Construction News
Patrick Gower

Patrick is a news reporter and covers the commercial, retail and infrastructure sectors.

Asda set for massive expansion as OFT approves Netto purchase

17-Mar-2011
Supermarket giant Asda will open 168 stores in 2011 after its acquisition of 194 Netto stores was cleared by the Office of Fair Trading.
Full funding secured for the Pinnacle

17-Mar-2011
The consortium behind the £1 billion Pinnacle Tower in the City of London has raised the funds needed to complete the development, Construction News understands.
Big two firms look abroad for growth

10-Mar-2011
The UK’s two largest contractors are turning to foreign markets for growth as the UK market remains uncertain.
Planning system slammed at Mipim

10-Mar-2011
Property chiefs have insisted a reform of the planning system and an increase in bank lending is vital for commercial development to continue its recovery through 2011.
Costain eyes acquisitions to land big spenders

9-Mar-2011
Costain is considering a number of acquisitions in a bid to increase its appeal to “big spending customers”.
Costain/Skanska JV wins Crossrail Bond Street civils job

9-Mar-2011
A Costain/Skanska joint venture has been awarded the Crossrail advance civil engineering works at Bond Street station worth up to £100 million.
ISG boosts turnover to offset pressure from tighter margins

8-Mar-2011
Interior fit-out specialist ISG boosted turnover by over 30 per cent in 2010, driven by strong growth in the UK fit-out and food retail markets.
Willmott Dixon wins £86.3m mixed use Tesco scheme

4-Mar-2011
Willmott Dixon has landed an £86.3 million contract to build a large mixed-use Tesco development.
Balfour Beatty looks to energy and civils to offset cuts

3-Mar-2011
Balfour Beatty is expecting long-term spending on energy and other civil infrastructure projects to offset reductions in public sector spending.
Kier chief focuses on smarter building to avoid margin cuts

3-Mar-2011
Kier is using alternative building methods to avoid “the margin-slashing game”, according to chief executive Paul Sheffield.
Plans for major extensions to two regional shopping centres

3-Mar-2011
Capital Shopping Centres will submit planning applications this year for major extensions to two of its regional shopping centres.
Carillion aims to double turnover in Canada and the Middle East

2-Mar-2011
Carillion aims to double its turnover in Canada and the Middle East as the outlook for the UK economy continues to look uncertain.
Energy efficiency could save UK firms £6bn a year

1-Mar-2011
Energy minister Chris Huhne today backed a report outlining ways UK businesses can save as much as £6 billion each year through energy efficiencies, and described its findings as “incontrovertible”.
Development Securities outlines development plans

1-Mar-2011
Development Securities has revealed plans to start new developments in London, including two office buildings at Paddington Central and a further two at Hammersmith Grove.
Crossrail appoints two non-executive directors

25-Feb-2011
Crossrail has appointed two non-executive directors in a bid to increase railway operations experience at board level.
Interserve confirms Mouchel approach

25-Feb-2011
Interserve has confirmed it made an approach for Mouchel and has been given access to the accounts.
Interserve named as mystery Mouchel bidder

25-Feb-2011
Interserve has been named as the mystery bidder in advanced talks with Mouchel.
Costain dispels speculation over imminent Mouchel takeover

24-Feb-2011
Costain has announced it is not the company in advanced discussions for a possible takeover of Mouchel.
Kier turnover up 9pc

24-Feb-2011
Kier boosted turnover by 9 per cent in the final six months of 2010 compared to the same period a year ago as it began to rebalance its portfolio to increase focus on private sector contracts.
Mouchel in 'advanced discussions' with potential buyer

24-Feb-2011
Mouchel has confirmed it is now in “advanced discussions” with an unnamed potential buyer.
Civils order books begin to improve

24-Feb-2011
Conditions for civil engineering contractors look as if they are beginning to stabilise, with fewer firms reporting falling workloads.
Secondary market aids regional firms

24-Feb-2011
Early signs of a resurgence in the secondary retail and commercial property markets look set to boost workloads for medium-sized regional contractors.
Capital Shopping Centres plans major extensions

23-Feb-2011
Capital Shopping Centres will submit planning applications for major extensions to two of its regional shopping centres in 2011.
Hammerson warns of retail relapse

21-Feb-2011
Hammerson has revealed a recovering UK retail market helped its 2010 profits rise 11 per cent, but cautioned over the impact of Government austerity cuts.
Four teams shortlisted for £400m Farringdon Crossrail job

18-Feb-2011
Crossrail have shortlisted four teams for the Farringdon Station main works contract worth up to £400 million.
Gatwick seeks 'better contractors'

17-Feb-2011
Gatwick Airport is looking to appoint “better contractors” who will absorb more risk to two new frameworks to increase capacity at its north and south terminals.
Scottish highway repairs costs spiral

17-Feb-2011
The Scottish Government should consider a national review into how the country’s road network is maintained to stem the spiralling costs of repairing defects, according to auditors.
Agreement reached over Woolwich Crossrail station

16-Feb-2011
Berkeley Group has signed an agreement with the Department for Transport to enable the Woolwich Crossrail station to go ahead.
Atkins to shed 300 jobs by April

16-Feb-2011
Engineering and consultancy giant Atkins is set to shed 300 jobs by April due to challenging market conditions and reductions in government spending.
Firm fined after teenager suffers serious burns

16-Feb-2011
O’Keefe Construction has been ordered to pay over £25,000 in fines and legal costs after a teenager suffered serious burns to his legs at a depot in Sevenoaks, Kent.
British Land outlines development plans

15-Feb-2011
Developer British Land has reported significant increases in investment activity with £1.9 billion of developments and acquisitions in 2010.
Plant machinery exam answers for sale on eBay

11-Feb-2011
The answers to tests used to prove the skills of plant operators have been uploaded to the internet auction site eBay, Construction News can reveal.
Edinburgh tram contract under fire

10-Feb-2011
The contract between City of Edinburgh Council and German contractor Bilfinger Berger has been blamed for Edinburgh’s tram scheme problems.
Highways Agency defended over M25 cost after criticism from MPs

10-Feb-2011
Senior industry figures have defended the Highways Agency’s procurement of the M25 widening works after a report criticised the body for “mishandling” the project.
Lull between snow and cutbacks provides a respite for industry

10-Feb-2011
The UK construction industry returned to growth in January following a sharp snow-related drop in December.
Contractor sought for £130m Midland Metro extension

9-Feb-2011
A contractor is being sought for a £130 million contract to extend the Midland Metro tram line through the Birmingham City Centre.
AXA Real Estate raises £125m for new developments

9-Feb-2011
AXA Real Estate Investment Managers has raised a further €147.5 million (£125m) of equity which it will use to develop sites predominantly across Paris and London.
Highways Agency condemned over M25 widening

8-Feb-2011
The Highways Agency mishandled the major M25 widening project costing the taxpayer an extra £1 billion, the Public Accounts Committee has found.
Step up anti-bribery policies, contractors urged

7-Feb-2011
Contractors have been urged to step up their anti-bribery policies among concerns that the government will dilute the proposed Bribery Act.
Transport schemes worth over £365m given the go ahead

