Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for May 2012
31/05/2012
The price of a typical UK house rose by 0.3% according to the latest Nationwide House Price Index. The price of typical home now stands at £166,022, but are 0.7%lower compared to last year. Robert Gardner, Nationwide's Chief Economist, said: "The Nationwide House Price Index has reached an importa
31/05/2012
Nottingham Community Housing Association and its partners have put the finishing touches to Loughborough’s Thomas Cook Place, and the development of affordable homes has now been officially opened. The site forms part of Charnwood Borough Council's Eastern Gateway regeneration project, which has t
31/05/2012
A free public exhibition opened at Farringdon station today, looking at the historic station’s past, present and future, as Network Rail’s project to rebuild it draws to a close. Charles Dickens and one of his most famous literary creations, Fagin, were on hand to recount tales of Farringdon nearly
31/05/2012
Integrated Health Projects (IHP), the Joint Venture between VINCI Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine, has been appointed on the £13.7 million project by East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust (the Trust) for a new emergency department at Lister Hospital in Stevenage. The first part of the proj
31/05/2012
Costain has reached a number of significant milestones in the construction of three deep level tunnels as part of the London Power Tunnels contract for National Grid. Costain is involved in the construction of 32 kilometres of 4.0mID and 3.0mID tunnels, 14 shafts, and four connecting tunnels with a
31/05/2012
Sweett Group, the international property and infrastructure consultancy has announced that it has won its first significant framework contract in the water utilities sector. Together with Aqua Consultants, the Group's partner in the water sector, the Group has secured an appointment as one of thr
31/05/2012
New safeguards to ensure vulnerable families are placed in suitable, privately-rented accommodation were proposed today by Housing Minister Grant Shapps. It comes ahead of a new power giving councils more options to tackle record waiting lists and move people out of expensive temporary accommodatio
31/05/2012
Properties at Finsbury Park Place, a spectacularly situated new balconied development of 42 stylish apartments by award-winning developer Lovell in London N4, have been snapped up at the launch. "In terms of price, quality and central location, accommodation in London doesn’t get much better than t
31/05/2012
The last glass panel is installed the Kier Construction infrastructure and overseas team at King's Cross station are celebrating the completion of the glazing to the Grade I listed main train shed roof. Production was increased to full capacity over the past six weeks with the glass and PV panels b
31/05/2012
Over 1.1 million1 (86%) SMEs are unaware they can make significant savings on their IT energy footprint by moving their business into the cloud2, according to new research by energy company, E.ON. The study surveyed SMEs in business, professional, finance and property services and exposed a severe
31/05/2012
The director of a Suffolk roofing firm has been sentenced for safety failings after he was caught on camera using a power tool while balancing on the ridge of a house roof. Anthony Nightingale of Copdock, Ipswich, was filmed using a petrol-powered disc cutter to cut through a tile while he and an e
30/05/2012
Morgan Sindall has completed work on Wakefield One, a bespoke £19 million headquarters to house Wakefield Metropolitan District Council. Situated adjacent to the Grade I listed County Hall, the new four-storey civic offices will provide office space for 1,200 council employees. Designed by architec
30/05/2012
Skanska has announced it has been awarded a contract valued up to £60 million by Network Rail Infrastructure for the construction of the Bermondsey Dive-under and associated structure strengthening works. The project forms part of the Thameslink Development Programme. Under the contract, the Skan
30/05/2012
Lovell which is based in Altrincham, Manchester, is celebrating achieving Investors in People Silver status. The advanced recognition highlights the housing regeneration and maintenance specialist’s success in helping its workforce to develop and further their professional skills. To achieve the S
30/05/2012
Willmott Dixon has welcomed plans to set up the West Midlands’ first University Technical College (UTC) specialising in construction after the Department for Education (DfE) gave it the green light. Willmott Dixon, which employs nearly 1,000 people in Birmingham and the surrounding region, was the
30/05/2012
Britain's largest union, Unite will be calling on the government to intervene and secure the future of the Coryton oil refinery in Essex, following the announcement by administrators PwC that it intends to close the site. The union is seeking an urgent meeting with ministers in a bid to avert the r
30/05/2012
BAM's growing FM business plans further expansion as it appoints a new managing director, Kath Fontana. Kath Fontana previously held senior operational roles at Interserve. She is a Chartered FM Surveyor and a member of the RICS Professional Group for Facilities Management. Kath also worked for a n
30/05/2012
If the Welsh Government’s plan to focus on growth and jobs, as set out in its Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan, is to succeed it must ensure Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are included in the plan says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Wales. Richard Jenkins, FMB Wales Director
30/05/2012
Revised guidance on the selling of vacant social housing homes has been published by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). 'Disposing of Land' gives guidance on the revised procedures for gaining the Regulator’s consent to the disposal of social housing and other land, and introduces changes to
30/05/2012
A Clevedon man has been prosecuted for illegally installing a gas boiler and flue at a property at Severn Beach, Bristol, while not registered with CORGI, the then industry body. CORGI was superseded by the Gas Safe Register in April 2009. North Avon Magistrates’ Court was told that Jeffrey Maslen
30/05/2012
The construction industry is fiercely competitive. Unsurprisingly and more often than not savings are sought to reduce costs. In many cases this will involve changing the architects trusted specification, often to products of a lesser quality. Of course this offers a short term monetary benefit but
29/05/2012
Interserve, the international support services and construction group, has handed over a bespoke new building for St Helens College in Merseyside, which forms a landmark structure for the city centre next to its high profile, listed Beecham factory building. As part of the area’s regeneration progr
29/05/2012
VINCI Facilities has been awarded the Decent Homes contract from London Borough of Harrow to complete upgrades to homes in the west area of the borough. The three month contract, worth approximately £1 million will see VINCI Facilities undertake maintenance work to improve the quality of the kitche
29/05/2012
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) held its first glittering awards gala luncheon in central London recently, to celebrate some of the best talent in the construction industry. The imposing Grand Connaught Rooms formed the setting for this much anticipated event at which the guest of honour
29/05/2012
Lovell has been appointed by First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) to help deliver the second phase of the housing association’s £149 million home improvements programme. Lovell, one of a number of contractors working on the programme, has been awarded a £5.47 million contract to carry out improvement w
29/05/2012
Kier has celebrated a unique topping out ceremony at the multi-million pound Isle of Sheppey Academy. The joint venture project, which is being carried out by Kier Construction’s major projects and southern businesses, involves the construction of a state-of-the-art academy across two sites on eith
29/05/2012
Coverspan have over 25 years experience within the Roofing industry. Working closely with our suppliers ensuring all systems are updated as we progress through this ever changing environment. At Coverspan we can accommodate almost all requirements from changing a damaged roof sheet to undertaking
29/05/2012
