Construction news

• Watkin Jones go-ahead for Leeds co-living project

  08-11-2024 07:59 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Watkin Jones has got the go-ahead from that Leeds City Council to convert and re-purpose an old office building into 230 co-living homes.
  Built in the 1950s, Headrow House was most recently a HQ for Direct Line in the centre of Leeds.
  When completed in 2028, the 190,000 sq ft project will deliver a supported communal living environment, offering managed homes for city centre living.By reusing the historic building, the scheme will reduce embodied carbon by 78% and Watkin Jones will use sustainab
  
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• United Utilities hunts for ground investigation specialists

  08-11-2024 09:24 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  United Utilities has opened bidding for a £170m framework to deliver a programme of ground investigation work.
  Selected firms will support a programme of works for the AMP8 and AMP9 regulatory periods.
  The framework covering the north west region is being split into several specialist lots with the typical ground investigation call-off job expected to be worth £60,000 to £1.8m.
  Specialist lots
  Ground investigation: value £150m
  Offshore geophysical services: value £5
  
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• Subcontractors wanted across the North West

  08-11-2024 09:10 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Constructionline is bringing its latest Marketplace Live event to Manchester next week to put local subcontractors and suppliers in touch with major buyers.
  The event is being held at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket Club, on Wednesday November 13.
  The event, previously known as ‘Constructionline Meet the Buyer’, features a number of the UK’s top contractors, public sector authorities and other organisations.Exhibitors will include Amey, B
  
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• Vistry takes another £50m hit on build cost blunders

  08-11-2024 08:46 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Vistry has issued another £50m profit warning after discovering more under-estimated build costs at its southern division.
  The house builder issued a £115m profit warning last month after problems first came to light on nine schemes in the region.
  Vistry launched a review across the whole business and issued another Stock Exchange statement this morning.It has found more issues in the division across 18 sites which will impact profits by a further £50m over the next three years
  
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• JRL close to deal on sale of stake to Far Eastern buyer

  08-11-2024 08:36 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Diversified construction group JRL is close to striking a deal to sell a stake in the £826m turnover business.
  Talks with a Far Eastern property and construction group are described as being ‘very advanced’.
  The deal will strengthen JRL’s balance sheet and boost liquidity while opening the opportunity to take forward schemes for the buyer in the UK.The unnamed buyer is expected to take a substantial minority stake in the Hertfordshire-based business, which last month repo
  
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• Groundworks firm Corbyn files administration notice

  08-11-2024 08:15 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  London based groundworks and concrete frame specialist Corbyn Construction has filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator.
  Corbyn has been in business since 1989 undertaking projects up to £30m across the capital.
  Latest accounts for the company for the year to June 30 2023 show a turnover of £32.8m generating a pre-tax profit of £436,000.
  Data and credit checking specialist Red Flag Alert highlighted the firms’ administration notice with its regular checks o
  
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• WSP names new chief for UK and Ireland

  08-11-2024 07:46 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Consultant WSP has promoted Paul Reilly to become president and managing director for the UK and Ireland business in January.Reilley joined WSP as deputy CEO – UK & Ireland, two and half years ago from Stanec UK where he was managing director for infrastructure and buildings.Before that he spent 14 years of his career at Peter Brett Associates.
  In his new role, Reilley will drive WSP’s strategic priorities and client delivery, reinforcing the firm’s capabilities in critical
  
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• Management buyout at joinery specialist TMJ Interiors

  07-11-2024 14:40 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Ipswich based Taylor Made Joinery Interiors Limited has completed a management buyout.
  The joinery specialist was established by James Taylor in 1981 and employs a workforce of more than 200.
  Taylor said: “After building TMJ for the past four decades, I am pleased the company legacy will continue.“This is an exciting opportunity for the management team and I look forward to supporting them as they navigate through this evolution”
  The MBO was led by directors Tim Coll, Sarah War
  
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• £125m cash injection for infrastructure at Barking Riverside

  07-11-2024 14:29 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Homes England has approved a £124m funding package to unlock more homes to deliver vital infrastructure at Barking Riverside in east London.
  The vast 443-acre brownfield site formerly occupied by Barking Power Station, is one of the country’s most ambitious placemaking projects with the aim to build 20,000 homes.
  The vital infrastructure funding will unlock the building of another 16,500 homes on the site to complement the 3,500 already built or under construction by housing associat
  
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• Guinness Partnership starts race for £1bn housing upgrade deal

  07-11-2024 08:52 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  The Guinness Partnership has opened bidding for a £1bn housing upgrade and repairs framework covering homes across the country.
  The 15-year framework deal has been split into five regional lots to deliver an extensive planned programme of works.
  Appointed contractors in each of the regions will be required to carry out planned investment works covering kitchen and bathroom replacements, roofing, electrical works, external and internal decorations, and window replacements.
  The framework wil
  
