• Trio of contract wins for G&H

    Leeds-headquartered mechanical, electrical and public health specialist G&H has secured three maintenance contracts across the education and property management sectors.
    Following competitive tenders, G&H has been appointed to deliver planned and preventative maintenance for Pudsey Sixth Form College, MCR Property Group, and Evans Property Group.
    G&H will deliver a three-year maintenance programme at Pudsey Sixth Form College to ensure the building remains operational, efficient and
  • Chinese mega-embassy plan in London approved

    The Government has controversially waved through plans for China to build a mega embassy at the former Royal Mint site in London.
    This morning housing secretary Steve Reed signed off the scheme for the 20,000 sq metre complex at Royal Mint Court, just east of the City of London and opposite the Tower of London.
    The decision comes despite opposition from MPs across Parliament about security concerns and clears the way for what would become China’s largest diplomatic outpost in Europe.
    Prime
  • Plans in for Derby Market Place regeneration

    Plans to reshape Derby’s city centre Market Place have taken a big step forward with the submission of a full planning application covering the former Assembly Rooms site.
    The plans are being brought forward by VINCI UK Developments and ION Developments, appointed as preferred developer partners by Derby City Council, following two rounds of public consultation last year.
    The proposals set out a mixed-use transformation of one of the city centre’s most prominent and long-stalled site
  • Strabag UK snaps up failed HV transmission contractor

    Strabag UK has made its first decisive move into into the energy market, snapping up the assets of failed high-voltage transmission specialist GTDS in a deal that protects jobs and adds specialist grid capability.
    The pre-pack deal has saved 32 jobs at high-voltage installation business Gunning Transmission & Distribution Services.The Stafford-based contractor doubled revenues in 2024 to £97m working largely under framework agreements with National Grid.
    But it collapsed after a string
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  • Kier returns to monthly net cash for first time in over a decade

    Kier has hit a major balance sheet milestone after swinging into an average month-end net cash position for the first time in over a decade, underlining the scale of its operational turnaround.
    The contractor said it achieved average month-end net cash of around £15m over the first six months to 31 December 2025 – a sharp reversal from average month net debt of £38m a year earlier and a peak of £432m in 2021.In a trading statement ahead of reporting first-half results, Ki
  • Motorway closed after road repair kit breaks down

    Parts of the M62 in Huddersfield were closed on Tuesday morning after contractor’s plant broke down during overnight repair works.
    National Highways said the westbound stretch of the motorway at J24 would remain closed until the kit is recovered.
    The move caused traffic chaos in the area with delays of more than an hour as drivers were diverted via the exit and entry slip roads.
     
  • Align closes out civils on longest HS2 tunnel

    HS2’s Align joint venture has hit a major underground milestone completing all Chiltern tunnel structures.
    Close-out of works on the project’s longest tunnel brings to an end a programme that began almost five years ago.
    With civil works now finished, the tunnel will move into mechanical, electrical and plumbing installation, with enabling works already under way.Track and overhead line equipment will follow as HS2 continues construction across the rest of the route.
    Despite the mile
  • Legal expert rises to head Balfour Beatty regional civils

    Balfour Beatty has promoted Kay Slade to managing director of its UK regional civils business as the contractor resets its leadership bench.
    Slade will step into the role in February 2026, taking over from Mark Arrandale, who has been acting up since October and now returns to his finance director post.
    A qualified solicitor specialising in major projects, construction and engineering, Slade joined Balfour Beatty four years ago as managing counsel.
    She was appointed area director for UK regional
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  • Mace name to disappear from UK contracting

    The Mace name is set to disappear from UK contracting as part of a major break-up of the group’s long-standing brand structure.
    Mace Group has confirmed its construction arm – currently trading as Mace Construct – will be renamed later this year, drawing a clear line between its UK contracting business and its consultancy operation.
    The move follows last year’s agreement for a majority private equity investment in Mace Consult by Goldman Sachs Alternatives. Once that deal
  • Tilbury Douglas regional chief joins Caddick to head civils arm

    Caddick Construction has lured Tilbury Douglas Construction regional director Paul Ellenor to take up the role as managing director of its civil engineering arm.
    Ellenor brings almost four decades of industry experience, having spent the bulk of his career with Interserve and Tilbury Douglas, where he most recently held the role of North East regional director.
    He began his career as a trainee quantity surveyor in 1987 and progressed through site, management and pre-construction leadership roles
  • Liverpool mayor sets out £2bn plan to unlock 64,000 homes

    Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram has unveiled plans to deliver more than 64,000 new homes, backed by a potential £2bn call on public funding to unlock complex and stalled sites.
    The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has identified a pipeline of more than 300 housing projects capable of delivering 64,044 homes, including almost 31,300 in Liverpool alone.
    The proposals sit alongside a recently announced £700m allocation for new social and affordable housing — described as th
  • Six scoop £2bn Southern Housing upkeep deal

    Social housing landlord Southern Housing has lined up a near £2bn programme of kitchens, bathrooms, windows and roofing work after naming winners across 10 regional lots.
    The long-term capital investment deals run for 10 years from 14 April 2026, with options to extend out to 13 April 2046, with extensions linked to performance and market testing.
    Winning contractors include: Architectural Decorators, Amber Construction, Axis, Chas Berger, HLS McConnell, Highview Group.Big names missing ou
  • Flannery to sell old fleet after £107m new kit investment

    Euro Auctions Group has been commissioned by Flannery Plant Hire to conduct a sale of its old heavy plant fleet following a £107m investment in new kit last year.
    The plant hire giant has spent £448m over the past four years meaning a lot of machines can now be moved on.
    The auction will take place at Flannery’s site in Irlam, Manchester on Tuesday March 10.It will bring to market one of the largest and most diverse selections of modern, well-maintained heavy plant equipment se
  • Hercules delays annual results announcement

    Listed construction labour supplier has delayed its latest annual accounts announcement for the year ending 30 September 2025.
    The numbers were due out last week but in a statement today Hercules said: “The audit of the Company’s FY25 Accounts is well advanced, however, additional audit work required due to the Company’s extensive acquisition activity in 2025, means Hercules now expects to announce its FY25 Accounts in March 2026.”
    The company also confirmed that it has b
  • Benniman to finish logistics park at former MG Rover plant

    Shed builder Benniman has secured the job for the final phase of the transformation of the former MG Rover car plant in Birmingham into a major logistics park.
    The last package will see 380,000 sq ft of industrial and logistics space built across 13 units, ranging from 12,000 sq ft to 115,000 sq ft, targeting advanced manufacturing, logistics and distribution occupiers.
    The scheme will be delivered to high sustainability standards, with the buildings designed to hit BREEAM Excellent and EPC A an
  • Graham lands £37m Leicestershire school rebuild

    Graham has landed a £37m job to overhaul The Castle Rock School in Coalville, Leicestershire.
    The contractor has been appointed by the Department for Education to deliver a major redevelopment of the secondary and sixth form campus.
    Architect DLA designed the scheme, which will see a new two-storey teaching block built alongside the refurbishment and remodelling of a retained building.
    Several outdated blocks will be demolished to make way for modern accommodation for up to 1,550 pupils.
    E
  • Kier set for £21m Edinburgh towers upgrade

    The City of Edinburgh Council has agreed to award Kier a £21m contract to deliver a comprehensive retrofit and upgrade programme at the 15-storey Craigmillar Court and Peffermill Court.
    Built in 1968, the two floor blocks currently have no insulation.
    The retrofit will introduce extensive external wall insulation and each flat will be fitted with a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system.Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Cllr Tim Pogson, said: “This £21 milli
  • Rebar giant loses high court fight to save Chatham Docks base

    The High Court has thrown out a judicial review brought by rebar supplier ArcelorMittal, clearing the way for the redevelopment of Chatham Docks into a major new business park.
    The legal challenge targeted planning consent granted by Medway Council for the regeneration of the docks as part of Peel Waters’ Basin3 scheme – a proposed 31,000 sq m waterside campus.
    ArcelorMittal Kent Wire, which operates a large rebar fabrication facility on the site, argued that repurposing the warehous
  • £56bn hospital programme on track but delivery risks remain

    The Government’s reset of the New Hospital Programme has steadied one of the UK’s biggest construction pipelines but replacing dangerous RAAC-affected hospitals will still miss the original 2030 replacement deadline.
    A new update from the National Audit Office says the reset has put the programme on a more credible footing, with final hospitals now expected to complete in 2045-46.
    However, seven hospitals built predominantly using Reinforced Aerated Autoclaved Concrete are not expect
  • Modular firm backs ‘new chapter’ for Merit

    Former Merit Group Services directors are now working with another offsite specialist after buying assets from the administrators after the company collapsed.
    The main Northumberland based trading company Merit Holdings went under owing suppliers £17m.
    A new business Merit Industrialised Construction, which was established in November 2025, has acquired intellectual property, design systems and manufacturing know-how from the administrators Interpath.The new company is majority owned by Mo
  • Indian modular firm backs ‘new chapter’ for Merit