The second phase of a new housing project in Camp Hill, Nuneaton, has been given the go ahead and with construction starting imminently, those involved in the scheme donned hard hats and took spades to the ground to mark the milestone. Named Bluebell, the development is a partnership between Barr
29/05/2012
The next Labour Government will stop companies using a legal loophole to evade justice when one of their workers is killed on the job. Firms do this by going into administration and then resuming business under a similar trading name. Speaking in Scarborough at the conference of the construction
29/05/2012
A further multi-million pound cash boost for communities will help tackle the blight of empty properties and bring thousands of homes back into use, Communities Minister Andrew Stunell has announced. Following bidding processes, 20 successful councils will each receive a slice of £60 million to tac
29/05/2012
A demolition firm has been fined for safety failings after an employee suffered serious burns when a gas pipe ignited in his face. The employee, 37, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was carrying out demolition work at a warehouse in Burton-on-Trent when he cut into a metal gas pipe that ignited in h
29/05/2012
Central Arcade is the re-development project currently transforming the face of retailing in Leeds City centre. Central Arcade has utilised a number of robust, striking Stainless Steel column casing systems to fuse Leeds’ heritage for Victorian arcades with a clean, contemporary aesthetic. The col
28/05/2012
The Big Switch winner, Co-operative Energy, has announced it is allowing an additional 10,000 new customers to switch to their fixed rate direct debit tariff. Which? has therefore extended the deadline for switching to 31st May 2012 to allow people time to sign up. Which? executive director Richard
28/05/2012
Costain, the main contractor for the Harbour Way project in Port Talbot, has been rewarded for its approach to preventing accidents and ill health at the National Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Occupational Health and Safety Awards for the third year running. Costain was pres
28/05/2012
Persimmon Homes’ first and newly appointed Regional Managing Director for Wales, has immediately revealed a £800 million strategic plan to build 5,000 new homes across Wales which, based on Government estimates, will support and create in the order of 10,000 jobs in the associated supply chain in ad
28/05/2012
Developers Havard Tisdale and their construction partners Mansell are to commence a high-profile project worth £11.5 million to construct a six-storey mixed-use development on the English Riviera at Abbey Crescent, Torquay. The architects are Kay Elliott. Building on the site of the former Palm Cou
28/05/2012
BM TRADA Certification has launched its Competent Persons Scheme (CPS) for non-dwellings aimed at installers of windows and doors. Having had approval from the Department for Communities and Local Government, the company is one of only two operators authorised to offer the CPS for non-dwellings ser
28/05/2012
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) says proposed legislative changes - announced by the Home Office - will help landlords tackle anti social behaviour more effectively. Plans to streamline existing ASB powers will support landlords and partner agencies in managing unacceptable behaviour withi
28/05/2012
The PlaceShapers Group has a unique mix of strengths that could help solve the nation’s housing crisis and stimulate economic growth, a conference has heard. The group recently held its fifth annual conference, which was attended by 120 housing chiefs representing PlaceShapers’ 77 community-based h
28/05/2012
E.ON, one of the UK's leading renewable generators, will soon begin the second stage consultation process for its proposed Isles wind farm near Newton Aycliffe and is urging the local community to input into its plans. The energy company has taken on board feedback that it received on the design of
28/05/2012
A Sheffield property developer has been fined for dangerous safety failings after a building partly collapsed and sent tonnes of rubble through a neighbouring shop roof - just missing two shopworkers. Developer Ghulam Rasul put the lives of the workers and of the local community at serious risk whe
28/05/2012
Work has started on the site of a new £17.8m school for 900 students in Dawley, which will specialise in sport and science. The Phoenix Learning Community is being built on Paddock Mount as part of the Telford & Wrekin Council Building Schools for the Future Programme. And contractors Kier Constru
28/05/2012
Team Valley-based national construction company Willmott Dixon dug deep to help a local charity regenerate a community allotment in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The company, currently building a new police headquarters adjacent to the East Coast mainline on Forth Banks for Northumbria Police Authority, pro
25/05/2012
Network Rails' plans to develop a new rail operating centre and workforce development centre on land close to York station will bring future employment benefits vital for economic growth and prosperity in York. The land identified for development is known as the engineer's triangle and lies between
25/05/2012
Miller Construction welcomed Professor Rob Dixon, Dean of Durham Business School, to cut the first sod, for the expansion of Durham University’s Business School. The rebuild and refurbishment project on the current Mill Hill Lane site will see Durham Business School, one of the leading business sch
25/05/2012
A new £1.3m housing development in Rokesby, west Hull, was recently opened by Alan Johnson, the former Home Secretary and Hull West and Hessle MP. The development, on the site of the former Rokeby House care home, was made possible through investment of £539,000 from the Homes and Communities Agenc
25/05/2012
SME House Builders could help tackle the housing crisis says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Wales in response to the Welsh Assembly Government's Housing White Paper. Richard Jenkins, Director of FMB Wales, said: "The scale of the housing problem is now so enormous in Wales that we need t
25/05/2012
Costain has signed up to a health and safety accord designed to set standards for the offshore wind and marine energy sector. The agreement was signed for Costain by Chief Executive, Andrew Wyllie, and on behalf of Gravitas Offshore, the consortium comprising Costain, Hochtief and Arup, by Managing
25/05/2012
Power On Connections, the UK’s leading Independent Connections Provider (ICP) for electrical infrastructure to large commercial, industrial and residential developments, is pioneering radical changes to the electricity distribution market resulting in greater choice, faster connections and reduced c
25/05/2012
UK distributors of PPE Workwear new technology. Dust Masks with unrivalled breathing performances - fold flat masks and the new cup mask using the same patented breath easy fabric. FFP2, FFP3, and Carbon Filter. Our range of products from Valmy is good news for operatives in many industries. Mar
25/05/2012
A component engineering company in Cheltenham has been fined after an employee suffered head injuries on a machine that had a safety mechanism deliberately disabled. Grzegorz Chylenski, 33, from Cheltenham, was working with a Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine at PG Components Ltd at the
24/05/2012
Following a competitive tender Lovell has been chosen by Birmingham City Council's Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust for all three Lots on the BMHT New Build Housing. The framework, which is for three years with a possible one-year extension, covers Rented and Shared Ownership Dwellings (Lot 1), C
24/05/2012
AMEC, the international engineering and project management company, has announced that it is in discussion with Serco Group about the acquisition of Serco's nuclear Technical Consulting Services (TCS) business. TCS provides consulting and project solutions primarily to the UK civil and defence nuc
24/05/2012
Kier Construction recently played host to 12 visitors from the CIOB at the Shepherd Road Fire Station in Tuffley, Gloucester. The station is the final of four community fire stations to be constructed in Gloucestershire as part of a multi-million pound 25-year PFI contract that was awarded to Blue
24/05/2012
Work is under way on a new housing scheme in Surrey that is blazing a trail in its approach to energy efficiency. Crest Nicholson and Galliford Try (Linden Homes) have started building 452 homes on the West Park site, one of three development areas that make up the Epsom Cluster. The approach to th
24/05/2012
