Construction news

• Plan rejected for 42-storey tower above historic building

  26-04-2024 08:13 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Councillors in Birmingham have unanimously rejected plans to build a 42-storey skyscraper on top of a Grade-II listed former hospital.
  The proposal for the city centre site involved building 300 flats directly above the Grade II-listed former Royal Orthopaedic Hospital building in 80 Broad Street.
  At a planning committee meeting yesterday Conservative councillor Gareth Moore branded the scheme as ludicrous.He said: “This is utterly bonkers. The idea you can stick a 42-storey tower blo
  
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• SRL appoints Mark Eburne as CEO

  07-05-2024 22:48 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Traffic management specialist SRL Traffic Systems has appointed Mark Eburne as chief executive officer.
  The seasoned CEO has 25 years’ senior leadership experience and has worked extensively throughout the utilities, hire and construction sectors. He will bring considerable commercial expertise, which will be beneficial to SRL as it continues its growth journey.
  Eburne joins SRL from tool, fixings and building supplies retailer, FFX Group, where he was CEO.
  He said: “I am joining SRL
  
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• Conquip BulkX makes site excavations easier

  07-05-2024 13:04 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Conquip has developed a new excavation method that significantly enhances the efficiency and safety of construction projects.
  Conquip BulkX can handle large volumes of material, discharging into muck bays or directly into muck away trucks, rapidly and safely.
  The Smart-Release BulkX is the latest addition that Conquip launched this year.
  Fully-electric and remote-operated, this versatile system reduces plant-people interface and can be discharged in muck bays, barges, trucks or stockpiles.
  The d
  
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• Construction buyers see fastest growth for 14 months

  07-05-2024 11:47 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Construction buyers reported another rise in business activity in April with commercial building work leading the way.
  The bellwether S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index posted 53.0 in April, up from 50.2 in March.
  The index was in positive territory for the second month running and signalled the strongest pace of expansion since February 2023.Commercial building (index at 53.9) increased for the first time since August 2023 and was the fastest-growing area of constru
  
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• Trio of builders win King’s Award for sustainability

  07-05-2024 09:19 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Three construction contractors have been recognised in the King’s Award for Enterprise for their efforts in promoting sustainable development.
  Northern Ireland’s Henry Brothers, privately-owned building contractor Willmott Dixon and offsite specialist ZED Pods all won recognition in the Sustainable Development category.
  Willmott Dixon has been recognised in the prestigious business accolade for the second successive year after last year winning an award in the category of Promoting O
  
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• Go Modular Technologies files administration notice

  07-05-2024 08:58 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Southampton offsite specialist Go Modular Technologies UK has filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator.
  The firm specialises in bespoke modular construction from rooftop extensions to existing buildings to multi-storey new build flats.
  According to latest accounts for 2023, the volumetric timber frame producer employed around 60 staff from its South Hampshire Industrial Park base in Southampton.
  The business was set up six years ago operates across the south from Bristol to L
  
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• Kent police seize huge haul of stolen site tools

  07-05-2024 08:52 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Kent police have unearthed a haul of more than 1,000 stolen site tools.
  Officers from Kent Police’s Rural Task Force made seven arrests after seizing the stolen items in Cranbrook.
  Five local men, aged between 18 and 44, were arrested alongside a 19-year-old woman and 17-year-old boy on suspicion of multiple offences relating to theft. They have since been bailed pending further investigations.The haul was discovered following a search for a power drill fitted with a tracking device after
  
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• Cladding firm went down owing supply chain £7.7m

  07-05-2024 08:26 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Cladding specialist Alucraft Systems Ltd crashed into administration owing more than £7.7m to suppliers and subcontractors.
  The Staffordshire based contractor called in administrators from PwC in March who have now posted an update at Companies House on the firm’s finances.
  It reveals that the supply chain is owed £7.7m with little chance of unsecured creditors getting a penny for their unpaid invoices.Alucraft started its highest-profile project to date last May to deliver the
  
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• Rydon dogged by legacy fire safety remediation costs

  07-05-2024 08:21 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Legacy fire safety work continues to be a drag on Rydon Group’s financial performance.
  Revenue across the parent group fell by nearly a third last year to £64m with the group managing to generate a £560,000 pre-tax profit following a £11m contribution from Rydon Homes.
  Rydon Construction, which has been wound down with the exception of working through existing legacy contracts, suffered a £9.7m loss (2022:  £3.9m loss) from £0.6m revenue in the year
  
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• Robertson names new Northern construction chiefs

  07-05-2024 08:16 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Robertson Construction has promoted Ian Phillips to regional managing director of its Northern business in Scotland.
  His appointment to the business comes six years after joining as operations director and follows the retirement of Frank Reid after 43 years of service.
  In another appointment Morgans Sindall’s Ricky Brown has joined the business to fill the operational vacancy created by Phillips’s promotion.
  Elliot Robertson, chief executive officer at Robertson Group, said: “W
  
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• Carpenter killed by falling timber frame panels

