• Beaumont Morgan Developments goes into administration

    Beaumont Morgan Developments goes into administration
    Manchester based contractor Beaumont Morgan Developments (BMD) is in administration.
    Documents filed at Companies House yesterday confirm Begbies Traynor is now in charge of the £47m turnover contractor.BMD is the construction delivery partner of Fortis Developments.BMD has been building the Fortis Quay residential scheme in Salford where the latest two towers are nearing completion.
    Concerned subcontractors have been contacting the Enquirer since before Christmas as fears grew over the co
  • Data centre sites to jump queue for grid connections

    Planned data centre schemes will be prioritised for grid connections under new government proposals.
    The move is part of a proposed revamp of how grid connection requests are handled after the current system was swamped with speculative applications from developers.
    Applications grew 450% last year leaving some developments a 15-year wait to hook-up to the national energy grid.Under the changes schemes like data centres and AI Growth Zones, EV charging hubs and electrified in
  • Birmingham sets out high-rise city centre vision

    Birmingham has unveiled a major regeneration blueprint centred on the HS2 Curzon Street station that could deliver more than 5,000 new homes alongside a huge new commercial district in the city centre.
    The Central Heart prospectus, launched to global investors at MIPIM, sets out plans to transform around four hectares of under-used retail and office space into a high-rise neighbourhood.
    Across a cluster of redevelopment sites, the vision includes up to 400,000 sq m of commercial floorspace, spac
  • Forterra ‘insulated’ from Iran war gas price shocks

    Materials giant Forterra said it is covered for short-term gas supplies as energy prices continue to fluctuate during the ongoing war with Iran.
    In its full-year results Forterra said: “We have around 80% of our gas usage secured for the remainder of 2026 with the month of March 100% covered, insulating us somewhat from the current price volatility caused by the situation in the Middle East.“We also have a good level of layered coverage beyond this, with around 70% of our usage secur
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  • Balfour Beatty construction margin hits 3.5%

    Balfour Beatty’s UK construction business fired on all cylinders last year as booming energy work helped push margin through the 3% barrier and drove a record £22.7bn order book across the group.
    The contractor posted a standout performance from its home construction arm, where turnover rose 3% to £3.1bn and operating profit jumped 36% to £110m.
    Margin climbed to 3.5% from 2.7%, beating the division’s long-running 3% target a year ahead of plan.That stronger UK show
  • Keepmoat and Cussins to complete £200m South Shields site

    Keepmoat and Cussins are set to start the final phase of a £200m regeneration scheme in South Tyneside.
    The site at Holborn, South Shields has undergone extensive remediation works including decontamination of the ground, raising of the former dry docks to overcome serious flooding issues, and construction of a new quay edge wall.
    The civil engineering is now complete and has been handed over to developers for the final phase of house building.Phases one and two have already delivered 135
  • Plans unveiled for 70-storey Liverpool tower

    Designs have been unveiled for a 70-storey tower to form the centrepiece of the £1bn Kings project on the Liverpool waterfront.
    The tower, designed by SimpsonHaugh, will comprise a 5-star hotel and luxury residences managed by the hotel operator.
    The latest designs come just weeks after the scheme’s first tower of 28 storeys, named No. 1 Kings, received consent from Liverpool City Council.Demolition works are set to start this spring for Davos Property Developments Limited
  • FRC probes accountants over Vistry South division reporting

    The Financial Reporting Council has launched an investigation into the conduct of two accountants linked to the financial reporting and forecasting of Vistry Group’s South Division.
    The probe will examine work connected to the house builder’s financial statements for the years ending 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2024.
    The regulator confirmed the investigation will be led by the FRC’s Executive Counsel.Vistry issued the first of three profit warnings back in October 2024, li
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  • North East Mayor to pump cash into arena and film studio jobs

    A £104m public funding package to kick-start a new arena, film studios and cultural infrastructure across the North East is set to unlock major construction work starting this summer.
    North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said the investment programme would help to unlock a new film studio complex plan for Sunderland and enabling works for a long-planned arena at Gateshead Quays.
    The largest single project is the £39m Crown Works Studios development in Sunderland, where construction prepar
  • Two firms and site manager fined after asbestos blunders

    Two Midlands companies and a site manager have been sentenced after a large scale asbestos disturbance and illegal clearance operation was carried out at a Cannock demolition site.
    Following concerns about unsafe demolition work, an HSE inspector visited a site at Greenheath Road, Cannock on 7 September 2023. The inspector found that demolition had been halted after asbestos was discovered on site.
    A subsequent refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey identified 218m² of asbestos-contai
  • Race starts for £3bn West Midlands framework