BAM Construct UK has been selected as the preferred contractor for a £19 million construction contract at Winterbourne International Academy, part of The Ridings' Federation of Academies, in Bristol. It is the third of three new schems secured by the Western team of BAM Construction in the South W
24/05/2012
Construction unions have accused employers of treating workers with contempt after the employers proposed to freeze pay for workers. The charge follows the initial meeting of the 2012 Construction Industry Joint Council pay talks on Wednesday 23rd May when the employers declined to make a pay offer
24/05/2012
Manchester City Council is seeking residents’ views on proposed new swimming pools and libraries in Chorlton, Levenshulme and East Manchester. Significant investment has been made in new community leisure facilities in Manchester over the last 10 years but older buildings in Levenshulme, Miles Plat
24/05/2012
National UFH supplier awarded 'Best use of Superfast' by Olympian at regional business awards. Thanks to Continental Underfloor's innovative use of superfast broadband, news has spread quickly about the company’s win at the recent Cornwall Business Awards for "Best use of Superfast". Continental
24/05/2012
Unite has launched a national campaign 'Play by the rules' to police the key agreements on every site in the UK at its national meeting of key union representatives from the industry. The union has learned that employers are increasingly cherry picking the parts of the agreements that suit them whi
24/05/2012
A Shropshire precast concrete company has lived up to its “Elite” billing after its innovation excellence saw it named as the winner of a prestigious regional business competition. Telford-based Elite Precast Concrete took top honours in the Innovator category at the inaugural West Midlands Busines
24/05/2012
EZR Shelving is pleased to announce the completion of a bespoke stockroom installation for the prestigious Versace store in London's Westfield, White City shopping centre. Versace are one of the world's leading international fashion houses and have been producing cutting edge fashion designs for w
24/05/2012
From 16th to 18th May CED were pleased to exhibit in the 144th Balmoral Show. The show took place in the King's Hall Complex in South Belfast. It offers a colourful combination of competition and showmanship along with daily displays of livestock, food tasting and world class attractions ensuring th
23/05/2012
Lovell has appointed Peter Taylor as regional director for London based at the company's Elstree office. Peter was previously managing director for housing specialist John Laing Partnership. In his new role with Lovell, Peter will head up the company’s new-build, mixed tenure, regeneration and refu
23/05/2012
A distinctive and contemporary identity has been created for the new Wakefield District Council Civic Building, which is a key part of the Wakefield Merchant Gate Masterplan, a major town centre regeneration project. The Civic Building, which was designed by architects Cartwright Pickard, based in
23/05/2012
North East construction company Willmott Dixon has dug deep to help a local charity regenerate a community allotment in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The company provided a mini digger and construction equipment for its contractors to create new pathways to improve access for people using the Oxnam Crescent
23/05/2012
Centrica has announced its initial view of appraisal results at the Maria North well in the Norwegian Sea. The review indicates potential gross recoverable reserves at the top of the range published following drilling of the discovery well in 2010, of between 60-120 mmboe of oil and between 10-30 m
23/05/2012
EDF Energy is launching a new instalment of its ‘Feel Better Energy’ TV advertising campaign. Created by AMV BBDO, this athletics-themed ad promotes the EDF Energy customer reward scheme, 'Thank Yous', and is the third advert to feature EDF Energy's new brand character. The 'Thank Yous' programm
23/05/2012
Kier has won a new five-year contract to provide facilities management services to 48 fire stations across South London. The contract with London Fire Brigade starts this month and has an estimated total value of £3.5m. The business has a long-standing relationship with London Fire Brigade and, as
23/05/2012
E.ON has welcomed the publication of the draft Energy Bill and the supporting policy documents that set out proposals for most of the comprehensive measures needed to deliver low carbon and secure energy for Britain, but cautioned that more clarity was needed in a number of areas to make sure that t
23/05/2012
Three quarters of the 100 largest regeneration projects in the country are led by the Homes and Communities Agency, or have received funding from the Agency in the last 12 months, according to a definitive industry listing published. Published annually, Regeneration and Renewal magazine’s Top 100 d
23/05/2012
A sand and gravel supplier has been fined for safety failings after an employee had three tendons in his hand severed. Jamie Roden, 26, from Telford, was trying to clear a blockage in a machine used to bag quarried material when his hand was caught by a dangerous heat-sealing device with a blade in
23/05/2012
BSW Timber has extended its 'easi' range with the launch of easipost15, an incised fence post with a 15-year warranty. easipost15 has been developed using an innovative incising process, which delivers chemical impregnation 6mm into the post to penetrate the heartwood as well as the sapwood. This h
23/05/2012
The last deep tin mine ever built in the world has been regenerated as a Renewable Energy Business Park, creating a community of sustainable businesses, which have already generated new jobs and prosperity for Cornwall. On the 30th May, Mount Wellington Mine, once known to locals as 'Magpie Mine'
23/05/2012
Socomec UPS, reinforces its position as technology leader in the critical power industry with the launch of its new range of Green Power 2.0 UPS with unity output power factor (PF=1). With units available from 10 kW to 400 kW, the Green Power (GP) 2.0 range of UPS provides users with full-rated pow
22/05/2012
The Institution of Structural Engineers has awarded their prestigious Gold Medal for exceptional contribution to the field. In a year which promises to be momentous for the UK with the staging of the London 2012 Olympics, the Institution marked the occasion by selecting Chris Wise and Paul Westbury
22/05/2012
A leading body and trailer manufacturer, Cartwright is to recruit 70 apprentices over the next two years. The south Manchester based manufacturer, which celebrates its 60th anniversary in manufacturing this year, has developed a two-year apprenticeship programme in partnership with Stockport Colleg
22/05/2012
The government has unveiled plans to introduce a Bill that will encourage energy companies to invest in renewables, according to the BBC. Critics have hit out at the draft bill saying it is designed to stimulate major investment in clean energy generation, resulting in higher consumer bills. The b
22/05/2012
Developers of marine energy devices will soon be able to benefit from a wave and current test facility being built in Scotland. The facility's circular 25-metre pool will be able to simulate combinations of waves of up to 28 metres high and currents up to twelve knots at up to one-tenth scale - con
22/05/2012
Kier has successfully craned the new £3m Cultural Centre into position on Southend Pier. The 350sq m building, which was designed by White Arkitekter in partnership with London-based architects Sprunt, was constructed by Kier off-site at Tilbury Docks in Essex. It was lowered onto a barge at the do
22/05/2012
Three of Britain’s brightest youngsters have scooped the most prestigious honours in science and engineering at the 2012 National Science & Engineering Competition. Wasim Miah and Jessica Jones (both 17) from St David’s College in Cardiff have been named Young Engineers of the Year. The pair impres
22/05/2012
The owner of a Bedfordshire farm has been prosecuted for failing to complete legally required documentation in relation to safe working near overhead power cables. Bedford Magistrates' Court heard recently that on 23 June 2010 an employee of Davison & Co (Barford) Ltd, the owners of College Farm in
21/05/2012
The first trainload of excavated material from Crossrail’s tunnels has left west London and been delivered to Northfleet in Kent. The first 13 wagon train left Crossrail’s Westbourne Park site for Northfleet after it was loaded with 492 tonnes of earth. A further two trains have departed this week.
