Construction news

• Landsec shelves £1.5bn Lewisham redevelopment

  21-10-2026 08:16 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Developer Landsec has put its £1.5bn redevelopment of Lewisham Shopping Centre on ice after rising construction costs and a stand-off over affordable housing blocked its route to delivery.
  Work had been due to start next year on the south east London scheme, replacing the 1970s mall with a new shopping district and residential towers rising to 35 storeys.
  The masterplan would deliver more than 1,700 homes, 660 student beds and 445 co-living rooms, alongside a 500-capacity music venue and r
  
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• England’s road repair spending powers up to £4.9bn

  22-10-2026 10:12 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Councils are stepping up preventative roadworks as ministers push to break the cycle of repeatedly patching potholes.
  New Gvernment figures show 94% of councils will carry out preventative maintenance this year, up from 76% last year, boosting demand for treatments that stop road surfaces breaking up.
  The shift comes as council road maintenance spending reaches a record £4.9bn, up £800m in two years.
  Nearly 7,000 miles of roads are due to be resurfaced this year, more than 10% up on last year.
  
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• Builder severely injured in Banbury site scaffolding collapse

  22-10-2026 09:02 via Construction Enquirer
  
  A construction worker suffered severe injuries when a building and scaffolding partially collapsed at a housing site in Banbury yesterday.
  Two workers were taken to hospital following the incident on Lower Cherwell Street late on Wednesday morning.
  Emergency crews at the Banbury site after partial building and scaffolding collapse (Image: Banburyshire Info)
  Nine workers were understood to have been on site, where a former car sales garage is being redeveloped into 19 flats.South Central Ambulanc
  
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• Infrastructure work set to lead steady construction growth

  22-10-2026 08:48 via Construction Enquirer
  
  The UK construction market is set for steady growth over the next few year as infrastructure leads the recovery from the current doldrums.
  Latest forecasts from consultancy McBains predict construction output is anticipated to grow by 1.8% in 2027, strengthening to 2.8% in 2028, before moderating to 2.3% in 2029 and 2.1% in 2030.
  Infrastructure is expected to be the star performer with work increasing by 14% between 2026 and 2031 while residential and commercial development experience a more
  
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• Contractor swap on troubled Oldham site

  22-10-2026 08:26 via Construction Enquirer
  
  First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has appointed a new main contractor to finish a delayed development of 30 apartments in Royton.
  The housing association will use John Southworth Builders Ltd to complete the £3.7m project of affordable one and two-bed flats at Shaw Street.
  FCHO terminated its contract with the original contractor Robwood Construction Limited in June following “unacceptable delays” to the project that should have been concluded in 2024.John Southworth has now surveyed the bui
  
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• Fifteen win places on new-look £1bn North West framework

  22-10-2026 08:10 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Fifteen contractors have secured places on the North West Construction Hub’s new £1bn high-value building framework, nearly doubling the existing eight-firm line-up.
  BAM, Graham, Kier, McLaren, Robertson and Vinci Building have landed places on the new major projects lot for jobs worth more than £45m.
  Ten firms join the roster compared with the existing arrangement: BAM, Equans, F Parkinson, GMI, Graham, Henry Brothers, McLaren, Robertson, Seddon and Wates.NWCH high-value projects frameworkP
  
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• Munnelly plots acquisition push as sales hit £181m

  22-10-2026 08:05 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Munnelly Group is gearing up for acquisitions and a push into new infrastructure markets as it chases bigger profits from longer-term contracts.
  The family-owned construction site services group has set out a Target 2030 growth plan to pull its eight businesses closer together and win more work spanning pre-construction through to project handover.
  Energy, water, nuclear, defence and prison expansion are in its sights as it seeks to build on decades of relationships with major contractors.The st
  
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• HG lands £225m quartet of Manchester towers

