Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for July 2011
29/07/2011
A derelict textile mill in Sutton-in-Craven has been redeveloped in an £8 million scheme, providing 65 high quality, affordable homes for local people. The homes at Greenroyd Mill were officially opened by Eric Whatmough, a local Yorkshire Housing tenant and former manager at the old textile mill a
29/07/2011
Mansell, in partnership with Balfour Beatty Construction, has secured a place on the Improvement and Efficiency, South East (iESE) second generation, Major Works Framework, which commences in July 2011. Mansell has been part of the existing £1.8 billion iESE (formerly SECE) Framework, continuously
29/07/2011
UBM has announced it has acquired International Business Events Limited – owner of the Ecobuild exhibition business – from its private owners for an initial cash payment of £31 million and a further performance-based cash consideration of up to £20 million payable over the next 12 months. UBM has
29/07/2011
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has welcomed the government announcement that there will now be a regulatory requirement that fixed term tenancies should normally last for a minimum of five years. The revised draft direction on tenure requires that any exceptional circumstances where the t
29/07/2011
Latest statistics by the National House-Building Council (NHBC) reveals a stable level of new home registrations in the first half of 2011, however there is still a way to go for the housing market. According to the figures, housebuilders registered 9% more new homes during the first half of this y
29/07/2011
Building contractors’'representative The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has welcomed the £2.5 million fine imposed by utilities regulator Ofgem on British Gas for breaching regulations with an inadequate complaints procedure. Ofgems' criticism was particularly directed at British Gas' trea
29/07/2011
A new 'Planning Guarantee' will create greater certainty for local communities by speeding up local planning applications that get stuck in the system, Planning Minister Greg Clark announced in a letter to local councils. At the moment thousands of planning applications get caught in the system for
29/07/2011
West Somerset Council's Planning Committee resolved to grant approval with minor changes and some further informatives for EDF Energy's application, made through its subsidiary NNB Generation Company Limited, for site preparation works at Hinkley Point. Planning permission was granted subject to re
29/07/2011
Do you wonder how to store Hazardous Materials such as paint, diesel or chemicals on site? Available for purchase or hire, CS Shipping Containers have launched a new range of Coshh, Hazardous Material and Chemical Stores. Fully compliant with HSE regulations and BASIS compliant the new stores have
29/07/2011
Despite recent press stories to the contrary, large numbers of homeowners are still investing in decking and it remains one of Richard Burbidge's best selling range of products. There has been coverage of late suggesting that environmentally conscious homeowners have been turning away from decking
29/07/2011
Priors Reclamation classic range of
29/07/2011
HM Revenue & Customs, (HMRC) has advised taxpayers in the organisation's North Scotland area office (Aberdeen), including those previously in Cumbria, Northumbria, Wear & South Tyne, Inverness, Aberdeen, Ayr, greater Belfast, Craigavon in Co Armagh - and the NI counties - as well as Kendal, Newcastl
28/07/2011
Construction company Morgan Sindall has secured an £8.1 million contract with Ebbsfleet Community Sports Centre Limited to build Mayesbrook Park Sports Arena in East London. The new arena will be the biggest sports hall in the UK and second largest in Europe. Initially, it will be used as a Games T
28/07/2011
A turf turning ceremony, led by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Ian Thomas, and Canterbury MP Julian Brazier, was held on site at the hospital to mark the start of the building work which will take 14 months to complete. The event was also attended by a local mental health service user and care
28/07/2011
Network Rail has submitted its plans for two schemes that will invest £95 million in the railway over the next three years, removing bottlenecks to free up capacity for both passenger and freight services. The schemes – the Ipswich and North Doncaster chords – are the first that Network Rail has su
28/07/2011
A South Yorkshire engineering firm and a German machine supplier were sentenced for safety failings after a worker sustained horrific injuries but miraculously escaped with his life after being dragged through a gap no wider than a CD case. Compass Engineering Ltd and Kaltenbach Ltd were jointly pr
28/07/2011
Builder Willmott Dixon has been appointed by the Stobart Group to build a £10 million 4-star hotel at London Southend Airport that will be completed by summer 2012, in time for the Olympics. The 129-bedroom venue designed by Leach Rhodes Walker will provide high quality facilities for airport passe
28/07/2011
The announcement by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by just 0.2% in the second quarter of 2011 is symptomatic of the on-going slump in the British building industry, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Richard Diment, Director General of the