4-Feb-2011
Nine local transport schemes worth over £365 million have been given the go-ahead after local authorities identified savings totalling £45.5 million, transport secretary Philip Hammond announced today.
Business district plan for Preston

4-Feb-2011
Developers have been invited to give their views on plans to build a new Central Business District in Preston.
Tom Willoughby wins £30m maintenance contract

4-Feb-2011
North Yorkshire County Council has appointed Tom Willoughby to carry out maintenance work as part of a £30 million framework agreement.
Costain wins Heathrow and Manchester airport contracts

4-Feb-2011
Costain has been appointed to carry out works on Heathrow and Manchester airports worth over £26 million.
Steel price hikes to cost industry £7bn

3-Feb-2011
Steel price increases will cost the European construction industry €8 billion (£6.8bn) in 2011, Construction News can reveal.
UKTFA chairman calls for greater security on timber frame sites

3-Feb-2011
Contractors need to tighten up security on timber frame sites to benefit from a growing number of clients choosing the material, the new chairman of the UK Timber Frame Association told Construction News.
PM pressed over A11 improvements

2-Feb-2011
Prime Minister David Cameron was today pressed for an early start to the dualling of the A11 in Norfolk and Suffolk so that economic benefits could be felt as soon as possible.
CIPS: UK construction returns to growth in January

2-Feb-2011
The UK construction industry returned to growth in January following a sharp snow-related drop in December.
Talks progress over Crossrail's Woolwich station

2-Feb-2011
Negotiations between Transport for London and Berkeley Homes over the Crossrail station at Woolwich are ‘moving in the right direction’ and enabling works are expected to start next week.
Private equity fund aquires part of Connaught compliance division

2-Feb-2011
Private equity group Better Capital has acquired a large chunk of Connaught’s risk management business.
Tata to raise structural steel prices by £95 per tonne

31-Jan-2011
Tata has revealed plans to raise structural steel prices by £95 per tonne from March.
London residential development up 9pc

28-Jan-2011
Residential construction levels in London are up 9 per cent from summer 2010 due to positive sentiment around Kick Start, but analysts say weak demand will encourage developers to ‘slow peddle’ delivery.
Corporate manslaughter trial opens

28-Jan-2011
A jury will hear details today of how a geologist died in the first prosecution of a business for corporate manslaughter under new legislation.
Cuts to road repairs budget risks long-term damage, ICE warns

27-Jan-2011
The government came under further pressure this week over a £165 million funding cut to repair roads damaged by extreme weather conditions.
Steel price hike looming after Queensland floods

27-Jan-2011
An imminent hike in the price of steel has raised questions over the viability of large commercial developments.
Crossrail station faces cancellation due to red tape

26-Jan-2011
One of the two Crossrail stations planned for south of the river Thames is facing cancellation due to bureaucratic negotiations preventing the contractor from starting on site.
West Lothian council fined after fatal fall

26-Jan-2011
An elderly lady died when she fell through an access hole in her hallway floor which had been left uncovered by council maintenance workers.
Contractor sought for £22m prison maintenance job

25-Jan-2011
The Northern Ireland Prison Service is seeking a contractor for its £22 million minor works framework for the maintenance of several prisons.
UK firms 'unaware' of £500m in grants

24-Jan-2011
UK construction firms are missing out on around £500 million in research grants each year, the Chartered Institute of Building has said.
Councils face £165m roads maintenance funding gap

24-Jan-2011
Councils in England face a £165 million funding gap to repair roads damaged by extreme weather conditions, local authority leaders have said.
Ex-Connaught workers launch legal proceedings

20-Jan-2011
Trade union GMB has launched legal proceedings against three contractors and consultants KPMG after a row over the wage payments of 129 ex-Connaught workers.
Hammerson recruits new CFO from Great Portland Estates

20-Jan-2011
Hammerson has recruited a new chief financial officer from rival Great Portland Estates.
Henry Boot upbeat for 2011

20-Jan-2011
Sheffield-based contractor Henry Boot has said development opportunities are now beginning to emerge and over 2011 and 2012 is hoping to begin reinvesting resources back into the market.
Contractors use TfL site as test bed for compulsory CSCS smartcards

20-Jan-2011
The £250 million Tottenham Court Road tube station upgrade project is to be the first scheme to require all site-based staff to hold Construction Skills Certification Scheme smartcards.
Firms urged to adopt 30-day payment

20-Jan-2011
Subcontractors are hoping visible savings to clients as a result of government fair payment requirements will persuade private sector clients to follow suit.
Northern Ireland and Scotland hit hardest

20-Jan-2011
Companies in Scotland and Northern Ireland are bearing the brunt of declining workloads, according to the latest State of Trade Survey from the Federation of Master Builders.
SMEs negative about the year ahead

20-Jan-2011
Small and medium-sized firms are set to endure a fourth year of falling workloads, while more than a third of companies expect to cut their staffing levels this year, according to the latest State of Trade Survey from the Federation of Master Builders.
CIOB: Clients do not have sufficient understanding of procurement

19-Jan-2011
More than three quarters of contractors believe clients are not sufficiently knowledgeable about procurement in construction, an industry survey has found.
Land Securities to begin £75m Scottish retail development

19-Jan-2011
Land Securities is set to begin construction of the £75 million Atlas Site retail development in Glasgow after receiving high levels of interest from retailers.
Construction begins on £500m Walkie Talkie

19-Jan-2011
Construction of the £500 million Walkie Talkie started yesterday following a groundbreaking ceremony.
Contractor sought for £100m Scottish prisons job

18-Jan-2011
The Scottish government is inviting bids to build a £100 million prison to replace exisiting prisons at Peterhead and Aberdeen.
Travelodge to build 35 hotels this year

17-Jan-2011
Travelodge has revealed plans to spend £300 million building 35 hotels in 2011, boosting the firm’s estate to 495 hotels.
Costain confirmed as £137m ECI scheme winner

17-Jan-2011
The Highways Agency has confirmed Costain as the winner of the £137 million Early Contractor Involvement scheme covering improvements to the A556 in Cheshire, as revealed by Construction News.
Three selected for £3bn Essex highways job

17-Jan-2011
Three teams have been shortlisted for Essex County Council’s 10-year highways maintenance and service contract – worth a maximum of £3 billion.
Crossrail announces £250m Paddington station shortlist

17-Jan-2011
Crossrail has announced the shortlist for the £250 million Paddington Station main works contract.
Mitie launches Dragon's Den-style fund

17-Jan-2011
Outsourcing firm Mitie has launched a £10 million Dragon’s Den-style ‘entrepreneurial fund’, aimed at investing in management teams with innovative business ideas to support the government’s focus on deficit reduction.
Ex-Connaught workers protest over wage payments

14-Jan-2011
Former Connaught workers have staged a demo outside Hull City Council after contract complications led to a freeze in wage payments.
Bowmer & Kirkland scoops £210m Ocado distribution hub

13-Jan-2011
Bowmer & Kirkland has been selected to build Ocado’s £210m distribution centre in the West Midlands.
Crossrail chief executive to step down

13-Jan-2011
Crossrail chief executive Rob Holden has announced he will step down later this year, less than three months after the project’s future was guaranteed at the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Treasury told: end stop-start plans

