Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for February 2011
28/02/2011
Britain's economic map would be redrawn, jobs created, prosperity spread and the way businesses work and compete transformed by a new high speed rail network, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said today as he launched a consultation on the Government's proposals. Launching one of the biggest publ
28/02/2011
Work has started on Saxon Weald's new eco-homes at New Street, close to Horsham town centre. The 38 rented homes will save 90% more energy than standard homes, resulting in energy bills of around just £100 a year for future residents. The scheme features 12 homes which will be the first social ho
28/02/2011
The January data from Land Registry's House Price Index shows an annual price decrease of 0.9 per cent which takes the average property value in England and Wales to £163,177. The monthly change from December to January is an increase of 0.2 per cent. Two regions in England and Wales experienced
28/02/2011
British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) members are looking forward to a recovery starting in 2012 after the capacity reductions of the past two years, President Jack Sanderson said at the association's Annual Dinner. Mr Sanderson said: "We expect that 2011 will be another very difficul
28/02/2011
Crossrail has announced two new Non-Executive appointments to the Crossrail Board, strengthening it further to help deliver the major new railway for London and the south east. Former Hong Kong MTR Managing Director Phil Gaffney and former Managing Director of TfL London Rail Ian Brown CBE will joi
28/02/2011
Construction union UCATT have warned that Government cuts in construction safety will prove lethal. The union issued the warning following a series of intensive inspections by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Merseyside, revealed that one in four sites were unsafe. The HSE visited 88 site
28/02/2011
A new chapter in the history of Rotherham United has now been written after final plans for the clubs new stadium were revealed. At Don Valley Stadium, Chairman Tony Stewart, manager Ronnie Moore and representatives from Gleeds, GMI Construction and S&P revealed plans for a multi-million pound 12,0
28/02/2011
Innovative used plant and equipment auction website
25/02/2011
Manchester City Council has welcomed the news that it has been awarded over £29 million for housing improvements over the next four years. The bulk of the money will be spent on homes in the Collyhurst and West Gorton areas, although detailed plans are still to be agreed on exactly which properties
25/02/2011
Work is due to start next week to clear undergrowth and rubble from a disused railway bridge to allow engineers to carry out a full structural assessment. Derbyshire County Council has organised the work because of safety concerns about the bridge over the A610 at Sawmills between Ambergate and Rip
25/02/2011
Skanska and John Laing, under a 50/50 consortium, have today announced that they have been appointed Preferred Bidder for the Croydon & Lewisham Street Lighting PFI project. This is the second street lighting PFI that the consortium is involved in following financial close of the Surrey Street Light
25/02/2011
Bristol city council is launching a new £50,000 fund to help communities get their renewable energy projects off the ground. The Bristol Community Energy Catalyst Fund will provide up to £15,000 per project to enable community projects to go from just a great idea to a successful working enterprise
25/02/2011
A package of incentives to include a reduced rate of VAT on home energy efficiency improvements and reduced Stamp Duty needs to be at the heart of the forthcoming Budget on the 23rd March if the Government is serious about its pledge to be the 'greenest ever' and transform our existing homes to make
25/02/2011
February 2011 brings the opening of Hawkinge House in Kent. Hawkinge House is a brand new development from Graham Care Ltd, a long standing and much valued client of Chessmann. This is our third scheme for Graham Care and we have a further three equally impressive schemes in the pipeline. The fi
25/02/2011
A milestone housing scheme bringing much-needed affordable homes to Hartlepool has been completed. 28 new homes have been built for social rent at Golden Meadows, off Seaton Lane – some of the first local authority properties to be constructed in the town for many years. A mix of two, three and fo
25/02/2011
Willmott Dixon, in partnership with NHS South of Tyne & Wear, has achieved its ambition to build the UK’s first BREEAM ‘outstanding’ health facility. The company's £17 million Houghton-Le-Spring Primary Care & Leisure Centre scored over 86 per cent in its design stage assessment to achieve the high
25/02/2011
Thousands of people struggling to pay sky-high utility bills in Edinburgh and surrounds this winter must wish they could take a payment holiday. So maybe they should consider buying a new Barratt East Scotland home, because the housebuilder is offering to give homebuyers gas, electricity, water and
24/02/2011
Newport's former steelworks is to be converted into hundreds of news homes. Plans have been put forward for the housing and a public park at the former Llanwern steelworks. The builder Persimmon wants permission to build 311 two, three and four-bedroom houses on the site and in a related applicati
24/02/2011
Willmott Dixon has increased its presence in the hotel sector with a £9.5m project to create a Holiday Inn on Commercial Road in Tower Hamlets, London. The 133-bed hotel for Ark Properties Investment Ltd will be completed in March 2012, ready for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games that wi
24/02/2011
Nearly one in four of Merseyside's construction sites failed safety inspections during the first two days of a month-long initiative. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors carried out checks at 88 sites during intensive inspections in the county. A total of 21 sites were found not to meet le
24/02/2011
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has announced today that it has reached financial close for the North West Fire and Rescue Services PPP scheme, the capital value of which is approximately £48 million. North West Fire and Rescue Services comprises Cumbria County Council, Lanc
24/02/2011
Galliford Try, the housebuilding and construction group, has announced that its Scottish business, Morrison Construction, has been awarded a £48.5 million construction contract which is part of the £86 million Moray Council project to upgrade flood defences at Elgin in Northern Scotland. This work
24/02/2011
Calling all business entrepreneurs who see carpet waste as a valuable resource - Carpet Recycling UK, the industry-backed association for recycling and reusing waste carpet, has issued a call for papers for potential speakers to address its two-day annual conference on July 5 and 6. Its second an
24/02/2011
