/09/2009
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has called on clients not to inflict further punishment on the construction companies fined today following the publication of the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) decision in its investigation into cover pricing. The NFB has highlighted guidance issued by
22/09/2009
Housing association tenants are more satisfied with the quality of their homes, their neighbourhoods and their landlords than ten years ago, according to new research from the Tenant Services Authority (TSA). The survey of more than 21,000 tenants in England has also revealed that only 12% of socia
22/09/2009
Lambeth Living has announced Mr Keith Hill MP as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. Mr Hill (MP) will succeed Acting Chair, Lynn Holman who has served as the Acting Chair of the Board since the start of 2009. He will lead the Board, which oversees policy and strategy and continue the work t
22/09/2009
Leicester based civil engineering and plant hire firm, Danaher & Walsh has entered one of its Site Managers for the 'site manager of the year award' in recognition of his outstanding leadership of the company's prestigious Framework Contract in Rutland, Northants, Peterborough and Bedfordshire. Dav
22/09/2009
Des Turner, the local MP for Brighton, Kemptown, has emphasised the importance of cheaper power for the most vulnerable as the most effective way of reducing fuel poverty. Speaking at National Energy Action's (NEA) annual conference held in Brighton, Mr Turner - who was appointed to the Energy and
22/09/2009
Armstrong TECH ZONE is an innovative solution that allows full integration of service elements to create more flexible, homogeneous ceilings. Exclusive to Armstrong, TECH ZONE is a partnership with market leading manufacturers of lighting fixtures, air diffusers, chilled beams and sprinkler systems
22/09/2009
With first-class facilities and a superb countryside location, the new purpose-built Central House office building in Harrogate offers professional and high-specification business accommodation. TBS Fabrications Ltd were delighted to be involved in the prestigious development and worked closely w
22/09/2009
HSS Hire, the nationwide tool and equipment hire company, has teamed up with The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to promote working at height and ladder safety. The 2009 Ladder Exchange initiative was launched last week at the new HSS Hire branch in Bootle, Merseyside, with professional builder
22/09/2009
To encourage rural communities to play their part in delivering national climate change targets the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) and The Co-operative have organised a high profile initiative to show the potential of community, business and locally based renewable energy schemes in the Fens
21/09/2009
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has published an update on its Private Rental Sector Initiative, reporting that momentum is rapidly building towards establishing funds that would invest at scale in new build property for residential letting for the first time in England. Several strong con
21/09/2009
Three former senior executives of Alfred McAlpine Slate Ltd were given jail sentences, after admitting they had deliberately overstated the company's production and sales figures for some years. Around 44% (over £10 million) of the company's reported debtors were fiction. An example of deception i
21/09/2009
Owners of homes worth more than £1m could face a tax hike, under new plans unveiled by the Liberal Democrats today. The party said a 0.5% increase on property tax for the most wealthy could help support tax breaks for those on lower incomes. Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg (pictured) said such a move
21/09/2009
At a conference of senior union representatives from the engineering construction industry, a decision was reached to recommend an offer from the employers on a new national agreement covering workers in the engineering construction industry. Unite, the biggest union in construction, will now hold
21/09/2009
Members of the East Devon District Council's (EDDC) Development Management Committee have chosen Tesco as a regeneration partner for Seaton. The decision came after careful consideration of rival regeneration proposals from Sainsbury's and Tesco. By a clear majority, members approved planning appl
21/09/2009
Southwark Council's planning committee has granted an application from Veolia Environmental Services to build an Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) at the former gas works site on Old Kent Road. The facility will be built and operated by Veolia Environmental Services on behalf of the counc
21/09/2009
Land Securities has announced that it has sold its one third ownership of the Bullring, Birmingham to the Future Fund, an investment fund for the Australian Government, for £210 million. The 1.2 million sq ft (110,000 sq m) shopping centre opened in Birmingham's city centre in Autumn 2003 to global
21/09/2009
A campaign is being launched today to inform Polish construction workers based in London about on-site health and safety. Research has suggested that foreign workers are vulnerable to potentially dangerous working practices and the Polish community is one of three nationalities receiving advice in
21/09/2009
Majestic Transformer Co recently supplied a number of Variable Transformer Power Supplies for Nottingham University for their newly refurbished Electrical Engineering laboratories. The units were able to take the standard 3 phase supply and provide two optional variable outputs, one limiting the
21/09/2009
Inspace, the social housing specialist that is part of Willmott Dixon Group, has added CityWest Homes to a clutch of framework agreements it has secured. CityWest Homes is a three-star housing organisation managing Westminster City Council's 22,000 homes and is the first arms-length management orga
21/09/2009
Housebuilder Galliford Try has registered a new business in Qatar. Galliford Try Qatar LLC will focus on infrastructure projects in the public and regulated sectors. The new business will work in joint venture venture with MFH, a wholly owned Qatari company also based in Doha. Colin Crumlin, Ma
18/09/2009
Union representatives from across steel giant Corus gathered at the TUC headquarters in London yesterday to discuss the decision by Corus to close the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) to new entrants. The National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee, which brings together all unions within
18/09/2009