6-Jan-2011
Contractors want to work with the government in 2011 to create long-term infrastructure investment plans similar to those used in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Italy.
Rok collapse leaves subcontractors owed £280m

24-Dec-2010
Subcontractors have been left almost £280 million out of pocket following the collapse of Rok, according to a creditors report by Price Waterhouse Coopers.
Heijmans sells Leadbitter to Bouygues in joint venture management buy-out

24-Dec-2010
Dutch firm Heijmans has sold its British unit Leadbitter to Bouygues for £38m in order to cut debt and focus on its domestic market.
Bovis Lend Lease selected for Scottish National Arena job

23-Dec-2010
Bovis Lend Lease has been selected by the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) to build the Scottish National Arena.
London Underground plans major improvements to Bank station

23-Dec-2010
London Underground has begun consultation with the City of London over plans for major improvements to Bank station.
Up to 550 jobs could go at Tarmac Building Products

22-Dec-2010
Hundreds of jobs could be lost at Tarmac Building Products after the firm announced it was considering closing its precast and flooring business.
British Land and Oxford Properties sign 50:50 Cheesegrater JV

22-Dec-2010
British Land and Oxford Properties have today signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement to develop the £340 million ‘Cheesegrater’ tower.
Half of high speed rail route changed

20-Dec-2010
Transport secretary Philip Hammond has amended 50 per cent of the proposed high speed rail route between London and the West Midlands following opposition from several Conservative MPs.
Work restarts on Riverside South scheme following JP Morgan acquisition

20-Dec-2010
Construction work will restart immediately on the 20,000 sq m Riverside South scheme after JP Morgan confirmed its commitment to staying in London.
Commercial activity continues to fall

16-Dec-2010
A sharp contraction in public sector activity led to a fourth consecutive month of decline for the commercial sector in November, according to research.
First new-style roads deal launched

16-Dec-2010
The Highways Agency has put its first asset support contract to market after announcing a “fundamental” rethink of maintenance deals.
Sequencing plan behind Crossrail win

16-Dec-2010
A plan to change the sequencing of works helped a joint venture of Bam Nuttall, Kier and Ferrovial Agroman secure the largest slice of £1.25 billion of Crossrail tunnelling contracts awarded this week.
Head of Infrastructure UK James Stewart to step down

15-Dec-2010
The head of Infrastructure UK James Stewart is to step down from his role at the treasury.
Great Portland Estates raises £30m for 'major' refurbishment

15-Dec-2010
Great Portland Estates is set to carry out a ‘major’ refurbishment at 160 Great Portland Street after it surrendered seven leases held by Telewest in exchange for £30 million.
Serco prison contract scrapped

15-Dec-2010
A contract to build a 600 inmate prison won by Serco has been cancelled, the Ministry of Justice has said.
Sisk wins £47.9m contract to regenerate Rathbone Market

14-Dec-2010
Sisk has been awarded a £47.9 million contract to rebuild Rathbone Market as part of the £180m regeneration of Canning Town.
Savills: Commercial development continues to fall

10-Dec-2010
Commercial development fell for a fourth consecutive month in November, driven by a sharp contraction in public sector activity.
Crossrail awards £1.25bn tunnelling contracts

10-Dec-2010
Crossrail has revealed the winners of £1.25 billion worth of tunnelling contracts, the most significant tunnel contracts to be awarded in the UK since the Jubilee Line Extension and Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
Balfour Beatty wins share of £220m tube contract

10-Dec-2010
Balfour Beatty has won a £110 million track renewal contract in partnership with London Underground.
Firms must seek accreditation to cash in on Green Deal

9-Dec-2010
Contractors looking to cash in on insulation work as part of the Green Deal will have to seek accreditation first, energy secretary Chris Huhne announced today.
'Fundamentally new approach' to Highways Agency maintenance to give contractors more freedom

8-Dec-2010
The Highways Agency has revealed a new form of maintenance contract expected to give contractors more freedom to decide how projects are delivered.
Health fund predicts 'heavy' demand for improved facilities

8-Dec-2010
Primary care investment fund MedicX has said it expects ‘heavy’ demand for new healthcare facilities in 2011.
Six line up for the Cheesegrater

7-Dec-2010
Six firms are in the running to build British Land’s £340 million ‘Cheesegrater’, after the developer invited the UK’s biggest tower builders to pitch.
Darth Vader’s Helmet to be redesigned after Bloomberg deal

6-Dec-2010
Bloomberg has agreed to build its headquarters on the former Bucklersbury House site owned by Legal & General, prompting a significant redesign of the original scheme.
London office development now at lowest level ever

3-Dec-2010
Just 22 office schemes are currently under construction across Central London and development is down 52 per cent on six months ago.
Skanska wins £85m Brent Civic Centre job

2-Dec-2010
Skanska has been awarded an £85 million contract to build Brent Council’s Civic Centre – set to become the UK’s first ‘Outstanding’ BREEAM rated public building.
Costain reassured over Belvedere scheme

2-Dec-2010
Costain has received assurances from struggling contractor AE&E Group over £22 million it owes for works carried out on the Belvedere energy-from-waste facility project in London.
Tesco sets out its ‘timber ambition’

2-Dec-2010
Supermarket giant Tesco has set out plans to build 27 timber frame superstores in the year ending February 2011 - and even more the following year - as part of its “timber ambition”.
May Gurney wins £93m Surrey highways deal

1-Dec-2010
May Gurney has been awarded a £93 million core maintenance contract on behalf of Surrey County Council.
Government growth review to focus on construction

30-Nov-2010
The government has launched a review into what action it can take within the construction sector to create the best conditions for private sector growth.
Eric Pickles rubber stamps £4.5bn Wirral Waters scheme

30-Nov-2010
Communities secretary Eric Pickles has rubber stamped developer Peel’s £4.5 billion Wirral Waters scheme in the North West, avoiding a long public inquiry.
Bovis Lend Lease wins £150m NEQ contract

30-Nov-2010
Bovis Lend Lease has been selected to build the £150 million North East Quadrant at Regent’s Place on behalf of British Land.
Plans approved for £150 million Gateshead town centre regeneration

29-Nov-2010
Gateshead Council has granted planning permission for a £150 million regeneration of the town centre.
Costain fears losses on Belvedere scheme

29-Nov-2010
Costain is facing a sizable loss on the Belvedere energy-from-waste facility project in London after the main contracting partner filed for insolvency.
Derwent London chief pledges to maintain development pace

25-Nov-2010
The chief executive of office developer Derwent London has set out plans for four new office schemes and promised not to slow the pace of redevelopment regardless of market conditions.
Further civils blow as Northern Line station works are scrapped

25-Nov-2010
Cuts to the Northern Line tube upgrade programme became clearer this week as Transport for London admitted some station works would be scrapped.
Retrofit market could suffer as ‘complex’ carbon trading delayed

25-Nov-2010
Senior industry figures have questioned the government’s commitment to green initiatives after energy secretary Chris Huhne delayed the implementation of the carbon reduction commitment energy efficiency scheme.
Gleeson criticises lack of government clarity on planning

