Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for March 2016
31/03/2016
Bardsley Construction has been selected to deliver a £9.8 million energy facility in Blackpool. The contractor will build the Lancashire Energy HQ for Blackpool and The Fylde College at the newly formed Blackpool Enterprise Zone. The development will provide a training centre for specialist skills
31/03/2016
Work is underway on a £20 million refurbishment project at RAF Valley in Wales. A joint venture (JV) between North Stone and White Mountain will resurface one of two runways at the military base on the Isle of Anglesey. The year-long project is expected to be completed in February 2017 The Defenc
31/03/2016
Lagan Construction International has been selected to deliver a multi-million pound infrastructure project at London City Airport. Work on the runway overlay and taxiway widening scheme at the Docklands is expected to get underway in May 2016. Other works include the refurbishment of the existing
31/03/2016
Network Rail has appointed David Waboso as MD of its Digital Railway division. He will replace Jerry England in June, who is retiring later this year. The division, which includes the Digital Railway Programme, is a cross-industry programme to boost the capacity of Britain's rail network using dig
31/03/2016
Galliford Try has won a place on a major construction framework in the North of England. The housebuilding and construction group has secured a position on the YORbuild2 framework. The four-year programme is procured by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Scarborough Borough Council, Rotherham Metro
31/03/2016
Engineering services firm Renew has revealed its chief executive, Brian May, is due to retire this year. In a trading update this morning, 31 March, the Leeds-based company announced Mr May will step down in September. He will be succeeded by Paul Scott, who joined the board in July 2014 as Direct
31/03/2016
A public drop-in session discussing flood defence upgrades is due to take place later this month in Devon. The Environment Agency (EA) is inviting people to put forward their ideas for improving defences in Totnes before it submits designs for planning permission. Proposals could include raising t
31/03/2016
Laing O'Rourke has appointed John Wilkinson as its new UK Infrastructure MD. With over 25 years' experience in civil engineering, building and support services, Mr Wilkinson was previously executive MD of Kier Group's UK Services Division. He managed a team of 12,000 workers across Highways, Utili
31/03/2016
The UK Government is being urged to renationalise British steel in the wake of Tata Steels announcement that it intends to sell its UK business. Thousands of jobs have been put at risk by the news, including at the Port Talbot facility which is Britain's largest steelworks. General secretary for u
31/03/2016
A major feasibility study has been authorised to look into developing a new train station in Cambridgeshire. Network Rail has been commissioned to undertake the Governance for Rail Infrastructure Projects (GRIP) 3 study by both Cambridgeshire County Council and East Cambridgeshire District Council.
30/03/2016
Tata Steel has revealed its intention to sell its UK business. It is understood the move puts thousands of steel workers jobs at risk, including at the Port Talbot Steelworks in Wales. The firm's Board has now instructed its European holding company to "explore all options for portfolio restructur
30/03/2016
Bristol City Council are due to reconsider plans for a new 12,000-capacity arena in the city. Proposals for the £95 million Bristol Arena project are due to go before the Development Control Committee (DCC) on 06 April. Councillors will consider two applications; a detailed planning application co
30/03/2016
Morgan Sindall has been selected to develop the first phase of a new £5.5 million cattle market in Melton Mowbray. The firm was awarded the project by Melton Borough Council through the East Midlands Property Alliance (EMPA) framework. Phase one of the scheme will involve the replacement of cow sh
30/03/2016
Network Rail has selected a Skanska/BAM Nuttall joint venture (JV) to deliver the new Ordsall Chord project in Manchester. A contract to build the new viaduct has been signed with the organisation, which includes Amey, Skanska, Bam Nuttall, and Siemens. The scheme will link Manchester Victoria and
30/03/2016
Local house building firms are vital to developing more homes and solving the UK's housing crisis, according to Labour's Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning John Healey. During a visit to a housing development in Sheffield last week, Mr Healey said the share of new homes being built by small a
30/03/2016
The UK Government has revealed plans to boost housing as part of its pledge to develop one million new homes. Under the proposals, one in five new homes on sites of 10 of more must be 'starter homes'. The houses will be available at a minimum 20% discount below market value, helping those on moder
30/03/2016
Major improvements are due to begin this week at Paddington Tube station, Transport for London (TfL) has announced. Engineers will carry out renewal works on both of the heavily-used escalators serving the Bakerloo line from Saturday, 02 April. By replacing the majority of components, the escalato
30/03/2016
Leeds City Council has approved plans for over 1,800 new homes to be built in the region. Five schemes across the city have been given the go ahead by councillors on the City Plans Panel, marking one of the largest residential approvals to be granted in a single meeting. The largest development, C
30/03/2016
Mott MacDonald has selected Norrie Westbrook to lead its highways business. As a chartered civil engineer, Mr Westbrook has 20 years' experience in the highways sector and previously worked at Mouchel as highways operating group director. In his new role as development director, he will be respons
30/03/2016
A local galvanizing company has played its part in the major redevelopment of the blaze-damaged pier in East Sussex. Willenhall-based BE Wedge, part of Wedge Group Galvanizing, was called upon by N D Jig and Gauge Co Ltd to provide its hot dip galvanizing treatment to 15 tonnes of steel plates used
24/03/2016
Over £800 million is to be invested in improving London Waterloo station, Network rail has announced. The package of improvements will be carried out in partnership with the Department of Transport (DoT) and South West Trains. Work is due to get underway this month. Plans include rebuilding the f
24/03/2016
Balfour Beatty has secured a £170 million two-year contract extension to its Track Partnership deal with London Underground. The alliance is responsible for carrying out essential track renewal work across the rapid transit system. Balfour Beatty Rail was appointed to the original contract in 2010