Triflow Concepts, formerly known as Avilion, continue to push the boundaries of brassware design with the release of their Triflow Quadro System. This cutting edge appliance delivers hot and cold water, filtered water and instant hot, filtered water heated to 98 Degrees Celsius. Each type of water
24/02/2011
Utilising space that is otherwise wasted, a storage mezzanine floor can give you twice the flexibility without the need to move or extend. Architects, specifiers and blue-chip companies in a vast spectrum of industries choose Avanta storage mezzanine floors. We have the expertise to provide the com
24/02/2011
Three flooring companies have received Gold Certificates in the first-ever Recofloor Awards for recycling the most waste vinyl flooring in 2010. Members of the UK's first vinyl flooring recycling scheme, managed by Axion Consulting, collected more than 200 tonnes of material last year – easily surpa
24/02/2011
LOCK KEEPERS Queen Mary University of London A victorian canal side cottage renovated and converted to provide teaching space for the Faculty of Arts with a contemporary extension A steel skeleton with trussed cantilevered framework support a timber envelope, first floor and roof LINES AND COLOU
23/02/2011
Work on a brand new extra care sheltered housing scheme for older people in Widnes will start next month. Halton Housing Trust was given permission to build 47, two-bedroom apartments in Liverpool Road by Halton Borough Council. Nick Atkin, Chief Executive at the Trust, said: "There is a huge shor
23/02/2011
Wales is set to gain a new power plant with the potential to provide electricity to 1.4 million homes. Energy Minister Charles Hendry today gave the go-ahead for SSE to build an 870 megawatt gas-fired power station near Port Talbot. The Abernedd Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Plant will be built at t
23/02/2011
Elliott Off-Site Building Solutions has been commissioned by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to construct a new two-storey outpatients and office accommodation development at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Denbighshire, North Wales. The Health Board require a modular solution that fully complies wi
23/02/2011
Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, has announced it has entered into an agreement for a unique three year contract with Qatargas to deliver 2.4 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the UK Isle of Grain facility. The deal will provide enough gas to meet approximately
23/02/2011
The start of construction on new £20.6 million premises for Ormiston Bushfield Academy in Peterborough will be marked with an official ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday 1 March 2011. "This is a significant milestone for the whole community," said Councillor John Holdich, Peterborough City Council
23/02/2011
Councils in England will be given more than £100 million of extra funding to spend on repairing potholes, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond announced today. The funding is in addition to the £831 million already provided to councils for road maintenance this year and the £3 billion the Government
23/02/2011
Cheap Bath Screens Prices can vary considerably between the ranges and as with most things it is probably advisable to get the best you can afford within your budget. Most manufacturers of shower screens have a budget or value range and also offer a premium range of screen. Styles of bath screens
23/02/2011
The new website will house many new and used products for your every need. Advertising your plant machinery and plant parts on
22/02/2011
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has released new aerial images showing the transformation of the Olympic Park, with the construction of the permanent venues nearing completion and the parklands taking shape. The Olympic Park 'big build' is now nearly 80 per cent complete and the main venues re
22/02/2011
Willmott Dixon has signed a contract worth £10.3 million to revitalise Birkenhead High School Academy, an independent Girls' 3 – 19 Academy. The company will remodel and refurbish the existing buildings, alongside adding new accommodation. The proposals for the remodelled school campus draw on the
22/02/2011
Mansell has won a £1.3 million contract to refurbish and extend Didcot Civic Hall and town council offices in Oxfordshire for Didcot Town Council. The traditional refurbishment will revamp and extend the 30-year-old building. Work will include an extension and new entrance to make the hall more vi
22/02/2011
Speaking at the International Energy Forum (IEF) ministerial meeting in Saudi Arabia today, UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry highlighted the importance of international efforts to stabilise the cost of energy sources. Minister Hendry said: "Current oil prices underline the fundamental importance
22/02/2011
Speedy, providers of equipment rental and support services, has launched a new service to help project managers set up construction sites. The Speedy Site Solution is a new consultancy-led service which helps to map out and supply essential communications, accommodation and security needs before a
22/02/2011
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM2007) require a cultural change in the management of health and safety by the construction project team, but particular emphasis is placed on the requirements for competence of designers, design co-ordination and communication of design i
22/02/2011
Specialist contractor Mivan Limited has secured a number of packages at the new, luxury Prime Knightsbridge Hotel in London totalling over £8 million. The Antrim based company's scope includes the fit-out of the hotel public areas including the restaurant, lobby and ballroom areas. In addition, M
22/02/2011
Kier Eastern has won a £1.4 million contract to design & build a new wing to a banana ripening centre near Stansted for client Winfresh. Kier started work on the facility at Winfresh's existing warehouse on High Cross Lane East, Little Canfield last month. As well as housing for banana ripening ro
22/02/2011
The "iQ VAN" from QBM is a purpose fitted presentation vehicle to enable us to offer an "event" at customer premises or on site. Consisting of current and future relevant legislation within the construction industry, product innovations and "practical hands on" demonstrations. iQ Van facilities inc
22/02/2011
Robust design and high quality manufacturing both contribute to a reliable end product that will perform as intended for as long as required. Whether you are talking about a mobile phone, a cheese sandwich, an aircraft component, or the packaging they are supplied in, this is (or should be) the aim
21/02/2011
Crossrail has announced the shortlist for C435 Farringdon station. The following organisations will be invited to tender for the main construction contract:
21/02/2011
Young people all over Hertfordshire are set to benefit from training and job opportunities thanks to an apprenticeship scheme launched yesterday by Balfour Beatty at Stevenage Skills Centre. Balfour Beatty Apprenticeships (Hertfordshire) has been developed to maximise opportunities for young people