19-Nov-2010
Gleeson has criticised the government for failing to clarify the details of proposed changes to the planning system.
North Midland predicts £250k loss

19-Nov-2010
North Midland Construction is expecting to post a £250,000 loss for the year after experiencing problems on one of its contacts.
Derwent to start four London office schemes

18-Nov-2010
Developer Derwent is planning four new London office schemes on the back of an improving market.
Convenience the key for Sainsbury’s

18-Nov-2010
Sainsbury’s has put plans to open 50 new convenience stores by the end of March 2011 at the centre of its strategy for growth.
Inspector blames ignorant contractors

18-Nov-2010
The safety inspector running a crackdown that has seen 62 prohibition notices served on small projects across the South-east has said ignorance is the main reason sites are being shut down.
Morgan Sindall awarded £6.7m school contract

16-Nov-2010
Morgan Sindall has won a £6.7 million contract to design and build a new primary school in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
British Land committed to £1.5bn of London Developments

16-Nov-2010
British Land has committed £1.5 billion to its central London development programme in the last six months in order to deliver prime space when supply is expected to be restricted.
Travelodge targets arenas for expansion after £24m hotel deal

15-Nov-2010
Travelodge is looking to build a string of hotels near popular live music venues after it announced two new hotels have been given the go ahead next to the MEN Arena, Manchester and the NEC in Birmingham today.
New sellers cut house asking prices

15-Nov-2010
The stagnation of the housing market has continued with new sellers knocking almost £7,500 off their asking prices during the past month, according to new figures.
Midlands contractors fined after worker crushed

11-Nov-2010
Two Midlands contractors have been fined after a worker suffered several broken bones when he was crushed by falling timber.
Land Securities to start three London developments in 2011

11-Nov-2010
Land Securities has confirmed plans to start three new developments in central London next year as it announced strong half year results.
Force is with London commercial sector as Darth Vader returns

11-Nov-2010
A £300 million development dubbed Darth Vader’s Helmet is the latest of a number of large commercial projects to be revived in central London.
Growth not showing on the ground

11-Nov-2010
Construction output dropped in the third quarter of 2010, according to a report by the Construction Products Association.
Lafarge fined after electrical explosion

9-Nov-2010
Lafarge has been fined £130,000 after an electrical engineer was engulfed by a fireball at the firm’s site at Thurrock Marine Terminal, Grays, Essex.
HSE begins shutting down London sites

9-Nov-2010
The Health and Safety Executive has started a crack-down on small sites accross London, with work on some sites already being ordered to stop.
J Murphy appoints new chairman

4-Nov-2010
J Murphy will shortly announce the appointment of former Southern Water chief executive Les Dawson as its new chairman.
Industry in spotlight after tragic week

4-Nov-2010
Sections of the construction industry have been accused of “putting two fingers up to the law” after it emerged that six workers had died on-site in just five days.
Mace looks to banking sector to boost its share of retail market

4-Nov-2010
Mace is targeting work for high street banks as it looks to grow its share of the retail construction sector.
Capital Shopping Centres plans £78m of retail development

3-Nov-2010
Capital Shopping Centres is planning £78 million of capital projects in order to combat reduced supply of new high quality retail space.
£200m Welsh care homes job up for grabs

3-Nov-2010
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council is inviting contractors to bid for a £200m project to build four care homes.
Bids invited for £400m highways deal

3-Nov-2010
Contractors are being invited to bid for a road maintenance contract worth up to £400 million covering work for two councils in the North-west.
VAT hike 'will cost 7,500 construction jobs'

3-Nov-2010
A senior industry figure has warned the government that the increase in the rate of VAT to 20 per cent next January will cost thousands of construction jobs required to deliver the Green Deal.
Lovell wins Scottish housing jobs worth up to £210m

2-Nov-2010
Morgan Sindall housing subsidiary Lovell has been appointed to two Scottish housing frameworks valued at combined £210 million.
Bids invited for £51m Scottish university job

29-Oct-2010
Robert Gordon University is seeking a contractor to carry out a £51 million job to construct several new buildings on the Garthdee campus in Aberdeen.
Man arrested in connection with contractor invoice fraud

29-Oct-2010
Criminals posing as a contractor have conned a Scottish council out of £270,000 by forging documents instructing a change of bank details.
Six construction workers killed in five days

28-Oct-2010
Six construction workers were killed in five days last week - believed to be the highest number of fatalities the industry has seen in a week for years.
CSR impact: region-by-region

28-Oct-2010
How the regions were affected by the Comprehensive Spending Review.
London and North-west escape the worst of Chancellor’s cuts

28-Oct-2010
The effects of the spending cuts on the regional construction markets became clearer this week as the departments released more information about which projects would be hit, and the Treasury published a £200 billion infrastructure investment plan.
Bids invited for £129m Yorkshire civils framework

27-Oct-2010
Contractors are being invited to bid for a £129 million framework to carry out civil engineering works across Yorkshire and the Humber.
Interserve scoops £42m schools contracts

27-Oct-2010
Interserve has secured £42 million in schools contracts, including a £23m improvement programme for Farnley Park High School in Leeds.
Government says 'fragmented supply chain' pushes up UK infrastructure costs

26-Oct-2010
Stop-start investment and a fragmented supply chain are two of the key reasons UK infrastructure costs are higher than most European countries, the government has said.
Industry responds to the National Infrastructure Plan

25-Oct-2010
Several construction industry bodies have praised the government’s pledge to funnel £200bn into infrastructure projects over the next five years.
Government launches National Infrastructure Plan

25-Oct-2010
The government has released the UK’s first ever infrastructure plan, signaling a shift in the focus of investment towards maintenance and the smarter use of assets, while projects to tackle network stress points will be given higher priority.
HSE cuts to lead to self-regulation

21-Oct-2010
Cuts to the Health and Safety Executive’s budget will mean fewer site visits for large contractors, Construction News understands.
Retentions row hits Westfield's Shepherd's Bush

21-Oct-2010
Subcontractors are still waiting on up to £110 million for work carried out on the Westfield Shepherd’s Bush shopping centre almost two years ago, Construction News understands.
CSR 2010: RICS accuses government of gambling with the economy

20-Oct-2010
RICS director of external affairs Mark Goodwin has accused the government of gambling with the economy by reducing the Department of Communities and Local Government’s spending by 74pc over the next four years.
CSR 2010: REGIONAL BREAKDOWNS

20-Oct-2010
The Comprehensive Spending Review broken down by region.
CSR 2010 Regional Breakdown: Wales

20-Oct-2010
Funding has been agreed for a package of rail capacity improvements on the Barry to Cardiff corridor, although figures are yet to be made available.
CSR 2010 Regional Breakdown: Scotland

20-Oct-2010
The expected value of QE Class construction work and associated sub- contracts in Scotland is around £1.5bn.
CSR 2010 Regional Breakdown: North-east

20-Oct-2010
Infrastructure projects dominate North-east capital expenditure with upgrades to the East Coast Main Line, the Tyne and Wear metro and the Tees Valley bus network to go ahead.
CSR 2010 Regional Breakdown: North-west