21/05/2012
Construction union UCATT have welcomed the findings of a report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee that apprenticeships lasting six months or less provide "no real benefit". UCATT has been campaigning against attempts to devalue construction apprenticeships and for an increase in craft based
21/05/2012
Enfield Council has unveiled a masterplan for the regeneration of a 200 acre (82 ha) area alongside North London's Lee Valley Regional Park – to be known as Meridian Water. The proposals will create a new mixed-use waterfront community and one of the capital’s largest regeneration and investment op
21/05/2012
Surrey has saved millions of pounds on its landfill tax bill by more than halving the amount of waste it buries in the ground. In the three year period from 2007/08, the county council reduced the amount of waste it sent to landfill from 64% to 33%. That means Surrey buried around 200,000 tonnes l
21/05/2012
The winners of an international design competition for leading architects to come up with plans to transform St Peter's Square into a world-class space have been announced by Manchester City Council. A design team led by German landscape architect Latz + Partner have been selected to make their visi
21/05/2012
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has been recognised for its collaborative working practices through the award of certification to the new standard for Collaborative Business Relationships by the British Standard Institute. The standard, called BS11000, which is international
21/05/2012
A waste management and recycling company has been fined for safety failings after a worker lost most of his arm on an unguarded conveyor system at a Kent quarry. Agency employee Vladislavs Golovacs, 45, from Gravesend, was attempting to clear a blockage at Pinden Quarry, in Longfield, near Dartford
21/05/2012
The St Aldhelm's Academy Trust has announced Kier Construction as the selected panel member for the £9.8m renewal and refurbishment project at St Aldhelm’s Academy in Poole, Dorset. Comprising new build and refurbishment elements, the project aims to transform the existing, outdated 1930s’ school b
21/05/2012
Breathing Buildings are celebrating their latest award win. The Cambridge based natural ventilation specialists won the CIBSE Building Services, Best Practice award at the Construction Excellence North East awards 2012. The award, which was presented jointly to Breathing Buildings and building serv
18/05/2012
BAM Construct is to carry out a £9.5 million overhaul of the UK's only academy specialising in careers associated with the marine environment. The contractor's BAM Construction Western team has been awarded a contract to deliver refurbishment and new build works at Marine Academy Plymouth. Working
18/05/2012
Building works for a new research centre at UCL will begin later this month, following the formal signing of contracts worth in excess of £70m with Kier Construction. The new institute, to be known as the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, will be built on the corner of Howland Street and Charlotte Street.
18/05/2012
A £9 million project to refurbish two buildings, one nearly 100 years old and the other over 150 years old, at Jesus College, Cambridge has been celebrated with a traditional topping-out ceremony, by Morgan Sindall. The scheme known as Chapel Court, will transform the student accommodation at the l
18/05/2012
Plans to bring thousands of jobs to South Hampshire have taken a further step forward as improvement work has begun on the Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus. Just a few weeks after planning permission was granted to unlock the site for major development which will deliver up to 3,500 jobs for the
18/05/2012
A Croydon-based construction company has been fined for continuing unsafe working practices at a site in Lewisham despite repeated warnings. Anza Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after inspectors found serious safety issues during two visits to a construction site on Hono
18/05/2012
The refurbished, National Trust owned, Morden Hall Park Stable Yard in Morden, Surrey, has scooped the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Design & Innovation Award at the RICS London Awards, which took place on 10th May. The National Trust opened the new visitor centre in November 2011
18/05/2012
Until the Government drops its plans to add 20% VAT to listed building alterations from 1st October, the UK’s heritage is still at risk. On the day the consultation on this VAT increase closes, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) wants the Government to look beyond churches and recognise the
18/05/2012
As part of Go Geothermal's continued complete product offering for all things Ground Source we now offer Heat meters. Manufactured in the UK to BS/EN parts 1 to 6, MID and RHI compliant our offering has a 20 year design life. Utilising a digital heat calculating meter this has been designed specifi
17/05/2012
In just over 100 working days the team has installed 646 secant piles deep into the ground to form the retaining walls for the portal structure. Completing this piling to the highest health and safety standards in this short period of time is a great achievement but completing it three meters from
17/05/2012
Nightingale Associates has won the bid to design the new Bicester Community Hospital in Oxfordshire. The boutique hospital will provide 12 beds, diagnostic facilities, first aid unit, out of hours services, therapies and an outpatient department. The project has been commissioned by NHS Buckinghams
17/05/2012
BAM Construct is to deliver new facilities for a free school aiming to be the biggest in the UK. The contractor’s BAM Construction Western team has been awarded a £6.5 million design and build contract for a major refurbishment and part new build of Bristol Free School. Works include refurbishing
17/05/2012
The Government is falling well short in tackling the country's burgeoning housing crisis, leading housing groups have warned, on the day that new figures are expected to show the country is not building enough new homes. In their second Housing Report, the National Housing Federation, Shelter and T
17/05/2012
Mobile phone giant Vodafone has backed plans by a small east London charity to transform a neglected London dock ahead of the Olympics. The telecoms brand – whose motto is 'Power To You' - today named Cody Dock on the River Lea top in its ‘best community projects’ list. The charity, Gasworks Part
17/05/2012
The accommodation and facilities for athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Village have been given the seal of approval by the London 2012 Athletes' Committee. Established by the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) in May 2009 to look after the needs and interests of athletes, the Committee m
17/05/2012
Lovell working in partnership with United Welsh, is set to deliver a £9.6 million redevelopment scheme for the historic former Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital site. The scheme will create The Beeches Village: 82 new two-, three- and four-bedroom homes at the former hospital site in Caerphilly in additi
17/05/2012
Mansell has won a contract worth £6.8 million to build student accommodation at Girton College, one of the largest colleges at the University of Cambridge. The design and build project to create a new residential wing at Ash Court, on the main College site at Huntingdon Road, includes 50 en-suite s
17/05/2012
Construction union UCATT have accused the Government of washing their hands of pleural plaques victims. During Justice questions Jonathan Djanogly the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Justice admitted that it was unfair that people in Scotland and Northern Ireland can receive compensation for havi