24/03/2016
EDF Energy Renewables (EDF ER) has selected Wind Towers Scotland to supply turbine towers for its onshore wind farm projects in the UK. The Argyll and Bute-based firm signed the five-year agreement with Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 23 March. The company has alre
24/03/2016
A potential boardroom takeover by Lakehouse founder Steve Rawlings has turned personal after senior management questioned his ability to effectively lead the company. Mr Rawlings and Slater Investments have called for a shareholder meeting next month in an effort to oust the existing non-executive
24/03/2016
Seddon has appointed Ed Wootton has its new Regional Director for North West Construction. Mr Wootten joins the company from Galliford Try, where he previously worked for 22 years. He will be based at Seddon's North West offices in Bolton. In addition, Mr Wootten will lead Seddon's small works, m
24/03/2016
Mott MacDonald has appointed former HS2 Engineering Director Chris Dulake as its major projects portfolio director. The consultancy has confirmed to HS2 that Mr Dulake will not be involved in the organisation's current procurement process. With nearly 30 years' experience as a civil engineer, Mr D
24/03/2016
Willmott Dixon has teamed up with renewable energy supplier SmartestEnergy in an effort to halve its carbon emissions by 2020. The company will provide electricity from renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydro-electric to all Willmott Dixon offices that can procure their own supplies. The m
24/03/2016
Highways England are inviting residents to attend a public exhibition discussing maintenance work along the A27 in Worthing. The drop-in event will be held at Worthing College from 3pm to 7pm today, 24 March. The scheme involves the replacement of 82 street lights with 73 new energy efficient ligh
23/03/2016
Coventry City Council has revealed designs for a new £36.7 million city centre water park. The new facility is being designed by architects FaulknerBrowns and will be built on the site of Spire and Christchurch House. It will include a water park with slides, a 25-metre swimming pool, a gym, climb
23/03/2016
HS2 has revealed a shortlist of companies for major engineering contracts as part of the national rail project. A total of nine bidders have been listed for civil engineering works worth £7.1 - £11.8 billion between London and Crewe. The company's are in the running for the start of formal tenderi
23/03/2016
Balfour Beatty has been selected to create a new £33 million mathematics building for the University of Bristol. The Grade-II listed Fry Building, located just off the Triangle on the corner of University Road and Woodland Road, will undergo a major renovation and remodelling project. The developm
23/03/2016
A UK Government guarantee of £86 million has signalled the start of a £800 million infrastructure project in Aberdeen. Construction on the Countesswell development project will be carried out by the Stewart Milne Group and is due to begin next month. It will comprise of 3,000 homes along with infr
23/03/2016
Plans have been approved to redevelop a 300-home estate in London. Lambeth Council agreed with the 'Option 5' recommendations to transform the Cressingham Gardens estate during a meeting on Monday, 21 March. The plan aims to replace the 306 homes already at Cressingham Gardens with a minimum of 46
23/03/2016
A new survey has revealed underfunding, severe weather and increased traffic levels are affecting road network resilience in England and Wales. The Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey has indicated a further decline lies ahead unless further government funding is provided. Despi
23/03/2016
Highways England has awarded Kier a £50 million design services contract for the East Midlands region. The five-year deal covers 'Area 7' and will begin on 01 July 2016. Kier Highways will prepare technical designs and undertake supporting work for capital projects, from the initial scheme feasibi
23/03/2016
A solar panel firm has been fined after a worker fell through a fragile roof light during repair works at a private home in Kent. Glasgow-based P V Solar UK Limited, of Cambuslang Road, pleaded guilty to three separate breaches of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was fined £153,000 with £29
23/03/2016
VolkerInfra (VI) has secured a £5 million contract to supply substation interconnectors and onshore export cables for an offshore wind farm site near Suffolk. The EHV Cable Systems specialist was selected by GE's Grid Solutions to provide services for the Galloper Offshore Wind Farm. The contract
23/03/2016
A crane hire company director has been disqualified after trading while insolvent for four years. Christopher John Etheridge, Director of D&R Pike Crane Hire Ltd, was disqualified for a total of six years. An investigation by the Insolvency Service discovered that by 01 October 2011, D&R was unabl
22/03/2016
Network Rail has announced train passengers in the Liverpool City Region (LCR) are to receive £340 million of rail improvements over the next three years. The investment is part of the rail company's nationwide Railway Upgrade Plan. Network Rail will contribute £229m towards the scheme, while the
22/03/2016
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Home Builders Federation (HBF) have announced a new partnership aimed at tackling the UK's housing crisis. The £2.7 million Home Building Skills Partnership plans to train over 45,000 new entrants and 1,000 experienced workers by 2019. It will wo
22/03/2016
T Clarke has reported record revenues of over £242 million for 2015. The building services contractor has announced a return to profit after a year which saw it close down its Cardiff and Bristol branches. Overall, Group revenue increased 16.6% to £242.4m in 2015, compared with £208.9m in 2014. I
22/03/2016
Three water tank firms have been fined over £2.6 million after admitting to participating in an illegal cartel concerning the supply of cylindrical galvanised steel tanks in the UK. Under their own arrangements, Franklin Hodge Industries Ltd, Galglass Ltd and Kondea Water Supplies Ltd agreed with e
22/03/2016
ISG has won a contract to deliver a new £3.4 million polar research scheme in Cambridge. The new Aurora Cambridge Innovation Centre will be built at the British Antarctic Survey's headquarters. The project will involve refurbishing the organisations existing building and developing a new 5,400 sq
22/03/2016
Work to deliver faster rail journeys between Scotland and London will begin in 2017, it has been announced. Both the UK and Scottish Government's have agreed to further work which will cut the journey time for passengers to three hours. Key features of the project include: • Aim to bring train jo
22/03/2016