21/02/2011
A landmark collaboration agreement for the development of excellence in skills for the global nuclear industry between the National Skills Academy for Nuclear and INPO (International Nuclear Power Operators) was announced today. The Skills Academy is the lead 'skills for nuclear' organisation for
21/02/2011
Anglo American and Lafarge have announced their agreement to combine their cement, aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt and contracting businesses in the United Kingdom. It will comprise of Tarmac UK and Lafarge Cement UK, Lafarge Aggregates and Concrete UK. The Transaction will form a 50:50
21/02/2011
Network Rail is changing its structure and business to better align itself to the needs of both its customers and passengers by creating a number of new, powerful, devolved business units run by managing directors. Leading the change, Network Rail's Chief Executive, David Higgins, said: "Network Ra
21/02/2011
A demolition firm has been fined after failing to manage and monitor asbestos removal work at a site in Nottinghamshire. Yorkshire-based Libra Demolition Ltd was the principal contractor on a project to demolish buildings at the former Vesuvius works in Sandy Lane, Worksop, Nottinghamshire between
21/02/2011
Trump Technologies offer you QUALITY with over 45 years combined experience. Our products are of the highest standards on the market today and our engineers are simply the best. We take no shortcuts and cut no corners, we make sure that your project is an important to us, as it is to you. Each and
21/02/2011
Evaporative cooling can reduce the energy cost of building cooling by over 90%. EcoCooling are at the forefront of evaporative cooling technology and are leading the way in providing low carbon, low energy cooling solutions for all types of buildings including multi storey offices – large retail
18/02/2011
A world-renowned construction sector firm is behind the opening today of the JCB Academy in Staffordshire. The innovative facility is to be officially opened by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. The first 170 students, from Staffordshire and Derbyshire, began studying at the £22m ac
18/02/2011
A 20-year campaign has finally paid off with news this week that a £10m project to widen a stretch of road in Ceredigion is to start next month. The contract, on around 1.3km (0.8 mile) of the A487 at Glandyfi near Machynlleth is expected to be completed in late 2012 - with major rock cuttings invo
18/02/2011
Housing developers looking to build in Cheshire East will soon be expected to meet new affordable housing requirements. The authority currently uses three separate provisions for affordable housing, which were previously set by the former borough councils of Congleton, Macclesfield and Crewe and Na
18/02/2011
Birmingham City Council's Cabinet has approved £57.8 million budget for investment in council properties this year which will contribute to a better quality of life for Birmingham citizens. Since 2004, the council has invested in excess of £700 million in council housing, with a majority of propert
18/02/2011
The Sharp Project, located in Newton Heath, East Manchester has released 30,000 sq ft of space for rent in the final phase of the 200,000 sq ft digital content complex. The Sharp project is due to be completed by the end of March, just before the new Metrolink tram line opens. The space, which is l
18/02/2011
A major milestone for Bournemouth's Town Centre Vision has been reached with the creation of a public-private partnership to kick-start £350 million regeneration. Known as 'The Bournemouth Development Company', the partnership will bring about major investment in the town centre over the next 20 ye
18/02/2011
Dean Blinds and Awnings have announced that they have added the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) certified endorsement to their ever growing list of professional qualifications. The CHAS safety qualification sits well with the Investors in People award which Deans have mainta
18/02/2011
Poole based construction company Greendale have secured £2.3 million in local business in a month. Greendale continued to ride the business storm in 2010 and their turnover reached £8.12 million at their financial year end in July 2010. These new contract wins, all secured within a month, include
18/02/2011
Wood burning stoves have been dubbed 'green and groovy' as they become hot in the world of interior design. The idea that you can have a source of heating that a) reduces your energy bills substantially, b) has great 'green' credentials, and c) looks invitingly stylish is one that has really caught
18/02/2011
Icynene's green and sustainable soft foam insulation has been selected by Dragonboard as the best product to use in the insulation of its new three bedroom Welsh Future Homes project house. The Dragon House is designed to meet level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Having developed its own uniq
17/02/2011
Kier Construction has been awarded the management contract for the construction of the new Digicel headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, and the official ground-breaking ceremony was recently attended by Jamaican prime minister, the Rt Hon Bruce Golding, and Digicel Group chairman Dennis O'Brien. The
17/02/2011
Defence Secretary Dr. Liam Fox has announced the creation of a single organisation to manage Defence property which will deliver better strategic management of the military estate as well as savings of £1.2 billion over the first four years alone. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) will
17/02/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has announced almost £200m in the first wave of cash bonuses for communities that have decided to go for growth and build new homes through the New Homes Bonus scheme. Explaining how the scheme will work Mr Shapps said the government will match the council tax raised f
17/02/2011
Construction workers involved in refurbishment projects across the Lothian's are being urged to pick up lifesaving advice at a free event on Tuesday 22 February. During 2009/10, 42 workers died while working in construction across Great Britain and more than two thirds (69 per cent) of these deaths
17/02/2011
Icynene, one of the pioneers of the Green Building Movement in North America and inventor of water blown soft foam insulation, is at Ecobuild on stand S1222. Icynene has participated in over 200,000 environmentally-friendly and energy efficient building projects across Europe, USA, Canada and the F
17/02/2011
Come and visit out stand at the Home building & Renovating Exhibition at the Birmingham NEC. Stand number F131 - 24th-27th March 2011. Our wide range of external doors include oak doors and hardwood doors for the entrance to your home. Alternatively, we stock triple-glazed external doors if you are
17/02/2011