17/05/2012
At Haddington Sheriff Court, John Martin Riva was fined £15,000 after pleading guilty to a contravention of Sections 3 and 33 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Having been contracted to rebuild the chimney on a property in Gifford between 8 August 2009 and 26 October 2009, Riva failed
17/05/2012
Advanced Acoustics are pleased to announce they have won the contract to supply Woodhouse College in the London Borough of Barnet with their Silent Space Isolation Booths. These booths will be used for practice and recording sessions as part of their music education program. Advanced Acoustics' S
17/05/2012
With more and more people diving into the world of self-build, and Kevin McCloud leading the way in the new Government initiative, the self build surge, more of you will be living in pokey caravans or at your in-laws for a significant amount of time. Building a new home is a stressful time, so it i
16/05/2012
A contractor has started building nearly 150 new social houses across Yorkshire in a deal worth £15 million. Strategic Team Group won the work with Yorkshire Housing and will build 144 new homes at affordable rent levels in Barnsley (two schemes), Wakefield, Bradford and Leeds. Some of the new hom
16/05/2012
One of the West Midland’s largest housing associations, the Accord Group, has awarded a £50 million repairs contract to Lovell. Lovell beat 15 competitors to win the 10-year contract from the Accord Group, which provides 11,000 affordable homes and a range of services to 50,000 people across the Mi
16/05/2012
Following government funding being confirmed and the subsequent granting of planning consent, construction work has recently started on the new £16.7 million Thetford Academy. A ground breaking ceremony to celebrate the start of work was held yesterday, with principal Cathy Spillane with pupils tur
16/05/2012
Details of how thousands of new affordable homes will be built using the cash proceeds from the Government's reinvigorated Right to Buy scheme were unveiled by Housing Minister Grant Shapps. The Minister said he was responding to appeals by local authorities for more time to take advantage of the n
16/05/2012
A campaign urging Manchester businesses to join the Apprentice Revolution is closing in on its ambitious target of creating 300 apprenticeships in just 100 days. With 242 new Apprenticeships created in Manchester since the launch date,Thursday 9 February, the Apprentice Revolution campaign is succe
16/05/2012
Court and tribunal reforms outlined in the Queen's Speech offer hope to small business employers who need greater flexibility to run their businesses more competitively and so help job creation, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: "Small cons
16/05/2012
Detailed plans showing how a former secondary school site will be transformed to make way for the City of Peterborough Academy, which will include a special school, will be on display at an open evening at the site on Reeves Way, Eastfield, Peterborough, on Monday 21 May 2012 between 6pm and 8pm. S
16/05/2012
A Norwich gas installer has received an eight-month suspended prison sentence and 250 hours of unpaid community service after his inadequate work on domestic gas appliances put the lives of a mother and daughter at risk in their own home. James Hampson, 34, of Knowland Grove, Norwich, installed a n
16/05/2012
Channel 5 televisions The Gadget Show recently filmed 4 special challenges in one day, with the final one being filmed at AG Cranes Ltd in Studley. The 5 TV presenters had no idea what the special challenges were and as they left their 3rd challenge near Stratford upon Avon they listened to a video
16/05/2012
We are very pleased to announce that Containex will be "on board" from an early stage when this new Crossrail construction project starts in London very soon. Indeed, Containex will build and supply a modular construction consisting of more than 40 modules to be used as site office facilities. This
15/05/2012
Social landlord Riverside has awarded Lovell a £3.7 million contract to build 40 new affordable homes in historic Bromborough Pool Village on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside. The 40 new three-bedroom houses will be built at four sites in the village and will create 14 homes for social rent and 26
15/05/2012
The transformation of Northampton Castle Railway Station is going ahead after the Government announced a £10m investment in the scheme. Located within the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone, the new station will support continued economic growth in the town. It will be twice the size of the exis
15/05/2012
Willmott Dixon has completed work on a facility in Aberystwyth that aims to enhance research into genetics, agriculture and ecology. The research station and greenhouse at the Gogerddan campus at Aberystwyth University creates a range of artificial conditions allowing students and researchers at th
15/05/2012
Situated adjacent to the River Cam in Cambridge, The Old Warehouse in Bridge Street required major structural stabilisation as its west elevation, which was built off the river wall, was separating from the main structure. To secure the building and prevent further structural movement, the consult
15/05/2012
Work on the £130 million project to regenerate Tipner, Portsmouth, by bringing new homes, jobs and green space to the area is due to begin within weeks. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has agreed a £3m contract to begin the clean-up of the land it owns, along with some owned by Portsmouth Ci
15/05/2012
The Twyford Church of England Academies Trust has selected Kier as preferred bidder for the new £18.95 million North Ealing Church of England Academy in Greenford, West London. The school will have places for 1,200 11 to 16-year-olds, a sixth form with places for 250 students and a centre for child
15/05/2012
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has welcomed Santander's decision to start offering mortgages under the NewBuy Guarantee scheme. Just two months after its launch, Santander has become the fifth lender to become part of the scheme that will help prospective home buyers buy new build properties. The N
15/05/2012
A Northamptonshire construction company has been fined after a six-tonne dumper truck ran over a worker's foot. Self-employed ground worker Ross Smith, 23, from March in Cambridgeshire, was helping to build a roadway at a construction site on Wolsey Way, Lincoln, on 11 March 2011 when the incident
15/05/2012
BAM Construct UK is to build a £6m primary and nursery school in Buckinghamshire in the first of two contracts it has been announced. The contractor – which has secured a leading role in the Government’s Academy framework – has also secured a contract to deliver Berryfields Primary and Nursery Scho
15/05/2012
Recent research has revealed an ever increasing number of homeowners are opting for wetrooms when renovating their property. While dining rooms, hallways and traditional single-use kitchens are increasingly becoming prey to the builder’s sledgehammer as today's homeowners opt for open- plan living
15/05/2012
Quality Stoves have teamed up with UTV as part of its 'Turn Tour Pad Into A Palace' competition. Quality Stoves are your one stop destination for all your wood burning stove and multi fuel stove needs. Based in Halifax, they offer free delivery in the UK and have clients throughout the country. Wit
14/05/2012
Kevin McCloud has been appointed by the self-build industry to support the national surge of interest in people looking to design and build their own home. Housing Minister Grant Shapps said he was delighted that the National Self Build Association had appointed Mr McCloud, presenter of Channel 4's
