Construction News
24 March 2011

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BUDGET 2011: “Communist” land auctions incompatible with localism warns property industry

Chancellor George Osborne today revealed government’s intention to pilot auctions on public sector land, despite widespread objections from property professionals and even within his own party.
Amec wins £32m gas plant contract

Engineering firm Amec has been awarded a £32m engineering, procurement and construction contract to modify and extend the Teesside Gas Processing Plant in Middlesbrough.
Arbitration clauses – what could go wrong?

Arbitration clauses could be described as Cinderella clauses.
Barack Obama tells US firms to 'out-build the rest of the world'

President Barack Obama has called on US construction companies to “out-build the rest of the world”.
Berkeley predicts upper end earnings after forward sales spike

The Berkeley group has predicted it will deliver earnings at the high end of expectations following a spike in sales reservations since the beginning of 2011.
Big firms chase Defence Estates work

Defence Estates has launched an online directory of potential bidders for work on its major capital spending programme, revealing 30 firms in the hunt for the first Next Generation Estate contract.
Big names in the hunt for Defence Estates contract

Defence Estates has launched an online directory of potential bidders for work on its major capital spending programme, the Next Generation Estate Contracts.
BUDGET 2011 Regional Breakdown: East Midlands

An Enterprise Zone and two High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centres were among the highlights for the East Midlands in today’s budget.
BUDGET 2011 Regional Breakdown: East of England

Investment in East Coast Mainline rolling stock, sustainable transport and science parks were among the highlights for the East of England in today’s budget.
BUDGET 2011 Regional Breakdown: London

London will be one of the first cities to benefit from the proposed Enterprise Zones announced in today’s Budget and will host one of nine Centres for Innovative Manufacturing.
BUDGET 2011 Regional Breakdown: North East

Two Enterprise Zones and money for East Coast Main Line rolling stock were among the highlights for the North East of England in today’s budget.
BUDGET 2011 Regional Breakdown: North West

Two Enterprise Zones and funding for key infrastructure were among the highlights for the North-west of England in today’s budget.
BUDGET 2011 Regional Breakdown: Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland could benefit from a lower corporation tax than the rest of UK, today’s budget revealed.
BUDGET 2011 Regional Breakdown: Scotland

Money for East Coast Main Line rolling stock was one of the few highlights for Scotland in today’s budget, which has little direct impact on the country’s construction industry.
BUDGET 2011 Regional Breakdown: South East

Harwell in Oxfordshire will be handed £20 million in additional funding to build two new science centres as part of the Government’s £100 million science bounty announced in today’s Budget.
BUDGET 2011 Regional breakdown: South-west

An Enterprise Zone and a High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre in Bristol were among the highlights for the South west of England in today’s budget.
BUDGET 2011 Regional Breakdown: Wales

Confirmation of the £704 million plan to electrify the Great Western Main Line was the chief highlight for Wales in today’s budget, which has little direct impact on the country’s construction industry.
BUDGET 2011 Regional Breakdown: West Midlands

The Government has guaranteed investment for the Midland Metro Extension
BUDGET 2011 Regional Breakdown: Yorkshire and Humber

Funding for the Sheffield retail quarter regeneration scheme and two Enterprise Zones were among the highlights of the budget for Yorkshire and Humber region.
BUDGET 2011: 21 Enterprise Zones to be created

Chancellor George Osborne has revealed plans to create 21 new enterprise zones, adding to the 10 previously announced.
BUDGET 2011: Osborne confirms package of planning measures

Chancellor George Osborne has unveiled a suite of plannign reforms designed to help boost the construction industry.
BUDGET 2011: £100m for science centres

Chancellor George Osborne has promised £100 million for four new science centres, paving the way for further construction and fit-out work on these schemes.
BUDGET 2011: 20,000 homes on MoD land by 2015

The government aims to sell £350 million of Armed Forces land to housebuilders by 2014/15, it said in today’s Budget.
BUDGET 2011: 24 new technical colleges

Chancellor George Osborne has promised to create 24 technical colleges by 2014.
BUDGET 2011: Additional apprenticeships promised

Chancellor George Osborne has promised to increase the number of apprentices for UK businesses by 40,000 a year.
BUDGET 2011: At a glance