    Former Merit Group Services directors are now working with an Indian based offsite specialist after buying assets from the administrators after the company collapsed.
    The main Northumberland based trading company Merit Holdings went under owing suppliers £17m.
    A new business Merit Industrialised Construction, which was established in November 2025, has acquired intellectual property, design systems and manufacturing know-how from the administrators Interpath.The new company is majority own
  • Caldwell Construction collapses into administration

    Groundworks and civils contractor Caldwell Construction has formally entered administration after mounting cashflow pressures proved too severe to overcome.
    The Stoke-on-Trent and Warrington-based groundworks specialist employed more than 400 staff and subbies working on housing sites across the Midlands and North West  delivering £58m revenue for the year to March 2025.
    Administrators from PKF Littlejohn Advisory UK LLP were appointed today after attempts to stabilise the company&rsq
  • A9 dualling switches to £1.9bn framework model

    The Scottish Government is switching to a framework-led approach to deliver the final five contracts on the A9 dualling programme, ditching the previous project-by-project tender model.
    Transport Scotland will start market engagement next month ahead of inviting bids in March for places on a four-year A9 Dualling Delivery Framework Agreement, covering the remaining sections between Perth and Inverness.
    The £1.9bn programme will see all future work let via call-offs under a single framework
  • CW Plant Hire kit goes under hammer in fleet renewal sale

    Euro Auctions will hold a major Fleet Renewal Sale on behalf of CW Plant Hire next month.
    The sale on Wednesday 18th February will take place at the Euro Auctions Leeds site and online.
    It will feature a wide selection of modern, well-maintained plant and machinery, reflecting CW Plant Hire’s continued investment in renewing and upgrading its fleet.The lineup offers buyers an excellent opportunity to acquire late-model equipment from leading manufacturers, suitable for a wide range of cons
  • Heathrow kicks off third runway pre-planning design work

    Heathrow Airport has approved funding to begin work on a planning application for its long-planned third runway.
    The decision clears the way for detailed planning work as the airport works towards securing consent by 2029.
    Heathrow said expansion remains the Government’s flagship growth scheme, unlocking billions of pounds of privately funded construction work across the supply chain while boosting airline competition and strengthening global trade links.
    Despite the board backing, the air
  • Civils firm Caldwell Construction files administration notice

    Stoke-on-Trent groundworks and civils contractor Caldwell Construction has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators as it scrambles to find a buyer and fend off creditors.
    Industry sources said the £60m turnover firm has written to subcontractors and staff warning it is fighting for survival while talks continue with possible investors.
    Hundreds of subbies were told to stay at home this week after many failed to be paid last Friday. The cash-strapped contractor has been strugg
  • Autumn Budget jitters knock construction output back

    Construction output has slumped sharply, with industry activity hit by uncertainty in the run-up to the Autumn Budget.
    Latest Government figures show total construction output fell by 1.1% in the three months to November 2025 – the steepest quarterly decline since March 2023, when output dropped by 1.4%.
    Both sides of the industry were dragged lower. New work slipped by 1.0% over the period, while repair and maintenance work fell by 1.1%.Private housing repair and maintenance was the bigge
  • Taylor Wimpey braces for margin squeeze this year

    Taylor Wimpey has warned that margins will come under pressure this year as a weaker opening order book, softer bulk deal pricing and the absence of last year’s land sale boost take their toll.
    In a trading update ahead of unveiling 2025 full-year results in March, the house builder said 2026 performance is likely to be more heavily weighted to the second half as demand remains muted and affordability continues to bite, particularly among first-time buyers.
    Taylor Wimpey said it had achiev
  • Green light for Ballymore 1,685 homes site

    Ballymore has received planning consent from London Borough of Newham for the redevelopment of its Thames Road site which will contain 1,685 new homes.
    Designed by Howells, the plans also include a new primary school, more than 13,500 sq m of light industrial and flexible workspace, a new riverside park, and a range of ground-floor retail and community spaces.
    John Mulryan, Group Managing Director, Ballymore, said: “Securing consent for Thames Road is a significant milestone and a strong e
  • Ex-directors buy back Boutique Modern in £24k pre-pack deal

    Two former directors of collapsed East Sussex modular housing specialist Boutique Modern have agreed a pre-pack rescue deal with administrators that see parts of the business continue trading under a new name.
    The pair paid £24,000 upfront and have also committed to paying between 0.5% and 1% of the remaining contract value on any schemes successfully novated to the new company.Those payments will only be made on practical completion of each project and only where the schemes are profitabl
  • Henry creditors payout hangs on £31m family legal fight

