Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
UK Construction News Archive for July 2017
31/07/2017
An independent review of UK building regulations and fire safety is to be carried out following the fire at Grenfell Tower. At least 80 people are known to have died after the 24-storey tower caught fire on 14 June. The incident raised serious questions about the fire safety of high rise residenti
31/07/2017
Network Rail has unveiled a number of reforms to allow companies to become more involved in delivering rail infrastructure projects. Announcing the news today, 31 July, Chief Executive Mark Carne said the changes "mark the next stage of Network Rail's transformation" with the company having already
31/07/2017
Three companies have been fined more than £1 million after a series of safety incidents, including the death of a worker, on the multi-billion Crossrail project in London. The Bam Ferrovial Keir joint venture (JV), a partnership between BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial Agroman and Kier, was prosecuted after
31/07/2017
Keltbray Group has appointed Michael Pelken as its new Innovation and Research & Development Director. In his new role, Mr Pelken will help the company capture, harness and promote Research & Development (R&D) across the Group. As well as having extensive experience working on projects ranging fro
31/07/2017
New research has revealed a large amount of construction companies are in "significant" financial distress compared with previous years. The Red Flag Alert research for Q2 2017, gathered by Begbies Traynor, states the property and construction sectors both saw large rises of financial distress at 3
31/07/2017
Dyer & Butler is to begin a £10.6 million highway improvements programme in Hampshire. The contractor will start it's 18-month programme of works on Monday, 07 August. The improvements to and between Ringway, Crockford and Great Binfields roundabouts include: • Widening the existing approach road
31/07/2017
A total of 70 housing developers and contractors have been appointed to the Homes and Communities Agency's (HCA) Delivery Partner Panel 3 (DPP3). The panel consists of leading national and regional housing developers and contractors who will carry out a range of activities to build new housing and
31/07/2017
Concerns have been raised over the continuing rise of building materials prices. New research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has revealed 32% of SMEs have had their margins squeezed, while 22% have been forced to pass material price increases onto clients, making projects more expensive
31/07/2017
IBI Group has been selected to lead a £20 million campus redevelopment project for the Manchester College. The firms' Learning+ design team will act as lead architects for the overhaul of the Openshaw, Harpurhey and Wythenshawe campuses. A variety of renovation and new build projects will be carri
31/07/2017
A crane has collapsed into a former Primark store in Reading. The incident occurred just before 2pm in West Street on Saturday, 29 July. Police said the 35-metre call crane has now been stabilised, however the jib of the structure has been damaged. Expert engineers have been called in from the N
28/07/2017
More than 150 new council houses are to be built in Tamworth. Keepmoat has been selected to deliver 152 new homes as part of a £21.5 million regeneration project in the town. New housing estates will be designed and built at Tinkers Green in Wilnecote and the Kerria Centre in Amington. Overall, 13
28/07/2017
Tolent Construction has been selected to build a new 26-storey tower in Newcastle. The 162-apartment scheme, which will become the city's tallest building, is to be developed at Rutherford Street. Designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects, the project will rejuvenate a former derelict warehouse site w
28/07/2017
Work has started on a £100 million viaduct repairs project on the M5 in the Midlands. A three-way joint venture (JV) between Bam, Morgan Sindall and VolkerFitzpatrick has started refurbishing the Oldbury viaduct on the motorway. The two-year project got underway in April and will see repairs carri
28/07/2017
Two flood alleviation schemes worth £14.6 million have been opened in Lincolnshire. Both the £6.5m in Louth and the £8.1m project in Horncastle will help reduce flood risk to over 350 properties. The two projects were delivered in a partnership of the Environment Agency, Lincolnshire County Counci
28/07/2017
Residents in Stockport are being invited to help plan the town's future development up until 2035. The council has launched a consultation to develop a Local Plan, which will set out rules and guidelines for future development and land uses. Features include issues surrounding housing, jobs, tran
28/07/2017
The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has welcomed government plans to review EU migration to the UK post-Brexit. Home Secretary Amber Rudd is to commission the independent Migration Advisory Committee to carry out a detailed analysis on a sector-by-sector basis of the impact of EU m
28/07/2017
Amec Foster Wheeler has won a £2.9 million contract to lead a new key nuclear power research programme for the UK Government. The deal will see the consultancy establish a UK Digital Reactor Design partnership using virtual engineering and high-performance computing to enhance the techniques used t
28/07/2017
Laing O'Rourke has sold it's Bison Manufacturing subsidiary to building products manufacturer, Forterra. The £20 million deal, which will see Forterra acquire the trade and assets of Bison, provides a "unique and immediate opportunity" for the company to take a leading role in the UK precast concre
28/07/2017
Triangle London Developments (TLD) has been selected by Transport for London (TfL) to deliver a new mixed-use project on Southwark Street, London. The company, a joint venture between U+I and Notting Hill Housing, will transform the Landmark Court site from an under-utilised space to a local cultur
28/07/2017
A company and a contractor have been prosecuted after a worker fell through the second floor of a building during work to install a CCTV system. Oriental Security Systems Limited, of Bridge Road, Mossley Hill, Liverpool pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc.