14/05/2012
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) and leading energy supplier npower are working together to help improve the gas and power connection process for new builds. The two organisations hope to streamline the new connections process by highlighting the importance of good communication channels b
14/05/2012
Hillingdon Council is tackling metal theft in the borough by replacing a number of items that could be sold for scrap with replica ones. Thousands of tonnes of metal are stolen across the UK every year. In the last year more than 250 drain covers were stolen from across the borough as well as a num
14/05/2012
A £13 million 'extra care' scheme is set to help meet the growing demand for older people’s housing in South Staffordshire, after planning permission was approved for the flagship scheme. Representatives from Housing Plus, which is developing the scheme, South Staffordshire Council and other key st
14/05/2012
E.ON has today provided peace of mind to some five million existing domestic customers, by promising not to raise residential prices in 2012, thereby demonstrating its commitment to be fair and transparent. This announcement comes just weeks after E.ON revealed it made less than 2% profit supplyin
14/05/2012
An Ystrad Mynach recycling firm has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a yard foreman was crushed to death. 56 year-old Norman Mayne from Newport died after he became trapped between a container and a skip at Amber Services Ltd's recycling yard at Dyffryn Business Park o
14/05/2012
The Leadbitter Group has completed construction of a new Guinness Hermitage housing complex for the over 55s in Lee-on-the-Solent in Gosport. Bartlett Court is Leadbitter's latest project for housing association Guinness Hermitage, a member of the Guinness Partnership. The association provides high
14/05/2012
Marley Eternit has supplied a complete fibre cement envelope solution for Gamlingay Eco Hub in Cambridgeshire. Profiled sheeting in Laurel Green was specified by Civic Architects for the roof and Cedral Weatherboard in Red and Cevennes Green for the walls. The project involved extending and refurb
11/05/2012
The National Construction College (NCC), the training division of CITB-ConstructionSkills, is planning to host a series of Green Deal Awareness workshops throughout the UK over the next six months. The move will help SME construction firms make the most of the new business opportunities being pres
11/05/2012
Waltham Forest council has approved the proposed redevelopment of Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium. London and Quadrant’s plans were judged solely on their planning merits as a development proposal and in line with the appropriate legislation. Factors taken into account included design, appearance, co
11/05/2012
The Government's commitment to tackling the record deficit is keeping interest rates at a record low and a secure roof over the heads of millions of hard-working homeowners, Housing Minister Grant Shapps said. The Minister spoke as latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders showed the numb
11/05/2012
A landlord has been fined after a self-employed builder died while replacing a roof on a property in Middlesex. Mr Jagdev Singh Bal, the landlord of a property on Upton Road, Hounslow, was contacted by his letting agency when tenants reported a wet ceiling in an upstairs bathroom. Mr Bal engaged S
11/05/2012
Demolition of Ordnance Survey's previous head office building in Romsey Road, Southampton is now well under way after the world-leading mapping giant moved into its new Kier-built landmark headquarters at Adanac Park in January 2011. Marking the start of a new era for the site, which had been the h
11/05/2012
The majority of Britons do not know which home improvement project adds the most value to a property, according to a recent study. Findings by
10/05/2012
Ofgem have appointed the preferred bidder for the first project in the second round of tenders (known as Transitional Round 2) to own and operate offshore links for the Lincs project. This is the second largest offshore transmission project to have reached this stage; the estimated value of the as
10/05/2012
Transport minister Norman Baker has been in Liverpool to mark the completion of a multi-million scheme which has transformed a major route into the city centre. The Under Secretary of State for Transport will be given a tour of the £65 million Edge Lane scheme. It follows the completion of the fin
10/05/2012
Construction firm, Strategic Team Group, has secured a £3.6 million contract to complete the latest phase of works to improve Liverpool Central, the city's busiest underground station. Part of the £5 million programme of works, funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Merseytravel, Stra
10/05/2012
Stroma Technology, leading providers of building compliance assessments and energy carbon consultancy services, delivered a package of complementary services on the ground breaking Oberon Court residential development, one of London's most energy-conscious yet. The scheme was awarded a Level 5 Code
10/05/2012
The Queen's parliamentary address yesterday outlined the government's priority for stabilising the economy through a variety of measures related to investment in industry, technology and private sector enterprise. However, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is keen to ensure housing remains o
10/05/2012
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has revealed its sites set to be released for development to help meet local needs for housing, jobs and growth. The refreshed Land Development and Disposal Plan, which builds on the first plan released in June 2011 sets out how the Agency will use its land to
10/05/2012
Two construction firms have been sentenced after a crane collapsed onto a city centre apartment block in Liverpool, resulting in the crane driver being paralysed from the waist down. The 79-metre-high tower crane was being used as part of a multi-million pound project to build a new eight-storey ho
10/05/2012
TrustMark, one of the leading Trade Association bodies for the Building and Construction Industry, has received a staggeringly high volume of web traffic since the beginning of this year. This emphasises a need for local roofers, who want to become a Redland Select member, to become accredited with
10/05/2012
GSR Self Storage have announced their opening of new facilities for self storage in East London and Essex. GSR offer 24 hour access, 7 days a week for all storage facilities including builders tools. They offer guard dogs, cctv and motion detecting security lights and security is enhanced by elec
10/05/2012
The number of remodelling projects for kitchens and bathrooms has increased over the years, according to a recent study. A survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) revealed that kitchen and bathroom improvements have risen by 17% in the past two years and the popularity of upgrad
10/05/2012
The recent promotion of Southampton FC to the Premier League has made it a hat-trick of stadiums fully kitted out with stylish UK manufactured architectural ironmongery by Scott Beaven Radius Ltd. Working with North East based architects TTH, Scott Beaven were the unrivalled choice for St Mary’s (
09/05/2012
Galliford Try, the housebuilding and construction group, announces that it has, in joint venture with Imtech Process, been awarded a contract worth a total of £36m from Anglian Water. Under the contract Galliford Try and Imtech will construct a new water treatment works in Lincolnshire. Situated on
09/05/2012
