Construction news

• National Highways fires gun on £8bn roads upkeep deal

  24-08-2026 23:30 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Big highways contractors are gearing up for a £8bn battle after National Highways fired the starting gun on its next-generation road maintenance framework.
  The invitation to tender has now gone out for the Maintenance and Response 2 framework, which will overhaul upkeep of England’s 4,500-mile strategic road network.
  The new seven regions regime will replace the existing 10 maintenance contracts set up as they expire from July 2028. Current area contractors include Amey, Colas, Costa
  
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• Energy and coastal work powers Knights Brown growth

  24-08-2026 23:11 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Civil engineering contractor Knights Brown has lifted pre-tax profit by 44% after strong performances from its coastal and energy businesses.
  The independent Hampshire-based firm saw revenue rise 17% to a record £136m in the year to March 2026 driving an uplift in profit to £5.6m from £3.9m.
  Directors said the improvement in average operating margin to 4% reflected tighter project selection, strong delivery and disciplined commercial management.Coasts and ports, and energy were
  
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• Firms named to advance £89m trio of school jobs

  24-08-2026 22:57 via constructionenquirer.com
  Tilbury Douglas, McLaren Construction and Willmott Dixon have secured preconstruction deals on three Department for Education school projects with estimated works values of up to £89m.
  The contractors have been appointed under the DfE’s Construction Framework to take the schemes through early supplier involvement ahead of agreeing final design and build contracts.
  The £89m combined figure is based on the DfE’s early-stage broad estimates, prior to designs being drawn up.T
  
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• Contractors called up for £80m Llandeilo bypass

  24-08-2026 22:55 via constructionenquirer.com
  Welsh Government has fired the starting gun on the bidding for the long-delayed A483 Llandeilo and Ffairfach bypass in Carmarthenshire.
  Up to five contractors will be shortlisted to bid for the £80m highways project.
  It will provide a new route around Llandeilo and Ffairfach to take through traffic away from the congested town centre and improve safety on the existing A483 corridor.A preferred route has already been identified and the project includes a new bridge of around 100m over the R
  
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• Cardo snaps up 280-staff compliance specialist CCS

  24-08-2026 22:46 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Cardo Group has continued its acquisition spree with the purchase of Andover-based compliance and energy contractor Correct Contract Services.
  The deal strengthens Cardo’s electrical, heating and retrofit capabilities and expands its reach across southern and central England.
  Correct Contract Services employs more than 280 staff and provides compliance and energy services to more than 50,000 properties for local authorities and social housing landlords.The £30m turnover business was
  
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• Metro mayors given power to override councils on big schemes

  24-08-2026 09:16 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Mayors across England are set to be handed powers to seize control of major planning applications from councils in a fresh drive to speed up development.
  The new call-in regime will cover schemes of more than 150 homes, commercial projects above 15,000 sq m and buildings taller than 30m, roughly equivalent to ten storeys.
  Under proposals due to be published next week, regional mayors will be able to take over strategically important applications and decide whether they should go ahead or be refu
  
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• Network Plus margin climbs to 9.4% on utilities boom

  24-08-2026 09:00 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Private equity-backed utility and infrastructure contractor Network Plus Services has more than doubled pre-tax profit to £55m as booming water and energy workloads pushed turnover towards £700m.
  Revenue jumped 15% to £671m in the year to 29 March 2026, driven by higher volumes on existing energy and water contracts alongside a string of new wins.
  The Greater Manchester-based business also saw adjusted EBITDA surge 45% to £63m, with its adjusted EBITDA margin climbing to
  
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• Go-ahead for High Wycombe warehouse scheme

  24-08-2026 08:39 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Pension fund manager Railpen has secured planning consent for Phase 2 of the High Wycombe X industrial and logistics scheme
  The latest round of construction at Cressex Business Park will deliver 145,000 sq ft of space across five units.
  Developed in partnership with Wrenbridge, High Wycombe X forms part of Railpen’s growing X portfolio, an industry-first branded collection of small and medium-sized industrial and logistics developments.Scheme are strategically located around the M25 and ot
  
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• Green light for 425 rental flats Cambridge station scheme

  24-08-2026 07:35 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Plans for 425 build-to-rent homes on railway land next to Cambridge North station have been approved.
  The Cambridge North Residential Quarter is being brought forward by blocwork, the joint venture between Network Rail property development company Platform4 and developer bloc.
  Grainger has been lined up to forward fund the rental homes scheme and will operate and manage the homes once completed.Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council approved the proposals, clearing the
  
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• Landsec clears reset of stalled £1bn North London scheme

  24-08-2026 07:24 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Landsec has secured planning for a reboot of its stalled £1bn O2 Centre new homes regeneration scheme in North London.
  The original 1,800-home strip-site scheme stalled as rising construction costs and new building safety requirements hit viability.
  Camden Council has now approved Landsec’s revised plan for the 14-acre Finchley Road site, allowing the developer to increase the height of several buildings and reduce affordable housing to restart development.The wider masterplan will s
  
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