The Co-operative Group has announced the appointment of BAM Construction to help it develop plans for its new head office in Manchester. Manchester City Council has now approved the Group's planning application for a 15 storey building on Miller Street, comprising of 325,000 sq ft of open plan offi
18/09/2009
Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction, investment and services Group, has confirmed that it has agreed to buy Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), the employee-owned engineering firm in New York City, for $626 million. In a letter to all employees sent by the CEO of Parsons Brinckerhof
18/09/2009
Two managers working for Lovell in the Midlands – John Jenkins and Steven Brown - have been named among the UK's top construction managers. Steven and John have both won Pride in the Job Quality awards, presented by the National House-Building Council (NHBC). This is the third time in five years t
18/09/2009
Babcock International Group, the engineering support services company, has announced it has agreed to acquire UKAEA Ltd (UKAEA) from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for a cash consideration of £50 million. The UKAEA has a world class reputation in the nuclear market place with over 50 y
18/09/2009
In response to the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) consultation on Part L and F of the Building Regulations, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has again called for a wider focus towards energy use in buildings. The CIOB stated in its response that there should be a gr
18/09/2009
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has urged US companies to come to London and take full advantage of the business investment opportunities developing at London's Olympic Park. With the Olympic and Paralympics Games less than three years away, US companies still have the opportunity to bid for m
18/09/2009
Alto Lead from Mercury Building Products is a high performance low cost aluminium flashing suitable for use as an alternative to traditional lead in both flat and pitched roof applications. Alto Lead is produced from sheet aluminium with a protective polyurethane coating on top and a polyisobutyle
18/09/2009
The campaign to restore compensation for pleural plaques victims has received two major boosts in the past week. On Wednesday the TUC Congress unanimously supported an emergency motion moved by construction union UCATT, which called on the Government to overturn the Law Lords ban on compensation fo
18/09/2009
Nearly 70 eager homebuyers turned out for a sneak preview of the new state of the art apartments at Leicester's Phoenix Square development. The landmark development in Leicester's Cultural Quarter opened its doors for the first time in an open event, to give new home hunters the chance to take the
18/09/2009
Two million vulnerable homes have now been helped through the Government's scheme to tackle fuel poverty and fight climate change. Since the Warm Front scheme began in 2000, more than £2.2 billion has been spent giving people on qualifying benefits the peace of mind they can afford to heat their ho
18/09/2009
When a major soft and top fruit farming operation was presented with a bill for sewerage back charges for a six year period totalling £94,000, Quercus Consulting was instructed to undertake an analysis of historic water consumption and estimate the volume returned to the sewerage system. Apart from
17/09/2009
At today's meeting of the Strategic Forum for Construction, Business Secretary Peter Mandelson announced that he was commissioning a review of the construction industry to ensure it was "fit for purpose" for delivering a low carbon future. The review will assess the strengths of and opportunities f
17/09/2009
Senior union representatives from the engineering construction industry will meet in Manchester today to decide whether to recomend a deal reached between employers and union negotiators which aims to end unrest in the construction industry. Over the last year construction workers have been involve
17/09/2009
Most householders won't upgrade their homes to make them greener and more energy efficient unless there is a financial incentive, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Speaking at the Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum, Richard Diment, Director-General of the FMB said:
17/09/2009
The world's biggest wind turbine blades will be made in Britain, according to Energy and Climate Secretary Ed Miliband. Announcing grants for three offshore wind energy companies Mr Miliband told the TUC annual conference: "With strong government backing, the UK is consolidating its lead in offshor
17/09/2009
The National Construction College (NCC), has launched a new training programme for 2010. The College now offers businesses more than 200 training courses across 10 different course disciplines ranging from Scaffolding and Access and Plant Operations, to Health and Safety and Management and Leadersh
17/09/2009
Interserve, the services, maintenance and building group, has secured a place on Severn Trent's £40 million property framework, alongside two other contractors. The framework will run for three years and covers the refurbishment and modernisation of the Severn Trent estate, in an area which stretch
17/09/2009
New research on cowboy gas fitters in Great Britain reveals that they are doing a quarter of a million gas jobs each year, including fitting and servicing appliances. The study, carried out for Gas Safe Register, estimates that 7,500 hard core illegal gas fitters are doing these jobs without the sk
17/09/2009
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) will unveil its manifesto for architecture, Buildings Matter, at the first of its party conference events on Tuesday 22 September 2009. Designed to reinforce the vote-winning potential of sound architectural policies, the document also challenges th
17/09/2009
Metrotile is proud to announce the achievement of ISO14001 for the manufacturing processes utilised in the production of their lightweight steel roofing systems. To achieve this highly regarded certification the Metrotile factory in Tongeren, Belgium underwent many strict tests and examinations in
17/09/2009
McGee Group is one of Europe's leading civil, structural, demolition and decontamination specialists. The group was founded in 1958 by Tom McGee and has grown dramatically in size and reputation in recent years. McGee continues to pioneer new and innovative techniques and methods, enabling them to
17/09/2009
The global power systems company, Rolls-Royce, has announced plans to collaborate with EDF Energy, the UK business of the French utility group, on nuclear programmes. These will initially support the construction of four new nuclear power plants in the UK. The agreement covers engineering and tec
17/09/2009