28/07/2011
Carillion Canada has been awarded the contract to construct Vaughan Corporate Centre Station, by the Toronto Transit Commission. This £123 million contract, which forms part of the Toronto to York Spadina Subway Extension project, follows Carillion's success in being awarded a £360 million constru
28/07/2011
A derelict textile mill in Sutton-in-Craven has been redeveloped in an £8 million scheme, providing 65 high quality, affordable homes for local people. The homes at Greenroyd Mill were officially opened by Eric Whatmough, a local Yorkshire Housing tenant and former manager at the old textile mill a
28/07/2011
Energy regulator Ofgem has fined British Gas £2.5 million for breaching regulations setting standards for the way energy companies handle customer complaints. The investigation found that British Gas failed to re-open complaints when the customer had indicated that it had not been resolved and also
27/07/2011
A pioneering Eco Home development in Eastbourne has recently been completed and is being unveiled on 4th August. In a unique expression of the relationship between builder and supplier, Chandlers Mews takes its name from the integral contribution made by Ringmer builders merchant, Chandlers Buildi
27/07/2011
Crossrail has announced that a contract notice has been placed in the Official Journal of the European Union seeking expressions of interest for the remaining tunnel portal at Victoria Dock. The value of the contract is in the region of £50 million. Construction of Victoria Dock Portal will get und
27/07/2011
The London Development Agency (LDA) has chosen Notting Hill Housing Trust as its preferred developer for Gallions Quarter, a new mixed-use urban centre in the Albert Basin area of the Royal Docks in east London. Notting Hill Housing Trust propose to build around 700 new homes and 50,000 square feet
27/07/2011
One year to go until the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games has been marked by the completion of construction on the Aquatics Centre. The Aquatics Centre was completed on time and within budget – the last of the six main Olympic Park venues to reach this milestone. Back in July 2006
27/07/2011
Lovell has been chosen by Waterloo Housing Association, part of Waterloo Housing Group, to build the 150 new homes that will soon transform the Elizabeth Road estate in Cannock. Lovell is adding its development expertise to the successful partnership between Waterloo, Cannock Chase Council and the
27/07/2011
Central Heating Supplies, Plymouth will be be doing more than heating your home, but your belly too! A succulent Hog Roast, will be supplied all day on a spit - This Friday 29th July from 10am onwards, all local plumbers and heating installation specialists in the local area are invited down, to s
27/07/2011
Recently updated to included the details of the newly launched Delphys Green Power 320 & 400 kVA and the just recently launched Masterys Green Power 60-80 kVA. Proven to be a very handy partner for any consultant or electrical system designer scaling uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems into
26/07/2011
The National Housing Federation has warmly welcomed the publication of the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) for consultation. Last December, planning minister Greg Clark MP announced a review of planning policy, designed to consolidate all policy statements, circulars and related doc
26/07/2011
Affordable housing project, Pimlico Estate on Peabody Avenue, has won two prestigious industry awards, a Housing Design Award and a New London Award. Built by Mansell Construction Services and designed by architects Haworth Tompkins, the 55-unit mixed residential £10.1 million scheme saw bomb-damag
26/07/2011
An outstanding electrical apprentice from Birmingham has been honoured at a prestigious national award ceremony which recognises the best in the construction industry. Luke Noble received the 'Highly Commended' accolade in recognition of the trainee’s accomplishment of reaching the height of excell
26/07/2011
Northumberland County Council has been fined after one of its drivers had a narrow escape when a crane jib on the back of his lorry hit a 20,000 volt overhead power line at one of its depots. The incident, on 19 February 2010, happened after the wagon was unloaded and the crane jib was left in the
26/07/2011
A Northern Ireland building company has been named as the UK's top construction firm for 2011. FJ Charleton Building Contracts Ltd from Ballymartin, Co Down has taken the accolade in the Master Builder of the Year Awards, run by the largest trade association in the UK building industry's Federation
26/07/2011
Imperial Tobacco has appointed BAM Construction to deliver the company's new corporate headquarters based in Bristol. The multi-million pound project will see BAM deliver a bespoke four storey concrete framed building with a zinc-clad façade, and extensive glazing and curtain walling. Sited on Win
26/07/2011
Proposals to provide around 350 new affordable homes in west Wiltshire have received Government backing, signalling a significant boost for the project. Wiltshire Council's case for £77 million in investment through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme has been supported by the Housing Minis
26/07/2011