27/07/2017
Progress is continuing on a £50 million flood protection project in Leeds. Construction on phase one of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme, which is one the largest river flood defence schemes in the country, got underway in January 2015. The project aims to improve resilience for 3,000 homes and 5
27/07/2017
A builder has died after being overcome by toxic fumes during a refurbishment project in London. It is understood police were called to Berkeley Gardens, W8 by the London Ambulance Service at 4.05pm on Tuesday, 25 July. Paramedics treated the victim, who is in his 20s, on the pavement outside the
27/07/2017
Unite has announced it expects to replace cladding on some of its tower blocks after tests revealed they contain similar materials thought to be at fault in the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The student accommodation developer revealed after submitting samples from 132 properties on it's estate to the Bu
27/07/2017
A new multi-million pound fund has been revealed to help transform town centres and neighbourhoods across London. The £85.9m Liveable Neighbourhoods programme is available for boroughs to bid for funding for for long-term schemes that encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport. Gra
27/07/2017
Osborne Property Services has secured a new deal with Optivo to deliver repairs for thousands of homes in Sussex. The 10-year contract will see Osborne deliver repairs and maintenance, voids and major works to Optivo's 7,800 homes across the region. Carol Bailey, Managing Director at Osborne Prope
27/07/2017
Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS) has completed work to build a 700Te carousel to store cables for UK offshore wind farm projects. The structure is designed with the capacity to be upgraded to 1700Te is required. The design and project management phases were conducted at ESS headquarters in Banchory, Abe
27/07/2017
Work has started on a new £6.2 million office to residential project in London. The Walsingham House scheme involves transforming a three-storey office block into 13 one and two bedroom apartments in Whetstone, Barnet The development is scheduled for completion by late autumn 2018. Shraga Stern,
27/07/2017
Work to repair and upgrade a cycle path in Leeds is now complete. Sustrans has upgraded 220 metres of path which runs between the Royal Armouries and Liberty Dock student accommodation in the city. Previously, the route had been damaged by the Boxing Day floods of 2015. Steven Best, Sustrans' Pr
27/07/2017
A building company has been prosecuted after a worker was killed when a wall collapsed during a refurbishment project in County Durham. Mike Neesam & Son Limited of Coundon Industrial Estate, Bishop Auckland pleaded guilty of breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It has
27/07/2017
Funding has been released to restore a historic university college in Wales. More than £10 million of National Lottery funding has been made available to transform Aberystwyth University's iconic Old College, the birthplace of university education in Wales. Having opened in 1872, the University mo
26/07/2017
HTC Wolffkran has said it is "disappointed" that union Unite is balloting crane drivers over taking potential strike action due to an ongoing pay dispute. Talks between the two organisations broke down in May after HTC failed to agree to a 10% pay increase for crane operators, offering instead a 3%
26/07/2017
Work is to begin on a new £50 million car manufacturing facility near Sheffield. The 75,000 sq ft unit will be developed by Harworth Group for McLaren Automotive at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Waverley. Following the signing of a conditional 20-year lease by McLaren, construction is schedul
26/07/2017
Three companies have been fined more than £1 million after workers came into contact with asbestos materials during a school refurbishment project in Waltham Forest, London. Balfour Beatty Regional Construction Limited (previously Mansell Construction Services Limited) of Canary Wharf, London, plea
26/07/2017
Wates has been appointed to build 21 new council houses in Wandsworth. The contractor will deliver the new homes on the site of a former community centre on the Putney Vale Estate off Stroud Crescent. Completion is scheduled for late 2018. Features include 11 council homes for estate residents who
26/07/2017
Geotechnical contractor Van Elle has reported record revenue in it's results for the year ended 30 April 2017. The company states revenue jumped 11.8% from £84.2 million to £94.1m, while underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 12.9% to £16.3m.
26/07/2017
Work has started on a new £22 million residential scheme in West Yorkshire. Keepmoat Homes is building the first phase of 560 new homes as part of the Flass Lane development in Castleford. Ground work on the scheme is officially underway and phase one is scheduled for completion in December 2020.
26/07/2017
A new report has revealed the UK's building and facilities services sector has grown by £15 billion over the last six years. Analysis by mid-market M&A and debt advisory firm, Livingstone, states the sector was valued at £125bn in 2016. M&A activity has enjoyed a resurgence over the past five year
26/07/2017
Funding has been approved for a £30 million flood alleviation scheme in West Yorkshire. Following details investigation work, the Calderdale Flood Partnership Board has allocated funding for the project which aims to protect homes and businesses in Mytholmroyd. Since flooding in December 2015, the
26/07/2017
Improvement notices have been served on EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd and Doosan Babcock in relation to work at Hinkley Point B nuclear-licensed site in Somerset. The Office for Nuclear Regulation's (ONR) orders require improvements in management of work at height at the site after an ongoing
26/07/2017
Gaia Climate Solutions has been awarded the Bronze level accreditation from the Carbon Charter Panel, thanks to the company's effective carbon monitoring and attitude towards taking environmental responsibility seriously, with several reduction plans in place. The Suffolk Carbon Charter is awarded
25/07/2017
New research has revealed more than £30 billion worth of construction projects are being carried out in London. Data gathered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) states as well as major infrastructure schemes being delivered such as HS2 and Thames Tideway, over 700 big projects are p
25/07/2017
Liverpool City Council is taking legal action against a developer due to a stalled £200 million scheme in the city. The New Chinatown development, which plans to create a new urban quarter featuring nearly 800 new homes, a 140-bed hotel and new commercial/retail floor space, has been affected by de
25/07/2017
VolkerFitzpatrick has won a new carriageway improvements contract with West Sussex County Council. The contractor has been appointed to design and build major upgrades to the A259 north of Littlehampton. Works are scheduled to start in summer 2018 and last up to 18 months. The scheme will see sect
25/07/2017
Work has started on an essential upgrade project at Chalk Farm Tube station in London. The scheme involves replacing two of the station's lifts one at a time to improve their reliability for customers. As a result, the station is operating with a reduced lift service until mid-August 2018. As w
25/07/2017
Residents are being invited to find out more information about a railway upgrade scheme between Preston and Blackpool North. The works are part of Network Rail's £1 billion Great North Rail Project, which involves carrying out work to upgrade and electrify the route between Preston and Blackpool.