Mott MacDonald has been selected to design a €30-40 million food defence scheme for Wexford County Council in Ireland. The project is being funded by the Office of Public Works and will be developed in Enniscorthy on the banks of the River Slaney. Historically, the town has been subject to floodin
22/03/2016
Work is due to begin on a viaduct repair project in Cleveland. Contractors will carry out works on Leven Valley Viaduct Bridge on the A19 in Middlesborough. The project will take place on the northbound carriageway between the A67 Thirsk Road and the A174 Parkway Interchange. Works are due to beg
22/03/2016
Amey has secured over £62.5 million worth of contracts in London, it has been announced. Four more London Boroughs have signed up to the company's Total Facilities Management (TFM) framework. Created in 2013, the programme acts as an integrated approach towards TFM for three London boroughs; Hamme
22/03/2016
Merseyside Galvanizing has been called upon by Wigan-based HBS Steel Doors and Fabrications to provide its galvanizing service to 43 tonnes of steel used to create louvre shutters for 16 tower blocks, 9 storeys high, in and around Leeds city centre. The company, which is part of Wedge Group Galvani
21/03/2016
HS2 has appointed CH2M, Atkins and SENER as its Phase One Engineering Delivery Partner. The three companies will focus on providing engineering and construction management support, as well as assisting with preparation for the procurement of the main civils contracts, for the London to Birmingham s
21/03/2016
Willmott Dixon has been selected to deliver a new £15 million mixed-used development in Scarborough. The contractor will create Scarborough Leisure Village for developer Wrenbridge Sport on the town's former Weaponness coach park site. The contract was awarded under scape group's major works frame
21/03/2016
Law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has been selected to advise Tideway on its £4.2 billion Thames Tideway Tunnel project. The four-year contract will begin on 01 April and covers a range of legal services including planning & environment, real estate, asset protection, construction and procurem
21/03/2016
A £7.1 million restoration project has been completed in Leicester. The scheme at Friars Mill was backed by funding from the European Regional Development Fund. The project saw the facility transformed from a derelict site of empty factory buildings into a collection of modern workspaces for growi
21/03/2016
Leeds City Council has reached a milestone on its flagship extra care scheme, it has been announced. Work on the steel frame of the Wharfedale View extra care project is now nearly complete, while the central lift shaft has already been installed. In addition, contractor Henry Boot Construction is
21/03/2016
Keepmoat is underway with a large scale house building programme in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Working in partnership with Waltham Forest Council, the company will create hundreds of new homes across the borough by 2020. The first phase of the project will see 13 derelict garages replac
21/03/2016
A major milestone has been reached on a £68 million council house refurbishment programme in Thurrock. Wates Living Space Maintenance began Thurrock Council's Transforming Homes programme in 2013. The contractor has now refurbished 2,500 properties on the scheme, which will eventually see over 10,
21/03/2016
Union UCATT has revealed its disappointment at the number of newly qualified construction apprentices entering the industry. It is understood the sector requires 46,400 new apprentices every year. However, recent figures have revealed only 8,470 qualified in 2014/15. While the Construction Indust
21/03/2016
Civil engineering firm Breheney has secured a contract to develop the Bury St Edmunds Eastern Relief Road scheme in Suffolk. The scheme will form a 'major' part of the £15 million project with the council. The development will link Skyliner Way and the Suffolk Business Park on Moreton Hall to junc
21/03/2016
A leading galvanizing company is celebrating after playing its part in the multi-million pound 3Ts Redevelopment project at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals. Wessex Galvanizers, part of Wedge Group Galvanizing, has provided its hot dip galvanizing treatment to over 55 tonnes of structural s
18/03/2016
Birmingham City Council has revealed plans to redevelop city centre land into an 'attractive' development site. The 14-hectare Birmingham Smithfield site will see over 300,000 square metres of new floorspace created, 2,000 new homes and a series of squares, parks and gardens. Overall, the proposed
18/03/2016
Equipment hire firm A-Plant has announced the acquisition of NG Bailey's portable accommodation fleet. The company said the move is in line with its strategy to "grow its product offering" and improve as one of the largest portable accommodation providers in the UK. A-Plant's Director of Accommoda
18/03/2016
The recent Budget announcement by Chancellor George Osbourne "offers no comfort" to workers who are struggling financially, according to union UCATT. In his eighth Budget, Mr Osbourne pledged Government investment in a swathe of major infrastructure projects, including Crossrail and HS3. However,
18/03/2016
Construction firm BAM has started work to extend the Isaac Newton Building for the University of Lincoln. The Isaac Newton Building project, worth £16 million, involves extending and re-configuring some of the existing Engineering Hub, a facility BAM built in 2011, to create a further 7,500 sq m of
18/03/2016
Regeneration work has started on a £2.1 million project in Manchester. Developer Seddon and Southway Housing Trust have partnered to regenerate the former Ladybarn Social Club site on Beverly Road in south Manchester. The site is to be transformed into 18 one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom flats ac
18/03/2016
Footballer Rio Ferdinand has partnered with Central Bedfordshore Council to revitalise one of the most deprived areas is Houghton Regis. Legacy, the former Manchester United defender's regeneration firm, is to develop a world-class sports academy, education and community facilities to transform the
18/03/2016
Repairs to 14,000 potholes in Liverpool is to begin. £3 million is to be invested in the repair work following a report to the council's Cabinet which says the condition of the road network has deteriorated at a far faster rate than envisaged. Around £1 million will be spent in each of the north,
18/03/2016
A brewery firm has been fined for for polluting the River Wey in England at Basingstoke Magistrates Court. Molson Coors Brewery (UK) Limited (MCB Ltd) were fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £31,586.49. In a case brought by the Environment Agency, MCB Ltd were in court on 17 March 2016 for
16/03/2016