As the East Midlands Service Agency for Powrmatic UK Ltd, Europe's foremost manufacturer of commercial & industrial heating and air handling equipment and a specialist in natural, powered and smoke ventilation, County Plumbing and Heating specialises in the installation and servicing of Powrmatic he
16/02/2011
Taylor Wimpey has announced that it has negotiated an exclusive mortgage guarantee scheme, paving the way for 95% mortgages for first time buyers. The Take5 deal, with Melton Mowbray Building Society and Saffron Building Society, is being offered initially in three regions of the UK. It means that
16/02/2011
An ambitious new £8m community development will open next week on Monday 21 February bringing a wide range of local services and organisations together under one roof. The Hub has been designed to give local people easy access to the services they need in one place and is the first building of its
16/02/2011
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has welcomed the promise of real flexibility for affordable housing providers in the new investment framework published, but finds the principle of charging poorer households higher rents to fund new development flawed. CIH called for greater flexibility for
16/02/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has called on key players in the housing industry to work more closely together to help aspiring first time buyers get a foot on the property ladder. Leading industry figures representing house builders, lenders, insurers, councils and consumer groups attended a summit
16/02/2011
An agreement has been reached to build a new 'station box' on the Crossrail line through Woolwich. The station box, which could be converted into a complete station in the future, will be privately funded by developer Berkeley Homes under an agreement with the Department for Transport, Transport fo
16/02/2011
Measures to encourage growth in the housing and commercial property sectors should feature in the next UK Budget, according to RICS proposals. Property and construction act as significant drivers of growth in the wider economy. Every £1 spent on construction contributes £2.84 to economic activity
16/02/2011
O'Keefe Construction Ltd has been fined after a teenager suffered horrific burns to his legs at its depot in Sevenoaks, Kent. The court heard that on 26 October 2009, an 18-year-old man, who asked not to be named, was in a shed at the site, spraypainting a lighting tower. The employee used thinners
16/02/2011
The Problem The Hedge End Depot in Hampshire housed offices for the local authority. The existing asbestos sheeted roof has deteriorated over time and many of the fixings had become unsecure. In addition to the roof leaking, GRP rooflights and a metal gutter were also points of water ingress. Vario
16/02/2011
The first of four websites being re-launched by East Sussex based company Round Wood of Mayfield has now gone live. It showcases the strand of the business that supplies 'Quality Oak & Decking Products', including solid and engineered flooring, hardwood decking, oak skirting, joinery, beams and sl
15/02/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has called on housing associations, housebuilders and developers to take advantage of a new scheme to build more affordable homes. Mr Shapps said the Affordable Rent programme will allow landlords to offer homes to new tenants at up to 80 per cent of local market rate,
15/02/2011
Plans have been submitted for a Solar Park at Ebbsfleet. Thanet district council has received an application for the use of approximately 12 hectares of land at Ebbsfleet for a Solar Park. The application involves the installation of approximately 60 rows of solar panels, with each being 3 metres i
15/02/2011
A manufacturing firm has been prosecuted after health and safety failures at its Northumberland premises. Hendry Hydraulics Ltd was prosecuted after Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors visited Hendry Eurohoist Cylinders in Ashington and served two Prohibition Notices. South Northumberland
15/02/2011
Stockport-based Multibuild, part of the Balfour Beatty group has appointed a new Managing Director. Jason Taylor (40) is now at the helm of the multi-million pound market leader in construction, refurbishment and fit-out whose recent contract wins total in excess of £35m. He takes over from the or
15/02/2011
According to the latest Market View Report from Built Asset Consultancy EC Harris, the construction industry will finally see tender prices stop falling in 2011. The quarterly report, which tracks tender prices in the UK property and infrastructure sectors predicts that prices will turn the corne
15/02/2011
National Window Films are currently engaged in the protection of major employment sites throughout the UK. The current threat level in Great Britain as published by the Home Office is Substantial meaning a terrorist attack is a strong possibility and in Northern Ireland is Severe meaning an attack
15/02/2011
CABE and the Design Council have confirmed they will merge from 1 April, following an agreement reached by the two bodies and government. The new organisation will speak with one voice to support a broad spectrum of design, architecture and public space. It will be government's advisor on design in
15/02/2011
TV One's famous Coronation Street is on the move with news that Trafford Council's Planning Committee has approved plans to relocate the set to a site adjacent to the Imperial War Museum North at Manchester's Trafford Wharf. ITV is building a new, bespoke production and studio centre for the popula
15/02/2011
Lovell has appointed John East as commercial manager for East Anglia. He joins Lovell from the company's sister firm, construction business Morgan Sindall where he held the same position. Based in the Norwich regional office, he is responsible for all commercial, financial and legal aspects of the
15/02/2011
Two Northern Ireland banks have the poor state of the housing market in focus with news from the Bank of Ireland that the average house price fell again last year. However, as Alan Bridle from the Bank of Ireland was commenting on the latest survey of domestic property prices that showed a fall of
14/02/2011
Over the next month, construction sites across the West Midlands will be visited as part of an intensive inspection initiative aimed at reducing death and injury in one of Britain’s most dangerous industries. During 2009/10, four workers died while working in construction across the West Midlands -
14/02/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has today launched a major new scheme to deliver affordable homes for those in need, providing a potential lifeline to some 4.5 million people on social housing waiting lists. He outlined the next steps in the most radical shake-up of social housing for a generation, w
14/02/2011
A scheme to regenerate the Tideway Industrial Estate in Nine Elms was approved Wandsworth Council's planning application committee. Tideway Pocket Park The project would create 752 new homes across the site as well as a new hotel, shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, offices and a crèche. The estate i