20-Oct-2010
Infrastructure and hospital investments will dominate capital expenditure in the North-west.
CSR 2010 Regional Breakdown: Yorkshire & the Humber

20-Oct-2010
Several infrastructure projects have been given the go ahead including upgrades to the M62.
CSR 2010 Regional Breakdown: East Midlands

20-Oct-2010
Road capital investment projects will dominate in the East Midlands with works to be carried out on the M1 and A46.
CSR 2010 Regional Breakdown: West Midlands

20-Oct-2010
Rail capital investment programs dominate spending in the West Midlands with allocations for High Speed 2, the Midlands Metro and Birmingham New St Station.
CSR 2010 Regional Breakdown: East of England

20-Oct-2010
Road investment dominates capital spending in the East of England with upgrades to the A11 and M1 to go ahead.
CSR 2010 Regional Breakdown: South-west

20-Oct-2010
The government will invest in the M4/M5 roads construction, although figures for the investment are yet to be made available.
CSR 2010 Regional Breakdown: London

20-Oct-2010
The government has allocated £220 million for the UK centre for Medical Research and Innovation at St Pancras.
CSR 2010 Regional Breakdown: South-east

20-Oct-2010
The government has safeguarded £354 million in capital investment projects in the South-east, including the £248m refurbishment and new build at St Helier University Hospitals.
CSR 2010: Osborne reveals 50pc rise in apprenticeships

20-Oct-2010
The government will fund a 50pc rise in adult apprenticeships over the next four years, bringing the total to 75,000 a year by the end of the period
Canary Wharf Contractors begin work on £500m Walkie Talkie

19-Oct-2010
Construction on the £500 million Walkie Talkie will start immediately after Land Securities and Canary Wharf Group today signed a 50/50 joint venture to develop the site.
Costain wins £200m tunnelling job

18-Oct-2010
Costain has secured a £200 million contract to build a 33km cable tunnel in London on behalf of the National Grid.
Lord Young review calls for clearer construction safety laws

15-Oct-2010
Lord Young has called for construction industry health and safety laws to be made clearer, in his government-commissioned review published this morning.
Private sector hits back in cuts row

14-Oct-2010
A number of leading industry figures have this week heavily criticised public sector procurement methods for prohibiting economic growth.
Refurb jobs keep office sector alive

14-Oct-2010
Refurbishment projects are continuing to keep the commercial sector afloat after development activity fell last month at its sharpest rate in a year and a half.
Shapps pledges to cut red tape

13-Oct-2010
Housing minister Grant Shapps has promised to make it easier for developers to build homes by cutting red tape.
Firm fined after worker suffers 62pc burns

13-Oct-2010
Dwyer Engineering Sevices has been fined £20,000 after a worker suffered 62 per cent burns to his upper body when he struck an 11,000 volt cable.
Cuts will cost 100,000 construction jobs, warns PwC

13-Oct-2010
The government’s decision to cut public spending by £83 billion will result in more than 100,000 construction redundancies in the next four years, according to a report out today.
Gosport £145m regeneration phase two gets go ahead

12-Oct-2010
The second phase of a £145 million regeneration scheme in Gosport, Hampshire, has been granted planning permission.
Illegal gas fitter prosecuted

8-Oct-2010
A man who falsely claimed to be a registered gas engineer has been fined for illegally installing gas appliances at addresses in York.
Speedy hit by Connaught collapse

8-Oct-2010
Speedy Hire will lose £1.7m due to unpaid debts and equipment that may not be returned after the collapse of Connaught.
Shepherd appoints new chief executive

8-Oct-2010
Shepherd Construction has appointed Richard Vining as its new chief executive as part of a major senior management reshuffle.
Wates fined after hoarding falls on toddler

8-Oct-2010
Wates has been fined £4,000 after a 17m-wide shop hoarding collapsed on a two-year-old child at a popular Merseyside shopping centre.
Six firms vie to build 25-storey tower in £500m Chelsea project

7-Oct-2010
Six contractors have been shortlisted to build a 25-storey residential tower as part of the £500 million Lots Road regeneration scheme in Chelsea, Construction News understands.
Fourth council launches legal challenge against BSF cuts

6-Oct-2010
A fourth council has mounted a legal challenge over the Government’s decision to withdraw funding for its Building Schools for the Future scheme.
CPA urges Osborne to focus investment

5-Oct-2010
The Construction Products Association has written to chancellor George Osborne ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review, urging him to focus future investment on areas most likely to stimulate economic growth.
Construction safety regs to be left untouched

4-Oct-2010
Conservative peer Lord Young will leave construction safety laws untouched in his review into the UK’s ‘compensation culture’ - but the Health and Safety Executive could yet face changes.
Canary Wharf Group eyes jobs in City

30-Sep-2010
Canary Wharf Group looks set to boost the recovering central London market after announcing plans to pursue commercial developments in the area - with more than £700 million cash to spend.
Pinnacle to be above ground in days

30-Sep-2010
Construction of the £575 million Pinnacle Tower in the City of London will be visible above ground in a matter of days - prompting hopes of a new wave of skyscrapers in the capital.
Mace sets up retail contracting arm

29-Sep-2010
Mace has set up a specialist retail contracting arm in order to grow its share in the sector, Construction News understands.
Master Concrete fined £10k after worker fall

28-Sep-2010
Hounslow-based Master Concrete has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay nearly £19,000 in costs after a worker fell more than 4m from a roof he was working on.
Wolseley announces Switzerland tax move

27-Sep-2010
Building materials supplier Wolseley has announced plans to redomicile to Switzerland after posting a small pre-tax loss in its full year results.
Construction insolvencies down 6pc

24-Sep-2010
The number of construction businesses falling into insolvency fell to 247 in August, a 6 per cent decrease on the same month last year.
CITB had no warning of 'privatisation plan'

24-Sep-2010
Industry training board CITB-ConstructionSkills is set to be privatised under David Cameron’s plans for a “bonfire of the quangos”, according to a list published by the Telegraph.
Kier fined £160k after Everton FC death fall

24-Sep-2010
Kier North West has been fined £160,000 after a builder suffered a fatal fall while working on Everton Football Club’s new training academy.
Canary Wharf to enter 50/50 Walkie Talkie JV

23-Sep-2010
Canary Wharf Group may agree to enter a 50-50 joint venture on the Walkie Talkie, and then sell a 35 per cent share of the project to its investors, Songbird Chairman David Pritchard said today.
Delayed Chelsea plan ready to start

23-Sep-2010
A controversial £500m regeneration scheme in Chelsea is set to begin on site in January after a long delay, Construction News understands.
Balfour Beatty wins £325m US hospital job

21-Sep-2010
Balfour Beatty has won a £325 million contract to design and build a military hospital in Texas as part of a joint venture.
Minerva to revise £300m Ram Brewery plans

21-Sep-2010
Minerva is working on revised plans for its £300 million Ram Brewery development after the original planning application was refused earlier this summer.
HSE signs agreement with the BCA

20-Sep-2010
The Health and Safety Executive has signed an agreement with the Building Control Alliance, in a bid to work more closely together to improve health and safety standards in the construction industry.
Balfour Beatty/Bam consortium wins £250m roads job