  21-10-2026 11:56 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Developer FEC has appointed HG Construction to lead the delivery of the next phase of homes at the Red Bank neighbourhood north of Manchester city centre.
  The £225m contracts will see HG Construction build four new buildings across plots NT02 and NT03, forming part of FEC’s wider plans for Red Bank within Victoria North.
  The contractor will be responsible for delivering 316 properties over 34 storeys in FEC’s first build-to-rent development at NT02, along with three buildings &
  
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• Bigger projects pay-off for Oliver Connell

  21-10-2026 08:25 via Construction Enquirer
  
  RC frame and groundworks specialist Oliver Connell has posted another strong set of results as a focus on fewer, larger projects pays off.
  Latest numbers filed at Companies House show turnover ticked-up to £155m for the year to June 30 2026 from £150m last time as pre-tax profits hit £23.4m from £22.6m.
  The directors said: “The company maintained a consistent level of profitability during the year. The board has continued to pursue tender opportunities that align wi
  
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• Bouygues South London estate rebuild clears Gateway 2

  21-10-2026 08:15 via Construction Enquirer
  Bouygues UK has cleared the Gateway 2 hurdle for the next 295 homes at its Tustin Estate regeneration scheme in south London.
  The Building Safety Regulator approved phase two with four minor requirements, paving the way for construction of four blocks on the eastern side of the Southwark estate.
  The breakthrough comes nearly 17 months after the planning green light was announced in May last year.Bouygues said the BSR review took 34 weeks following a six-month detailed design push involving more
  
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• Sixteen win £150m Black Country highways framework

  21-10-2026 07:54 via Construction Enquirer
  Four contractors have secured places on the biggest projects lot of a £150m Black Country highways framework.
  Amey, McPhillips, Fitzgerald Contractors and CR Reynolds will chase individual jobs worth more than £5m and up to £10m, with £75m of work expected through the top tier.McPhillips, Fitzgerald and CR Reynolds also landed places on the £750,000 to £5m lot alongside AE Yates, Bridge Construction, Montel Civil Engineering and Octavius Infrastructure.
  Wolver
  
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• Collins Construction sold to staff

  20-10-2026 15:43 via Construction Enquirer
  
  London and South East refurbishment and fit out specialist Collins Construction is the latest contractor to transition to employee ownership by its 168 staff.
  The seven shareholders of Collins have completed the sale of the business to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in its 70th anniversary year.
  Collins will continue to be led by its existing management team as turnover for the financial year to June 30 2026 is expected to leap 84% to hit £199m generating pre-tax profits of £6.7m.
  
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• Sauter acquires M&E contractor 24-7 Group

  20-10-2026 14:18 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Swiss-owned building automation giant Sauter has acquired a majority stake in Cheshire based engineering and integrated facilities management business 24-7 Group.
  Founded by Andy Hawes in 2010, 24-7 Group has grown from an electrical contractor into a £70m business employing 330 people across the UK.
  Hawes will remain as chief executive and shareholder, with the business continuing to operate under its existing name and leadership.He said: “When I started 24-7 Group in 2010, I h
  
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• Vistry gets green light for next phase of London estate

  20-10-2026 09:15 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Kingston Council and Vistry have secured planning permission for Phase 2 of the Cambridge Road Estate regeneration.
  The site in Kingston is one of London’s largest estate renewal programmes which will deliver a total of 2,170 new homes alongside new community facilities, green spaces and improved public realm.
  Designed by architects BPTW, Phase 2 will provide 383 new homes, including 94 Council Rent homes, The plans also include more than 700 cycle spaces, around 120 parking spaces, approx
  
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• Morgan Sindall starts £32m SEND school job

  20-10-2026 08:46 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Morgan Sindall Construction has started main works for the expansion of Foxwood Academy for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Bramcote, Nottinghamshire.
  The new £32m Foxwood 2 building will accommodate an additional 150 pupils between the ages of 11 and 18.
  It will serve as a secondary school expansion for pupils at Foxwood Academy and be built on the site of the former Bramcote Park School, which was subject to a major fire in September 2021 and
  
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• Bradford station rebuild gets government backing