The government unveiled a raft of measures in today’s Budget and Plan for Growth which it says will help provide growth for the construction industry in the year ahead.
BUDGET 2011: Britain to become 'world leader' in green energy

Chancellor George Osborne has said he wants Britain to become a world leader in advanced manufacturing and green energy.
BUDGET 2011: Corporation tax to fall quicker than previously announced

The government has speeded up the reduction in the level of corporation tax for businesses.
BUDGET 2011: Cost of procurement to be slashed by 20pc

The Government has promised the construction industry it will remove as much as 20 per cent of the cost of public procurement.
BUDGET 2011: Extra £100m for potholes

Local authorities will receive a further £100 million to repair damaged roads, Chancellor George Osborne announced today.
BUDGET 2011: First four regions name Enterprise Zone locations

Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester and London have become the first four areas to name the location of their Enterprise Zones.
BUDGET 2011: Government to publish quarterly forward construction project programme

The government has said it will “help contractors” by publishing a quarterly list of all construction and infrastructure projects where public funding has been agreed.
BUDGET 2011: Government's 'greenest ever' claim in a 'sorry state'

The government’s claim that it will be the ‘greenest ever’ has been left in a “sorry state” by today’s Budget announcement.
BUDGET 2011: Green Investment Bank borrowing powers delayed

Chancellor George Osborne has confirmed that £3 billion will be provided towards a Green Investment Bank but that the bank will not be able to borrow until 2015/16.
BUDGET 2011: Homebuy Direct gets Budget reincarnation

Chancellor George Osborne will today announce £250 million to help first time buyers through a new version of Labour’s Homebuy Direct initiative.
BUDGET 2011: Osborne announces consultation on income tax / national insurance merge

Chancellor George Osborne has launched a consultation on plans to merge income tax and national insurance.
BUDGET 2011: Osborne promises support for manufacturing

Today’s Budget will support manufacturing, exports and investment, Chancellor George Osborne has said.
BUDGET 2011: Pledge to review construction red tape

The government has promised to try to “take out redundancy and duplication” in construction standards and codes.
BUDGET 2011: REGIONAL BREAKDOWNS

The effects of the Budget on the construction industry broken down by region.
BUDGET 2011: Regional rail gets £200m boost

Regional rail projects including the linking of Manchester’s main stations received an extra £200 million in funding in today’s budget.
BUDGET 2011: Royal Docks to be London’s Enterprise Zone

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced plans to make London’s Royal Docks an Enterprise Zone following an announcement by Chancellor George Osborne during the Budget.
BUDGET 2011: Zero carbon homes standards dropped

The government has appeared to make a U-turn on its desire to see new homes built to zero carbon standards from 2016.
BUDGET 2011: Enterprise Zones to boost infrastructure

Government plans to fund 21 new Enterprise Zones will help stimulate investment in infrastructure but risk boosting some areas at the expense of others, according to industry experts.
BUDGET 2011: Government introduces ‘fair fuel stabiliser’ and cuts duty

Chancellor George Osborne has announced plans to introduce a ‘fair fuel stabiliser’ in a bid to offset rising oil prices.
BUDGET 2011: Infrastructure investment plans in full

The Government has laid out a raft of measures designed to boost the construction industry as part of its Growth Review.
BUDGET 2011: Planning experts warn on change of use

Planners have rejected Chancellor George Osborne’s policy to covert commercial property to housing, warning they could have long term damaging impacts.
BUDGET 2011: Planning reforms in full

Chancellor George Osborne has announced a range of planning reforms as part of the Budget.
BUDGET 2011: Stamp duty changes will unlock pension fund investment

The government plans to reform stamp duty to charge residential portfolios an average fee and not the aggregate will help boost growth according to major trade bodies.
Cambridge calls for contractors on £100m housing framework

Cambridge City Council is seeking contractors to join its affordable housing development partnership, worth up to £100 million.
Carbon floor price 'severe blow' to UK steelmaking

Tata Steel’s European chief executive has said the introduction of a carbon floor price represents a potentially severe blow to the industry in the UK.
CITB levy gets strong Ceca backing

The campaign to retain the CITB-ConstructionSkills Levy Order was given a significant boost today after a major survey signalled strong industry approval.
City launches local procurement charter for developers

The City of London Corporation has launched a local procurement charter calling on developers and contractors to source 10 per cent of goods and services locally.
Construction Parliamentary Update - 25 March 2011

A round-up of all the construction news from Westminster this week, brought to you by the Madano Partnership
Contractors called for £600m MoJ East work

The Ministry of Justice is seeking contractors to join a major framework for new build and refurbishment work in its eastern region.
Developers wanted for Mansfield town centre projects worth £70m

Mansfield District Council is seeking development partners to build two key retail jobs worth a total of £70 million.
Digital marketing – the easy alternative?