25/07/2017
The majority of electrotechnical businesses do not support a proposed future update to Wiring Regulations, according to a new survey. A study of 544 companies by the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) has revealed just one in 16 (6%) of businesses across the industry 'absolutely support' the
25/07/2017
Plans have been approved for a £300 million gas-fuelled power station in Wrexham. More than 500 construction jobs are expected to be created by the development, which will be built on Wrexham Industrial Estate. The developer, Wrexham Power Ltd, was granted planning permission by the Planning Inspe
25/07/2017
Workers employed by construction firm Mears are continuing to take strike action against the company in Manchester. A total of 170 staff who work for the contractor and joint venture company, Manchester Working, have been engaged since May in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions. The org
25/07/2017
Work on a sewer replacement project in West Yorkshire is now complete. Up to £100,000 has been spent on the scheme in Kippax, which is part of Yorkshire Water's £3.8 billion investment programme between 2015 and 2020. The risk of sewer flooding during heavy rain has now been significantly reduced
25/07/2017
Interserve has secured a one-year contract extension with nuclear decommissioning company, Magnox. The company will provide a range of services across 12 nuclear sites and one hydroelectric plant. Key features include electrical, building and fabric maintenance, specialist mechanical services, gro
24/07/2017
The UK Government has reaffirmed it's support for the Crossrail 2 project. Speaking today, 24 July, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said he is a supporter of the scheme, however given it's price tag "we have to ensure that we get this right". The project is a proposed rail route in South East E
24/07/2017
More than 200 new homes are to be built in Surrey. Skanska has selected CALA Homes (Thames) to deliver 215 new units as part of the Mindenhurst redevelopment of the Princess Royal Barracks at Deepcut. Overall, 1,200 new homes will be built across the site, with other highlights including key local
24/07/2017
Jackson Civil Engineering has been selected to build a new £7 million relief road in Suffolk. The company will develop the Beccles Southern Relief Road to link the A145 London Road to Ellough to the south east of the town. The scheme aims to provide faster access to Beccles Business Park and the G
24/07/2017
Work is set to start on a major mixed-use regeneration scheme in Sussex Developer NewRiver has sold a key residential contract on the project to Delph Property Group, unlocking the multi-million pound redevelopment of Burgess Hill town centre. With Delphi purchasing all 142 residential units on th
24/07/2017
New research has revealed construction growth is slowing for many SMEs despite the majority of firms predicting a rise in workloads. In it's latest State of Trade Survey, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) revealed that despite Q2 2016 recording a 17th consecutive quarter of positive growth, t
24/07/2017
Four men and a company have been prosecuted for making and receiving bribes to win construction contracts as part of multi-billion Crossrail project. Alandale Rail Ltd, part of the Alandale Group, was convicted of corruption and fined £25,000. It is understood Kevin McKee and John Zayya of Alandal
24/07/2017
Work on a new link road as part of a major infrastructure upgrade scheme in Norfolk is now complete. The New Drayton Lane route was built by Balfour Beatty and forms part of the 20km Norwich Northern Distributor Road (NNDR) contract. The scheme will now enter its final phase of construction for th
24/07/2017
A £10 million fund has been released to help restore peatlands across England. The grant scheme is officially open for bids and funding is available for schemes that restore upland and lowland peatlands, create habitats for vulnerable wildlife, reduce flood risk by slowing rain water flow and fight
24/07/2017
Plans have been unveiled for a £1.9 million road upgrade scheme in Leicester. The Belgrave Gate improvement scheme would see a 'safer and more attractive route' created for pedestrians and cyclists along a stretch of Belgrave Gate, from the new Haymarket Bus Station to Belgrave Circle. The off-roa
21/07/2017
The UK Government has scrapped plans to electrify three main rail routes in the Midlands, Wales and the North. Speaking to the House on Thursday, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed plans to electrify the Midland Main Line, the Great Western route west of Cardiff and on the Lakes Line betw
21/07/2017
Work is to begin on a £22 million flood alleviation project in East Yorkshire. The first phase of the Anlaby and East Ella Flood Alleviation Scheme (AEEFAS) will be built by the council's contractor PBS Ltd. Work will get underway on Monday, 24 July. The three-year project is designed to reduce th
21/07/2017
Plans have been submitted for a £400 million regeneration scheme in Kent, Developer Countryside is working with Hyde to develop up to 1,400 homes as well as 1,200 sq m commercial space at Rochester Riverside. Features include provision for a primary school and nursery, as well as a pedestrian foot
21/07/2017
Arcadis has signed a joint venture (JV) deal with Powys County Council to lead the development of the council's estate and maximise its value and usage to support the delivery of front line services. The 10-year Powys Real Estate Partnership (PREP) will see Arcadis deliver a range of estates-relate
21/07/2017