17-Sep-2010
A Balfour Beatty/Bam consortium has been appointed preferred bidder for the £250 million N17/N18 PPP roads scheme in the Republic of Ireland.
CNinsight100: Skanska sees cuts as opportunity

16-Sep-2010
Company’s president plays down exposure to government austerity as it targets specific sectors
Commercial expectations plummet

16-Sep-2010
Anticipations of commercial activity fell at their sharpest rate for 18 months in August as developers began to hesitate over new projects until the outcome of October’s Comprehensive Spending Review.
Mansell awarded £22m student accomodation contract

14-Sep-2010
Mansell has secured a £22.3 million contract to build a seven student accommodation blocks at Mansfield Hall in Reading.
Firms fined £30k after Salford worker killed by digger bucket

13-Sep-2010
Two contractors and a demolition subcontractor have been fined £30,000 combined following the death of a Salford worker who was struck by an excavator bucket in November 2004.
Pension fund eyes NW housing schemes

9-Sep-2010
The Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund is looking to broaden its development portfolio by investing in housing schemes across the North-west.
OFT to investigate aggregates industry

7-Sep-2010
The Office of Fair Trading is set to investigate the aggregates industry to assess whether tax payers are getting a fair deal from suppliers of sand, gravel and broken rocks to road and house builders.
School fined £25k after novice worker dies in roof collapse

6-Sep-2010
A Shopshire boarding school has been fined £25,000 after a worker was killed while demolishing a classroom.
Contractors call for changes at HSE

2-Sep-2010
Contractors have called for a change in the way the Health and Safety Executive operates, as Lord Young prepares to announce the results of his review into safety legislation.
Steel chief warns of tough market

2-Sep-2010
Several UK steel contractors may go out of business in the coming year as the market squeezes the sector, steel giant Severfield-Rowen has warned.
Barratt secures £30m North Prospect regeneration project

1-Sep-2010
Barratt have been chosen to develop the £30 million North Prospect regeneration site on behalf of Plymouth Community Homes.
Strata Homes fined £30k for injured worker

31-Aug-2010
Doncaster based developer Strata Homes has been fined £30,000 after a worker was left paralysed when he was crushed by a 660 pound steel beam.
T. Clarke profits down 20pc but increased tendering activity lifts hopes

27-Aug-2010
Several recent commercial project wins in London have boosted T. Clarke’s order book to an encouraging £220m, up £60m on December 2009, despite reporting a fall in profits.
Worker crushed by dumper truck on Rok site

27-Aug-2010
A worker has been crushed to death when a dumper truck overturned on a Rok site in Scotland.
Consultants tell clients: procure now

26-Aug-2010
Consultancy firms are advising clients to begin procuring construction work by the end of 2010 in anticipation of an imminent rise in tender prices.
Derwent plans two central London office schemes

25-Aug-2010
Derwent is hoping to develop over 30,000 sq ft of office space in London next year including schemes at the Turnmill in Clerkenwell and Hampstead Road in Euston.
Inquiry after man dies in digger crash

24-Aug-2010
A 21 year old man has died in a digger crash on a site in Blackburn, Lancashire.
Contractor fined after disturbing asbestos in primary school

23-Aug-2010
A building contractor is facing a bill of almost £4,000 after workers disturbed asbestos in a primary school while lessons were being taught next door.
Kier scoops £125m Hong Kong tunnelling contract

19-Aug-2010
Kier has been awarded a £125m tunnelling contract in Hong Kong as part of a three-way joint venture.
Balfour Beatty JV secures £238m Chinese rail contract

19-Aug-2010
Balfour Beatty joint venture Gammon Construction has been awarded 50 per cent of a £238m rail contract in Hong Kong.
Three firms gain places on West Midlands Contractor Framework

19-Aug-2010
Three local firms are set to share up to £180 million of work on a lucrative framework for local authority jobs across the Midlands.
Laing O'Rourke in the dock following worker fall

18-Aug-2010
Laing O’Rourke is to be prosecuted next week after a worker was seriously injured when he fell 21m from a hospital building under construction in London.
Firm secures £40m loan for affordable homes

18-Aug-2010
A firm building affordable homes in the Highlands has secured a £40 million loan from Royal Bank of Scotland so it can construct new properties.
Crane firm fined £18k after four tonne hook falls near college students

18-Aug-2010
A crane hire firm has been fined after the hook carrying a four tonne load snapped off a tower crane and crashed 36m to the ground.
Contractor fined after builder loses eye

17-Aug-2010
A contractor has been fined £8,000 after a worker was left blind in one eye after falling through a roof.
UK's first 'Jump' lift installed in the Shard

16-Aug-2010
The UK’s first Jump lift has been installed in the Shard at London Bridge as part of an effort to improve the efficiency and safety of the building’s construction.
Contractor to be prosecuted after steel girder slips from crane

16-Aug-2010
Yorkshire-based contractor Pocklington Steel Structures is to be prosecuted after a steel girder fell through three floors into a ground floor estate agents.
Ocado to build £200m warehouse in the West Midlands

16-Aug-2010
Ocado is set use the proceeds of its July float to build a £200 million distribution centre in the West Midlands.
New conservatoire could 'kick-start' £500m Arena Central development

13-Aug-2010
The £500 million Arena Central development scheme in Birmingham could receive a “kick-start” if a planned £30m Conservatoire is built nearby.
Planning granted for key site in £450m Slough regeneration

13-Aug-2010
Plans for a key site in Development Securities’ £450 million plan to regenerate the heart of Slough has received planning permission.
B&Q £77m warehouse gets green light

12-Aug-2010
Gazeley has received planning permission to develop a £77 million B&Q distribution centre in Swindon.
Skanska begin aquarium installation at the Heron Tower

11-Aug-2010
Skanska has started the installation of the largest privately owned aquarium in Europe at the Heron Tower development in Bishopsgate.
Rushi fined £15k after carbon monoxide scare

11-Aug-2010
Wembley based contractor Rushi has been fined £15,000 after leaving two customers at risk of death or serious illness from exposure to carbon monoxide fumes.
Berkeley chief pays Berkeley £1.32m for work on his own home

11-Aug-2010
Berkeley chief Tony Pidgely has paid his own firm £1.32 million for “works carried out to his home”.
Balfour Beatty profits up despite tough conditions

11-Aug-2010
Balfour Beatty has reported a 32 per cent rise in pre-tax profit this year as declines in underlying revenue were offset by a strong performance from newly acquired Parsons Brinckerhoff.
Construction insolvencies set to rise above 1,000 per quarter

10-Aug-2010
Almost 1,000 construction firms are going into insolvency every three months and experts believe this figure is set to rise before the year is out.
Stoneleigh Park £10m redevelopment put on hold

10-Aug-2010
Four contractors bidding for the £10 million redevelopment of Stoneleigh Park have been told they must wait for the October spending review before a preferred bidder will be announced.
Manchester Council approves £45m student accomodation

10-Aug-2010
Manchester City Council has granted planning permission for a 33-storey residential tower that will provide accommodation for 520 students.
New Liverpool FC stadium to be built as part of takeover