Chancellor George Osbourne has pledged financial backing for a number of infrastructure projects across the north and south of England. In his eighth Budget, Mr Osbourne has granted approval for planning work to continue on major projects such as the £32 billion Crossrail 2 scheme in London and the
16/03/2016
Work is to begin this summer on a new £90 million river crossing in London, it has been announced. A joint venture (JV) between Bouygues Travaux Publics and Cimolai SpA has now signed a contract to build the Garden Bridge structure over the River Thames. The JV will be responsible for completing t
16/03/2016
A national crane company has been fined after two men were killed when a crane collapsed at a construction site in London. Falcon Crane Hire Ltd of Airfield Industrial Estate, Shipdham, Thetford were found to have breached Sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act. It was fined £75
16/03/2016
Work is underway on a new £400 million development project in Leeds. Wates has broken ground on the first phase of the Kirkstall Forge scheme. The contractor will deliver a 110,000 sq ft seven-storey Grade A office building, which will be completed in 2017. Consultancy firm Zenith has now signed
16/03/2016
A student accommodation joint venture (JV) established by BAM Construction is underway with a £18.4 million project in Newcastle. The BAM Connislow JV began developing three connecting accommodation blocks spanning between Stoddart Street and Clarence Street in January. The development, designed b
16/03/2016
South West Water has appointed PWN Technologies to help deliver a new £60 million water treatment works (WTW) in Plymouth. The Dutch company will be responsible for the design, installation and commissioning of the facility's main water treatment process in Crownhill. In addition, consultancy firm
16/03/2016
Plans to deliver over 30,000 residential units have been revealed by Peel Land and Property. The development company said the investment across its 'Strategic Waters' sites could generate £4.5 billion over the next 30 years. Peel's portfolio is made up of 23,500 units within the Mersey Waters Ente
16/03/2016
A major East Midlands regeneration site has been launched to market at international property exhibition MIPIM. The Boots Enterprise Zone is located in Beeston, west of Nottingham city centre. In December 2014, it received outline planning consent for around 900,000 sq ft of new commercial space a
16/03/2016
An engineering firm has been fined after polluted water ran from a construction site into a watercourse in Huddersfield. Flannery Civil Engineering Ltd, of Willow Bridge Way, Castleford appeared before Kirklees Magistrates' Court and admitted one environmental offence relating to the incident at Li
16/03/2016
Work is underway to build a new bridge in Berkshire, Network Rail has announced. Engineers have began developing the structure at Ufton Nervet to improve safety and replace the level crossing. The bridge will separate road and rail traffic at the site, which has been the subject of several inciden
15/03/2016
Graham Construction has been selected to deliver a residential project in east Manchester. The contractor will redevelop the Murrays' Mills area into 124 one, two and three-bedroom apartments for the Manchester Life Development Company. The scheme is part of Manchester Life's plans to build over 9
15/03/2016
A London Assembly committee has slammed bosses at Transport for London (TfL) after the cost of a tube upgrade project is due to spiral to nearly £900 million. The 'Transport for London's Signal Failure' report examines the circumstances behind Bombardier Transport's appointment to improve signallin
15/03/2016
A major bridge beam lifting project is due to get underway over the M1 near Dunstable, Highways England has announced. Contractors will lift 38 steel beams into place as part of a £162 million road project to boost the economy in Bedfordshire. A 1,000-tonne crane will be used to lift the beams, wh
15/03/2016
The National Infrastructure Commission has recommended the Government take immediate action and bring forward proposals to boost the HS3 programme. In its third report, High Speed North, the organisation stated the North "needs immediate and very significant investment" for action, in addition to d
15/03/2016
Balfour Beatty has announced a £199 million pre-tax loss in its full-year results for 2015. However, despite revenue being down 4% at £8,444m (2014:£8,793m) and issues with numerous legacy contracts, Chief Executive Leo Quinn said he was confident the company can "reach industry-standard margins" w
15/03/2016
Heathrow has announced the four winning companies to help develop its £16 billion expansion project. Mace, Arup, CH2M and Turner & Townsend have all secured places as partners. The project aims to create a 'world class, sustainable hub airport', with the Government's independent Airports Commissio
15/03/2016
Previously stalled proposals for a new Crossrail station in west London are to be revisited, it has been announced. Originally, plans to build the Ladbroke Grove station in North Kensington were rejected in 2013 after detailed analysis revealed the site was not feasible. However, the Royal Borough
15/03/2016
Keepmoat has secured a £10.8 million contract to deliver the first phase of a regeneration scheme in London. The house builder will deliver 57 new homes as part of L&Q's Excalibur estate regeneration project in Lewisham. The scheme will eventually see 371 new homes built on the site. The contract
15/03/2016
Wates Construction has announced a dual appointment as part of its plans to boost growth in Cumbria. The company has selected Craig Abson as Construction Director and Stefan Hargreaves as Regional Commercial Manager. The move follows plans to target new opportunities across the manufacturing, defe
15/03/2016
Network Rail is due to host a series of drop-in events discussing a road bridge redevelopment project in Wales. Residents are being invited to attend the exhibitions, which will outline work scheduled to take place on the Bridge Street road bridge in Newport. The project will help prepare the rail
14/03/2016
Around 45,000 new homes are to be built within the Midlands, it has been announced. The Black Country region is seeking £6 billion in investment across 30 towns near to and within Wolverhampton. If successful, the Garden City project will be one the largest brownfield site regeneration schemes wit
14/03/2016
Planning permission has been granted for a £65 million mixed-use development in West Sussex. Proposals submitted by NewRiver Retail (NRR) include building over 200,000 sq ft of retail and leisure facilities at the Martlets Shopping Centre in Burgess Hill. Features include building a ten-screen mul
14/03/2016
Keepmoat has been selected to deliver a new £56 million housing scheme in Salford. The company will deliver 429 new homes along with improved public spaces in the Charlestown Riverside area. Work is due to begin in June 2016. The 18-acre development will take place over an eight-year period and i