    Trade contractors left nursing heavy losses after the collapse of Henry Construction Projects may get a payout if administrators win a series of high-stakes legal claims against the firm’s former directors and family members.
    Joint administrators David Hudson and Geoffrey Rowley of FRP Advisory said there could be enough money to pay a dividend to unsecured creditors — but only if ongoing litigation delivers successful recoveries.
    Henry Construction Projects crashed into administrati
  • Building boss fined for ignoring safety warnings

    A director and his contracting firm have been fined after failing to comply with multiple enforcement notices and failing to suitably plan, manage and monitor construction work.
    Vasilis Paraskeva and his London-based company, VNP Constructions Limited, were the appointed contractor for the conversion of a former public house and adjoining building into residential flats on White Lion Street, London.
    During a proactive HSE visit to the site on 1 September 2022 inspectors identified several issues
  • Industry standards body racks-up huge loss

    Latest accounts from the Considerate Constructors Scheme show the industry standards body has suffered large losses.
    Accounts for the year to December 31 2024 show a pre-tax loss of £769,000 from a profit of £165,000 last time as turnover rose to £5.9m from £5.3m.
    During the period covered by the latest filings Amit Oberoi was Executive Chairman of the CCS after his appointment in March 2023.He left the CCS in August 2025 at the same time as former consultant and Chief St
  • Milton Keynes plans £76m events venue

    Milton Keynes Development Partnership (MKDP) has selected ATG Entertainment (ATG) to operate a planned £76m multi-purpose events venue in the city.
    The 4,000-capacity venue forms part of MKDP’s updated Business Plan for 2024–2027 which focuses on placemaking projects to enhance the city centre.
    It will complement ATG’s successful operation of Milton Keynes Theatre since it opened in 1999 by enabling larger-scale music performances and live experiences that the existing th
  • Kier Construction appoints new southern region chief

    Kier has appointed former Bouygues regional MD John Boughton to lead its growing southern construction business.
    Broughton led the South West and Wales regional business of Bouygues for around five years, and before that worked at Willmott Dixon for around 14 years rising to deputy managing director in the south west.
    As southern construction MD at Kier, Boughton will oversee a £123m flagship project at the University of Southampton, including a 15,000 sqm  teaching and learning buil
  • Vistry saved by second half margin rebound to 8.4%

    Partnership homes specialist Vistry has delivered a resilient full-year performance after a strong second half margin rebound helped offset weaker housing volumes and flat revenues.
    In a trading update this morning, the firm said adjusted pre-tax profit for the year to December 2025 was expected to come in at around £270m, up from £264m last year and in line with market expectations.
    Revenue held broadly flat at £4.2bn as total completions slipped 9% to around 15,700 homes in a
  • USA contractor acquires London super-prime specialist

    USA and Caribbean based construction company Remian has acquired London super-prime specialist Rossco.
    Construction management and project management firm Rossco works with private individuals on high-end homes and investment developments.
    David Chekemian joint CEO at Remian UK & Europe said:  “This is an exciting step forward in our growth strategy.“Our acquisition of Rossco allows us to work with an outstanding team. The UK super prime market is changing, and we feel that
  • Treasury unlocks £1.1bn to revive Northern Powerhouse Rail

    The government has finally moved to drag the Northern Powerhouse Rail mega-scheme out of limbo, committing fresh cash and promising tighter cost control after years of drift and delay.
    Ministers will today pledge to keep the Northern east–west rail programme within a hard £45bn funding envelope, in a bid to avoid the spiralling overruns that derailed HS2 and spooked the Treasury.
    To get the stalled project moving, the Treasury will now release an initial £1.1bn to kickstart det
  • McLaren takes 256-bed Leeds student tower job

    Local developer Pullans has secured planning approval and appointed McLaren Construction as main contractor for a 14-storey student tower at Joseph’s Well former factory site in Leeds city centre.
    Full consent has been granted for the major new purpose-built student accommodation scheme, marking the biggest transformation of the Joseph’s Well estate in more than 45 years.
    The project, known as The Tower, will deliver 256 student bedrooms and represents the single largest investment i
  • Tower crane drivers set to strike

    Tower crane drivers are planning a series of strikes starting with a one-day stoppage later this month.
    The action could halt major sites across the country with London hardest hit.
    Drivers at leading crane rental company Wolffkran, represented by Unite, have voted to start a series of 24-hour strikes on Tuesday January 27 then every fortnight after that.The Enquirer understands around 90 drivers are union members at the crane rental giant.
    A crane driver source said the dispute centred on a lac
  • Persimmon builds momentum with 12% jump in completions

