Construction news

• Bespoke training gets investment boost

  04-04-2025 16:59 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  ICE Training, the Institution of Civil Engineers’ official training provider, has welcomed the £600m investment package by the government, that aims to train up to 60,000 more skilled construction workers.
  In particular, the £80 million capital fund that has been allocated to bespoke training, reflects the growing trend the organisation has seen for tailored sessions and company specific learning outcomes.
  Taking place over the next four years, the range of investment measures
  
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• Kier set for £21m Edinburgh towers upgrade

  16-01-2026 09:26 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Rebar giant loses high court fight to save Chatham Docks base

  16-01-2026 09:14 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• £56bn hospital programme on track but delivery risks remain

  16-01-2026 08:52 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Modular firm backs ‘new chapter’ for Merit

  16-01-2026 08:25 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Indian modular firm backs ‘new chapter’ for Merit

  16-01-2026 08:25 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Caldwell Construction collapses into administration

  15-01-2026 18:27 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• A9 dualling switches to £1.9bn framework model

  15-01-2026 16:41 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• CW Plant Hire kit goes under hammer in fleet renewal sale

  15-01-2026 12:20 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Heathrow kicks off third runway pre-planning design work

  15-01-2026 11:18 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Civils firm Caldwell Construction files administration notice

  15-01-2026 09:02 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Autumn Budget jitters knock construction output back

  15-01-2026 08:49 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Taylor Wimpey braces for margin squeeze this year

  15-01-2026 08:35 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Green light for Ballymore 1,685 homes site

  15-01-2026 08:23 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Ex-directors buy back Boutique Modern in £24k pre-pack deal

  15-01-2026 08:09 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Henry creditors payout hangs on £31m family legal fight

  15-01-2026 08:07 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Building boss fined for ignoring safety warnings

  14-01-2026 15:21 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Industry standards body racks-up huge loss

  14-01-2026 14:21 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Milton Keynes plans £76m events venue

  14-01-2026 09:10 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Kier Construction appoints new southern region chief

  14-01-2026 09:05 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• Vistry saved by second half margin rebound to 8.4%

  14-01-2026 08:39 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• USA contractor acquires London super-prime specialist

  14-01-2026 08:36 via constructionenquirer.com
  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
  
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• 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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