Thirty-seven housing projects from across the country which involve the development of local standards between landlords and their tenants to improve services have been selected as local standards pilots by the Tenant Services Authority (TSA). The successful projects will benefit tenants living in
16/09/2009
The 4,500-tonne steel structure for the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) has been completed, just ten weeks after construction on the frame started. The IBC, combined with the Main Press Centre (MPC), will have facilities for around 20,000 broadcasters, photographers and journalists during the
16/09/2009
Construction union UCATT has launched a new document which details the measures the Government needs to undertake to ensure that blacklisting is entirely eradicated in Britain. The document called 'Ruined Lives', was commissioned by UCATT from the Institute of Employment Rights and written by Profe
16/09/2009
As part of the Progress Report on the Strategy for Sustainable Construction the Government and industry has revealed the achievements made so far on their commitments to change radically the way the UK construction industry designs and builds. There has been good progress since the launch of the St
16/09/2009
A town in the South Wales Valleys that was once at the centre of iron making and coal mining is set to become the first low carbon town in Wales and one of the first in the UK. The latest renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency measures will be championed in Aberdare as part of the wide
16/09/2009
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has given it's backing to New Homes Week and reaffirmed its commitment to helping maintain house builder activity as a route to wider economic recovery. New Homes Week is run by the Home Builders’ Federation (HBF) in conjunction with the New Homes Marketing B
16/09/2009
By invite of SEArch Architects, Cruden Construction's Managing Director Stephen Morris, Contracts Manager David Woodward and Senior Partnering Estimator Steve Scott recently visited the 'Greening the Box' (GTB) project in Norfolk; a low-technology approach to building adaptation, with an agenda to r
16/09/2009
Phelan Construction has just completed work on the brand new Travelodge development in Jackson Road, Clacton on Sea. The £3.75M contract was awarded to the Clacton based company after a direct approach from Phelan Construction to the developer. A tight time schedule left Phelan Construction with le
16/09/2009
Plans for the radical transformation of Coventry city centre are set to take a step closer to reality when councillors decide which part of the city's retail heart will be developed first. Members of the Council's Cabinet will be asked at a meeting on 22 September to decide whether to choose the no
16/09/2009
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) Chairman Dr Bryan Jackson was invited to top out 'Himalaya' at Twycross Zoo to mark a significant milestone in the construction of its new multi-million pound eco-friendly visitor welcome centre, being built by Kier Marriott. A major regional tourist attracti
16/09/2009
Hampshire-based Andover Trailers has solved a major problem affecting construction and plant hire operators across the UK and Ireland after designing and building the industry's first lightweight centre balance drawbar machinery trailer to overcome the increased weight of the latest generation of Wi
16/09/2009
UPS Systems are essential devices that on average represent 18% of energy consumed within Data Centres. With a concern for the environment, HSUPS along with our UPS Partners, have taken an active role in developing products that reduce energy consumption, with significant costs in R&D investments.
15/09/2009
The RICS house price net balance turned positive for the first time in two years, according to their latest UK housing market survey. The net balance of Chartered Surveyors reporting rises rather than falls in house prices reached a positive reading of 10.7 percent from a negative reading of 5.7 p
15/09/2009
One of the simplest, cheapest and most effective ways to protect yourself from being ripped off by rogue builders is to insist on having a contract, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) as part of this year's National Consumer Week which is focusing on 'know your rights'. Richard Diment, D
15/09/2009
The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) has removed Leeds Federated Housing Association (LFHA) from supervision following a series of improvements in performance. LFHA, which owns and manages around 3,800 homes in Leeds, Harrogate and Wakefield, was placed under supervision by the Housing Corporation i
15/09/2009
UK house prices will not reach their autumn 2007 peaks for at least another five years, according to the Ernst & Young ITEM Club. In a special report the forecasters said that while data is showing that the housing market is now beginning to stabilise, the recent rise in house prices cannot be su
15/09/2009
A 141-home scheme in Redcar is the largest development to get Kickstart funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) in the first batch of successful bidders. Housing Minister, John Healey, revealed the first 10 developments to get the go ahead for a slice of more than £1bn made available
15/09/2009
Lovell has been appointed by Warwick District Council as principal contractor for its annual kitchen and bathroom refurbishment programme. The company will be delivering a £1.7 million scheme to refurbish kitchens and bathrooms in the Warwick District Council area. The refurbishment programme will
15/09/2009
The Preston Road, Ings and New Bridge Road areas of east Hull are to be transformed if plans being considered by councillors throughout September and October are fulfilled. The proposals are outlined in the Publication Draft of the Holderness Road Corridor Area Action Plan, which has been prepared
15/09/2009
Residents living around the Billingborough area of Lincolnshire are being invited by E.ON to attend a public exhibition to share their views on the company's plans for a wind farm in the area. E.ON is currently investigating the possibility of constructing up to 17 turbines with the potential to ge
15/09/2009
A comprehensive selection of adhesive solutions is on offer at Mapei UK Ltd. The company boasts an answer for all project specification requirements. When selecting adhesives for high quality stone installations, Mapei Granirapid and Elastorapid provide their own unique benefits and are pivotal p
15/09/2009
This year's shortlist in the Construction Computing Awards, otherwise known as The Hammers has been revealed. One name, Mardak is said to be delighted to reach the finals in the category of Construction Accounting Software of the Year for their product, Mardak Construction Accounts. The awards ha