10-Aug-2010
The group of investors set to buy Liverpool FC have said they are ready to fund the planned construction of the new stadium in Stanley Park.
Supermarkets dominate retail starts

5-Aug-2010
Supermarket schemes accounted for 69 per cent of the £700 million-worth of retail projects that started on site in the year to June.
Carlisle sub contractor's skull crushed in 6m fall

30-Jul-2010
Two brothers have been fined £13,000 after a worker was left with a crushed skull and brain damage when he fell through an industrial roof in Carlisle.
Contractor and architects fined nearly 200k after worker death

30-Jul-2010
A contractor and an architect’s practice have been fined nearly £200k after a worker fell nine metres to his death.
£250m Alsop hotel gets planning

30-Jul-2010
The £250m hotel development designed by Alsop Architects in Blackfriars has been granted planning by the City of London Corporation.
Bachy Soletanche wins £1m Milton Court Tower piling contract

29-Jul-2010
Bachy Soletanche has won the £1m piling contract for the Milton Court Tower scheme.
Waystone secures site for Castleford Tigers stadium

29-Jul-2010
Derbyshire developer Waystone has signed an agreement for a 20 acre plot on which to build Castleford Rugby Club’s new stadium.
30-tonne loader overturns and slides down quarry

29-Jul-2010
A quarry operator has been fined £30,000 after a 30-tonne wheel loader vehicle overturned and slid almost 16ft down a sand stockpile.
Back to school for M&S contractors

29-Jul-2010
Contractors wanting to work for Marks & Spencer will first have to complete a ConstructionSkills training course as the retailer cracks down on sustainability showmanship.
Developer promises regional spending

29-Jul-2010
Development Securities has pledged to funnel £100 million it requested from shareholders last week into imminent regional commercial developments.
Rotherham United submit plans for 12,000 seater stadium

28-Jul-2010
Rotherham United Football Club has submitted plans to build a new 12,000 seater stadium.
Retail to deliver 'badly-needed growth'

28-Jul-2010
More than £700 million worth of retail projects started on site during the year to June - with supermarket projects accounting for 69 per cent of these.
Berkeley to build the 'Daleks'

27-Jul-2010
Berkeley Homes has secured the contract to build the controversial ‘daleks’ residential development next to London’s Tower Bridge.
Arab Investments close to securing Pinnacle funding

26-Jul-2010
Arab Investments is close to securing a £600 million financing deal with HSBC for the development of the 63-storey Pinnacle tower.
Somerset firm fined after worker loses leg in horror accident

26-Jul-2010
Somerset based John Wainwright & Co has been fined £10,000 after a worker’s foot was crushed under a paving machine, resulting in the amputation of his lower leg.
Vinci withdraw from Forth Bridge bidding

23-Jul-2010
Vinci has withdrawn from the joint venture bidding for the £1.2 bn contract to build the new Forth Bridge in Scotland, and has been replaced by Danish contractor MT Hojgaard.
Crossrail blasted over lack of apprentices

23-Jul-2010
Crossrail came under fire yesterday after it emerged that only a fraction of the 14,000 workers on the project will be apprentices.
Development Securities seeks £100m for new developments

23-Jul-2010
Development Securities has asked shareholders for over £100m to target development opportunities, including several in central London.
Gee Construction fined £10k for putting workers at risk

23-Jul-2010
Gee Construction has been fined £10,000 for putting workers at risk of falling from height on a site in South Wales.
Contractor fined after 85m scaffold spills into street

22-Jul-2010
A Teeside based scaffolding contractor has been fined £4,000 at Teeside Magistrates after an 85m high scaffold collapsed into a public street.
Budget stores set for fastest growth

22-Jul-2010
Changes in planning laws will prompt an explosion in convenience store development by budget retailers over the next five years, according to research.
Clients look to escape safety duties

22-Jul-2010
Many construction clients believe health and safety regulations should be amended to make contractors shoulder the responsibility and cost of compliance, according to research.
Sellar to submit plans for 'the Shardettes'

21-Jul-2010
Sellar Property is to submit plans for three smaller towers alongside the Shard at London Bridge, dubbed ‘the Shardettes’.
HSE shut down one in five sites in West Midlands

20-Jul-2010
A month-long Health and Safety Executive campaign resulted in work being stopped at around one in five construction sites in the West Midlands.
Heron International secure £115m loan for Milton Court Tower

20-Jul-2010
Heron International has secured a £115 million loan to finance the construction of its Milton Court Tower.
Yorkshire firm fined after fall

19-Jul-2010
Yorkshire based Advanced Scaffolding has been fined £3,500 after a contractor suffered multiple injuries when a platform collapsed.
Accidents on civil engineering sites fall by 8.2pc

16-Jul-2010
Accidents on civil engineering construction sites have fallen by 8.2 per cent according to a report from a civil contractors body.
Kier secure £15m Southampton Sea City Museum deal

16-Jul-2010
Kier has been awarded the contract to build the £15 million Southampton Sea City Museum.
Travelodge to spend £10m on 52 newly acquired hotels

16-Jul-2010
Travelodge has acquired 52 hotels from Mitchells & Butlers and plans to spend £10 million refurbishing and rebranding them.
Planning submitted for £150m Gateshead Town Centre regeneration

15-Jul-2010
Tesco subsidiary Spenhill has submitted a planning application for the £150 millon Gateshead Town Centre regeneration.
Three men fined after fall leaves worker in coma

15-Jul-2010
Three men have been ordered to pay over £10,000 in fines and costs after a worker fell 8m through a barn roof, leaving him in a coma, in June 2007.
Offices chief warns developers of wait for new build recovery

15-Jul-2010
Regional commercial developers will have to rely on refurbishment work for some time, according to the new president of the British Council for Offices.
Six in the running for £1bn New Covent Garden Market

13-Jul-2010
Six developers have been shortlisted for the £1 billion redevelopment of the New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms.
Kier secures £27.4m student accomodation contract

13-Jul-2010
Kier has been awarded a £27.4 million contract to build 850 units of student accommodation for the University of Bedfordshire at its Park Square Campus in Luton.
Commercial development suffers as spending cuts take hold

12-Jul-2010
Commercial development fell for the first time in three months in June as public sector spending cuts began to squeeze the wider economy.
Gerald Kaye to be appointed as president of the BCO

8-Jul-2010
Helical Bar development director Gerald Kaye today will take over as president of the British Council for Offices.
Tesco sells 41 stores to fund new developments

8-Jul-2010
Tesco has sold 41 stores in a sale and leaseback deal that will generate around £950 million towards funding new property development projects, both in the UK and abroad.
HSE confirms deaths fall by a fifth

8-Jul-2010
The number of construction workers killed at work has fallen by a fifth in the past year, according to official figures from the Health and Safety Executive.
Retrofit revolution could be saviour

8-Jul-2010
An increased focus on retrofitting buildings could help the industry survive the public sector spending cuts, experts said this week after a key report was published.
Unite: Government trivialising health and safety

7-Jul-2010
Britain’s biggest union Unite have accused the coalition government of trivialising the need for health and safety in the workplace.
Sir Robert McAlpine seals Heron apartments job