14/02/2011
A Cambridgeshire power company has today been ordered to pay £150,735 for their role in an incident which left a man dead after he was struck by a straw bale. Gary Darnell from Ely, in Cambridgeshire was working as a driver at EPR Ely Ltd's site on the Elean Power Station in Sutton, also in Cambrid
14/02/2011
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is urging the Government to be bold in its approach to waste policy and recognise its potential to deliver easy wins on a number of big policy areas from meeting climate change targets and bolstering energy security to helping unlock infrastructure investm
14/02/2011
Mansell has won a £6.3 million contract to build a new two-storey primary school in Kent for Canterbury Diocesan Board of Education. The new Archbishop Courtenay Church of England Primary School will mean that two existing school buildings will be able to relocate to one site. A nursery, footba
14/02/2011
Construction project starts for the three months to January 2011 fell by 28 per cent compared to the same period a year ago according to the latest Glenigan Index. "The fall in project starts is largely due to the severe December weather. However, whilst the industry has made up some of the lost g
14/02/2011
The South West could see 10,000 additional apprenticeship places a year by 2015 if employers make the most of extra government funding for training, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander said today. The Chief Secretary made the announcement today ahead of a visit to Pendennis Shipyar
14/02/2011
Innovative used plant and equipment auction website Mr Machinery is set to share some of its buying and selling secrets after launching a series of free top tips guides. Available to download in user-friendly PDF format from
14/02/2011
Camden Glass, the glass processing division of Camden Group, is proud to announce they have passed EN1279 Part 3. Relating to the gas leakage rate of sealed units, Part 3 is particularly difficult to achieve. In passing the test, Camden is the only company in Ireland to have passed the standard and
11/02/2011
Wolves have appointed Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd as Main Contractor for Phase One of its ambitious redevelopment of Molineux, starting with the demolition and replacement of the Stan Cullis (North) Stand. The Contractor will be responsible for the £16 million project and will be working close
11/02/2011
Twenty-two affordably-priced town centre flats for older people will be built in Egremont after a £2.8m social housing project received the final green light. Social enterprise and housing developer, Home Group has secured investment of £660,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to allow
11/02/2011
Plans for a new skateboard park in Central Park have been approved by Plymouth City Council. The skateboard park will replace the one demolished last year to make way for the Plymouth Life Centre and will be located between Central Park Leisure Pools and Alma Road. Freestyle Skateparks have worked
11/02/2011
Sainsbury's customers can top up their weekly grocery shop with one-off purchases such as Solar Panels, to help them generate their own energy at home. Sainsbury's Energy, in partnership with British Gas, will offer customers access to new energy technologies, energy deals, information, and energy
11/02/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has announced new rights for those who live in park homes that will allow them to resolve disputes with site owners quickly and more easily, and ensure that their sites are safe and better maintained. Under changes to existing legislation, residents will be given acces
11/02/2011
Lovell has been appointed by leading housing association bpha as a contractor partner for its five-year new build housing development framework. The framework has a total value of up to £300 million. As a framework member, Lovell will provide construction services including designing and building
11/02/2011
Over the next month, construction sites across the country will be visited as part of an intensive inspection initiative aimed at reducing death and injury in one of Britain's most dangerous industries. During 2009/10, 42 workers died while working in construction, nationally, and nearly three quar
11/02/2011
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has awarded honorary membership to Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation, Michael Coogan, Director General of the Council of Mortgage Lenders and John O’Connor, Chief Executive of the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency in
11/02/2011
A former industrial site in the heart of the West Midlands is being transformed into 106 affordable new homes. The £17million site in Bagnall St, West Bromwich is being led by client, Midland Heart Housing, in partnership with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, the Homes and Communities Agency
10/02/2011
Mansell has won a £4.2 million contract to construct two sports halls at Teign School and Teignmouth Community College in Devon for Devon County Council. The sports facilities will be traditionally constructed, complete with fitness suit, dance studios, badminton courts and changing facilities. Th
10/02/2011
Local housing provider Guinness Hermitage, residents and partners have celebrated the completion of much-needed new affordable homes in the village of Baydon, Wiltshire. The eight new homes are part of the open market development Newtons Walk and will provide a mix of family houses and flats in the
10/02/2011
A scheme to regenerate Battersea Powers Station cleared an important planning hurdle today as the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles confirmed his support for the plan. The outline planning application was approved by Wandsworth Council in November last year and re
10/02/2011
The MOD has announced that it will develop six regional capital works frameworks for construction projects valued below £12m and one national framework for higher value projects, more complex projects and cross-region programmes up to a value of £50m, under its Next Generation Estate Contracts (NGEC
10/02/2011
England's four million council housing tenants hold the key to improving their own neighbourhoods, Housing Minister Grant Shapps has said. Mr Shapps argued that some of the best examples of people contributing to the Big Society can be found on England's council estates - looking out for their neig
10/02/2011
In a new paper published, the Institute of Directors (IoD) puts forward two dozen policy changes over ten areas of Government policy which could transform growth prospects at little or no cost to the taxpayer over the period of the Spending Review. These 'freebies' are a mix of immediate measures
10/02/2011