15/09/2009
Don Construction Products (DCP) Ltd's high performance flooring systems were specified in the conversion of a former pottery works in Stoke-on-Trent. Working with the main contractors, P Casey & Co. Ltd., DCP helped to regenerate the site into small enterprise units and a skills training centre fo
14/09/2009
Housing Minister John Healey has confirmed a further boost for affordable housing with almost £250 million to provide 3,400 affordable homes and create around 5,000 jobs. Every region of the country will receive funding which is shared between 43 housing associations and other bodies operating acr
14/09/2009
Although remortgaging remained unsurprisingly weak, lending for house purchase showed its first material annual growth in July for the first time since early 2007, according to the latest Council of Mortgage Lenders' (CML) survey. At £14.5 billion, total gross lending rose significantly for the sec
14/09/2009
The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is bringing together small businesses from its membership and Crossrail bosses to discuss how firms can win contracts to supply the infrastructure project. The event, which is the first of its kind that Crossrail has done with small firms, will att
14/09/2009
A new plan for redeveloping Brighton's long-derelict Preston Barracks site is being prepared by the council, SEEDA and the University of Brighton. It foresees much-needed employment space and new homes alongside new education facilities, including innovation and business incubation space. This wide
14/09/2009
The Home Builders Federation's (HBF) latest survey released shows that July's new homes reservations were up strongly on a year ago, the fourth successive month of year on year growth - and that builders expect a rise in their new homes sales in 2009. And with builders already reporting a busy Augu
14/09/2009
More than 1,000 UK businesses have won contracts worth over £5bn from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) as the venues and infrastructure needed for the Games and legacy continue to take shape. These contracts have in turn created thousands more supply chain opportunities. The new figures publi
14/09/2009
A rise in Government-funded construction work and a surge in utilities projects are helping to stabilise the flow of construction projects starting on site. After sharp falls during the first half of 2009, the Glenigan Index for August recorded a 9% year-on-year decline in the value of project sta
14/09/2009
More than 600 households in Chesterfield are enjoying a warmer home, having received a government funded Warm Front Grant between April 2008 and March 2009. Grant aid totalling over £700,000 has helped households in Chesterfield stay warm and well over the past year. A range of energy efficien
14/09/2009
Morgan Sindall's infrastructure services business Morgan Est has been named a preferred partner in the delivery of a 10-year framework with Central Networks worth an estimated £500 million. The programme of works will include capital asset replacement and reinforcement to overhead lines and undergr
14/09/2009
People from Peterborough will be asked for their views on how many more homes are needed at a meeting at Peterborough Town Hall at a meeting today. The East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) has arranged the meeting to seek views on four different growth scenarios for the number of new homes need
11/09/2009
Rail union RMT has called for a halt to job losses at Network Rail after new information supplied by the company revealed that 2549 maintenance jobs are now under threat – a significant increase on the 1800 confirmed by Network Rail two weeks ago. RMT are warning that the planned jobs cull, which r
11/09/2009
SummitSkills' SkillELECTRIC 2008 champion Richard Sagar has returned victorious from WorldSkills in Calgary, Canada – the largest skills based competition in the world – beating off tough opposition to win Gold in the Electrical Installations contest. Twenty-two year-old Richard from Langholm in Du
11/09/2009
A children's charity has discovered an innovative way to use architectural 3D building modelling technology, an essential tool of the property industry, on the internet to improve its services. CHASE hospice care for children is launching a 'Virtual Tour' of its children's hospice at:
11/09/2009
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and its 16,000 members in England support the Tenant Services Authority's (TSA) move to co-regulation, where tenants will have a formal role in self-regulation and the power to bring about change in social housing. In its response to the consultation "Buildi
11/09/2009
A major consideration that specifiers have when designing a construction is how the proposed building will complement the surrounding area. Where traditional looking buildings are an integral part of the local community, it is important that specifiers take this into account when choosing products
11/09/2009
Scottish company A. Proctor Group of Blairgowrie have provided Roofshield for the re-roofing of St. Wilfrid's Church in Barnsall. The church is steeped in history, with the oldest part of the church, the South Chantry - or Lady Chapel - dating back to the 12th Century. The Parochial Church Council
11/09/2009
The latest update to the new ReluxSuite is available for download from the Relux website at:
11/09/2009
Jungheinrich has announced the launch of a new tow tractor that is particularly suited to applications where loads need to be transported in tight spaces. The new EZS 010 mini-tow tractor - a prototype of which was exhibited at Cemat 2008 - can tow a trailer weighing up to 1,000kg. It is available
10/09/2009
Research carried out by the Construction Youth Trust identifies the poor image of the construction industry amongst teachers, parents, careers advisors and other influencers as a key factor acting as a barrier to disadvantaged young people entering the construction industry. Combined with employer
10/09/2009
A total of 21 people were arrested yesterday in dawn raids by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers investigating a multi million pound construction industry fraud. Eighteen men and three women from the West Midlands, Staffordshire, London and Manchester were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to
10/09/2009
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has received 132 completed submissions from a range of construction and development companies, to the Pre-Qualifying Questionnaire (PQQ) for a panel being set up to develop its sites, which can also be used by Local Authority partners for developing their land.