    The race has started to secure places on the £3bn third-generation Constructing West Midlands framework.
    Acivico, owned by Birmingham City Council, is leading procurement of the CWM3 framework alongside partners Solihull and Sandwell councils.
    Contractors fighting to renew places include Galliford Try, Morgan Sindall, Willmott Dixon, Speller Metcalfe, Seddon, Interclass and GF Tomlinson.Twenty contractors will be selected to deliver a pipeline of projects spanning education, housing, healt
  • Bid race starts for £3bn West Midlands framework

    The race has started to secure places on the £3bn third-generation Constructing West Midlands framework.
    Acivico, owned by Birmingham City Council, is leading procurement of the CWM3 framework alongside partners Solihull and Sandwell councils.
    Contractors fighting to renew places include Galliford Try, Morgan Sindall, Willmott Dixon, Speller Metcalfe, Seddon, Interclass and GF Tomlinson.Twenty contractors will be selected to deliver a pipeline of projects spanning education, housing, healt
  • Persimmon brick factory working 24/7 to meet demand

    Persimmon’s in-house materials are now the preferred choice across the whole business.
    The house building giant has boosted production at its Brickworks, Tileworks and Space4 timber frame operations.
    At it’s latest results Persimmon said: “Further investment across all three facilities will also play a pivotal role in supporting our growth ambitions. Our in-house materials are now the preferred choice throughout the business.“This approach delivers significant advantages
  • Costain builds record £7bn order book as profit jumps a third

    Costain has laid down a strong platform for its next phase of growth after piling up a record £7bn forward work position and lifting operating profit despite a sharp revenue drop in transport.
    The firm posted revenue of £1.05bn for the year to 31 December 2025, down 16% from £1.25bn, as lower road and rail activity dragged back the top line.
    Pre-tax profit increased 32% to £48m while net cash rose to £189m from £158m. An improvement in cash flow gave the group
  • Market sounding starts on £46m Mid Wales school

    Powys County Council has kicked off early contractor engagement for a £46m all-age school project in Mid Wales.
    Firms are being invited to take part in discussions ahead of inviting tenders later this year for the new Ysgol Bro Hyddgen development in Machynlleth.
    The project will deliver a net-zero operation education campus for 540 pupils on the existing school grounds, replacing outdated buildings currently spread across two sites.The Ysgol Bro Hyddgen scheme already has full planning co
  • £150m Cambridge to Cambourne busway job heads for tender

    Cambridgeshire County Council is preparing to invite bids for the construction of the £150m Cambourne to Cambridge busway and park-and-ride scheme.
    The council plans to invite tender in May for the major transport project, which forms a key part of the Greater Cambridge Sustainable Transport Programme.
    The scheme will deliver a new dedicated busway linking the fast-growing settlement of Cambourne with Cambridge, alongside a new park-and-ride site aimed at cutting congestion on the A428 cor
  • Muse gets green light for office-to-apartments conversion

    The latest two blocks have been given the go-ahead as part of the £500m regeneration of Wythenshawe in Manchester.
    Developer Muse and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group submitted three separate planning applications for 422 new affordable homes in December 2025.
    Now, works on two of the three new communities – C2 The Birtles and Brotherton House – can begin, with the third – Alpha House – expected to get the green light in the coming weeks.Brotherton House, a forme
  • Manchester city council JV to build 1,600 homes

    Manchester City Council is lining up a new joint venture with the Greater Manchester Pension Fund to accelerate development of 1,600 homes on council-owned brownfield land over the next decade.
    The partnership will drive the next phase of schemes under the council’s This City housing company, targeting a pipeline of seven sites in north, east and central Manchester.
    The collaboration agreement will go before the council’s executive for approval at the end of this week.The next scheme
  • Graham set for £100m Cardiff Crossrail phase one

    Graham is set to be officially signed as principal contractor to build the first phase of Cardiff’s long-planned Crossrail tram-train network linking the city centre with Cardiff Bay.
    Cardiff Council will ask cabinet members on 19 March to rubberstamp Graham’s appointment and finalise the contract value for the opening stage of the scheme.
    This would allow construction to begin this summer.
    The first phase of the project is backed by £100m in joint funding from the Welsh Govern
  • Worker electrocuted after cherry picker hits power line