14/03/2016
The families of three men trapped following the collapse at Didcot Power Station have held a 'peaceful protest' at the site. One person was killed and another five were injured after half of the decommissioned Didcot A boiler house collapsed on Tuesday, 23 February. However, family members have no
14/03/2016
New research has revealed nearly 60% of SME construction bosses began their career as an apprentice. The data, from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), shows that half of owners were also running their own company within seven years of completing their training. In addition, 98% of respondent
14/03/2016
Seddon has secured a place on all ten lots of the North West Construction Hub's Low Value framework. The builder and developer is now free to bid on contracts worth between £500,000 and £2 million. The three-year framework extends to projects in Cumbria, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, a
14/03/2016
Construction apprenticeships are up 12% in the past year across Great Britain, it has been revealed. Data released by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) shows that 22,496 young people started apprenticeships in 2014/15, up from 19,973 in 2013/14. Three years ago, 17,500 young people b
14/03/2016
BAM Construction is to move into its new self-designed headquarters in Manchester. Around 45 staff of the 140-strong North West team will relocate into the Metro Building at Salford Quays today, 14 March. The firm, which built the building in 2008, will take up all 11,000 sq ft on the second floor
14/03/2016
The Environment Agency (EA) has revealed a £10 million repair programme for damaged flood defences in Cumbria. Over 3,000 flood defences have been inspected and 100 repair projects identified after storms hit most parts of the UK throughout December. Around 6,300 homes, businesses and farms were f
14/03/2016
The Planning Inspectorate has appointed Sarah Richards as its new Chief Executive. Previously, she was Strategic Director of Regeneration, Housing and Resources for Slough Borough Council. Ms Richards began her career with the Greater London Council, progressing to Director of Planning for Test Va
14/03/2016
Rapid International Ltd, based in Co Armagh, has recently supplied Kent based Gallagher Group with a new Rapidmix 400CW mobile continuous mixing plant. The Rapidmix machine is operated primarily at the group's Hermitage Quarry site and is also utilised on location if haulage presents an issue. E
11/03/2016
London & Quadrant (L&Q) housing association has taken over Bellway Homes' role in the delivery of 11,000 new homes in east London. The HA has purchased Bellway's 51% stake in a joint venture with the Greater London Authority (GLA) to drive the major regeneration programme at Barking Riverside. The
11/03/2016
The start of construction work has been delayed on a new £11.5 million footbridge in Hull, it has been announced. Balfour Beatty was due to begin developing the structure over the A63 at Princes Quay later this year. It is understood problems were discovered during early ground investigation works
11/03/2016
ISG has been selected to deliver a new free school in Luton. The Moorlands Free School will be built for The Shared Learning Trust and is part of the EFA Regional Framework. The 26,000 sq ft steel frame building will comprise of two floors, with a combination of brickwork, cladding and render to i
11/03/2016
More needs to be done to tackle a lack of key skills within the construction industry, according to a new report. The 300-candidate survey, conducted by BRE Academy, found that sustainability and environmental skills as well as trades such as plastering, electrical and plumbing were in short supply
11/03/2016
Wates' engineering division, SES Engineering Services (SES), has achieved BRE BIM Level 2 Business Certification. It is the first mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractor (MEP) contractor to achieve the standard one month ahead of the government's April deadline. SES has been using 3D modell
11/03/2016
A contractor has been fined after potentially exposing members of the public to asbestos during a refurbishment project in County Durham. Peter Nigel Wade (trading as P.N. Wade Building and Civil Engineering contractor), of Winston Road, Staindrop, County Durham, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulat
11/03/2016
Clearance work to remove gravel from a river in north east England is due to begin next week, it has been announced. The project at Hebden Water, a tributary of the River Calder, is part of the Environment Agency's (EA) recovery work following the floods at Christmas. A contractor has been appoint
11/03/2016
A resurfacing project is due to begin next week on the M6 in Lancashire. The 16-week scheme will start between junctions 27 (Wigan) and 29 (Preston) on Monday, 14 March. Works involve replacing reflective road studs and painting new road markings. The project will take place in short sections bet
11/03/2016
The CEO of subsea cable manufacturer JDR, David Currie, has joined the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC). As a senior government and industry forum, the OWIC was established in 2013. It drives the development of the UK's offshore wind sector, while overseeing the implementation of the Offshore
11/03/2016
Flowpoint, part of the UltraScape Mortar Paving System available from Instarmac, has been specified, and used, to grout 9,000m² of granite stone at MBR City in Dubai. MBR (Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum) City in Dubai is the definition of luxury. The 45 million square feet development brings togeth
10/03/2016
Over 100 new tall buildings are in London's development pipeline since this time last year, according to a new report. The research, published by New London Architecture (NLA) and GLHearn, reveals the 119 additional buildings takes the total number of tall buildings waiting to be built to 436. The
10/03/2016
A 3.5% pay increase offer for around 500,000 workers employed under the Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) has been described as "insulting" by trade unions. Pay talks for the CIJC took place on Wednesday, 09 March. However, unions UCATT, Unite and GMB were 'shocked' that employers offered
10/03/2016
Communities Secretary Greg Clark has announced 73 local authorities are to pilot a new scheme which brings forward derelict and underused land for new housing. The pioneering councils will trial one of the new brownfield registers, providing house builders with up-to-date and publicly available inf
10/03/2016
Develop Training Limited (DTL) has secured a 'major' contract to provide electrical equipment training for heavy building materials company Hanson UK. The industry training specialist will teach 1,100 employees the necessary skills via a rolling programme at both English and Scottish sites. Runnin