10/09/2009
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has given approval to more than £10 million of funding for two new skills facilities that will make a major impact on meeting employers’ skill needs by providing vital training places. The first project, which will receive £4.3 million from the LSC, is a Flybe
10/09/2009
House prices have increased by 0.8% in August according to the Halifax. This was the second successive monthly rise and the fourth in the first eight months of this year. Martin Ellis, Housing Economist, said: "Overall, house prices nationally are very similar to the level at the end of last year.
10/09/2009
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has called for a one-off debt settlement for local councils when the current Housing Revenue Account is dismantled, in its interim response to the government's consultation on the reform of council housing finance. CIH has warned against saddling local autho
10/09/2009
Construction union UCATT have warmly welcomed the announcement by Housing Minister John Healey that the Government is providing funding for the building of over 2,000 new council homes. Alan Ritchie, UCATT General Secretary, said: "This initiative is to be warmly welcomed it is an important first s
10/09/2009
Unite, the UK's largest union, is to sponsor the Proskills Sector Skills Council Apprentice of the Year Award. Proskills is the Sector Skills Council covering the printing, papermaking, furniture, extractives, ceramics, glass and building materials. In 2009 Unite sponsored the Proskills Young Achi
10/09/2009
Energy company E.ON has announced that the first power had been produced by its Robin Rigg offshore wind farm in the Solway Firth. The company has switched on the first turbine at the wind farm and it has been successfully generating power. Ian Johnson, Robin Rigg Project Manager, said: "This is f
10/09/2009
Hampshire-based heavy haulage transport specialist Andover Trailers has been appointed sole UK and Ireland distributor for Trailer System Engineering (TSE), a German company which manufactures specialist trailer components ranging from sliding roofs to body kits for commercial vehicles and trailers.
10/09/2009
More than 1,000 UK businesses have won contracts worth over £5 billion to help build the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Games. These contracts have generated thousands more supply chain opportunities for other businesses. New figures published by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)
10/09/2009
Tower Bridge, built in 1894, is an iconic London landmark celebrated in everything from Hollywood films to tourist brochures. Spanning the River Thames, it is also a vital part of the capital's life and it is now undergoing a £4 million restoration project. Hempel UK is supplying the protective
09/09/2009
Councils are focused on building new homes, but should give more attention to making the most of existing houses and flats in their area. This is one of the findings in a new national report by public spending watchdog the Audit Commission, which says that one in three councils struggles to unders
09/09/2009
Local authorities today revealed their appetite for building new social rented homes through the first results of a £460 million bidding programme managed by the government's Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The national housing and regeneration agency has given the go ahead to 47 local authori
09/09/2009
First Minister, Rhodri Morgan has performed the official opening ceremony for Wales’ first commercial scale biomass plant, in Port Talbot. The £33 million Western Wood Energy Plant, which is now fully operational generates enough electricity to power the equivalent of 31,000 homes a year. Develope
09/09/2009
Housing Minister John Healey has launched a new national campaign to help struggling homeowners take control of their finances and make the most of the support available for them to avoid repossessions and stay in their homes. A series of press, online and billboard advertisements will highlight th
09/09/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning employers to be wary of operating machinery near overhead power cables after a Staffordshire man suffered serious burns when he was hit by an electrical charge. The injured man, Andrew Perry, was visiting a waste site at Booths Farm, Cheadle, Staffor
09/09/2009
Manor Welding & Fabrication specialises in providing high quality custom metal fabrication to a broad spectrum of industries including structural steel fabrication, general fabrication and mass production services. Skilled at taking on new and unconventional bespoke work the company is confident tha
09/09/2009
An independent study is to be carried out to assess the feasibility of bringing the red brick building on the Morlands site in Glastonbury back into use. The decision follows a meeting between representatives of the South West RDA, which owns the former tannery site, and the group, which has been
09/09/2009
The clean-up of the 2.5km2 Olympic Park, much of it contaminated through decades of industrial use, is almost complete and on track to beat its tough sustainability targets. The unprecedented clean-up began three years ago and has enabled construction to start on or ahead of schedule on all of the
09/09/2009
The Ark, an inspiring building on the outskirts of Wexford in Southern Ireland has won the prize for best Architect designed and Specified Project at the 2009 Icynene annual awards. The 24,000 sq ft building, designed by Stephen Carr Architects, is recognised as a model for energy efficient constru
09/09/2009
The University of Salford is dedicated to providing students, staff and the local community with modern, cutting-edge facilities and is currently investing heavily in a number of exciting projects including a state-of-the-art new building for the School of Music, Media and Performance. The future
09/09/2009
Finning Power Systems, the sole UK supplier of Caterpillar equipment, has won a contract from Birse Water to supply the complete critical back up power for the main pumps at the UK’s largest pumping station as part of the Fens flood protection. Due to come on stream in 2010, the £38 million new pla
09/09/2009
Specialist rental company Hewden is taking a walk on the wild side by providing access equipment to support the UK tour of Walking With Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular. The £10 million show, which began in Australia in January 2007, has received acclaim across the globe and, in July this year, t
08/09/2009