SES Engineering Services has won a £1.3 million contract to help deliver a school extension project in Northumberland. Working on behalf of main contractor Galliford Try, SES will install all mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services at a two-storey extension for The Duchess's Community Hi
21/07/2017
Work to install a new sewer in Filey, North Yorkshire is now complete. The £300,000 project was carried out by contractors Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) at Hunmanby Gap. Around 300 metres of new sewer has been laid to replace an old pipe prone to cracking at the rear of Gap Road. Since January, MMB
21/07/2017
A new £23 million building has been opened at the University of Bath. The 6,000m2 facility has been built for the Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering. Designed by AHR Architects, it features new double height studio spaces, workshop and exhibition areas. As well as containing academic
21/07/2017
Plans have been unveiled to develop a £130 million mixed-use project in London. U+I has secured resolution to grant planning consent for the regeneration of Equipment Works, which will deliver 337 new homes and over 18,000 sq ft of commercial space on Blackhorse Road. The development, which is the
21/07/2017
Pharmaceutical giant GSK has cancelled plans for a £350 million manufacturing plant in Cumbria. In an update earlier this week, the company revealed it decided not to proceed with it's planned investment to build a biopharmaceutical facility in Ulverston as it "no longer needs the additional capaci
21/07/2017
More than 3,000 new homes are to be built in West London. Construction has started on the Southall Waterside scheme, which will see 3,750 new homes created over a 88-acre site at a former gasworks site at Southall. The project, which is being delivered by Berkeley Group, has already required two y
20/07/2017
Willmott Dixon has been appointed to help deliver a second £24 million scheme at the Harwell Science Campus in Oxfordshire. The contractor is working on the pre-construction stage of the Science & Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) RAL Gemini Laser Building. The building will house the Central
20/07/2017
Notting Hill Housing and Genesis Housing Association have announced plans to merge their businesses. The Association's have agreed in principle to combine the organisations, creating one of the country's largest housing associations. The new 'Notting Hill Genesis' organisation will have 54,000 hom
20/07/2017
Work on a £27 million flood alleviation scheme in Northumberland is now complete. The project in Morpeth will work alongside other flood protection measures to help protect around 1,000 properties in the town. The scheme to build Cotting Burn dam was completed in May. It forms the last piece of co
20/07/2017
The UK Government has been called upon to launch an "urgent and immediate" review of building regulations in the construction industry. Making the call, Local Government Association (LGA) Chairman Lord Porter said an urgent review of building regulations must be carried out following the Grenfell T
20/07/2017
Work to expand Drax Power Station in Selby is now complete. The £200,000 project was delivered by Britcon and involved building a 2,500 sq ft extension to the site's Strategic Store. The 16,500 sq ft Store was previously built by the firm nine years ago to house back up components for turbines in
20/07/2017
Industry practice Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) has appointed five new property and data centre specialists to support it's UK growth plans. Joining RLB UK in London are: • Nick Eliot, Senior Partner • Andrew Fettes-Brown, Senior Partner Quantity Surveying • Ian Blakeman, Partner Data Centres • P
20/07/2017
Work is to start on a £4.7 million concrete repair scheme at the 'Spaghetti Junction' in Birmingham. The scheme will involve closing key link roads and there will be no access to the A38(M) from Gravelly Hill or Tyburn Road. Diversions will be in place. In addition, a full weekend closure of junct
20/07/2017
Miller Homes has revealed nine of its site managers have been recognised at the NHBC's Pride in the Job Awards. The ceremony acknowledges those site managers who are committed to achieving safe housebuilding standards. Staff are rigorously assessed across 44 areas of site management, including tech
20/07/2017
Work on a £9.7 million care home in Enfield is now complete. Morgan Sindall has built a new home for 70 older people living in residential care at Old Road, replacing the previous Coppice Wood Lodge and Bridge House facilities. Features include 70 bedrooms, 17 communal rooms, a landscaped garden,
20/07/2017
Heskins has unveiled its new product, TackyGrip. TackyGrip is a non-adhesive anti slip surface, created via the combination of a group of chemicals that when combined create a rubber-like material with a slightly tacky feel. Benefits include an anti-slip surface, as well as excellent cushioning an
19/07/2017
Plans have been unveiled to build a £200 million arena, conference and exhibition centre in North East England. Gateshead Council is proposing to develop the 12,500 seat arena along with conference and exhibition facilities to Gateshead Quays, relocating the existing Metro Radio Arena. The project
19/07/2017
A man has been killed after a derelict church collapsed while it was being demolished in Cardiff. Emergency services were alerted to the incident on Pearl Street at around 2.51pm on Tuesday, 18 July. Two other people escaped from the building with minor injuries. It is understood local firm Young
19/07/2017
North West contractor Pochin's has secured a £6 million deal to build a new distribution centre in Greater Manchester. The 57,500 sq ft facility will be built for parcel delivery company DPD on disused land off Greengate in Middleton. The contract was awarded by industrial developer Chancerygate.