For the first time, the building services engineering sector in England has a set of integrated flexible apprenticeship frameworks to safeguard standards and enhance the quality of services across the electrotechnical, heating and ventilating, plumbing, and refrigeration and air conditioning industr
26/07/2011
When people talk about the property and building market it can often be with regards to the current economic downturn and the difficulty of buying or selling both commercial and residential property in these difficult financial times. However, there are some companies that are weathering the econo
26/07/2011
Ever-increasing energy bills could be a thing of the past for householders in Cornwall who invest in renewable energy technology. In the past two weeks energy providers have announced double digit increases in the price of electricity and gas to domestic users. Cornwall Council is offering househo
25/07/2011
Newham's Strategic Development Committee has approved plans for a replacement Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station at Pudding Mill Lane. The existing Pudding Mill Lane DLR station is located where the Crossrail route reaches the surface and therefore a new station needs to be constructed. The repl
25/07/2011
The third and final unit at E.ON's Grain Combined Heat and Power (CHP) power station in Kent is now commercially available. Construction and commissioning of the innovative CHP scheme that will provide 'waste' heat in the form of hot water to National Grid's nearby liquefied natural gas (LNG) termi
25/07/2011
One West Yorkshire-based manufacturer that has invested in preparing to supply the UK nuclear industry is Halifax Fan, a company that has expanded to China and has established a sales office in Bangkok. Malcolm Staff, Managing Director of the company says to companies facing post-investment problem
25/07/2011
Under the representation of Stag Security, Ievo Ltd has been chosen as the biometric supplier to the Scottish National Arena, which will host the Commonwealth Games. The £112 million project with Bovis Lend Lease will be at the hub of public events, concerts, conferences and as aforementioned the
25/07/2011
A roofing firm has been sentenced after one of its employees was injured when he fell through the roof at a Stockport school. Ploughcroft Building Services was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at Reddish Vale Technology College on 14 June 2010. Trafford Ma
25/07/2011
Szerelmey, the stonework and restoration specialist, has scooped a £717,000 flooring contract for a new events venue at Bluewater, Kent, one of the UK's largest shopping centres. Szerelmey will strip out 1000m2 of flooring and relay a further 3000m2 of Jura Limestone and Muschelkalk. Interestingly
25/07/2011
Construction companies and agricultural businesses with a surplus stock of used plant and equipment are being urged to take advantage of online auction specialist
22/07/2011
A Somerset firm has been fined after a man broke his back, arm and ribs after falling three metres whilst working on a barn conversion. Mark Clarke was helping to renovate his employer's property Heathfield Barn at North Petherton, Bridgwater when the incident occurred on 11 October last year. Tau
22/07/2011
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has received full approval of £108 million on Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding to build 390 units of extra care accommodation across three sites in the city. The approval comes after a vigorous assessment by the Homes and Communities Agency of all housing PFI pr
22/07/2011
Plans to create a new public space for London by the end of 2013 as part of the redevelopment of King’s Cross station have been unveiled today by Network Rail. At more than 7000 square metres, the new King’s Cross Square will be 50% bigger than Leicester Square, opening up the space currently occup
22/07/2011
Keepmoat and Apollo, both market leaders in social housing development and integrated property services across the UK, have announced their intention to combine the two businesses and create a community regeneration and social housing solutions. The deal will bring together the two complementary bu
22/07/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has welcomed a new action plan for the self build industry that he says could be the turning point that takes it to the masses. Meeting with the National Self Build Association (NaSBA) - the representatives of the self-build industry - Mr Shapps said that for too long
22/07/2011
British households can cut their bills and make their home energy efficient at no upfront cost under a new scheme launched by British Gas. The Home Energy Plan will enable British households to install measures like new efficient boilers, insulation and solar panels at no upfront cost or with a sma
22/07/2011
Fresh proposals are being launched to develop the renewable heat market in Northern Ireland - with potential for a boost to local employment skills as a result. There may be opportunities for training in the skills required for the introduction of renewable heat - which is heat produced from source
22/07/2011
When people talk about the property and building market it can often be with regards to the current economic downturn and the difficulty of buying or selling both commercial and residential property in these difficult financial times. However, there are some companies that are weathering the econo