The Crossrail project received a major boost as Transport for London (TfL) announced that it has agreed a £1 billion loan with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to finance part of their contribution to Europe's largest construction project. For the EIB to agree to the loan facility provides intern
08/09/2009
Kier Group has purchased Telereal Trillium's investment in Kent's first Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Local Education Partnership (LEP). The LEP was established in 2008 to provide 34 secondary schools in Kent to be delivered through three phases of construction, both through the traditiona
08/09/2009
Barnsley Council has announced that it has selected Keepmoat Ltd as the preferred developer to undertake one of the largest housing developments in South Yorkshire. Keepmoat, in partnership with Barnsley Council, Berneslai Homes and Chevin Housing Group will deliver 874 new homes in Thurnscoe over
08/09/2009
Construction union UCATT are renewing their calls for the Gangmasters Act to be extended to construction after an investigation by The Observer newspaper revealed that workers on the East London line extension were being exploited. The Observer discovered that a group of workers employed for a peri
08/09/2009
Morgan Est, one of the UK's leading providers of infrastructure services, has been named as preferred partner to carry out a 10-year framework with Central Networks which could be worth an estimated £500 million. The programme of works will include capital asset replacement and reinforcement to ove
08/09/2009
The National Landlords Association (NLA), the UK's largest representative body for private-residential landlords, has claimed that millions of pounds of taxpayers' money is being wasted by a new method of paying housing benefit, the Local Housing Allowance (LHA). LHA was introduced last year for ne
08/09/2009
Bristol University's Centre for Nanoscience and Quantum Information officially opened yesterday and it has been hailed as the "quietest building in the world". The £11 million project provides specialised laboratories where vibration and acoustic noise levels are among the lowest ever achieved, des
08/09/2009
Western Power Distribution Investments Limited, the applicants for residential and other developments at Llanishen Reservoir, Cardiff, have challenged the decision of Welsh Ministers to dismiss their appeal and to refuse to grant planning permission for the scheme. The decision to dismiss the appea
08/09/2009
Shadow Children's Secretary Michael Gove has spoken out against £170m of a school refurbishment budget being spent on consultants. Despite the high consultancy cost, just a handful of schools out of almost 25,000 have seen any improvements or been newly built. The Freedom of Information figures ra
08/09/2009
Prospect Materials Ltd is celebrating its 10th year as a supplier of Materials and Muck Away services to the construction industry. Its team have all been involved in Supply Chain Management for a great number of years and are all fully conversant in all areas of supply and site clearance. The com
08/09/2009
Powersave Lighting Limited, UK based manufacturer of lighting control products, has launched its first products in the company's Scene Dimmer Range, which are now available. Scene 41 series dimmer packs are 4 x 1kVA dimmers with front panel controls designed for commercial applications. There are t
08/09/2009
Bowen & Groves the developer of M1 by B&G, a leading Manufacturing ERP System, designed for the small to medium manufacturer, has been recognised in the 2009 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100, for Supply Chain Innovation for the third consecutive year. Eight years ago, Supply & Demand Chain Execu
07/09/2009
Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction and services group, has secured a position on six construction frameworks through its contractor Mansell, with a total value of more than £250 million. Mansell is one of 11 contractors to be appointed by Devon County Council on the Constru
07/09/2009
Kier has signed a contract with North Tyneside Council to repair and maintain its social housing stock and other council-owned property for an initial ten-year term. The contract has a potential value of over £600m which could increase as the contract is extendable for a further five years. A wor
07/09/2009
Galliford Try, the construction and housebuilding group, has been appointed on four contracts in the hotel and residential sectors valued at a total of £82.8 million. The first contract of £30 million for RMH (Guildford) LLP involves developing a 186-bedroom Radisson Hotel in Guildford along with 3
07/09/2009
British Gas has pledged its support for the 10:10 campaign, a national drive by individuals and organisations to cut carbon emissions by 10% during 2010. The campaign is described as the first real opportunity for ordinary people to stand up and be counted in the battle to cut carbon. Thousands tu
07/09/2009
When Harrogate Borough Council earlier this year adopted a Core Strategy under the new statutory Local Development Framework (LDF) it became one of the first councils in the country to adopt the major changes in the way local authorities are required by Government to plan for the future. The counc
07/09/2009
Visitors will be able to get a sneak preview inside the state-of-the-art apartments which form part of a new landmark Leicester development. On Thursday, September 10, visitors will be able to step inside some of the 63 individually designed flats inside the new Phoenix Square development, in Leic
07/09/2009
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is issuing formal written notices to 26 retirement home firms setting out concerns over fees charged when residents sell or rent their properties. The OFT is concerned in particular about the fairness and clarity of contract terms providing for these so-called 'exit
07/09/2009
Pupils will be lining up to go into colourful pod-like entrances on the first day at the new Oakwood Community Primary School – one of three new primary schools to open in Plymouth this term. Over 300 excited pupils will be sampling 21st century school life this week in the first of two schools to
07/09/2009
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has welcomed the appointment of two of its senior members to the newly formed Infrastructure Planning Commission, the new body established to accelerate the planning process for major infrastructure projects. The newly announced commissioners are Glyn Robert
07/09/2009