10/03/2016
A £325 million coffee production facility has opened in Staffordshire. The new Nestlé factory was unveiled by Business Secretary Sajid Javid today, 10 march. Nearly 1,000 people are already employed at the Tutbury site, which includes manufacturing and engineering apprentices. In 2011, the compan
10/03/2016
Late payments in the construction industry rose 26% in 2015, according to new figures. The Euler Hermes Quarterly Overdue Payments Report reveals industry firms registered more payment delays than 'any other single UK sector last year'. Overall, the sector accounted for 31% of all overdue payments
10/03/2016
The National Infrastructure Commissioner has called for fresh funding on the Crossrail 2 development scheme, it has been announced. In his 'Transport for the World City' report, Lord Adonis stated new funding should be made available now to take the scheme forward "as a priority". By granting addi
10/03/2016
Wakefield Council has committed its support towards the UK construction industry by signing a Minimum Standards Charter. Council Leader Peter Box signed the charter alongside members of unions Unite, UCATT and GMB yesterday, 09 March. The deal pledges that a set of minimum standards are adhered to
10/03/2016
Southern Electric Power Distribution (SEPD) has provided a £20,000 grant to build a new mobile emergency communications hub in Sussex. The money, which is part of SEPD's Resilient Communities Fund, will help build the mobile hub to be used in the event of severe storms and major incidents where com
10/03/2016
Transport for London (TfL) has received strong support on proposals to redevelop a tube station in the capital. Plans for Camden Town Tube station were put to a public consultation, in which 95% of respondents agreed with the proposals. Features of the redevelopment include: • A new second entran
09/03/2016
Willmott Dixon has secured a £6.5 million contract to build a technology centre in Lincoln. The facility will be built in Boole and is part of the Lincoln Science & Innovation Park, a joint venture between the University of Lincoln and the Lincolnshire Co-op. In addition, the project was procured
09/03/2016
Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has gained planning permission for a new £100 million building. Contractors Lendlease will build the development in the city centre at Copperas Hill to form a gateway for the Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter. In addition, it will bring together LJMU's Mount Ple
09/03/2016
Mace has been selected as main contractor to build the first element of a residential development in East London. The Group will deliver the first building of the second phase of the Olympic 'masterplan' at East Village. As the former Athletes' Village for London 2012, the region is already home t
09/03/2016
The next London Mayor must pledge to build 50,000 homes a year, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). In it's London Manifesto, the organisation calls for the next mayor to keep a 'relentless focus on business growth', keeping the city an 'attractive hub' for investment, creativ
09/03/2016
A "significant and unprecedented" increase in warehouse construction is needed to ensure internet retailers can cope with their customer orders, it has been revealed. A report by property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) has revealed retailer and distributor requirements for logistics wareho
09/03/2016
Galliford Try has delivered a new £110 million road route in South Devon. The South Devon Highway was officially opened by Roads Minister Andrew Jones on 22 February. The 42-month project involved developing 5.6km of road linking Torbay and Newton Abbot. Overall, nine bridges were built along the
09/03/2016
A clean energy company has been fined after worker fell through a roof of a garden centre in Cornwall. Clean Earth Energy Limited, of Bess Park Road, Trenant Industrial Estate, Wadebridge, Cornwall, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at height Regulations 2005. It was fined £2
09/03/2016
A railway bridge in Wales is set to be refurbished as part of Network Rail's £40 billion Railway Upgrade Plan. The Cowbridge Road Railway Bridge in Bridgend will undergo essential repairs to address the damage caused by a number of vehicles that have struck the bridge in recent years. Engineers wi
09/03/2016
Wates Construction has expanded its presence across Yorkshire and the North East by opening a new office at Leeds Valley Park. The move to Darwin House forms part of the company's growth plans to double turnover to £2 billion. Recently, the company has experienced growth in its core sectors of com
09/03/2016
Welding technology expert Fronius is launching a new generation of its tried-and-tested MMA welding system: introducing the TransPocket 150 and TransPocket 180. The devices have been refined to produce outstanding welding results and include an improved range of functions. In addition, a digital res
08/03/2016
A new £42 million teaching and research facility at the University of Leicester has gained Passivhaus Certification. The modern Centre for Medicine building is now the largest Passivhaus building in the UK. It was built by contractor Willmott Dixon and designed by Associated Architects. Passivhau
08/03/2016
Henry Boot Construction has been selected by Barnsley Council to lead its £100 million town centre redevelopment scheme. In addition, Turner & Townsend have been appointed along with its partner Queensberry Real Estate to form the Development Management Organisation (DMO). Henry Boot will deliver
08/03/2016
Work is continuing on a road bridge reconstruction project in Wales, it has been announced. The South Wales Mainline is undergoing an extensive electrification programme as part of Network Rail's £40 billion Railway Upgrade Plan. Engineers are raising the height of the Cardiff Road bridge to make
08/03/2016
Atmos Consulting has announced a reshuffle of its senior leadership team. After ten years with the company, MD Stewart Lowther is to step down from his position. He will be replaced by current Operations Director Jean Curran. Ms Curran has a wealth of managerial and business development experienc
08/03/2016
A £3 million flood defence scheme has been completed in Teesside. The Environment Agency (EA) delivered the Port Clarence flood alleviation scheme in partnership with Wilton Engineering. A removable section of defence was manufactured by Wilton to protect its own work site and the local community
08/03/2016
Interserve has appointed Kevin Murgatroyd as its new sector director for transport. As a former Rail director for Balfour Beatty, Mr Murgatroyd has over twenty years of experience across the transport industry. He was part of the firms Rail's executive team for the past nine years, which saw him