    House builder Persimmon has posted a stronger-than-expected trading performance for 2025 after lifting completions by 12%.
    In a trading statement ahead of reporting annual results the firm signaled that full-year underlying profit before tax would be at the top end of City forecasts.
    It completed 11,905 homes in the year to 31 December, up from 10,664 a year earlier, driven by an expanding outlet base and steady demand across its regional footprint.But looking ahead chief executive Dean Finch sa
  • Henry Boot seals planning for Goole 5.5m sq ft freeport

    Henry Boot has securedoutline planning consent for a 5.5m sq ft freeport industrial and logistics giant in Goole in a major boost for the Humber manufacturing corridor.
    The scheme, known as FREEPORT 36, is being brought forward by Henry Boot’s development arm HBD in partnership with landowner St John’s College Cambridge.
    The consent paves the way for a 300-acre industrial and manufacturing park delivering buildings from 40,000 sq ft to more than 1m sq ft.
    Detailed plans will be drawn
  • Henry Boot seal planning for Goole 5.5m sq ft freeport

    Henry Boot has securedoutline planning consent for a 5.5m sq ft freeport industrial and logistics giant in Goole in a major boost for the Humber manufacturing corridor.
    The scheme, known as FREEPORT 36, is being brought forward by Henry Boot’s development arm HBD in partnership with landowner St John’s College Cambridge.
    The consent paves the way for a 300-acre industrial and manufacturing park delivering buildings from 40,000 sq ft to more than 1m sq ft.
    Detailed plans will be drawn
  • FP McCann buys roofing products firm Easy-Trim

    Precast concrete manufacturer FP McCann has acquired Easy-Trim Roofing and Construction Products Ltd out of administration.
    Lancashire based Easy-Trim posted a turnover of £18.1m in its latest results for the year to December 31 2023 generating a pre-tax profit of £233,000.
    McCann said: “The acquisition of Easy-Trim is a fantastic addition to the FP McCann group and a significant step in the growth of our roofing and building products division.“Easy-Trim’s commitmen
  • Trade body BESA boots out five more firms in standards purge

    The Building Engineering Services Association has suspended five more member firms as it tightens the screws on technical and professional standards across the heating and ventilating sector.
    The competency crackdown takes the total number of firms suspended by the trade body in the past eight months to 19.BESA’s council said it was taking robust action in the interests of the wider building services sector and clients.The suspended firms failed its independent Competence Assessment Standa
  • Father-of-six dies in demolition site tragedy

    A father-of-six has been confirmed as the worker who died in an accident at a demolition site in Renfrewshire.
    Derek Russell was fatally injured while working on a regeneration project demolishing empty flat blocks in Paisley on Friday.
    The 36-year-old was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow but died from his injuries the following day.He was employed by Greenock based demolition specialist Caskie Limited.
    Euan Caskie, a director of the company, told the BBC: “This is a
  • Winvic wins £340m M&S mega shed at DIRFT

    Winvic has landed the job to build a vast 1.3m sq ft national distribution centre for Marks & Spencer at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal.
    Appointed by Prologis, the £340m scheme will become a flagship hub in M&S’s food supply chain as the retailer targets major growth.
    The 52-week build will see Winvic deliver two low-carbon warehouses with multi-storey offices, a security hub and vehicle maintenance unit, alongside major infrastructure works next to the M1.The f
  • Bidders day set for £4.5bn Southern Construction Framework

    Contractors are being called to a bidders day in London as councils move to re-procure the £4.5bn Southern Construction Framework.
    Devon County Council and Hampshire County Council are preparing to launch the sixth generation of the framework, with around 20 firms expected to battle to retain their places.
    Tendering is due to go live in March, with the bidders day on 21 January setting out plans for the next framework and sharing findings from earlier market engagement.
    The current Souther
  • British Land CEO to join warehouse developer

    British Land CEO Simon Carter is leaving the business to take-up a similar role at warehouse developer and investor P3 Logistics Parks.
    Carter has been in charge at British Land for five years and first joined the developer in 2004.
    He has a 12-month notice period and British Land will now start the hunt for his successor.William Rucker, Chairman, said: “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Simon for his significant contribution to British Land. During his 18 years here across two stint
  • Skanska slides 4,200 tonne railway bridge into place

    Skanska has completed the installation of a 4,200-tonne railway bridge over the M6 through Cumbria 13 hours ahead of schedule during a road closure over the weekend.
    Clifton railway bridge near Penrith has been replaced by Network Rail and Skanska as part of a £60m investment in the West Coast Main Line.
    The new 130-metre-long structure was carefully manoeuvred into place with millimetre precision on Saturday.Time-lapse footage shows how the new pre-built bridge – which has been wait

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