22/07/2011
Calling to all local tradespeople and especially the local plumbers in the area, Aqua Lite want to invite all their customers and potential customers in the area, to see live demonstrations of every Plumbers Dream! CT1! on Monday 25th July. C-TEC Building Solutions, the Building Product Specialists
21/07/2011
Marks and Spencer plc and two of its contractors have been convicted for putting members of the public, staff and construction workers at risk of exposure to asbestos-containing materials during the refurbishment of two stores. Asbestos is the biggest single cause of work-related deaths in the UK,
21/07/2011
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) published the final employment and skills figures today, showing the combined Olympic Park and Athletes’ Village workforce has peaked and already reduced to 10,989 as the ‘big build’ nears completion. Cumulative figures showing that 40,341 people have worked on
21/07/2011
Local councillors joined contractors Kier Longley for a site tour to mark the official opening of a new household waste recycling site in Newhaven recently. The new facility, at the former Haven Foundry in New Road, opened to the public last week and replaces the existing, outdated waste recycling
21/07/2011
Costain has been selected by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) to lead the development of the next generation in carbon capture technology. The project will see a carbon capture pilot plant capable of capturing 95% of carbon dioxide emissions designed, built, operated and tested by the middle
21/07/2011
MP Diane Abbott has opened a new state-of-the-art extra care scheme in Warwick Grove, Hackney. Developed by Hackney-based Housing Charity, Newlon Housing Trust and managed by specialist staff from Outward and Hackney Council, Century Court provides 40 homes and a range of care, support and addition
21/07/2011
Morgan Sindall has secured two new school contracts worth a total of £5.5 million in the London Borough of Brent. The firm, which has an office in Welwyn Garden City, has been appointed to carry out extension and refurbishment works at Newfield Primary School and Brentfield Primary School. The 1,0
21/07/2011
People living in Ambergate, Crich, Bullbridge and Fritchley area will have the opportunity to meet with Severn Trent's project consultancy team to discuss proposals for the construction of a new reservoir. The exhibition will be held on Wednesday 27 July at Glebe Field Centre, Glebe Field Close, Cr
21/07/2011
Wales' Housing, Regeneration and Heritage Minister Huw Lewis attended a topping out ceremony in Swansea o mark the completion of the latest construction phase of the city's Urban Village. Completion of the structure's main frame is a major milestone in the project and illustrates the size and scale
20/07/2011
Pool's skyline is now easier on the eye as work on Cornwall College's 30m-tall tower block nears completion. Representatives from the college, Kier Western and sub-contractors D&B Façades came together to witness the Cornwall College logo being placed at the top of the Tamar building. The £1.5 mil
20/07/2011
A Wolverhampton plumber has been given a ten-month suspended jail sentence for causing a gas explosion and fire in which a pensioner sustained 21 per cent burns rescuing his nine-year-old granddaughter. Peter Naylor, of Wednesfield, removed the gas meter at the property in Arnhem Road to reach a le
20/07/2011
Residents of a £12 million housing development for older people in Portsmouth have celebrated with an opening event to launch the scheme. Milton Village in Southsea consists of three extra care schemes, each with a mix of one and two bedroom apartments specially designed to support independent livi
20/07/2011
Wales' first full scale tidal stream energy generator has been given the go-ahead following a £6.4m EU funding boost, First Minister Carwyn Jones has announced. The funding will enable the unique £11m DeltaStream device, which will generate clean electricity from the tides off the West Wales coast,
20/07/2011
The Glued Laminated Timber Association (GLTA) has welcomed new member Inwood Developments Ltd., of Lewes, East Sussex, which specialises in the manufacture of timber buildings, cladding, glulam beams and high quality timber components using home grown and European certified sustainable timbers. Rep
20/07/2011
A programme agreed between the National Tenant Organisations (NTOs) and Government will see tenants leading the development of a voluntary framework for local tenant panels working in partnership with landlords. Aiming to produce a framework by the start of 2012 through funding from the DCLG's Tena
20/07/2011
With the 'big build' nearing completion the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announces that it is coming to the end of its procurement programme. More than 1,500 direct contracts have been awarded, worth over £6bn. As a result tens of thousands of supply chain contracts have spread across the UK .
20/07/2011
Two landmark London buildings have taken pre-emptive steps to safeguard their floors during planned renovation work this summer. Both the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Royal College of Art have purchased red multi use floor protection film from specialist flooring protection firm, Trio Plus.