7-Jul-2010
Sir Robert McAlpine has been confirmed as the main contractor on the £130 million Heron residential development and will begin work on site this week.
Roofing contractor prosecuted after apprentice falls through roof

7-Jul-2010
Carmarthenshire roofing contractor Randell and Janes Roofing Specialists has been fined £2,000 after a teenage apprentice fell through a fragile roof, breaking his arm.
Carillion expects market to remain 'challenging'

7-Jul-2010
Carillion has announced it expects the market to remain ‘challenging’ as it looks to decrease the size of its UK construction business.
British Land look to West End for long term growth

6-Jul-2010
British Land chief executive Chris Grigg has signalled a shift of focus from the City to the West End after the developer lost £4.8 million in property values during the recession
Goverment calls for reduction in planning consents

5-Jul-2010
A number of consents that developers must obtain before building works can begin should be removed according to a government review.
Comet fined £75k after roofer death

5-Jul-2010
High Street electrical giant Comet Group has been fined £75,000 following the death of a contractor who fell through a roof light at its Wrexham Store.
Mansell awarded £4.2m office contract

5-Jul-2010
Balfour Beatty subsidiary Mansell has secured a £4.2 million contract to construct a new office and production unit for Power Jacks at Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
Skanska/Serco £415m Belmarsh prison deal finalised

5-Jul-2010
Skanska will build a new prison at Belmarsh West, London under a £100 million contract with Serco Group after the service company signed a deal with the Ministry of Justice to provide and operate the new prison.
Morgan Sindall order book tips £3.5bn

2-Jul-2010
Morgan Sindall has seen its order book grow from £3.2 billion to £3.5bn since the start of this year with the closure of BSF and PFI schemes.
Government blocks £300m Ram Brewery redevelopment

2-Jul-2010
The government has refused planning permission for the £300 million Minerva Ram Brewery redevelopment.
Eric Wright scoops £140m Blackpool BSF

2-Jul-2010
Preston based contractor Eric Wright Group has been selected over Morgan Sindall for the £140 million Blackpool BSF scheme.
British Gas to supply free solar panels for schools

2-Jul-2010
British Gas is set to fit 750 schools with solar panels worth between £20,000 and £40,000.
Cyril Sweett reports 17pc decrease in revenue

1-Jul-2010
Cyril Sweett has announced a 17 per cent decrease in revenue this year, but a strong order book and low levels of net debt leave them in a strong position to capitalise on emerging markets.
Bias fears over new planning laws

1-Jul-2010
Planning experts have suggested that incoming laws will benefit the so called ‘friendly supermarkets’ as the coalition government’s localism agenda hands more power to councils.
M&S sets out sustainability plans

1-Jul-2010
High street giant Marks & Spencer has outlined plans to become the UK’s most sustainable retailer by 2015 as part of its Plan A programme.
Ucatt fear safety shortcuts

30-Jun-2010
Construction union Ucatt has expressed concerns that construction related deaths could increase as the industry recovers from recession.
Tesco loses battle to halt 150m development

30-Jun-2010
The 150m Project Jennifer regeneration scheme in Liverpool is set to go ahead after the failure of a Tesco legal challenge.
Construction deaths fall by 21pc

30-Jun-2010
The number of construction workers killed at work has fallen by 21 per cent since last year according to a new report by the Health and Safety Executive.
Trump £750m golf course approved

30-Jun-2010
Construction will commence this week on Donald Trump’s £750 million golf course after local councillors approved the project.
GB win tips healthcare total over £250m

29-Jun-2010
GB Building Solutions has been awarded its seventh project from St Andrews Healthcare in five years, taking its provision of UK care facilities to over £250m.
English football clubs continue investing in facilities

28-Jun-2010
English football clubs invested £196m in stadia and facilities during the 2008/09 season, the third highest level of capital expenditure on developing projects since the formation of the Premier League in 1992.
Birmingham suffers commercial lag

24-Jun-2010
The extent to which regional centres are lagging behind London in the commercial sector recovery has been laid bare by a report into the Birmingham market.
Mansell lands RAF redevelopment

24-Jun-2010
Mansell have been chosen to carry out the £4.5m redevelopment of the RAF Benevolent Fund’s London headquarters.
Costain/Skanska hit by A14 suspension

24-Jun-2010
JV was on £1.1bn A14 road upgrade scheme suspended by Treasury last week after review
Hanson fined £280k after worker death

24-Jun-2010
Brick manufacturing firm Hanson Building Products Limited have been ordered to pay over £300,000 in fines and costs after a worker had his head crushed while operating a conveyor at their distribution plant in Coleshill.
UK construction still short on skills

23-Jun-2010
The UK construction industry continues to suffer from a skills shortage despite the dip in construction demand during the recession.
Tenders released for Dubai Pearl sub-contracts

22-Jun-2010
The main contractor on the 20m sq ft Dubai Pearl development has released a series of project tenders aimed at awarding subcontracts by September this year.
Gloucestershire firms fined nearly £70k after roofer fall

22-Jun-2010
Gloucestershire based contractors Woodgate Sawmills Limited and Stanley John Frederick Stephens of The Longhope Welding Company have been ordered to pay £68,866 in fines and costs after a roofing contractor fell through a skylight and suffered serious head injuries.
British Land CEO Chris Grigg to become president of the BPF

21-Jun-2010
Chief Executive of British Land Chris Grigg is set to become president of the British Property Federation (BPF) in 2012.
Sir Robert McAlpine appoints Prater to The Quadrant

21-Jun-2010
Prater have been appointed to complete nearly £4m of works on The Quadrant and the Vestas wind turbine blade factory on behalf of Sir Robert McAlpine.
Land Securities forward sell Park House for £250m

17-Jun-2010
Land Securities has agreed to forward sell its 310,000 sq ft Park House development on London’s Oxford Street to a Qatari property firm for £250 million.
Commercial recovery under threat

17-Jun-2010
Fears of public sector spending cuts have dented expectations for the commercial sector recovery.
Middle East still luring UK contractors

17-Jun-2010
UK contractors are continuing to have success in the Middle East despite the financial problems in debt-laden Dubai.
Health and safety 'used as an excuse'

16-Jun-2010
Too many people use health and safety as an excuse to hide behind, the chair of the Health and Safety Executive has warned.
Laishley becomes latest victim of downturn

16-Jun-2010
Southampton based builders Laishley Limited have gone into administration, leaving several smaller contractors struggling to survive.
Office of Government Commerce to move to the Cabinet Office

15-Jun-2010
The Office of Government Commerce will move to the Cabinet Office as part of the coalition government’s plan to tackle waste, the Prime Minister announced today.
Rise in commercial lending to benefit large developers

15-Jun-2010
The rise in commercial bank lending for real estate projects will only apply to larger developers, the head of British Land said yesterday.
Government to review health and safety laws

14-Jun-2010
Conservative peer Lord Young of Graffham will lead a government-wide review into health and safety laws and the growth of the “compensation culture”, the Prime Minister today announced.
Hammerson acquires £65m office block

11-Jun-2010
European real estate company Hammerson has acquired a £65 million office building in London with potential for refurbishment or full re-development.

Construction NewsPatrick Gower

Construction News
Patrick Gower