08/03/2016
Lakehouse CEO Sean Birrane has announced his intention to resign from the company. Following the news, a boardroom reshuffle has led to Executive Chairman Stuart Black taking over leadership of the firm. In addition, Senior Non-Executive Director Chris Geoghegan will become Non-Executive Chairman
08/03/2016
ISG has secured a place on eight Lots within the £2 billion YORbuild 2 framework, it has been revealed. The programme is successor to the original YORbuild framework, which delivered over £700 million of projects during its five year duration. YORbuild 2 is one of the largest public sector procure
08/03/2016
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is investing £2.4 million to upgrade a military training facility in Wiltshire. The project will see 12 buildings demolished and replace with 11 multi-functional structures at New Zealand Farm Camp on Salisbury Plain Training Area. The new facilities,
08/03/2016
Lowestoft College has revealed its apprenticeship provision rates are 13% above the national average. As a leading provider of training to the construction, offshore, energy and maritime industries, the college offers over 650 apprenticeships each year. While delivering a broad range of Further Ed
07/03/2016
Work is to begin on a new £150 million hospital in North London. Planning consent for the redevelopment of Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield has now been approved by the council's planning committee. The project is being delivered by the Integrated Health Projects joint venture (JV) Sir Robert McAlpi
07/03/2016
EDF Energy's Finance Director Thomas Piquemal has stepped down ahead of a final investment decision on the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project, it has been announced. It is reported Mr Piquemal quit the post due to fears the £18 billion project could put the french company's financial position at
07/03/2016
Work is underway on a new housing development in the West Midlands. Wates has began developing 157 new homes on the site of the former Dudley Guest Hospital. The Butler's Crescent project is being carried out in partnership with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC) and the Homes & Communities
07/03/2016
Building envelope specialist T.A. Colbourne (TAC) has secured a £680,000 extension contract in West London. The contractor has been appointed by Faithdean Plc to design, supply and fit the timber façade/rainscreen cladding for a 30,000 sq ft expansion at the Barley Mow Centre in Chiswick. The orig
07/03/2016
UK steelwork contractors have 'sufficient capacity' to meet future demand within the industry, according to a new report. The publication by KPMG states that contractors hold latent capacity of between 205,000 and 406,000 tonnes of steel. This results in capacity lying between 1,142,000 and 1,343,
07/03/2016
The High Court has ordered a network of 'phantom companies' into liquidation after they successfully conned a number of building material suppliers. With reported combined assets of £13 million including over £1.6 million in cash, the six companies were ran solely as instruments for fraud to obtain
07/03/2016
Commercial property estate agent JLL has appointed Matt Neave as Director within its Building Consultancy division. With over 15 years building surveying and project management experience, Mr Neave was previously employed at Macegreen Consultancy. He also worked as co-director of the dilapidations
07/03/2016
Instarmac Group plc, developers of the world's number one pothole repair, are looking for exclusive manufacturing licensees around the globe. Visit Instarmac International at Intertraffic Amsterdam on stand EL.401 for details on the unmissable opportunity to be an exclusive licensee or distributor
04/03/2016
Manchester Airport has gained planning permission for its ten-year £1 billion transformation programme. The Manchester Airport Transformation Programme (MAN-TP) involves around 60 enhancements to improve facilities for the millions of passengers that use the airport every year. Features of the pha
04/03/2016
Balfour Beatty has secured a number of contracts worth £35 million from Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission (SHE Transmission). The deals involve developing the Bhlaraidh and Beinneun Wind Farm Connections Project near Fort Augustus in Scotland. Main construction works are due to begin in April a
04/03/2016
BAM has secured a £50 million contract to deliver a 'significant' new build programme for Oxford University's Keble College. Works involve demolishing the listed Acland private hospital and building the H B Allen Centre. Designed by Rick Mather Associates, the facility will contain 230 graduate ro
04/03/2016
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has confirmed it will invest £110 million to support an Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) in Cardiff. Owned by Viridor, a Pennon Group company, the Cardiff ERF centre is the largest in Wales and treats 350,000 of annual waste from local authorities and local business
04/03/2016
A Government study is underway to look at ways to improve transport between junctions 10 and 16 of the M25. A total of £15 billion is being invested to create 1,300 extra miles of lanes up until 2020. The study will explore the best way to make further improvements to help the economy grow between
04/03/2016
Sellafield has confirmed four more companies have been appointed to its £500 million decommissioning framework programme. Amec Foster Wheeler, AREVA, Doosan Babcock and Atkins have been chosen as the final members on the decade long Decommissioning Delivery Partnership (DDP). The news now means 16
04/03/2016
The first meeting of the new Steel Council has taken place. The joint organisation aims to build on the work of ministerial working groups which focuses on addressing issues faced by the industry. The sector has been hit recently by major losses, including 1,200 UK job cuts by industry giant Tata
04/03/2016
A Stockton-on-Tees landlord has been sentenced for carrying out illegal capping work on a boiler. David John Wallman, of The Plantations, Wynyard, Stockton on Tees, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was handed a twenty-six wee
03/03/2016
Three construction firms have scooped a 'major' highways infrastructure development framework. BAM Nuttall, Carillion and Skanska were appointed by Hampshire County Council. The Generation 3 framework will cover projects valued between £8 million to £25 million and can be used by over 40 local au
03/03/2016
Kier has been selected to deliver a £50 million housing development in Bristol. The scheme will be located on a 12.7 hectare site at Hengrove Park near Whitchurch Lane. Proposals include building 259 homes ranging from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses. In addition, 30% of the housing will