The first homes at Barratt's new energy efficient Hanham Hall development near Bristol are now well under way with a summer launch planned for the showhome complex. The latest computer generated imagery illustrates how the 185 homes and refurbished Hanham Hall, a Grade II listed building, will comp
09/05/2012
The UK will meet its renewable energy targets by the year 2020 and the government aims to do this with the launch of a new £35 million fund to help small businesses demonstrate low carbon technologies. According to the Energy Secretary Ed Davey, the UK is on course to meet its carbon emission redu
09/05/2012
Year 10 students at Oldfield School, Bath, swapped the classroom for the construction site to gain a close-up view of the housebuilding process organised by Lovell. Year 10 students at Oldfield School, Bath, pictured during their visit to a housing development at Weston where Lovell is building 74
09/05/2012
As part of Bristol's bid to be named European Green Capital for 2014, the people of Bristol are being asked to come on board and support the campaign. 1,500 people have already pledged their support on the supporters page of the Bristol Green Capital website since the page went live three weeks ago
09/05/2012
A private healthcare provider managing a hospital in Ipswich has been fined for safety failings after an employee suffered a fractured kneecap. Mrs Shelagh Allen, from Mendlesham, Suffolk, was working in the clinic room of a ward at Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital on 5 May 2011 when the incident h
09/05/2012
A beautiful, bespoke kitchen, hand-crafted to your exact specification, not only alters the look of a home but the overall feel of it too. Often seen as the hub of the house, the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a home, so it is essential to get it right. At Creative Woodwork, we have
09/05/2012
A primary school near Chichester has been awarded £29,989 from EDF Energy towards a renewable energy project. The grant comes from the EDF Energy Green Fund and will help pay for a biomass wood pellet boiler scheme at Eastergate Primary School. The biomass boiler will use locally-sourced wood pell
09/05/2012
Planning consent has been granted for The Wing, the new £2.7m learning and visitor centre that will be located at the existing National Memorial to the Few at Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone. The building has been designed by local architectural practice Godden Allen Lawn and takes its inspiration
09/05/2012
Planet Partitioning, the UK's largest independent partitioning specialist, has launched a new showroom in Clerkenwell, the heart of London's design district, and will be taking part in this years Clerkenwell Design Week running 22-24th May 2012. Located on the ground floor within a smartly refurbi
08/05/2012
Crossrail's first giant tunnel boring machine (TBM), Phyllis, has broken ground at Royal Oak to construct the first section of tunnel between Royal Oak and Farringdon. Keith Sibley, Crossrail Area Director West said: “"unnelling for Crossrail has now commenced. Phyllis is now beginning to slowly di
08/05/2012
Mansell, has started work on a purpose built research facility in Edinburgh, backed by a £10 million donation from the Harry Potter author, J K Rowling. 'The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic' has been named after J K Rowling’s mother, who suffered from the degenerative neurological condit
08/05/2012
When over a million people will be hit by the Standard Variable Rate (SVR) and variable rate mortgage rise, Which? estimates consumers will face an additional £300 million in mortgage repayments over the next year. New research from Which? reveals 70% of mortgage-holders are concerned about an incr
08/05/2012
The glazed atrium houses a reception and cafe Kier Construction is celebrating winning the Community Benefit category at last night’s North West Regional RICS Award 2012 for its £10.4m Heywood Sports, Culture and Leisure Village project. The Community Benefit category recognises outstanding achieve
08/05/2012
Whitehall departments are set to smash the Prime Minister's ambition to release previously-used public land for building the homes this country needs, Housing Minister Grant Shapps has said. New figures show that Ministers have identified enough surplus public land, such as empty offices, unused st
08/05/2012
The North West Business of Property Conference 2012 will take place at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Thursday 17 May as part of the Insider Awards. This interactive event provides the opportunity for delegates to hear about and discuss major schemes that will have the most significant impact on
08/05/2012
The director of a building firm has been prosecuted after a self-employed contractor fell to his death through a fragile roof at an industrial building in Penryn. Paul Gibbons, 59, who lived in Porthleven, was carrying out re-roofing work for Acryflor Ltd at the Kernick Road Industrial Estate on 22
08/05/2012
Clear glass cupboard knobs are the best selling colour in the range. This is because clear glass door knobs reflect colours beautifully and fit easily into all interiors. In our new range of Handmade English Glass Cupboard Knobs, we can offer clear glass and frosted clear glass. The frosted glass i
04/05/2012
Chelsea Football Club have confirmed that it has submitted an offer, with its property development partner Almacantar, to acquire the 39-acre Battersea Power Station site. Battersea Power Station is one of London's most famous buildings and has the potential to become one of the most iconic footbal
04/05/2012
Two of Plymouth City Council's partnership housing projects are through to the finals of the prestigious UK Housing Awards. The George House homeless hostel and the regeneration project, Ker Street Phase 1 and 2A are finalists in the category, 'Development of the Year - Large Schemes'. George Hou
04/05/2012
Costain has become the first construction company in the UK to achieve BS11000 status. Being awarded the British Standard for Collaborative Business Relationship Management Systems, means that an organisation has demonstrated that it accurately assesses both itself and potential partners in terms n
04/05/2012
A renewable energy project in Eaglescliffe has been awarded £20,873 from EDF Energy. The grant comes from the EDF Energy Green Fund and will help pay for an array of photovoltaic solar panels at Egglescliffe School in Urlay Nook Road. The panels will be fitted to the roof of the school’s south-fac
04/05/2012
Lovell's London region has been recognised for its outstanding commitment to health and safety training in the Construction Health and Safety Group's annual awards. The Elstree-based business took the award in the Major Contractors category, presented at the Construction Health and Safety Group’s a
04/05/2012
A self-employed roofer from Leeds in Yorkshire has won gold in the young roofer section of the International Federation of Roofing Contractors World Championships. Matthew Timby was awarded the medal and world championship title at Leeds College of Building’s annual awards ceremony; and the apprent
04/05/2012
Keeping our green and pleasant land just that, is proving to be an increasing challenge for British gardeners and landscapers, especially in light of the hosepipe ban imposed by seven UK water suppliers this week effecting over 20 million homes and businesses. Our parks and green spaces are under t
04/05/2012
A Preston steel firm has appeared in court after a working platform slid off the forks of a forklift truck and struck one of its employees. The 50-year-old, who does not want to be named, fractured a rib, and suffered muscle and back injuries when he was hit by the heavy metal platform at EDV Reinf
03/05/2012