  03-05-2024 14:19 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  A specialist contractor has been fined after a 22-year-old carpenter died after he was struck by roofing materials on a building site.
  On 30 October 2019, Niall McCormack from Kettering, Northamptonshire had been working for KM Carpentry Contractors Limited installing roof trusses at a new build site at Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire.
  Both the truss packs and party wall spandrel panel had been lifted by crane onto a pair of semi-detached properties the day before the incident – temporaril
  
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• Anglian Homes rides in to finish crashed Everest contracts

  03-05-2024 09:21 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Anglian Home Improvement has pledged to fulfil orders taken by crashed double-glazed window rival Everest 2020.
  Administrators Resolve confirmed today that a deal has been struck to sell certain assets of the failed business to Anglian Home Improvements.
  While the terms of the agreement are finalised, the joint administrators have entered a subcontractor arrangement that will enable customer orders to be fulfilled by Anglian where possible.
  This will ensure all Everest customers impacted by Ever
  
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• Final work starts to connect super sewer to London system

  03-05-2024 08:46 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Engineers on the super sewer project have begun work to connect the new infrastructure to London’s existing sewer system. 
  Major construction work on the 25km Thames Tideway tunnel was finished last month after a 1,200-tonne concrete ‘lid’ was lifted into place to cap the project’s deepest shaft at Abbey Mills Pumping Station in east London.
  Now, the teams are preparing to bring the tunnel into service by making a connection to the 6.9km Lee Tunnel, which has been in
  
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• Road sweeper specialist files administration notice

  03-05-2024 08:35 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Road sweeper hire specialist Go Plant has filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator.
  The firm’s machines are a common sight on building and civils jobs across the country.
  Go Plant’s latest accounts show the business had a turnover of £44.8m for the year to June 30 2022 generating a pre-tax loss of £4m while employing 443 staff.Sister company Go Plant Fleet Services has also filed a a notice of intention to appoint an administrator.
  The current operation is
  
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• Legal challenge launched against £1.5bn A66 dualling

  03-05-2024 08:29 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  A legal challenge has been launched against £1.5bn plans to dual parts of the A66 just as contractors were gearing up to start work.
  The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project, which received development consent last month, looks set to delay the project again.
  National Highways said it would fully support the legal process as the challenge passes through court.
  A spokesman said: “We have been designing and developing the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project, and we will continue to carry
  
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• McAlpine appoints MD to grow ventures business

  02-05-2024 14:38 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Sir Robert McAlpine has strengthened its Capital Ventures development business with the appointment of Owain Thomas as managing director of Land and Development.
  SRMCV has a clear mandate from its shareholders to continue to grow after successful developments in the build to rent and healthcare sectors.
  Thomas will have overall responsibility for the SRMCV development team as well as driving the growth strategy.He joins SRMCV from Cortland where he was managing director of Investment & Devel
  
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• John F Hunt wins 24-storey Battersea tower

  02-05-2024 12:51 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  John F Hunt has been employed directly by Belgian developer Ghelamco to undertake demolition, enabling works and construction of The HiLight – a new 24-storey resi tower on the site of the former 1830s Price’s Candle Factory in Battersea.
  Work includes demolition of the existing steel showroom which sits above podium level, followed by the excavation of a single-storey basement which will be complicated owing to the presence of an existing Thames Water sewer which bisects the site.
  F
  
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• William Hare wins steelwork on £500m Broadgate towers

  02-05-2024 12:13 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  William Hare Group has won the contract to deliver the design, fabrication and installation of steelwork on the latest phase of Broadgate in the City of London.
  Sir Robert McAlpine was confirmed as main contractor last month on the £500m project at 2 Finsbury Avenue to build a 21-storey West Tower and a 36-storey East Tower, linked by a 12-storey podium.
  A solid and glazed sawtooth-shaped façade, characterised by triangular patterns, will be facilitated by a bespoke steelwork suppor
  
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• William Hare wins steel work on £500m Broadgate towers

  02-05-2024 12:13 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  William Hare Group has won the contract to deliver the design, fabrication and installation of steelwork on the latest phase of Broadgate in the City of London.
  Sir Robert McAlpine was confirmed as main contractor last month on the £500m project at 2 Finsbury Avenue to build a 21-storey West Tower and a 36-storey East Tower, linked by a 12-storey podium.
  A solid and glazed sawtooth-shaped façade, characterised by triangular patterns, will be facilitated by a bespoke steelwork suppor
  
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• BAM Co-Op Live Arena opening delayed yet again

  02-05-2024 09:18 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  BAM’s vast Co-op Live arena project in Manchester suffered yet another setback as opening was delayed for a third time.
  The £365m Eastlands arena project has turned into an opening fiasco with three major gigs called off at the last minute.
  The vast arena project was due to be opened by comedian Peter Kay last week, but his shows have been postponed twice.Last night a fault scuppered a gig by rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. And now US singer Olivia Rodrigo has called off two sell-out
  
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• Contractors wanted for £800m highways deal