    Two companies have been fined after an employee was killed and a colleague left with life-altering injuries when a cherrypicker collided with an overhead powerline.
    Willand O&M Ltd and New Wave Marine Ltd were sentenced at Exeter Crown Court last week following an incident on 1 June 2020 at the Willand Biogas site in Devon.
    Carl Parsons, 34, was electrocuted and colleague Luke Madavan was left with life-changing injuries.Described by his family as funny, loving, kind and a fantastic father,
  • Go-ahead for 2,300-home scheme at former GSK London HQ

    Developer Hadley Property Group has gained planning for a large-scale redevelopment of the former GlaxoSmithKline headquarters in Brentford, West London.
    The ambitious scheme at 980 Great West Road spans 13 acres and will see over 2,300 homes built across a mix of tenures, with 35% classed as affordable.
    The plans also include around 330,000 sq ft of commercial and retail space, creating a new mixed-use neighbourhood along the M4 corridor.Former Glaxo HQ building at redevelopment site where 96%
  • Habiko submits first 240-home scheme in Warrington

    Affordable homes partnership Habiko has lodged plans for its first housing scheme of 240-home affordable flats in Warrington town centre.
    The affordable homes partnership between Muse, Pension Insurance Corporation and Homes England has submitted proposals to Warrington Borough Council to redevelop land off Academy Way, on the site of the former DW Sports building.
    The plans would deliver one and two-bed affordable flats across two six-storey buildings arranged around a central landscaped courty
  • MTX wins £33m Welsh modular hospital revamp

    MTX Contracts has been appointed to deliver the £33m transformation of the historic Royal Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl, North Wales.
    The main design and build contract awarded by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for the three-storey 2,500m² facility will see MTX employ advanced elements of Modern Methods of Construction
    MTX has led the scheme through a two-stage procurement process under a Pre-Construction Service Agreement (PCSA), working closely with NHS Wales Shared Servic
  • North West landlord unveils £428m contractor panel

    North West housing association Regenda has picked a raft of contractors for a £428m works and consultancy framework covering construction, refurbishment and professional services across northern England and North Wales.
    The four-year framework, set up with Rise Construction Framework, will support projects across Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and Greater Manchester as well as North Wales and Yorkshire.
    The biggest slice of work sits in the general construction lot, where 38 fir
  • McLaren tops contracts league on data boom

    McLaren Construction surged to the top of the contractor league tables in February after landing a £500m deal to build a major datacentre campus in East London.
    The firm has secured a shell and core contract to deliver the first of three giant datacentre buildings at Ada Infrastructure’s Docklands campus, propelling it to the number one spot in the monthly rankings.
    Sisk ran McLaren close in a strong month for big-ticket project wins. The contractor secured two major schemes worth an
  • Probe launched after Falcon tower crane collapse

    Full details have been confirmed of the crane collapse in west London on Wednesday first reported by the Enquirer.
    The failed machine was a luffing jib tower crane on hire from Falcon Cranes working on a Hill Group housing job at Barlby Road for Kensington and Chelsea Council.
    A spokesperson from The Hill Group said: “On 4 March, an incident occurred at our Barlby Road site, being constructed on behalf of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, involving the jib of a tower crane becom
  • Housing drags down fledgling construction recovery

    Construction buyers have reported an accelerated downturn in February sinking signs of a recovery at the start of this year.
    The bellwether S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) registered 44.5 in February – down from January’s seven-month high (46.4) and the 14th consecutive monthly fall.
    Residential building remained the weakest-performing segment in February (index at 37.0) and the rate of decline accelerated since January.Commercial construction ac
  • Taylor Wimpey to spend £150m this year on safety defects backlog

    House builder Taylor Wimpey plans to spend around £150m this year fixing fire safety defects as it ramps up remediation work to fix a backlog of fire safety work.
    The firm has now revealed that previously hidden defects involving cavity barriers behind brickwork and render account for up to two-thirds of the steep £222m hike in its cladding remediation provision last year.
    The problems only emerged after intrusive investigations and updated Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAE
  • Tower crane collapses in London

    A tower crane jib is understood to have collapsed on a site in west London on Wednesday.
    Site photos shared with the Enquirer show the aftermath of the failure on the residential site.
    No-one is believed to have been injured in the incident.
    The Enquirer has contacted firms understood to have been involved for comment.
  • Near-1,000 homes approved for Isle of Dogs site

    London’s Tower Hamlets council has approved plans for a near-1,000 home twin-tower scheme on the Isle of Dogs at Mastmaker Court in Millharbour.
    The hybrid planning application will see two existing warehouse buildings demolished and replaced with two residential towers delivering co-living and affordable housing alongside community and education facilities.
    The development has been designed architect Squire & Partners for site owner Pirin Limited and its development partner Fifth Stat

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