The New Nuclear Build programme - the largest construction project in the history of the UK - is underway and CITB-ConstructionSkills is committing more than £2m to put in place the skilled workforce needed to meet the challenge. Announcing the funding at a ground-breaking meeting with Ministers a
03/05/2012
Renters across the UK are missing out on savings of over £990 million because their rental properties are lacking basic energy saving measures such as insulation, according to new E.ON research carried out with 10,000 UK households. Indicating a significant difference in their views on energy savin
03/05/2012
Environment Minister, John Griffiths has welcomed an announcement by the Crown Estate that will support Wales in its ambition to become a world leader in marine energy. The Minister was reacting to the Crown Estate's decision to grant a lease agreement for a tidal energy project off St David’s Head
03/05/2012
VINCI Construction UK, in association with Sheffield City Council, has picked up the gold award at this year’s North East LABC Building Excellence awards 2012. High Storrs School, built by VINCI Construction UK and designed by BDP Architects, won the award for Best Restoration and Conversion Projec
03/05/2012
Kier Services employee Daniel Morris has been awarded the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) London Student Award 2012 for his outstanding work on the BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying course at the University of Westminster. The university nominated 28-year-old Danny for the award, which re
03/05/2012
A North Devon farming business has been prosecuted for safety failings after a worker fractured his skull falling from the prong of a forklift truck at an animal feed mill. Richard Robinson, 64, from Pyworthy, near Holsworthy, was attempting to crush recycled material when the fall occurred at Cros
03/05/2012
An exclusive concept offering designers the freedom to customise floors, My Taralay is an exciting new service from Gerflor. It allows the creation of floors that have all the performance of the Taralay Premium range, in a wide selection of design and colour options which are ideal for individual de
03/05/2012
Weston Decorators has secured the contract for the painting and decorating to healthcare specialists Pelican based in Llanishen, Cardiff. In 2011 the quadrant centre at Pelican Healthcare relocated staff to temporary offices whilst a major refurbishment got under-way on the re-design and constructi
02/05/2012
GB Railfreight has operated the first test locomotive on a new freight line to be used by Crossrail to transfer millions of tonnes of excavated material from London to Northfleet, Kent. Lafarge have reinstated a disused rail freight link from the North Kent Main Line into their Northfleet site. The
02/05/2012
The UNITE Group, the UK's largest developer and manager of student accommodation, today announces that it has secured a new £121 million, 10 year debt facility with Legal & General. The all-in cost of the new borrowing, which is at 60% loan-to-value, is fixed at 5.05% for the duration of the loan.
02/05/2012
Lovell has been appointed by Procurement for All (PFA) to work on the organisation's £55 million, national five-year repairs and maintenance framework. Lovell is one of a number of companies set to deliver responsive repairs to homes for social housing providers in the North East and Midlands throu
02/05/2012
Continued growth and success at international smoke and natural ventilation solutions specialist, SE Controls, has led the company to take on a further 8 new technical and customer support staff, bringing the total of new jobs created during the past year to 21. SE Controls’ most recent appointment
02/05/2012
Mid Devon solar panels Kier has completed a £520,000 contract with Mid Devon District Council to install photovoltaic solar panels at four council properties in a bid to reduce the council’s carbon footprint, generate electricity and save money. As part of the contract, solar panels have been insta
02/05/2012
International tool manufacturer Bahco has introduced a great new range of utility knives, including an 18-in-one multi-tool, designed to give trade professionals the ultimate cutting edge. The company carried out over 150 stringent user tests with more than 50 prototypes before deciding on the fina
02/05/2012
An illegal gas fitter has been prosecuted for endangering lives at a property in Surrey with shoddy and unsafe work. Michael Gill, 66, installed a new gas boiler and flue at a house in Kingsmead Park, Elstead, on 5 March 2008, both of which were left in a dangerous condition. Guildford Magistrates
02/05/2012
A multinational brick making company has been fined after a worker suffered serious injuries when he was crushed on a conveyor belt at its Worcestershire factory. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Wienerberger Ltd following the incident on 19 October 2009 at the company's site at Har
02/05/2012
The majority of homeowners still depend on a qualified plumber to fix basic problems in their property such as a leaky tap, according to a recent study. Findings by In-Home 24, a group that maintains over 140,000 housing association properties, revealed that British plumbers are still indispensabl
01/05/2012
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has hailed the national home swap scheme, HomeSwap Direct, as inquiries via the new scheme passed the million mark. Since its launch in October 2011, over a million searches for properties have been made through HomeSwap Direct. The new scheme allows social housing ten
01/05/2012
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, today launches a groupwide Sustainability Month, entitled 'Together for Tomorrow', to showcase the Company’s progress against its 2020 sustainability vision. The initiative, which is the first of its kind for the Company, will see individuals
01/05/2012
EDF Energy is launching an enhanced offer of £200 cash and free insulation for certain householders in suitable properties, through the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) scheme. The £200 offer is targeted at people who are most in need of extra support, and is available to anyone in receipt
01/05/2012
Willmott Dixon has followed up its appointment to create 11,500m2 of new teaching space at the London School of Economics by being chosen by renowned education organisation City & Guilds to create a new office in Giltspur Street, Clerkenwell. The project will see Willmott Dixon demolish a six store
01/05/2012
A building contractor has been fined over serious safety breaches after a worker was killed by a piece of falling cob wall being demolished by his son. Alaister Copland, trading as Do it Al, was fined a total of £10,000 and ordered to pay compensation to the family of £2,390 at Dorchester Crown Cou
01/05/2012
The UK should tap into the leading smart grid technology or risk losing out on a £5 billion export market, according to a recent report. An industry group is urging the Government to not waste the smart grid opportunity which could offer up to 10,000 jobs. The commissioned report by SmartGrid GB cl
01/05/2012
Caroline Flint MP, Labour's Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, has said the energy regulator Ofgem has serious questions to answer after figures obtained by Labour revealed that it has paid over a million pounds in bonuses in the last two years, while millions of families are struggling wit
01/05/2012
Heavy plant hire specialist, GCE Hire Fleet Ltd returns to Finning using Cat Finance to invest in five new pieces of Caterpillar equipment, including four 950H wheel loaders and two D6T track type tractors. GCE Hire Fleet Ltd with the support of Cat Finance & Finning invested in four new Cat 950H w