  02-05-2024 09:14 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Local authorities across the East of England are looking for contractors to join an £800m roads framework.
  Central Bedfordshire Council is leading procurement on the Eastern Highways Alliance Framework 4 deal.
  It will cover schemes across 11 local authorities including structural work, surfacing, road works and capital projects.The four-year framework is divided into lots and firms invited to bid include civil engineers and other highways related professional businesses.
  Full details of th
  
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• Turkish insulation panel maker to build £45m UK factory

  02-05-2024 08:27 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Turkish building materials firm Assan Panel has unveiled plans to build its first UK manufacturing facility at Freeport East near Felixstowe.
  The £45m insulation plant is planned to be operational by Autumn 2025 and Assan is also is planning to establish a new office in Ipswich to serve the UK market.
  It will produce sandwich panels filled with Polyisocyanurate (PIR), mineral wool, or polyurethane.Haluk Kayabaşı, CEO of Assan parent company Kibar Holding said: “We aim to fu
  
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• Galliford Try names group head of infrastructure

  02-05-2024 08:09 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Galliford Try has promoted David Lowery to the board with effect from July, in the newly-created position of divisional managing director – Infrastructure.Lowery, who has over 24 years UK and overseas experience, will advance Galliford Try’s growth strategy within both the environment and infrastructure business units.
  Glennan Blackmore will succeed Lowery as managing director of Galliford Try’s infrastructure unit in August, joining the business from Skanska, where he most rec
  
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• Trio of new products from Altrad RMD Kwikform

  01-05-2024 17:15 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Temporary works specialist Altrad RMD Kwikform (Altrad RMDK) has launched three new products to expand its equipment range and provide a wider choice of solutions for contractors.
  The newly introduced products include the XL Airodek Panel, Multiframe, and the 1950 x 1800mm Ultraguard Barrier & 1.9m Post.
  Airodek is Altrad RMDK’s low-weight, high productivity, simple slab formwork system, suitable for slabs up to 700mm thick. Its quick, safe, and simple assembly process currently enable
  
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• Expanding consultant Stantec swoops for rival Hydrock

  01-05-2024 16:43 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Expanding global engineering consultant Stantec has acquired UK engineering consultant Hydrock.
  The deal expands Stantec’s UK workforce by around a third as 950 staff join from Bristol-headquartered Hydrock.
  Founded in 1995 by Dr Brian McConnell, who now retires, Hydrock operates nationwide from 22 locations providing sustainable solutions for major projects across the public and private sectors.Hydrock brings capabilities in fire safety, energy and sustainability, civil and structural, ME
  
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• Expanding consultant Stantec swoops for Hydrock

  01-05-2024 16:43 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Canadian sustainable design and engineering consultant Stantec has acquired UK consultant Hydrock.
  The deal expands Stantec’s UK workforce by around a third as 950 staff join from Bristol-headquartered Hydrock.
  Founded in 1995 by Dr Brian McConnell, who now retires, Hydrock operates nationwide from 22 locations providing sustainable solutions for major projects across the public and private sectors.Hydrock brings capabilities in fire safety, energy and sustainability, civil and structural,
  
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• National Grid unveils winners for £9bn network upgrade

  01-05-2024 15:02 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  National Grid has confirmed the seven winners of its Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) projects to connect offshore wind farms to the energy network.
  The firms forming the Great Grid Partnership are:
  Construction partners – Laing O’Rourke, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, Morrison Energy Services, Murphy and Omexom/Taylor Woodrow
  Design and consenting service partners – AECOM Arup JV and WSPThe ASTI projects form a key part of the £9bn Great Grid Upgrade
  
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• Cumbrian civils firm clinches £40m Sellafield contract

  01-05-2024 09:32 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Workington-based civils and groundworks specialist Stobbarts is the latest local firm to join Sellafield’s Programme and Project Partners.
  Stobbarts has secured a 15-year framework deal, worth up to £40m, which will see the firm support key delivery partner Sir Robert McAlpine on groundworks and concrete.
  Because the work is long-term, Stobbarts can continue its ambitious growth strategy, recruiting more local people and investing in its apprenticeship programme.There are also plans
  
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• Designers named for London 2000-bed student rooms job

  01-05-2024 09:11 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  The London School of Economics and its development partner Bouygues UK have selected designs for a £400m landmark 2000-bed student accommodation scheme in London next to Tate Modern.
  Architects Carmody Groarke and Sheppard Robson’s winning design will see three clustered blocks of 650-students connected at the lower floors and via garden terraces.
  The LSE Bankside Residences Project will be located at the existing Bankside House student accommodation building located behind Tate Mode
  
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• Midgard set for Notting Hill office tower overhaul

  01-05-2024 08:41 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  JRL Group’s main contractor Midgard is in line to deliver the transformation of 1950s-build Newcombe House tower at Notting Hill Gate in London.
  Developer Beltane Asset Management has finally secured clearance from the London Mayor’s office for the local Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to determine the planning.
  A hoped-for positive decision from the Borough Council would end a 10-year long saga to redevelop the landmark residential site in West London.
  The existing residenti
  
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