19/07/2011
The underlying value of UK construction project starts was 24% lower for the three months to June compared to the same period in 2010 according to the latest data from construction industry analyst Glenigan. Hotel construction in London fell 73% year on year, for example: "Last year saw a surge in
19/07/2011
Communities Minister Andrew Stunell has seen how Government plans to make existing homes warmer and cheaper to run could work on the Coronation Streets of the future. With the countdown to the Government's Green Deal initiative underway, the Minister visited the University of Salford's pioneering E
19/07/2011
Crossrail Limited has announced a new Non-Executive appointment to the Crossrail Board. Former Arup Chairman Terry Hill CBE will join the Board on 1 September 2011. Current Non-Executive Board member, Heather Rabbatts CBE, has been re-appointed for a further three-year term from 13 August 2011. P
19/07/2011
Powerwall, a leading developer of modular building systems and high tech building materials, is the first UK firm to achieve a 60 year life expectancy certificate for its external insulation materials from the British Board of Agrément (BBA). This follows on from the previous 60 year life expectanc
19/07/2011
The first rural affordable housing scheme in Wokingham Borough has been unveiled in the village of Wargrave, marking an important step in tackling the lack of affordable homes in the Berkshire countryside. Sovereign South+West's Kings Acre development in Blakes Road consists of 10 new affordable ho
19/07/2011
One of the UK's leading provider of equipment rental and support services, Speedy Hire, has invested in a fleet of low carbon Ford ECOnetic vehicles as part of its sustainability strategy, One Plan. With improved fuel economy that will contribute to Speedy's aim of lowering the carbon footprint of
19/07/2011
Alpina slates from leading roofing specialist, Cembrit, have been used on a prestigious housing development at Calne in Wiltshire. The grey/green Brazilian slate offers an attractive colour contrast with the exterior of the properties and delivers high quality performance at a competitive price.
19/07/2011
Having specified Forticrete's popular Gemini roof tile across many of its developments over the years, Guinness Northern Counties Association decided to further enhance the benefits provided by this product by incorporating Forticrete's full Dry Fix Verge System onto its new housing development in C
19/07/2011
Forrest, the leading Northern social housing regeneration specialist, has secured a place on Halton Housing Trust's framework worth up to £9.5 million. The Cheshire-based housing association has selected Forrest and two other contractors to deliver more than 30 miles of perimeter fencing to 4,000 d
18/07/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has hailed the progress of Government plans to build thousands of new affordable homes over the next four years. Ministers revealed that their original aspiration to deliver 150,000 new homes by 2015 will not only be met, but exceeded. Appetite for the Affordable Homes
18/07/2011
A Wiltshire firm has been prosecuted for compromising worker safety after using a homemade harness system during a barn renovation project. Agricultural contractor Ashton Farms Limited, of Steeple Ashton, Trowbridge, exposed employees to a fall from height risk at Manor Farm Grittleton, on Alderton
18/07/2011
Negotiations led by construction union UCATT have preserved the jobs of the majority of workers based in the North West who were formerly employed by failed housing maintenance company Kinetics. In early June, Kinetics placed its North West part of the business into administration, affecting 370 wo
18/07/2011
The Chartered Institute of Housing's (CIH) Deputy Chief Executive, Richard Capie, will be moving with his family back to New Zealand and has resigned from his post. His role as Deputy Chief Executive will be filled on an interim basis by Grainia Long, CIH's current Director of Strategy and Norther
18/07/2011
The Nuclear AMRC (Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre), on the boundary of Rotherham and Sheffield, has been praised by inspectors for the considerate way the £25 million facility is being delivered. The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) conducted an inspection of the innovative busi
18/07/2011
Willmott Dixon's repair and maintenance specialist Willmott Dixon Partnerships has won a five year contract worth £45m with Notting Hill Housing Trust to develop a unique and personalised maintenance service for the Trust's 15,000 social rented customers. The contract, which can be extended to 10
18/07/2011
Plans to make further improvements to St Andrew's Healthcare facilities in Northampton have taken a step forward. The West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) Planning Committee has approved outline proposals for a new building to complement William Wake House, opened last year, and all
18/07/2011
The Apollo Group has won a three year contract, worth £2.5 million per year, with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. The project, which will commence this autumn, with the potential to extend for a further two years, will see Apollo deliver kitchen and bathroom refurbishments to part of the Co