19/07/2017
The British Drilling Association (BDA) has called for further action to be taken to address Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). HAVS is caused by exposure to vibrating hand-held power tools and can lead to painful and disabling disorders of the blood vessels, nerves and joints. Raising concerns ov
19/07/2017
Ineos Upstream has secured an environmental permit to drill an exploratory borehole at a site in South Yorkshire. The 'Standard Rules' permit allows the company to carry out drilling and waste management to take core samples of the rock at Common Road, Harthill. The Environment Agency said if the
19/07/2017
Union Unite has called for an "overarching industrial agreement" to ensure the £56 billion HS2 scheme is delivered on time and on budget. Following the confirmation of firms who will build the major sections of the project, the organisation has urged for the deal to be put in place and ensure the s
19/07/2017
Work is underway on a six-month bridge maintenance scheme in Hampshire. The project will see three bridges that carry the A303 over local roads near Andover upgraded to prolong their operational lives. Some weekend closures will be used to replace the waterproofing material and bridge joints, whic
19/07/2017
Midas Group has appointed Peter Whitmore as it's new Divisional Director for the Southern region. With more than 25 years' experience in the industry, Mr Whitmore joins the company from Wates where he held the role of Business Unit Director for the South and South West. He has also held a number of
19/07/2017
New research has revealed more than half of young homeowners turn to social media to carry out home repairs and DIY projects. Data gathered by
19/07/2017
BDP and CH2M have both secured deals to help deliver the multi-billion pound restoration of the Palace of Westminster. Around £12 million will be spent under the two contracts which include detailed exploration of the condition of the building, a building-wide security strategy, planning for a majo
18/07/2017
HS2 has revealed it's shortlist of designers and engineers to help develop three new stations at Birmingham Curzon Street, Birmingham Interchange and London's Old Oak Common. As well as designing the station, a parter will be chose to take forward a major expansion of London Euston. The shortlists
18/07/2017
Wates has secured a £37.7 million contract to build a new campus for Leeds City College. The new Quarry Hill campus will become home to the college's Creative and Digital Arts, and Health and Social Sciences departments. The £57m project is scheduled for completion by summer 2019. Designed by Elli
18/07/2017
Work on a new £13 million bus interchange in Chester is now complete. Graham Construction has delivered the 24-hour facility on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council as part of the £300 million Chester Northgate in the city centre. Features include an innovative horseshoe design, housing 13
18/07/2017
Work is to begin on a £70 million refurbishment scheme at the Broadgate complex in London. In a statement today, 18 July, co-owner British Land confirmed work will start at 1 Finsbury Avenue next month. Features include adding retail provision as well as a new cinema and roof terrace to the buildi
18/07/2017
Willmott Dixon is continuing work on a £24 million police headquarters (HQ) for Lancashire Constabulary. The three-storey building has reached the topping out stage of its development and work is on schedule to be completed by 2018. Pick Everard is providing project management, quantity surveying
18/07/2017
Carillion Joint Venture (JV) has won two new contracts with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) worth £158 million. The partnership has secured the HESTIA North, and Scotland and Northern Ireland Soft Facilities Management Multi Activity Contracts. The deals will run over and initial fiv
18/07/2017
Up to £222.5 billion worth of major infrastructure and construction projects are being delivered as part of the Government's Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), it has been revealed. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has published its 2016/17 report on major reports, featuring 143 projec
18/07/2017
Workers at crane operator HTC Wolffkran are to be balloted over taking strike action. Union Unite said it will submit ballot papers to staff this week after the company refused to hold fresh talks in a dispute over pay to employees. Previous talks broke down when HTC Wolffkran's refused to increas
18/07/2017
Britcon has won a £280,000 contract to upgrade the main entrance of Sheffield's Northern General Hospital. The 18-week scheme will see access widened on Barnsley Road from two to three lanes, as well as improving pedestrian facilities including lighting and bus stops. The project is being carried
18/07/2017
A new £7 million technology centre for subsea controls and communications is to be built in Great Yarmouth. Construction on the 65,000 sq ft Beacon Park site in Gorleston-on-Sea is now underway and Completion is scheduled for March 2018. The development will feature modern office, manufacturing an
17/07/2017
More than £6.6 billion worth of contracts have been awarded for the first phase of the HS2 programme. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has unveiled the successful firms to develop the Phase Oen route from London Euston to Birmingham, which is set to open in 2026. The huge infrastructure investme
17/07/2017
Wates has been selected to deliver a new £73 million residential scheme in London. The contractor will build around 280 new homes as part of the redevelopment of Arthur Street estate in Bexley. The new homes are being delivered for Orbit Housing Association (HA) and 80% of which will be made 'affo
17/07/2017
Work to create one of the largest basements ever excavated in London is now complete. At 28.5 metres deep, the hole dug by Bouygues and its specialist contractor McGee Group is large enough to contain the Royal Albert Hall. Together with the Department of Health, NHS England is funding the develop
17/07/2017
A new £7 million flood protection scheme has been unveiled in Cheshire. The project aims to protect almost 400 homes and businesses in Northwich from flooding, as well as three development sites. Features include 1.7km of flood defences using a combination of flood walls and embankments, along the
17/07/2017
Galliford Try has been selected to refurbish an army barracks in North Yorkshire. The £60 million scheme will see Marne and Bourlon Barracks at Catterick Garrison upgraded as part of the Army Basing Programme (ABP) by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). Features include the new Officers
17/07/2017