There’s one thing we’re all led to believe about technology: it’s supposed to make our lives easier. What’s more, in an age when marketers are being challenged to slash overheads, do more in less time and save carbon, surely technology can provide some help there too, can’t it?
Environmental fund to inject £70m into London waste infrastructure

A new £70 million fund to encourage low carbon waste and recycling projects has been launched by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
Flagship ProCure 21+ job held up

One of the first jobs to go through the ProCure 21+ framework is being held up while the client decides whether to resize it, Construction News has learnt.
FOI shows slowdown in tower crane activity, with London worst hit

New figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act have shown a slowdown in tower cranes going up, with a particular slowdown in London.
Forth bridge savings ‘should fund new schemes’ say Scottish firms

Civils firms have urged the Scottish government to reinvest savings from the Forth Crossing Bridge project into other infrastructure schemes.
FSA drops key mortgage proposal

House builder protests over the Mortgage Market Review may finally be getting through after the Financial Services Authority today revealed it would make a key concession on new lending rules.
Funding boost for Aston science park

Up to 10 developers are in talks over the funding of a £35 million digital plaza in Birmingham, Construction News has learnt.
GMI boss warns over margin wars

The head of a Leeds-based construction firm has warned that subcontractors are being put under unmanageable pressure during the economic downturn.
Government slashes solar incentives

The Government today unveiled plans to slash the level of incentives paid to medium-scale solar schemes.
Hammerson to deliver £125m Didcot retail expansion

South Oxfordshire District Council and Hammerson are to enter an agreement to develop a £125 million town centre in Didcot.
Henry Boot posts £18.9m pre-tax profits for 2010

Property and construction firm Henry Boot said it will push on with major developments after posting pre-tax profits of £18.9 million in 2010.
HS2 £34bn scheme to go before parliamentary inquiry

The government’s £34 billion High Speed 2 rail scheme is set to be the subject of a parliamentary committee inquiry.
Inspectors declare one in five Scottish construction sites unsafe

A health and safety crackdown has found major failings in Scottish construction, with one in five sites putting workers lives at risk.
ISG Pearce bags Passivhaus job for Exeter City Council

South-west contractor ISG Pearce has been awarded a contract to provide the city of Exeter with its first new council houses in 20-years.
Issues remain as carbon competition intensifies

Last week’s announcement on renewable energy subsidies disappointed as many people as it pleased, as you would expect when different technologies are vying to prove their viability.
Jarvis Potters Bar charge dropped

A health and safety charge against rail maintenance company Jarvis over the 2002 Potters Bar train crash has been dropped.
Korean giant to set up Scottish wind base

Korean engineering giant Doosan yesterday announced it was investing £170 million in a wind power R&D centre and potential manufacturing facilities in Scotland.
Land Securities start £70m Glasgow scheme

Land Securities are set to begin work on the £70m ‘Atlas’ retail and residential scheme in Glasgow this month.
Lend Lease closes schools deals worth £70m

Lend Lease has reached financial close on two south London secondary school projects worth a combined £70 million.
London cable car approved

London Mayor Boris Johnson’s proposed cable car across the Thames yesterday received its final planning approval.
Lovell wins £40m housing deal

Morgan Sindall subsidiary Lovell has won a £40 million deal to improve 6,300 homes in North-west Wales.
Lovell wins place on £210m Scottish frameworks

Affordable housing group Lovell has been named on two Scottish housing association frameworks worth up to £210 million.
Manchester retail scheme worth £25m unveiled

Development Securities has announced plans for a £25 million retail and residential scheme in Greater Manchester.
McLaren lands £14m aerospace contract

McLaren Construction has been awarded a £14 million contract to develop a research and development facility for aerospace group Moog.
Middle East demand leads to CIOB Dubai office

The Chartered Institute of Building has opened a Dubai office after noticing an increased demand for construction managers in the Middle East.
Miller Construction appoints finance director