18/07/2011
Lignacite Concrete Masonry Products has been specified by Bulgari Hotel to provide its thermal performance and green credentials. Designed by Squire and partners this luxury 78 room boutique hotel is being built on the site of the former Normandie Hotel in Knightsbridge. The Lignacite block contai
08/07/2011
A Rotherham firm continued exposing workers to dangerous asbestos-containing materials despite advice from the local council. Only when the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a Prohibition Notice banning entry to two warehouses run by local storage firm, Rotherham Bonding Company Ltd, were em
08/07/2011
Mansell has secured a place on the East Thames Group new build contractors framework. The four-year partnering framework has been split into two price bands, new build projects below £5 million and new build projects above £5 million. Mansell has successfully secured a place on both price bands. T
08/07/2011
In the last year, the Home Office has saved £1million by reducing energy consumption by 17 per cent. This represents 5,386 tonnes of carbon and is the fifth highest reduction achieved across Government departments. The Department for Education came top of the Whitehall table, with a 21.5 per cent
08/07/2011
British Gas has begun notifying its customers it will raise domestic tariffs for gas by an average 18%1, and for electricity by an average 16%1, on 18 August 2011. British Gas recognises the difficulties customers are facing in the current economic climate, but the announcement follows steep rises
08/07/2011
Building work is set to start on a new affordable housing development in Bicester which will set a new standard for sustainability in the Cherwell District. Sanctuary Group, in partnership with Cherwell District Council and contractors Mansell, is to begin the next phase of work on a £3.3 million p
08/07/2011
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is helping to deliver a scheme designed to increase the number of apprenticeships in the construction industry. Thanks to funding from the FMB, eleven construction students from City College Plymouth are spending the summer months gaining valuable pre-appren
08/07/2011
Built in the late 18th century, London's historic Somerset House is a neo-classical Grade 1 listed building constructed in a quadrangle, with four wings surrounding a large courtyard. It faces The Strand on the north side and The River Thames on the south and is currently undergoing a major £9m re
08/07/2011
Crofton, the consulting engineer, has won another award for the restoration of the Victorian Grade II-listed Leas Lift in Folkestone. The company won the Restoration Award at the Institution of Civil Engineering (ICE) Awards (Kent and East Sussex branch) 2011 and was highly commended in the Commun
08/07/2011
A leading galvanizing company has 'branched out' by providing a helping hand in the creation of a decorative tree sculpture for a famous fashion hotspot. Heywood-based Pillar Wedge, part of Wedge Group Galvanizing, was called upon to provide its hot dip galvanizing treatment to an eye-catching piec
07/07/2011
A gas engineer from South Warwickshire has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for carrying out dangerous work that put two people at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Cecil Boliver Crane, who trades as Peter Crane Plumbing and Electrical Ltd, installed a gas fire in the loung
07/07/2011
The decommissioning of one of Sellafield's oldest nuclear plants has taken a giant step forward due to the awarding of three waste retrieval contracts worth more than £160 million. The contracts, awarded to Sir Robert McAlpine, Bechtel Babcock Nuclear Services and Clarke Chapman Group, will help to
07/07/2011
Transport schemes across England, designed to boost economic growth and reduce carbon emissions, were given the go ahead today thanks to £155 million of Government investment. Thirty-nine projects have won funding as part of the first allocation from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. They cover
07/07/2011
The event at BACA proved a huge success The Kier Longley stand at a Build East Sussex exhibition, held at the Brighton and Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) recently, proved a huge success with local visitors. As part of its commitment to the communities in which it works, Kier Longley is a member
07/07/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has pledged that the Government's package of reforms will lead to the first substantial reduction in social housing waiting lists for 22 years. The Minister argued that measures the Government is taking - including delivering 150,000 new affordable homes over the Spend
07/07/2011
Recent figures revealed by Kitagawa Europe show that their GT Series rotary table continues to grow in popularity two years after it was released. The GT Series was introduced to the rotary table market in 2009, with the aim of eventually replacing the now legendary Kitagawa MR Series - which many
07/07/2011