T Clarke has revealed it has reached a deal which will see the company recoup some money that was fraudulently stolen by a former employee. Last year, the firm discovered up to £3.3 million had been stolen from it's DG Robson Mechanical Services subsidiary. In an update today, 17 July, the company
17/07/2017
Work is continuing on a £9.3 million housing development in Hull. The Leeway 2 scheme is being delivered by Compendium Living – a joint venture company set up by Lovell and The Riverside Group – on land at Finchley Close and Hammersmith Road, off Middlesex Road. Features include 64 new houses for
17/07/2017
A new £1 million helipad has been built at Aintree Hospital in Liverpool. The development was designed by IBI Group and aims to improve the response times of emergency services in the north west of England and North Wales. Beforehand, air ambulances had to land on playing fields over half a mile aw
17/07/2017
Work is underway on a £1.1 million transport infrastructure upgrade scheme near Ellesmere Port. The project at Two Mills, where the A550 meets the A540, will see a new 320-metre cycle path created through the junction, with traffic lights and toucan crossings making it easier to cross the A550. In
17/07/2017
Big or small changes in summer are a desideratum. In search of these changes, some people choose to travel to other cities or countries, while others stay home making this very place look new, nice and secure. And this is a perfect field for building merchants to accumulate their attention on, since
14/07/2017
Work has started on the £350 million Metrolink expansion project in Manchester. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), MPact Thales (MPT) and WSP have signed a contract for the development and advanced utility works are now underway along the line of the route. The scheme involves building a new
14/07/2017
SES Engineering Services has been selected to carry out full mechanical and electrical (M&E) services on a new residential scheme at Canary Wharf. The contractor will install 519 of its prefabricated service cupboards to apartments in the New District of Canary Wharf, at the 42-storey residential b
14/07/2017
More than 50,000 'affordable' homes are to be built in London by 2021. City Mayor Sadiq Khan has reached a deal with councils and housing associations to start building thousands of new houses over the next four years. An estimated £1.7 billion will be invested in 49,398 genuinely affordable homes
14/07/2017
Yorkshire Water has been prosecuted after a storage tank leaked sewage into a watercourse in North Yorkshire. The company admitted one charge of causing a water discharge activity into Dales Beck, at Dalehouse, without an environmental permit, at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday, 13 July. It was fined
14/07/2017
A company has been prosecuted after employees were exposed to Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) while using power tools. Newfield Fabrications Co Ltd of Sandbach, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 6(1) and 8(1) of the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. It has been fined £120,000
14/07/2017
Yorkshire Water has appointed Andrew Wyllie CBE as a new Non-Executive Director. As well as becoming a Board member of the Audit, Remuneration, Nomination and Safety, Health & Environment Committees, Mr Wylie will take up his new role from 01 September. Currently, he is Chief Executive of Costain
13/07/2017
BAM Construction has started work on a new £30 million Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) for the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). The facility is being built as part of UCLan's £200m Campus Masterplan scheme and completion is scheduled for 2019. Designed by architects SimpsonHaugh in in
13/07/2017
Kier has completed the purchase of infrastructure services provider, McNicholas. The deal will strengthen the Group's positions in the utilities and infrastructure services sectors. As an established UK engineering services provider, McNicholas has delivered work for numerous multi-utility sectors
13/07/2017
Lovell has secured more than £12 million worth of work in the Leeds region. Continuing it's strong start to 2017, the contractor has been appointed by Clarion Housing Group for two schemes worth £2.9 million at sites in Seacroft and near Halton. The projects will create 24 affordable rented homes i
13/07/2017
Lancashire County Council has awarded Jacobs Enginering a third term as a framework provider of professional consultancy services across highway, transportation and related scheme development. The new contract includes civil engineering (highway, bridges and drainage designs), geotechnical, landsca
13/07/2017
A company has been fined after a worker fell through a fragile roof in Somerset. T Broom Construction Limited of Pine Park Road, Honiton, Devon pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It has been fined £6,700 with more than £1,016 in costs. Taunton Magi
13/07/2017
Work on a £6.8 million school expansion project in Barnet is now complete. The scheme at Oak Lodge School was carried out by Morgan Sindall for the Barnet Special Education Trust. The new two-storey building comprises eight classrooms, two therapy rooms, a PE hall, staff preparation areas and an a
11/07/2017
Willmott Dixon has been selected to carry out an £8.5 million modernisation project at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton. The scheme will see the building enlarged and modernised to improve accessibility and accommodation for the Theatre's on and off-stage theatre projects. Working with architects Fei
11/07/2017
Carillion has issued a profit warning following an accounts review which revealed a £845 million gaping hole set aside in provisions. As a result, the company's Chief Executive Richard Howson has stepped down to be replaced by Keith Cochrane on an interim period. The move comes following a busines
11/07/2017
Legal & General (L&G) has unveiled a prototype for it's first turn-key modular housing unit. The design aims to help tackle the UK's housing crisis by alleviating production problems. The two-storey two-bedroom home has been built outside L&G's 550,000 sq ft factory in Selby, near Leeds, which is
11/07/2017
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has been reassured by Government Ministers that they will continue to back the organisation. A letter, co-signed by Skills Minister Anne Milton, Housing Minister Alok Sharma, and Industrial Strategy Minister Lord Prior, was written to CITB Chair, Jame
11/07/2017
Two companies have been prosecuted after a worker fell from the top of a work platform in London. Sager Construction Limited (SCL) of Sager House, 50 Seymour Street, London, W1H 7JG pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 22 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. It has been f