A Sheffield construction company has today been fined after a worker suffered serious injuries while working on the refurbishment of a Teesside store. MacDonald Joinery & Construction Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at the former Rosebys store, at
10/02/2011
BAM is leading a multi-partnership new initiative to provide apprenticeships for young people in the Midlands. A new apprenticeship scheme, which is the first of its kind in the Midlands, is being launched to help young people in Coventry and Warwickshire gain work experience, training and qualific
10/02/2011
Bristol flooring specialists Rudge Brothers and James has completed a radical makeover at the showroom headquarters of Somerset-based Office Reality. The design brief for the company's new HQ in Wellington called for a bright and funky finish to create a unique and stimulating environment underpinn
10/02/2011
Storage equipment manufacturer EZR supplied Trespa Gym Lockers and benches to an exclusive private gymnasium. Oak Trespa doors lockers and bench seating combined a high quality finish with the practicallity of Trespa with scratch and moisture resistant doors. Trespa door Gym lockers have solid gra
09/02/2011
Morrison Utility Services, utility services provider in the UK, has secured a record-breaking order book of £1.55 billion, £3.5 billion with contract extensions, following a strong start to the New Year. UK Power Networks has awarded the business a contract which is worth up to £750 million over
09/02/2011
The Yorkshire and Humber region could benefit from jobs and investment as E.on was granted permission to construct a 230MW wind farm off the coast of Humberside. Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change said: “Offshore wind not only provides clean, green, secure energy, the inv
09/02/2011
New back-up electricity generators for Milton Keynes Hospital have now been delivered as part of a £2.2 million investment from Milton Keynes Partnership (MKP). MKP has provided the money to Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust via the Milton Keynes Infrastructure Tariff in order to help the
09/02/2011
Air conditioning specialist Holborn Building Services Ltd is helping the Nationwide Building Society to upgrade the air conditioning systems in several retail branches, removing the old R22 systems, and replacing them with modern R410a units that offer more energy efficiency and central control. R2
09/02/2011
The Mayor of London has officially kicked off work on the future £80 million plant that will transform household rubbish into clean energy to power up to 15,000 local homes. Based in Dagenham, this will be one of the UK's first large scale advanced gasification plants and is expected to create 25 p
09/02/2011
The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is inviting the private sector to supply the fabric 'wrap' around the London 2012 Olympic Stadium at Games time. Following the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review last year, the provision of the Olympic Stadium wrap was removed from the Olympic De
09/02/2011
A construction company has been fined after failing to carry out work correctly or properly manage asbestos while demolishing an old church in Snodland, Kent. Maidstone Magistrates' Court heard the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received a complaint from a member of the public about demolition w
09/02/2011
Plant Parts Ltd have been specialising for more than 15 years in Komatsu parts and excavator Final Drives / Travel Motors, the company has had year-on-year growth since formation. Starting from the founders garages the company now has 10,000 ft2 of warehousing and workshops. For Komatsu parts the
08/02/2011
Plans to reduce congestion on Britain’s busiest motorway could cost taxpayers an extra £1 billion a report has claimed. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee said the £3.4 billion contract for widening the M25 in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex was "poor". Public Accounts Committ
08/02/2011
The Coalition Government's intended abolition of Regional Strategies can be taken into account when making planning decisions, the High Court agreed. The judgment - in a High Court case brought by CALA Homes - confirms that the intended scrapping of Regional Strategies is a 'material consideration'
08/02/2011
BAM Properties has secured planning permission to continue major Leeds West End office developments known as Latitude. The office is 115,000sq ft seven-storey commercial office development in the West End of Leeds which will be known as Latitude Blue. The developer will offer the 115,000 sq ft sev
08/02/2011
Construction union UCATT have warned that extra vigilance is needed to ensure that the construction of the Olympic Games is completed safely. UCATT issued the warning after learning that the frequency of accidents on the Olympic Village is double the rate on the Olympic Park. Evidence shows that a
08/02/2011
The Environment Minister, Jane Davidson, has approved a Welsh Assembly Government grant of over £2.7m million towards the first phase of coastal protection works Colwyn Bay. Work is expected to start on the project later this month. The first phase of the Council's coastal defence strategy, estimat
08/02/2011
If you want a good return, invest in the right materials. Thousands of pounds are lost repairing, replacing and maintaining property. Investing money in a house is, for most people, the most important financial decision they will make in their lifetime. Make sure you consider the whole life costs
08/02/2011
Tottenham Hotspur FC today released the first image of the proposed 60,000 capacity football stadium that would sit in the heart of the Olympic Island site if Spurs /AEG become the successful bidder with the Olympic Park Legacy Company. Daniel Levy, Chairman, Tottenham Hotspur FC said: "We are prop
08/02/2011
A group of Leicester tenants were handed the keys to their brand new council homes last week - the first to be built in more than 30 years. The first nine of Leicester City Council's new council homes, built by Kier Partnership Homes, were unveiled at Calluna Close, off Heather Road, West Knighton.
08/02/2011
Project Profile: Sherard Road Medical Centre, Sherard Road, Eltham SE9 Client: Practice Manager, Medical Centre c/o Yoop Architects Duration: 4 weeks Completed: February 2010 Project Field: NHS Doctors surgery refurbishment Scope: Refurbishment of reception, waiting room & consultation roo
08/02/2011
Planning Additions ltd is a firm established in South West London, providing quality design services to commercial and residential clients, we provide full Architectural plans, Specifications and Structural calculations for all kind of building services. Including submission/follow up to local auth
07/02/2011
Skanska has secured an assignment to design and construct a school in Ilford, in Northeast London. The contract amounts to approximately £30 million, which will be included in order bookings for the first quarter of 2011. The customer is the schools authority in the London Borough of Redbridge.