03/03/2016
Building firm Keepmoat has been selected to develop over 170 new homes in Manchester. Appointed by One Manchester, the new homes will consist of two-bed apartments and three-bed townhouses, named 'Hulme Living'. The new developments will be delivered by One Manchester. During the 18 month build p
03/03/2016
Construction firm Mace has been selected to build a residential development at East Village, the former Athletes' Village in London. East Village is already home to more than 6,000 residents across 2,818 homes, with planning consent for further phases in-line with the 2005 Stratford City Masterplan
03/03/2016
BAM has appointed Louise Williamson as MD of its facilities management (FM) business. Previously, Ms Williamson was with Cofely as Key Accounts and Operations Director, responsible for £350 million worth of contracts. Starting her professional career as a civil engineer, she led many site projects
03/03/2016
ScottishPower Renewables has chosen Peel Ports Great Yarmouth as the construction base for the £2.5 billion East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm. The agreement was announced at the start of the Southern North Sea 2016 conference in Norwich on 02 March. Up to £5 million is due to be co-invested in th
03/03/2016
Lovell has started the final redevelopment phase of the Queens Park programme in Blackpool. The first phase involved dismantling of Ashworth Court and Charles Court and the construction of 92 new homes. The final phase involves the demolition of the three remaining towers and the maisonette blocks
03/03/2016
The International Green Growth Forum is taking place in Cardiff today, 03 March. The Forum, in collaboration with the Welsh Government and The Climate Group, will bring together regional government representatives and international and Welsh business leaders to discuss best practice and how they ca
02/03/2016
An operation to recover the bodies of three missing people at Didcot Power Station will take "many, many weeks", according to Emergency Services. One person was killed and five were injured after the former boiler house partially collapsed at the decommissioned power station site on 23 February. P
02/03/2016
Galliford Try has secured a £40 million contract to deliver a new office development in Reading. The company will build the second phase of the Forbury Place project for M&G Real Estate and Bell Hammer. The building will create an additional 185,000 sq ft of Category A office space over seven floo
02/03/2016
Bristol City Council's Cabinet has approved plans for £28 million of infrastructure works at the site of the proposed Bristol Arena. The project will take place on Arena Island and the surrounding area, including the demolition of a derelict former sorting office near Temple Meads station. The pla
02/03/2016
Robertson Group has appointed Garry Hope as its new regional MD of North East operations in England. With almost 40 years' experience in the industry, Mr Hope previously worked at Miller Construction for 26 years as an area director, increasing the northern region's turnover from £5 million to £85
02/03/2016
Leslie Jones Architecture has appointed Nick Strachen as its new Associate Director. In his role, Mr Strachen will use his expertise on Leslie Jones' senior team to provide a 'unique perspective' on mixed-use and retail-led developments. Previously, he was Associate Director at 3DReid, heading up
02/03/2016
A 'major' milestone has been reached at the Sellafield nuclear decommissioning project in Cumbria. Specialised teams have now lifted the final skip of 'metal fuel' from the Pile Fuel Storage Pond. This has resulted in radioactivity levels at the site now being cut by 70%. Operators removed the fu
02/03/2016
Residents of a village in North Yorkshire have been invited to attend a drop in session to discuss a flood alleviation project in the region. A £6 million water storage reservoir is set to be built to prevent flooding on the A1 motorway and Catterick Village. The facility will be developed upstrea
02/03/2016
A series of protests have taken place outside three major energy construction projects in England, Wales and Scotland. Unions Unite, GMB and UCATT organised marches outside the Templeborough energy project in Rotherham, the Margam green energy plant in Port Talbot and The Oxwellmains EfW plant near
01/03/2016
BAM has won a £28 million contract to carry out restoration works at the Southbank Centre in London. The contractor will deliver renovations of the Hayward Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room. Designed by architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, the updates are described by the Southba
01/03/2016
Plans have been approved to build a new £400 million stadium for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club (FC) in London. The Mayor of London Boris Johnson granted final approval for the new White Hart Line development in the north of the city. Plans include building the new 61,000-seater stadium on the si
01/03/2016
UK manufacturing fell to a 34-month low in February, according to new research. The 50.8 Markit/CIPS manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) figure represents a three-year low for the sector. The seasonally adjusted figure represents its lowest reading since April 2013 and is down from 52.9
01/03/2016
Lakesmere has won a £5 million contract to help deliver a new leisure-led regeneration scheme in Southampton. The Group will work alongside main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine to deliver the WestQuay Watermark scheme at WestQuay Shopping Centre. Designed by architects ACME, Phase one of the projec
01/03/2016
Improvement work has been completed at a railway bridge in Swindon, Network Rail has announced. The Stratton Green structure is now open again to the public following work to prepare the bridge for electrification. The reconstruction was part of Network Rail's £40 billion Railway Upgrade Plan as w
01/03/2016
Highways England has announced additional improvement works are to be carried out on the A12 and A14 in Suffolk and Essex. Work is already underway to develop new road markings, install new road signs, replace sections of safety barrier and resurface sections on the two routes.. However, additiona
01/03/2016
A contractor has been fined for health and safety failings on a re-roofing project in Bedford. Bernard Buck of Prinknash Road, Bedford, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was fined £1,200 with over £1,000 in costs. Luton Magistrates' Co
01/03/2016
ModernGlide Ltd are nationwide suppliers and installers of movable acoustic walls and sliding folding partitions that provide smooth, stylish and ergonomic solutions. From budget bi-folding doors and high spec glass movable walls to interior and exterior sliding folding partitions with top-hung and