11/07/2017
Morgan Sindall has been selected to carry out a £3.8 million school expansion scheme in Bedfordshire. The project at Etonbury Academy will follow on from a previous £6.8m expansion delivered by the firm for Bedfordshire East Multi Academy Trust (BEMAT) last year. The previous project delivered a n
10/07/2017
Plans have been unveiled for a new £400 million public health campus near Harlow, Essex. The development, which will be built at the vacant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) site close to the town, will see a new centre of excellence created for research, health improvement and protection. Public Health Engl
10/07/2017
Balfour Beatty has revealed plans to create a new design consultancy partnership with Atkins, Mott MacDonald and WSP. The UK Strategic Design Consultant Partnership, will see Balfour Beatty focus it's procurement of design consultants for projects towards Atkins, Mott MacDonald and WSP. Designers
10/07/2017
Work is continuing on a £15 million sports park facility in Wales. The new Sports Park at the University of South Wales will see modern sports acilities developed close to the Pontypridd Campus in Rhydyfelin. Features include an internal full size 4G playing surface, as well as a strength and cond
10/07/2017
Wates has announced a number of new senior appointments as part of its plans to reach its growth targets. The promotions are as follows; • Steffan Battle, formerly Pre-Construction Director for London, is promoted to the Construction Group Board as Group Head of Pre-Construction. Reporting to Grou
10/07/2017
Work is continuing on a £8.3 million road improvement scheme in Leeds. The project involves widening some of the approaches and slip roads at junction 45 of the M1, as well as adding an extra lane to sections of the roundabout, increasing is from two to three lanes. So far, Highways England has co
10/07/2017
A scaffolding firm has been prosecuted after a worker fell more than 20ft to the ground. St. Albans Scaffolding Limited of Wellington House, London Colney, St. Albans pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was fined £5,500 with £442 in costs. In add
07/07/2017
New figures have revealed the UK's construction output declined by 1.2% in May. The latest Office of National Statistics (ONS) data states output fell month-on-month, driven by a 4% decline in infrastructure work, as well as a 1.4% fall in new work and a 0.7% decline for repair and maintenance work
07/07/2017
Meldrum Construction has won a £12 million contract to restore a historic castle in County Durham. The contractor has been chosen to renovate the 900-year-old Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland on behalf of the Auckland Castle Trust (ACT). Features include an extension to Auckland Castle's Scotlan
07/07/2017
Work on a new £24 million bypass in Lancashire has been delayed until early next year, it has been announced. The Broughton Bypass project is being delivered by Hochtief UK, on behalf of Lancashire County Council. However, work is not expected to be finished until early 2018. The local authority s
07/07/2017
Graham Construction has revealed it's revenue has increased to £565 million in its year end results for 2016-17. With revenue rising 11%, pre-tax profit declined slightly by £1m to £16m, while the Group hit a net profit margin of 2.8%. Michael Graham, Executive Chairman, said the results are stron
07/07/2017
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has appointed Sarah Beale as it's new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Ms Beale was named Interim Chief Executive in December 2016, following the resignation of Adrian Belton. However, the Board have now decided to make the move permanent, with approval
07/07/2017
Further tests are to be carried out on cladding and insulation panels following the Grenfell Tower fire. The independent Expert Advisory Panel has recommended further testing to be carried out as the next step in helping landlords ensure their buildings are safe. Tests will establish how different
07/07/2017
Work on a £7 million flood alleviation scheme in Lancashire is now complete. The Croston Flood Risk Management Scheme aims to protect more than 400 properties from flooding from the River Yarrow. The scheme, which includes an upstream flood storage area on the River Yarrow and 600m earth embankmen
07/07/2017
BAM Nuttall has unveiled plans for a national roll out of work clothing specifically designed for women. Following trials on a number of sites in London, Leeds, Newcastle and Scotland, the Arco-manufactured clothing will include polo shirts, jackets, waistcoats and trousers. Further plans include d
06/07/2017
Kier has been selected to deliver a new £70 million hospital in Manchester. The new facility is being built on behalf of Nuffield Health and completion is scheduled for spring 2019. Construction is due to begin later this year. The hospital will be developed on the site of Manchester Metropolitan
06/07/2017
Plans have been unveiled for a £50 million junction improvement project on the M6 motorway near Knutsford. Highways England is planning to upgrade the roundabout at junction 19 of the motorway. It's 'Option A' proposal, to develop a new bridge across the middle of the roundabout where the motorwa
06/07/2017
Bovis Homes has set aside a further £3.5 million to address housing build quality issues. Last year, the company spent £7m to repair poorly built new homes following a string of complaints from customers. In a trading update today, 06 July, the Group revealed it has set aside an additional £3.5m t
06/07/2017
Work is to start on a new £13.6 million housing development in south-east Wales. A total of 78 new homes will be built on the former 5.6 acre site of Llantarnam Community Primary School in Llantarnam, Cwmbran. The 'Oakfield Grange' scheme will see 55 homes being built for open market sale, as wel
06/07/2017
M. Lambe Construction has won two housing development contracts with Keepmoat Homes. Both deals are worth more than £18 million and involves the contractor carrying out various site works. The first contract, worth £12.9m, will see M. Lambe help deliver the £360m Spirit Quarters redevelopment sche
06/07/2017
Stroma has announced a significant executive recruitment with Martin Holt joining the Group as its new Chief Executive Officer. It is the latest statement of intent from Stroma during a period where the Group has grown both organically and via acquisition to represent one of the largest niche servic
05/07/2017
Work is continuing on a £1.5 billion road upgrade project on the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon. The scheme, which started in November last year, includes widening a total of seven miles of the A14 in each direction (across two sections) a major new bypass south of Huntingdon, widening a thre