  20-10-2026 08:36 via Construction Enquirer
  
  The government has backed plans to replace Bradford Interchange with a new city centre railway station, paving the way for a major rebuild in the 2030s.
  The existing 1970s station site has been picked for the Northern Powerhouse Rail hub, which will spearhead regeneration of Bradford’s Southern Gateway.
  Ministers have settled the location but have yet to announce a construction budget or detailed building programme.Network Rail has been carrying out engineering and cost studies. Amey has s
  
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• RED Group to finish £50m Ardmore office job

  20-10-2026 08:07 via Construction Enquirer
  
  RED Group has been handed the contract to complete the £50m retrofit of 5 Chancery Lane in central London which was left in the lurch by the collapse of original contractor Ardmore Construction Group.
  Ardmore started on site in early 2024 for developer LS Estates but work was halted when the contractor fell into administration in June.
  RED’s London division will complete the scheme with work expected to be finished by the first quarter of 2027.Ian Hopkinson, Group Director at RED Gro
  
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• Domis lined up as 44-storey Manchester tower clears Gateway 2

  20-10-2026 07:38 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Developer Glenbrook has cleared the Gateway 2 hurdle for its 44-storey Manchester tower, paving the way for Domis to start building next year.
  The 364-home Whitworth Street West scheme now has planning permission, funding and Building Safety Regulator approval in place.
  Glenbrook has secured £17m from the Greater Manchester Good Growth Fund to plug a viability gap and help unlock delivery.Designed by Sheppard Robson, the tower beside Deansgate station will be Glenbrook’s tallest buil
  
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• Breheny lifts profit despite £11m turnover slide

  20-10-2026 06:58 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Civils contractor Breheny has shrugged off an £11m slide in turnover to lift profit as tighter pricing and risk control strengthened margins.
  The Suffolk-based civil engineering group lifted pre-tax profit 7% to £4.1m in the year to March 2026, despite turnover falling 8% to £135m.
  Directors said the performance had beaten expectations, crediting careful pricing and risk management.Operating profit rose to £3.4m from £3.1m, lifting the operating margin to 2.5% from
  
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• Heathrow pitches 17,500 building jobs as runway doubts grow

  19-10-2026 08:44 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Heathrow Airport has dangled the prospect of at least 17,500 local construction jobs as it steps up the push for a third runway.
  The airport is gearing up to train the workforce needed for the huge expansion programme, with opportunities spanning engineering, logistics, electrical installation, carpentry and joinery.
  It has now convened the first meeting of its Heathrow Infrastructure Skills Council, bringing unions, colleges and training providers together to prepare workers for the build.The j
  
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• Electrical wholesaler fined £4m after worker crushed

  19-10-2026 08:42 via Construction Enquirer
  
  A Telford-based electrical wholesaler and manufacturer has been fined £4m after an employee sustained life-changing injuries when he was crushed during loading operations using a forklift truck.
  The 40-year-old father of one was working for City Electrical Factors Limited at its Proteus Switchgear Industrial Division on 4 October 2024 when the incident happened.
  The man had been acting as a “spotter” while a forklift truck loaded heavy switchboard equipment onto a flatbed lorry
  
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• Taylor Wimpey cuts wages of ‘overpaid’ workers

  19-10-2026 08:14 via Construction Enquirer
  
  A pay row has broken out in the North East where Taylor Wimpey joiners and scaffolders were earning more than national average rates.
  The house builder discovered the discrepancy as part of its regular pay audits for directly employed workers.
  The Enquirer understands around 50 joiners and scaffolders in the North East were found to be earning nearly 25% more than comparable roles mainly made up of higher bonuses.The workers have been asked to sign new contracts on reduced terms which have come
  
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• Demolition starts for Bradford’s 1,000-home City Village

