Construction news

• Treasury unlocks £1.1bn to revive Northern Powerhouse Rail

  13-01-2026 23:36 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• McLaren takes 256-bed Leeds student tower job

  13-01-2026 16:38 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Tower crane drivers set to strike

  13-01-2026 08:55 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Persimmon builds momentum with 12% jump in completions

  13-01-2026 08:48 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Henry Boot seals planning for Goole 5.5m sq ft freeport

  13-01-2026 08:26 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Henry Boot seal planning for Goole 5.5m sq ft freeport

  13-01-2026 08:26 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• FP McCann buys roofing products firm Easy-Trim

  13-01-2026 08:25 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Trade body BESA boots out five more firms in standards purge

  13-01-2026 00:58 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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