07/02/2011
Specialist Contractors continue to face difficult trading conditions according to the latest NSCC State of Trade Survey. The results for the fourth quarter of 2010 show that the market remains unstable and, with only 29% of respondents reporting an increase in enquiries and 33% an increase in orde
07/02/2011
The famous Llangollen Railway in Wales is set to get bigger with news that a link to the town of Corwen is about to become a reality. The Welsh Assembly Government has confirmed a £500,000 grant towards the construction of the first phase of the steam and diesel railway expansion. It is hoped pass
07/02/2011
Bristol road projects are looking more likely to come to fruition this week as they have not only been included as part of the DfT's Investment in Local Major Transport Schemes and have now also moved closer to getting government funding. The A38 and A370 link road and a 'rapid transit' bus route j
07/02/2011
E.ON has announced plans to trial a new Smart Pay As You Go (PAYG) offering for Small to Medium Enterprises (SME), making it one of the first energy companies to offer this service. The new Smart PAYG offering has been developed with Secure Meters (UK) Limited to help business customers manage cash
07/02/2011
The latest environmentally friendly features have been included in the new Melton Vale Post 16 Centre, Leicestershire, which will save energy and money. It is estimated that they will reduce energy costs by as much as 50 per cent each year. There is a wind turbine on site which will generate aroun
07/02/2011
A £190m fund which provides hard-up families with free debt advice, low cost loans and access to bank accounts is likely to be scrapped this year as the government continues its radical public spending cuts. Ministers have failed to offer any reassurances that various financial initiatives to help
07/02/2011
AMEC, the international engineering and project management company, has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Zektingroup (Zektin), an Australian-based specialist engineering consultancy for the oil and gas and resources industries, from its owner-managers. Zektin is a 200-pers
07/02/2011
Lovell has been awarded a £25 million contract to build two new sustainable housing schemes for Hackney Council through an innovative land swap scheme. The properties are the first new-build homes to be built by Lovell for Hackney Council following the company's extensive work on the borough's hou
07/02/2011
Pupils at Ynyshir Community Primary School have welcomed Education Minister, Leighton Andrews, to their new state-of-the-art school for its official opening. With the help of over £6 million in grant funding from the Welsh Assembly Government, the ageing buildings of the existing junior and infant
04/02/2011
Construction workloads fell during the last quarter of 2010, as government spending cuts and a lack of commercial finance took their toll on the industry, according to the latest Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Construction Market Survey. Five per cent more surveyors reported total co
04/02/2011
Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has introduced a report detailing how local government can save £7 billion a year in running costs, cut carbon and improve services through managing their property assets efficiently, sustainably and in partnership with other ser
04/02/2011
JCB has announced that it had won a huge order for 505 compact excavators from one of the leading suppliers to the UK building and construction industry. Travis Perkins has placed an order for 371 JCB 8014 mini excavators and 134 JCB micro excavators. The machines will be supplied by JCB dealer Wa
04/02/2011
Top class construction companies, builders and their architects are celebrating Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's Building Control Quality Awards to recognise the high standards of construction projects throughout the County Borough. The fifth annual awards, sponsored by LABC Cymru and Rhondda Heritage P
04/02/2011
Work has started on the first phase of the development of a £400 million integrated business and residential community at Locking Parklands, near Weston-super-Mare. Leading regeneration specialist St Modwen has begun work which will pave the way for the construction of 100 new homes on the former R
04/02/2011
Lovell is set to build a £2.75 million development of affordable homes for Orbit Homes in Lowestoft, Suffolk. Lovell will start work in March on the scheme which will create 29 energy-efficient houses and flats for social rent and shared ownership through the housing association. Homes will achiev
04/02/2011
A South Yorkshire glazing firm has been sentenced after an employee was hurt when he fell more than ten feet from an unsafe scaffold. Phillip Pears, then 20, broke his wrist in the incident while replacing fascias for Premier Security Glazing Ltd at a house in York in June 2009. A Health and Safet
04/02/2011
Presco Components Ltd is pleased to announce more export work. The off shore and land based petro- chemical industry is still buoyant in these difficult times. Work gained in Kazakhstan and Nigeria continues to be a valuable source of work with additional phases to be hopefully awarded during 2011
04/02/2011
Glass balustrading specialist Balcony Systems is the first to add a low-cost, self-cleaning glass coating option to its external and Juliette balconies in response to increasing demand for the ultimate reduced-maintenance solution. Applied using a special 'vapour chamber' process, this unique pate
03/02/2011
Willmott Dixon's track record for sporting facilities and stadia has been further strengthened with its appointment by the University of Worcester to develop a multi-purpose sports venue called Worcester Arena. The arena, designed by Gloucester based Roberts Limbrick Architects, will have retractab
03/02/2011
Work is under way on the construction of 12 new council homes in Lawrence Weston with completion expected by the end of July 2011. The new homes, which will range from four-bedroom houses to two-bedroom bungalows, will be built on three former council-owned garage sites in Crokeswood Walk; Barrowme
03/02/2011
PD Ports has commenced the ground works at its Teesport container handling facilities on the North East coast, as part of a multi million pound expansion project. County Durham based, Hall Construction Services Limited, successfully won the tender to carry out the civil works at Teesport, which a
03/02/2011
Ministers have been urged to avoid a looming housing benefit crisis after new research revealed that welfare cuts may spark an exodus of better landlords from the housing benefit sector. Data launched at the British Property Federation's (BPF) Residential Conference this morning showed that almost
03/02/2011
Homeowners wanting building work done to their homes can have increased confidence when choosing a Federation of Master Builders (FMB) member from today as all new members will be required to have their work inspected. Building companies wishing to join the FMB already have to prove they have been
03/02/2011
British Gas homes have seen a 22 per cent decline in gas consumption, on average, as more homes adopt energy efficiency measures. These cuts in gas use follows three decades of rising consumption, and shows the impact energy efficiency is having on British homes, according to an independent repor
03/02/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has announced plans to give members of the public the right to reclaim and develop hundreds of acres of unused public sector land and buildings, which are currently trapped in a bureaucratic quagmire. The new Community Right to Reclaim Land will help communities to im
03/02/2011
Builders in Tameside are being encouraged to attend a free safety event after there were nearly 400 serious injuries to construction workers in Greater Manchester last year. Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that there was one death and 393 serious injuries in the county's