  19-10-2026 00:17 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Metropolitan Demolition has started clearing Bradford’s former Oastler Shopping Centre to pave the way for the 1,000-home City Village regeneration scheme.
  The Wakefield-based demolition firm will spend eight months dismantling the shopping centre and surrounding buildings for delivery partners Bradford Council and urban regeneration specialist ECF.
  The clearance will unlock the first 97 two and three-bedroom townhouses, with construction expected to start in summer 2027.Metropolitan is al
  
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• Farrans plunges to £36m loss as legacy jobs bite

  18-10-2026 23:51 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Farrans plunged to a £36m pre-tax loss after taking fresh provisions on legacy contracts in the year it was bought by Sisk.
  The Belfast-based building and civil engineering contractor slipped deep into the red from a £3.2m profit the previous year as turnover fell 22% to £298m.
  New owner Sisk has pledged ongoing support, with Farrans able to draw on the group’s cash pooling arrangements to meet funding needs.Sisk bought the business on 31 October 2025 from global giant CR
  
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• Arup profit slumps to 13-year low as project provisions mount

  18-10-2026 23:24 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Arup’s pre-tax profit has sunk to a 13-year low as problem jobs and the cost of a global shake-up hit earnings.
  The engineering giant booked nearly £26m of new provisions against loss-making contracts while pouring money into AI, staff skills and an overhaul of its regional operations.
  Pre-tax profit fell 41% to £26m in the year to March 2026, despite revenue rising 5% to £2.27bn.
  Arup said a handful of projects needed extra provisions to cover expected future costs and r
  
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• Obex puts Through-Wall System on show

  16-10-2026 11:59 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Obex, the global leader in sealing and protection solutions for commercial glazing and façades, will be showcasing its Through-Wall System on its stand at London Build.
  The system provides optimal structural integrity, safety, and fire protection for modern construction projects and is the first through-wall system to include breather membranes and air & vapour control layers in its testing and certification process.
  The company will also be showing its RapidTray cavity tray and DPC s
  
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• Plans in to convert former Pilkington factory canteen into 45 flats

  16-10-2026 09:01 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Plans have gone in to turn former glass-maker Pilkington’s Grade-II listed canteen into 45 flats.
  Flats plan for canteen after 30 years in disuse
  Nicholson Group is behind the latest bid to revive the St Helens landmark that once served up lunches for 2,000 staff at a time and has stood empty since 1996.
  The developer bought the modernist building at Alexandra Business Park out of receivership in 2023.Designed in-house, the plans would transform the 75,000 sq ft former dining hall into apa
  
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• Kier on board for Manchester tram stop upgrade

  16-10-2026 08:55 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Kier has been appointed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to lead improvements to Heaton Park Metrolink stop in Prestwich, Greater Manchester.
  Kier will lead on the design of the project, which includes enhanced step-free access through the installation of ramps and larger lifts. Proposed improvements also include:Demolition and construction of new stepped access to platforms
  Installation of new waiting shelters
  Urban realm improvements at the stop entrance
  Removal and relocation of exi
  
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• Council housing scheme built by CField wins Stirling Prize

  16-10-2026 08:42 via Construction Enquirer
  
  A council housing scheme in south London has won the UK’s most prestigious architecture prize.
  Lion Green Road in Coulsdon, South London, by Mary Duggan Architects with RUFF Architects has been awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize 2026.
  The 157-home scheme across five blocks was built for Croydon Council by main contractor CField Construction under a £34m deal.Replacing a former car park on a challenging, sloping site that varies in height by eight metres, the development creates a new co
  
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• Balfour targets 6,000 supply chain workforce for power boom

  16-10-2026 08:20 via Construction Enquirer
  
  Balfour Beatty is gearing up to nearly double its power project workforce to 6,000 as Britain’s grid spending boom gathers pace.
  The contractor expects its combined direct and supply chain workforce to grow from around 3,200 this year to 6,000 by 2030. That would be four times the number deployed in 2024.
  The expansion push revealed to investors yesterday comes as network owners prepare to pump around £80bn into transmission infrastructure by 2031, fuelling the biggest expansion of B
  
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