Construction unemployment is still rising and undermining the UK's economic recovery. This is the stark conclusion from the latest State of Trade Survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) which reveals that 29% of construction SMEs expect to cut more jobs over the next six months. Richard
07/07/2011
Lignacite Concrete Masonry Products has so far used over 10,000m2 of Lignacite into the construction of The Shard's 306 metre glass spire. Like other buildings in London such as The Gherkin, The Shard will rely on the intrinsic strength and durability of Lignacite, which is being used at its very c
07/07/2011
BAM Construct UK has secured Technology Stategy Board funding to evaluate the carbon and energy performance of two new schools it has designed and built as part of a UK wide programme. BAM Construct UK has won funding from the Technology Strategy Board to evaluate the energy performance of two new
07/07/2011
The impact of the recession is evident in the latest UK Construction Industry Key Performance Indicators, which are centred upon data from thousands of projects completed during 2010, and are produced by Glenigan and Constructing Excellence on behalf of BIS and ONS. Allan Wilén, Economics Director,
06/07/2011
Increasing numbers of homeowners are deciding to improve rather than move home, according to new research from Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Overall, 48 per cent of chartered surveyor estate agents revealed the slow sales market is prompting people to improve their properties rathe
06/07/2011
Mansell has been awarded a contract to build a £13 million extra care scheme in Bedford, for social housing landlord Orbit Heart of England through Orbit Home's Contract Framework Agreement. The scheme will involve demolition of part of a former school and the construction of the four-storey 104-be
06/07/2011
Affordable housing and maintenance specialist Lovell has won a significant contract with the registered social landlord Atrium Homes to provide a reactive repairs service over a three-year period from July 2011. The contract builds on the company's current success at supplying responsive maintenanc
06/07/2011
A galvanizing company is proving success can be plain sailing after securing a role in a major dock renovation project. Glasgow-based Scottish Galvanizers, part of Wedge Group Galvanizing, was called upon to provide its hot dip galvanizing treatment to 100 tonnes of steelwork used to build 60 ponto
06/07/2011
Bourne Steel and Billington Structures, two of the largest specialist steelwork contractors in the UK, can reveal the formation of BS2 Ltd, a new Joint Venture company aimed at supporting major steelwork projects throughout the UK. In conjunction with this announcement, BS2 can also reveal that To
06/07/2011
Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has been appointed to two framework agreements with CE Electric UK, the company responsible for delivering electricity safely and reliably to 3.8 million customers across north-east England, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.
06/07/2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has called on lenders to offer 'mates mortgages' so younger first time buyers can club together and take their first step on the property ladder. With new research published today showing 86 per cent of people want to buy a home, Mr Shapps wants lenders to make it easi
06/07/2011
Help calculating wind loads in accordance with the revised UK National Annex to Eurocode 1 is now available to roofing and cladding manufacturers and contractors through Roofconsult, the independent roofing and cladding consultancy. Roofconsult’s Roofwind range of spreadsheets has been updated to m
06/07/2011
Clarke Construction Security (CCSec), a market leader in the provision of technology-led security and site safety solutions for the construction and property industries, announced today that it has commenced work on two new projects with Taylor Wimpey. The projects will provide comprehensive site
05/07/2011
Lancashire County Cricket Club (LCCC) has been given the go-ahead with plans to redevelop Old Trafford, after Derwent Holding's case was dismissed from the Court of Appeal. The Derwent case was dismissed by the judges with no leave to appeal. Chief Executive Jim Cumbes said: "This has been a cruci
05/07/2011
A Poole construction company has been sentenced after a carpenter was seriously injured when he fell three metres off scaffolding while working on a house extension. Michael McCarthy, 60, from Verwood, was contracted by P O Sharps Landscapes Ltd to construct the roof of the extension at a property
05/07/2011
Morgan Sindall has won a place on the construction framework that will implement a £1.2 billion programme of upgrades and improvements at Gatwick Airport. The programme includes a broad range of major projects at the airport designed to improve the passenger experience through upgraded terminal fac
05/07/2011
Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has been awarded a five-year contract to carry out building and maintenance services for Lewisham Council. Interserve will start working with Lewisham Council this month, delivering building maintenance and management services.