03/02/2011
A £2.3 million redevelopment project for an existing bus depot in Wigan has been awarded to Yorkshire building contractor GMI Construction by First in Manchester, part of FirstGroup, one of the world’s biggest surface transportation firms. The 300,000 sq ft site is based on the South Lancashire Ind
03/02/2011
Specialist insurance broker McParland Finn Limited (MFL) has launched an exclusive Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) scheme offering competitive premiums for Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) Member Practices. In a market at its most difficult since the mid 90s, many recent P
03/02/2011
At Architech Cad Ltd we provide a unique and innovative service for Property Developers, Estate Agents and Architects across the UK and beyond. The company was established in 2002 to develop a range of cost effective high quality 3D and 2D property marketing images. Since then our images have assis
02/02/2011
Specialist engineering firm Renew has announced it has reached an agreement to buy the entire share capital of Amco for £19.8 million. The acquisition of Amco is firmly in line with the Group's stated strategy of growing its Specialist Engineering business. Amco is a specialist engineering company
02/02/2011
New Chief Executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), Dennis Hone has met Olympic Park workers to launch a new safety campaign on site. The safety push is designed to encourage workers to remain focused on their personal safety and that of their colleagues as the number of workers peaks and
02/02/2011
Major improvement works are about to get underway on Allerton Road, South Liverpool. The Allerton Road District Centre Improvement Scheme starts on site on Monday 7th February, 2011. It will see the removal of the central reservation planter and improved street lighting between Queens Drive and Gre
02/02/2011
May Gurney has been awarded an 18-month extension to its contract with Norfolk County Council, with a value of up to £50 million, achieving its maximum extension term to April 2014. The long-term contract (known as the Norfolk Strategic Partnership) includes a complex range of services including pr
02/02/2011
A Co Antrim waste management company has been fined £60,000 after an employee died at their landfill site in Mallusk - tragically under tonnes of rubbish. BIFFA Waste Services Ltd. was fined at Belfast's Laganside Courts on Wednesday morning, after 23-year-old supervisor David Layland was killed in
02/02/2011
Outstanding standards of design and construction in the city are being recognised at Sunderland City Council's annual Building Excellence awards. The awards ceremony organised by the Sunderland City Council's Building Control Service is being held at the Stadium of Light tomorrow (Thursday 3 Februa
02/02/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has fired the starting gun on a council housing revolution that for the first time puts councils and communities in control - allowing them to make long term plans to offer a better deal to England's four million council tenants. Under this new localist approach counci
02/02/2011
Sunderland's newest extra care housing scheme for older people has officially opened – with high praise from one of its first residents. Isaac Storey, 93, received a plaque on behalf of residents at Bramble Hollow in Hetton-le-Hole as the £7.1m Housing 21 development was formally launched. The sc
02/02/2011
ONICE Aluminium Electric Radiators combine state-of-the-art heating technology with high pressure aluminium die casting to bring you the latest in energy saving heating. ONICE uses patented technology which involves the insertion of special electrical elements into the pressure die casting of each
02/02/2011
Scaffolder Damien Healy has worked in every kind of environment, from North Sea oil rigs to the inside of storage silos and high-rise city developments. With that kind of experience it's no surprise that his business should be a success, with a roll call of regular clients across the region. Now
02/02/2011
Building services engineering consultancy, CAD 21, has announced it has sponsored the 'Greening Government' conference in London, which helps organisations with meeting their energy targets. CAD 21 provides a wide range of reporting, certification and designs for energy reduction in buildings. From
02/02/2011
Socomec UPS, a leader in ad hoc solutions for Data Centers and with many years of experience in modular installations, announces Modulys Green Power, a modular UPS solution, maximising all the benefits of the Green Power range with heightened flexibility. The new modular Green Power UPS is designed
01/02/2011
Construction union UCATT have discovered that an award winning campaign, which warned construction workers about the dangers of asbestos, has been cancelled. UCATT believes that the decision is due to the Government’s spending cuts and will lead to unnecessary deaths of many workers. The Hidden K
01/02/2011
Lovell has been chosen to deliver a £9 million development of energy-efficient homes at the Barnham Cross Estate, Thetford, Norfolk for housing association Flagship Peddars Way. The overall scheme will create 66 houses, flats and bungalows, all for social rent, for the housing association – part of
01/02/2011
Residents are being warned about a scam in which bogus traders have called on houses offering to fit insulation. Under the scam, traders have called on homes in Manchester and Trafford, claiming to work on behalf of Manchester City Council and offering to provide loft and cavity wall insulation. T
01/02/2011
Socomec UPS has just announced the extension to their Delphys Green Power Range, available up to a system size of 1.6 MVA. Building on the strength and popularity of the Delphys Green Power 160 kVA and 200 kVA, the Socomec UPS range is now available in 320 kVA and 400 kVA units. Complete with true
01/02/2011
Tai Ceredigion has been working hard for its tenants in rural areas to deliver alternative sources of energy instead of expensive bottled gas or oil. The consultation process with tenants and investigations into a green energy pilot scheme at Pontrhydfendigaid, Ponterwyd and Pontrhydygroes village
01/02/2011
Double glazing and conservatory installer Sun Shield Products Ltd has become the first firm in the Exeter to gain the high standards required to gain accreditation into the prestigious Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS). There are less than 150 Ombudsman accredited double glazin
01/02/2011
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed news that the data from Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) will be used to offer advice and information to home owners and tenants about how to improve their property and reduce their fuel bills. The FMB has said for a long time that the EPC
01/02/2011
Kier Partnership Homes has started work on the £3.8 million redevelopment of 22 Tarran Bungalows on Oxcroft Lane in Bolsover, Derbyshire. A joint project with Bolsover District Council and Derwent Living, the demolition of the defective bungalows will make way for 13 new bungalows for returning ten
01/02/2011
Spectacular sweeping curved glass balconies, supplied and installed by Balcony Systems, provided the bespoke balustrading solution for the multi-million pound Gloucestershire dream home of one of Britain’s leading industrialists. Spread over seven levels, the 2,800 sq metre futuristic, high-tech pr
01/02/2011
Make Me Dugouts were set a challenge to manufacture bespoke dugouts for export to Yemen and have them ready in just two weeks. The sports dugouts were for use in a football tournament to be hosted by Yemen in November 2010. The tournament is called the Arabian Gulf Cup and this was to be the first
01/02/2011
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