HRH The Duke of Kent is to visit the IOG SALTEX open space management show tomorrow 8 September at Windsor Racecourse. The Duke of Kent will be welcomed to the show by the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, The Hon Mrs Bayliss. He will tour the event, meeting exhibitors and visiting the Sports Turf Skil
04/09/2009
The timetable for a proposed PFI waste treatment facility which will divert thousands of tonnes of Norfolk's household waste from landfill took a step forward, with councillors being recommended to invite a shortlist of four waste management organisations to proceed to the next stage and submit deta
04/09/2009
A hidden camera investigation by Which? has found that some central heating boiler engineers are missing vital checks but charging customers for a full service. The consumer champion invited ten engineers to service a boiler which had been given a minor fault that could be fixed in minutes, by simp
04/09/2009
Information uncovered by the opposition reveals that the Government is expecting power cuts across Britain by 2017. For the first time since the 1970s consumers will be told to prepare for blackouts because the supply of electricity will fail to meet demand at peak times, according to new governmen
04/09/2009
Northern Ireland's first Olympic sized swimming pool is to be built in Bangor, Co Down, it has been confirmed. Stormont Sports Minister Nelson McCausland said approval has now been given for the full business case for the 50 metre pool, which will be built by North Down Borough Council. The gover
04/09/2009
More homes in Bensham are receiving a major facelift as the area's regeneration gathers pace. Gateshead Council has begun a series of major works to more than 60 homes in Windsor Avenue, Bensham as part of an ongoing improvement scheme. Over two-thirds of the homes singled out for improvement in th
04/09/2009
The Government has held its first Cabinet meeting since the summer recess at the Olympic Park. It was the latest in a series of Cabinet meetings that the Government has been holding around the UK. The meeting was held in the site offices of the contractor building the Aquatics Centre on the Park.
04/09/2009
Some of the poorest could see a 20% cut in income if a proposed change to housing benefit for private sector tenants goes through. Crisis has voiced its opposition to proposed Government plans to changes to the Local Housing Allowance (the new form of housing benefit for private sector tenants). A
04/09/2009
Speaking to the West Midlands Business Council, Energy and Climate Change Minister, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath expressed his admiration for the positive way West Midlands' business had faced the challenges of the recession. He pledged that the Government would continue to do everything it could to ins
04/09/2009
Fifteen years after it was first installed, a ramp at Birmingham City University is fit to use at last, thanks to slip resistant flooring from Steni UK. The 40-metre-long wood and steel ramp was meant to give students at the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design access to a quadrangle and lower grou
04/09/2009
The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) is receiving reports from some householders that renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and wind turbines, are being offered by reputable suppliers without first making sure that the dwelling is insulated up to the required standard. Directo
04/09/2009
Further development of their successful encasement system recently allowed Jtech Services to install a new external ducting profile at a central London hospital refurbishment project. The twofold purpose was to protect the downwater pipes from vandalism and also to assist building security by inh
03/09/2009
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has announced the results of the recent mini-bid round from the National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) 2008-11, which will deliver 1,862 affordable homes across Yorkshire and the Humber with an investment value of £98.2 million. The allocations across th
03/09/2009
The Government has set out plans to make it easier for builders to understand what standards are expected of them and to ensure buildings comply with high standards of safety and sustainability. The measures were set out in Communities and Local Government's Future of Building Control Implementatio
03/09/2009
Centrica Chief Executive Sam Laidlaw joined Prime Minister Gordon Brown for the announcement of an expanded youth jobs scheme. Mr Brown has pledged a further 85,000 'opportunities' to help get young people into work. The opportunities include apprenticeships with companies such as Centrica, Carilli
03/09/2009
Construction took a further knock this month as the Chartered Institute of Purchasing Supply (CIPS)/Markit Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) showed more declines, but at the slowest rate for 18 months. The headline figure of 47.7 was posted in August, up slightly from last month's 47. A posting belo
03/09/2009
Research released by the Energy Saving Trust reveals that a third of Britons are happy to speculate to accumulate when it comes to housebuying decisions. Of those polled, a third (35%) said they would be willing to pay more for a home where some of their energy supply came from renewable resources
03/09/2009
Planning applications by housebuilders for new developments have stabilised in recent months, albeit at a low level, according to the latest data released by Glenigan. An estimated 459 planning applications for new private housing schemes were submitted during July. The average number of planning
03/09/2009
Stroud District Council has started consultation with its tenant representatives to get their views on a new scheme which could see the building of homes on large gardens of empty council house plots. The proposals only apply to council homes with big gardens, which become vacant, and could help t
03/09/2009
Professional builder and Big Brother star Craig Phillips says 'safety' is key when working with ladders. The construction entrepreneur and winner of the first series of the reality show gave his support to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) ladder safety campaign for 2009. The campaign centre
03/09/2009
Energy 'doctors' and loans for solar panels are among the green projects which will be pioneered in 10 'low carbon zones' in the capital, the Mayor of London has announced. Speaking at the London Congress, a meeting of the Mayor of London and the capital's 33 boroughs at the Guildhall, Boris Johnso