05/07/2017
US company Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping has completed the purchase of Manchester-based Reilly Concrete Pumping. The deal, carried out through Brundage-Bone's Oxford Pumping Holdings subsidiary, will allow the business to provide customer's with a "truly national service offering on major infrastr
05/07/2017
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recorded 30 fatal injuries to construction workers last year, according to new figures. The figure, which was recorded between April 2016 and March 2017, has set a record for the lowest number on record for the sector. The annual average for the past five years
05/07/2017
The cost of Network Rail's Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train scheme has quadrupled from £18.7 million to £75.1m, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). In it's report, the NAO stated the project's cost has jumped by 401% and is now expected to be finished by May 2018, two-and-a-half years af
05/07/2017
Sweco UK has appointed Ola Holmstrom as it's Head of Water and Asset Management. With over 20 years experience in the water industry, Mr Holmstrom previously worked at WSP Group where he was Director and Head of Water for seven years. He has also spent 18 years working on environmental water issue
05/07/2017
Notting Hill Housing has teamed up with homes services marketplace, Plentific.com, to create a new property management solution and self-serve platform. The initiative will create a streamlined approach for maintaining properties, aiding maintenance/repair work for an initially 2,000 temporary hous
04/07/2017
More than 900 new homes are to be built in Barking, London. House builder Countryside has formed a new partnership with Notting Hill Housing to deliver a £330 million regeneration gateway scheme in the town centre. A total of 911 homes will be built at Fresh Wharf in the town centre. Work will sta
04/07/2017
New research has revealed growth in the UK's construction sector slowed down in June. The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) posted at 54.8 in June, down from 56.0 in May. Across the sector, business activity, new work and employment all expanded a
04/07/2017
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has launched a £2.3 billion fund to invest in vital physical infrastructure projects to unlock housebuilding across England. The initiative is being made through the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) and aims to help unlock 100,000 new homes in areas of high demand
04/07/2017
A joint venture (JV) between BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald has started work on a £11 million flood alleviation project in Teesside. The scheme aims to reduce the risk of flooding from both the River Tees and Greatham Creek at Port Clarence, protecting 350 homes and 32 businesses. Contractors BMMJ
04/07/2017
More than 170 housing maintenance staff working for Mears are to begin all-out strike action in Manchester this week. Union Unite have announced a continuous strike will take place for four weeks from 08 July to 04 August. The latest escalation comes as workers enter their 18th day of industrial a
04/07/2017
Skanska has won a new 10-year highways maintenance contract with Cambridgeshire County Council. The deal is worth £32 million a year and will run from 01 July to 30 June 2027. The contract also has an option to extend for a further five years. Skanska was appointed to the original contract, which
04/07/2017
A new nine-storey build-to-rent (BTR) apartment building is to be developed in London. The scheme will see the new facility built at 262 York Road on the site of a Shell petrol filling station – the last undeveloped site at Battersea Reach. Working in partnership with clients Angle Property and ar
04/07/2017
Wates has started work to develop a new £27 million aircraft facility at RAF Marham in King's Lynn. The scheme will see the contractor build new facilities to house the new F-35 Lightning aircraft, which is set to come into service in 2018. A number of local companies have been appointed to the de
03/07/2017
More than 180 high-rise towers have now failed cladding fire safety test, it has been revealed. Tests are being carried out across some 600 buildings in 51 local authority regions in England following the Grenfell Tower fire in West London. At least 80 people are thought to have died in the blaze
03/07/2017
The £18 billion Hinkley Point C project has overran it's budget and timescales, EDF has confirmed. In a review statement today, 03 July, the developer revealed the scheme's cost has risen by £1.5bn to £19.6bn, while construction could be delayed by up to 15 months. The multi-billion pound project
03/07/2017
JV North has unveiled the appointed contractors and consultants on it's £180 million home building framework. The consortium, which has 11 social housing association members across Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Nottingham and Preston, is investing £335.5m to build nearly 3,000 new homes under the
03/07/2017
A site manager has been prosecuted following the death of a 33-year-old worker at a building site in Collyweston. Andrew Winterton, 52, site manager and director of Conquest Homes, was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter at Northampton Crown Court. He was sentenced to four years in jail with
03/07/2017
AHR Architects has been selected to design a new £35 million building for the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in Liverpool. The firm has been chosen by Morgan Sindall will draw up proposals for the Northern Centre of Excellence in Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter development. The 70,000 sq ft moder
03/07/2017
Nearly 90% of home owners carrying out work at their property do not ask builders for a written contract, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). New research has revealed an "alarming number" of consumers don't ask their builders for essentials such as a contract or references when e
03/07/2017
Extra time has been granted for designers to draw up art pieces for a £58 million flood defence project in Ipswich. Artists have been given an extension to develop two proposals for the Environment Agency's (EA) Ipswich Flood Barrier site. Construction work on the scheme is already well underway
03/07/2017
A new 70-acre solar farm has opened in Soham, Cambridgeshire. The 12MW site contains 45,000 photovoltaic panels and will generate enough electricity to power more than 3,000 homes per year. Bouygues E&S FM UK, Savills, Local Partnerships and the Low Carbon Contracts Company all partnered with Camb