Miller Construction has promoted Martin Cooper to finance director.
MoJ seeks six contractors for £600m national framework

The Ministry of Justice is seeking up to six contractors to join a national framework to deliver £600 million of new build, refurbishment and maintenance works on prisons and courts nationwide.
Morrison bags £35m Leeds repairs contract

Morrison has won a £35 million contract to provide repairs and maintenance services to 37,000 properties for Leeds City Council.
Morrison/Hochtief/Dragados/American Bridge scoop £800m Forth Crossing Bridge deal

A consortium of Dragados, Hochtief, American Bridge International and Morrison Construction has been selected for a £790 million deal to build the Forth Crossing Bridge.
Mortgage lending still 'stuck in a rut'

Gross mortgage lending has stalled according to new figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders which showed almost identical levels in January and February.
National Grid seeks £500m overhead line framework

National Grid is seeking to appoint contractors to a five year framework worth up to £500 million to deliver its overhead line construction programme.
Nuclear industry rallies on new build

The nuclear industry is uniting with contractors to ramp up a campaign to restore public confidence and press ahead with plans for new UK nuclear reactors.
Office conversion laws to be eased

Plans to scrap planning requirements for converting commercial properties into residential space could be announced in the Budget this week.
OFT 'fails to prove' cover pricing in latest appeal

One of the firms to receive the largest fines from the OFT’s cover pricing investigation has succeeded in its appeal that there was insufficient proof of its alleged illegal activity.
OFT FINES: Galliford Try sees fine slashed 83pc

The latest six contractors to appeal against the size of their fines for cover pricing have seen their penalties slashed.
Partners fined for scaffolding fall

Two partners from Select Estates have been fined after two men were left injured following a building site scaffolding collapse.
Private sector house registrations down 16pc in February

The number of private sector home registrations in February was down over 16 per cent compared to 2010, according to figures from the National House Building Council.
Rail and office sectors defy the gloom

The rail and commercial sectors will offer a ray of hope during a difficult 2011, according to business intelligence unit Glenigan.
Severfield-Rowen profits down 70pc

Severfield-Rowen has posted a 70 per cent fall in full-year pre-tax profit after being hit by rising steel prices and lower demand.
Shapps: Section 106 deals should be rewritten

Housing minister Grant Shapps is to write to councils to urge them to consider rewriting costly planning agreements signed with developers before the recession.
Shepherd wins £27m London residential job

Shepherd Construction has won a £27 million residential design and build project on Park Road in London for Pantelli Associates.
Steel for £800m Forth Replacement Crossing sourced outside UK

Contractors building the Forth Replacement Crossing have confirmed the steel for the project will be sourced outside Scotland, from Poland, Spain and China.
T. Clarke profits down 21pc

Building services contractor T. Clarke’s pre-tax profits fell by 21 per cent in 2010, despite its turnover increasing to £179 million from £175.5m in 2009.
Tariff cuts prompt legal threats on jeopardised solar energy schemes

Local authorities, schools and community projects are likely to be hardest hit by the government’s planned reduction of feed-in tariffs for solar energy, clients and developers warned this week.
Third hard-shoulder running scheme opens

England’s third hard-shoulder running scheme, between junctions 8 and 10a of the M6 near Birmingham, officially opened yesterday.
Tidal stream development approved

The world’s largest tidal stream energy development will be built off the west coast of Scotland.
Topshop fitter sentenced for asbestos exposure

The retail giant behind the Topshop brand and a shopfitting subcontractor have been handed the maximum fines possible after workers were exposed to asbestos fibres at a store in Liverpool.
Travelodge to build new hotel in Enfield

Travelodge has agreed a deal with Frontier Estates to provide a new 132-bed hotel in Enfield.
Turn empty shops into homes - study

Britain’s housing crisis could be tackled by turning empty business premises and derelict shops into new homes, according to a think tank report.
Universities unbowed by capital cuts

Universities have pledged to find new methods of funding construction projects after seeing massive reductions to their government capital grants last week.
University construction funding warning

University construction could fall apart in the same way as college and secondary school building has, a key figure has warned.
University of Chester seeks £10m extension

The University of Chester is seeking tenders for the £10 million design and construction of an extension to its campus.

Construction News24 March 2011

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Construction News
24 March 2011