03/09/2009
Specialist energy saving lamp manufacturer Megaman UK, has released a new concept in catalogues. Split into two distinct sections, the 2009 catalogue details the company's energy efficient lamps on one side and, when turned over, highlights the Fozz Lighting range of products, that provide flexibl
02/09/2009
The new leader of the Royal Institute of British Architects has hit out at the Prince of Wales for abusing his position by influencing planning decisions, it has been reported. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Front Row programme Ruth Reed, the first woman president of the institute, said: "It is unfortun
02/09/2009
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has demanded action to increase the supply of affordable rural housing following an announcement by the National Housing Federation, the National Association of Small Schools, and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, that primary schools are closing at a
02/09/2009
Housing can revitalise town centres in south London, according to a new study by the London Development Agency. Rather than damaging their character, the study shows that new, well-designed housing can actually make these areas even more distinctive. London's population is expected to grow by a f
02/09/2009
Installing micro-generation equipment such as solar panels in Welsh homes has become easier as new planning rules come into force. Environment Minister Jane Davidson hopes the changes will give households the opportunity to minimise their carbon footprint and to reduce fuel bills. The aim of the c
02/09/2009
Costain has announced that Integrated Bradford, a consortium that includes Costain, HSBC, Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Investments and Amey Ventures, has reached financial close on the £230 million Bradford Schools Phase 2 PFI Project. The scheme, which is part of the Bradford BSF Progra
02/09/2009
Based in North Yorkshire, Barrett Kent is a family run business and has been trading for over ten years. The firm sources specialist materials and textures fixtures and fittings, provides drawings, deals with all the relevant authorities for planning permissions and building regulations. Barratt
02/09/2009
Galliford Try, the construction and housebuilding group, has announced that it has been appointed as one of the contractors on Network Rail's Enhancements Multi Asset Framework. Running for a five year period, the total value of the framework is £1 billion. The multi-disciplinary framework cover
02/09/2009
The potential for flood damage is a continuing factor in planning construction operations. When Morghew Park Estates needed a new grain store to support its agricultural operations near Rolvenden, in Kent, they instructed Quercus Consulting to undertake a flood risk assessment. Following a topogra
02/09/2009
White LEDs are being hailed as the 'next big thing' in lighting design. Although they've been around for two decades, the 'next wave' of innovative products that is emerging is expected to be dominated by products utilising white LED in spotlights and downlights, (pictured). These will effectivel
02/09/2009
A Co Antrim company specialising in woodworking equipment is about to go 'on show'. Following the success of its previous in-house exhibitions, M.J. Woodworking in Antrim has announced that this year's woodworking machinery show will again be held at their main showroom in Antrim. A spokesman said
01/09/2009
Welsh Ministers have decided to call in a planning application to develop a business park just north of Junction 33 of the M4 motorway. In October 2006 an application was made to Cardiff Council by Westgate Park (Cardiff) Ltd for outline planning permission to develop an 'International Status Busi
01/09/2009
The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) continues to meet the ISO 9001:2000 standard, having passed the main triennial audit on 20 August. No major and no minor non-conformities were found. IPAF continues to be the only organisation to comply with ISO 18878:2004 Mobile elevating work p
01/09/2009
Frickley Country Park is to be opened to the local community in Wakefield this weekend. Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), will join Housing Minster John Healey, Yorkshire Forward Chairman, Terry Hodgkinson, Deputy Leader of Wakefield Council, Denise Jeffre
01/09/2009
Staff at a leading water quality engineering firm have helped to deliver a crucial stage in a major Midlands drinking water project. . Workers withfirm Panton McLeod are delighted at the role they've played in undertaking the disinfection of a new £31.5M GAC plant at Frankley Water Treatment Works,
01/09/2009
The finishing line for planning for one of Europe's biggest regeneration projects is in sight, with a visit by the Secretary of State's Planning Inspector on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 September 2009. Two years of extensive consultation between residents and council has resulted in the outline for
01/09/2009
A new state of the art leisure centre will be opened in Bettws in November. Newport City Council has announced the new leisure facility as part of the £28 million Newport High School development to replace the existing Bettws leisure centre that has been open since 1974. The centre will include s
01/09/2009
The Highways Agency is preparing to start work on a £3.4 million scheme to renew 750 metres of the eastbound carriageway of the M50 between junctions 1 and 2 near Tewkesbury. New parapets will be provided for the viaduct over the River Severn to replace existing barriers and the carriageway surfac
01/09/2009
The work to regenerate Waterloo Road in Blackpool, designed to bring road speeds down and give pedestrians and other road users a friendlier and more accessible shopping environment, has now been completed. A one-way system has been created from Lytham Road to the Promenade to create more parking s
01/09/2009
Energy company E.ON has teamed up with climate change campaigners 10:10 (1010uk.org) to launch a nationwide drive to help homeowners and small businesses cut their energy use by 10% by the end of 2010. Customers are being urged to sign up to E.ON's FREE Online Energy Tracker to start the challenge.
01/09/2009
One primary school is closing every month in rural England – as young families are increasingly priced out of villages and migrate to urban areas where there is cheaper housing, three campaign groups revealed today. The National Housing Federation, National Association for Small Schools (NASS) and