05/07/2011
Travelodge, one of the UK's fastest growing hotel chains, has announced that it has exchanged on 22 new hotels (2,198 rooms) across the UK at a combined investment value of £165 million. As part of its new hotel exchange update, Travelodge has announced its new partnership with Arcadia Group Ltd, o
05/07/2011
Construction union UCATT are calling on the Government to radically alter course on social housing after a leaked memo revealed that their existing policies are doomed to failure. As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in October 2010, the Government announced that by 2015 it was reducing spe
05/07/2011
Following the successful completion of its contract to supply comprehensive electronic site security throughout the 10 month building project for the new Chesterfield football stadium in Whittington Moor, Clarke Construction Security (CCSec) has been awarded the contract to supply a security solutio
05/07/2011
Speedy Hire has announced the appointment of Dr Chris Masters to the Board as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 13 July 2011. Chris has 20 years of experience as an executive Board member of listed companies. He was Executive Chairman of Aggreko Plc (1997-2002). Prior to this, he held a num
04/07/2011
A teenage worker severed part of his hand while operating a vertical panel saw on which he had received little training, a court heard. Lewis Maker, 18-years-old at the time of the incident, was using the panel saw to cut a piece of board, which he was holding steady with his left hand. As he opera
04/07/2011
Birmingham Airport has a new World 'Duty Free' area with work just completed by a Belfast-based fit out specialist. It sells a wide range of products including fragrance, skincare, cosmetics and suncare; wines, spirits & champagne; sunglasses & fashion accessories; plus confectionery, souvenirs and
04/07/2011
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is launching a new Planning for non Planners course this autumn at a time of radical change in the planning system as the government implements its Localism agenda. Fundamental changes to planning policy have been announced with further significant changes u
04/07/2011
A new development at Derbyshire County Council's flagship regeneration scheme is set to bring new jobs and boost the local economy. Plans have been submitted by partner Henry Boot Developments for a 41,000sq ft manufacturing and office complex at Markham Vale off junction 29a on the M1 on behalf of
04/07/2011
Llangattock Green Valleys in Wales has been named by British Gas as its greenest energy community after winning the British Gas Green Streets challenge. The team in Llangattock have won £100,000 to spend on a local environmental project of their choice after they impressed judges with their ambitio
04/07/2011
Unions representing 40,000 thousand local government craftworkers have accused employers of treating workers with contempt and of undermining a national agreement. The unions who represent local government craftworkers (UCATT, Unite and the GMB) finally met with Local Government Employers last week
04/07/2011
Newcastle-upon-Tyne based interior designers Space ID are regular users of stone cladding from Fernhill Stone having used them on several projects since their establishment some four years ago. "We do everything from concept development to construction, a full turnkey service," said Marc Hardy, Dir
04/07/2011
The Royal Navy Service Station (RNAS) Yeovilton International air day, has come around once again - and is being backed by a leading building sector firm. With this year's event celebrating its Lynx's first flight, and a look at new technology in air machines and fleets, there will be a focus on ne
01/07/2011
Ambitious plans for a £110 million university campus in Hulme have been passed by Manchester City Council planners. Manchester Metropolitan University says the scheme will bring huge economic and educational benefits to the local community. The University submitted detailed plans to the council in
01/07/2011
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, announces today that Balfour Beatty Construction US (BBC) has reached agreement to acquire Howard S. Wright (HSW) for an estimated net cash consideration of US$93 million (£58 million) for a zero net assets balance sheet. US$70 million (£44 m
01/07/2011
Unite, Britain's biggest union, will ballot its members for industrial action working at Centrica Storage Ltd, based in Hull, in a dispute over pay. The dispute affects Unite members working onshore at the company's Easington gas terminal and members working on the company’s Rough Platform in the s
01/07/2011
A North East housing association has been fined after a pensioner died in his home from carbon monoxide poisoning. Gentoo Group Ltd, of Emperor Way, Sunderland - formerly known as Sunderland Housing Company Ltd - was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after 80-year-old George John
01/07/2011
Local authorities have been accused of "dragging their feet" over the mounting number of planning applications for small scale wind turbines. The introduction of the Government's Feed-in-Tariff scheme in April last year was intended to hasten the number of homeowners and businesses considering inst
01/07/2011
Construction companies are urged to register and bid on a variety of high-quality cranes, excavators and other used plant at equipment at the next
01/07/2011
Saxon Weald celebrated reaching the halfway point in the construction of their new eco-homes at New Street, Horsham, this week. The 38 flats and houses are some of the greenest in the country, with future residents expected to have energy bills of around just £100 per year. The scheme features 12
01/07/2011
Rydon Maintenance has won a £20 million refurbishment scheme at the Ashmole Estate, London. The Ashmole Estate is adjacent to the Oval Cricket ground in South London, on the opposite site of the ground to the refurbishment works Rydon did at Kennington Park and the Bridge Estates in 2008. This is
01/07/2011
A new award looking for the most stylish product at Naidex, the largest disability, homecare and rehabilitation event of the year, was won by the N&C Phlexicare Freespace shower doors. The judges were Ade Adepitan, television presenter and wheelchair basketball player, Denise Stephens, co-founder