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• Guinness Partnership starts race for £1bn housing deal

  07-11-2024 08:52 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  The Guinness Partnership has opened bidding for a £1bn housing upgrade and repairs framework covering homes across the country.
  The 15-year framework deal has been split into five regional lots to deliver an extensive planned programme of works.
  Appointed contractors in each of the regions will be required to carry out planned investment works covering kitchen and bathroom replacements, roofing, electrical works, external and internal decorations, and window replacements.
  The framework wil
  
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• Electrician caught abusing covid loans

  07-11-2024 08:32 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  An electrician from Middlesbrough is subject to seven years of stringent bankruptcy restrictions after claiming two Covid Bounce Back Loans and overstating his turnover to gain £16,250 more than he was entitled to.
  Shaun David Dixon, 43, a self-employed electrician from claimed Bounce Back Loans totalling £23,750 for his business in the summer of 2020.
  Dixon was made bankrupt in November 2023 and the Official Receiver found that Dixon had claimed two separate loans – a breach o
  
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• McAleer & Rushe wins London City 670-room student job

  07-11-2024 08:19 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Developer Dominus has stuck with McAleer & Rushe to construct a 669-bed student accommodation project on Holborn Viaduct in the heart of the City of London.
  This is the 11th project that Dominus and McAleer & Rushe have undertaken together and the second purpose-built student scheme, with works currently on site at the other 782-bed development at 65 Crutched Friars, also in the City of London.
  Designed by Stiff + Trevillion Architects, 65 Holborn Viaduct will provide a mix of bedroom ty
  
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• Rockwool plans new factory to ramp up output

  07-11-2024 00:09 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Stone wool insulation manufacturer Rockwool has bought 46 hectares of land near Birmingham for a new factory to ramp up production in the face of rising demand.
  The planned manufacturing facility at the Pedimore site to the north east of the city will feature proprietary electric melting technology for its stone wool insulation products.
  The Peddimore site, which is designated specifically for manufacturing use, is included in Birmingham City Council’s development plan and comes with outli
  
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• Wates hires Bouygues chief as MD for residential arm

  06-11-2024 16:32 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Wates has hired Bouygues UK managing director for London and the South East to head its growing residential business.
  Phillippa Prongué will take up the position of executive managing director of the housing business in the New Year, replacing Helen Bunch who is retiring after 19 years at Wates.
  Bunch leaves Wates having overseen a 150% growth and a 73% increase in operating profit during her four-year leadership.
  The business, which employs 380 staff, generated £320m of turnover la
  
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• Civils powers on but house building falters

  06-11-2024 12:36 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Construction growth slowed in October from a 29-month high in September with house building the only sector where overall workloads contracted.
  Industry buyers quizzed in the bellwether S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index recorded 54.3 in October, down from 57.2 in September.
  The index was above the crucial 50.0 no-change threshold for the eighth month running and above the average seen in the first half of 2024 (51.4) asinalling a solidexpansion of total industry act
  
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• United Living looking to continue expansion

  06-11-2024 09:11 via constructionenquirer.com
  Infrastructure and housing contractor United Living Group is looking to expand further as it posted a record set of results.
  The group bought social housing property services contractor Pilon last week and is looking to make further acquisitions.
  Latest results for the eight-month period ended 31 March 2024 show turnover up to £627.2m from £534.2m last time as pre-tax profits rose to £31m from £28.6m.New contracts worth £900m were landed during the period and United
  
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• Vital Energy JV to build £1bn heat network for Westminster

  06-11-2024 09:05 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Plans have been unveiled to build the UK’s largest heat network capturing heat from the River Thames, London Underground and sewer networks to warm around 1,000 buildings in central London, including the Houses of Parliament.
  Drawn up by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and consultant Aecom, the £1bn scheme will be delivered by a joint venture between leading players in the heat network market Vital Energy and Cumbria-based Hemiko.
  Known as the South Westminster Area Netwo
  
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• Vital Energi/Hemiko JV to build £1bn heat network for Westminster

  06-11-2024 09:05 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Plans have been unveiled to build the UK’s largest heat network capturing heat from the River Thames, London Underground and sewer networks to warm around 1,000 buildings in central London, including the Houses of Parliament.
  Drawn up by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and consultant Aecom, the £1bn scheme will be delivered by a joint venture between leading players in the heat network market Vital Energi and Cumbria-based Hemiko.
  Known as the South Westminster Area Netwo
  
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• Vital Energi JV to build £1bn heat network for Westminster

  06-11-2024 09:05 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Plans have been unveiled to build the UK’s largest heat network capturing heat from the River Thames, London Underground and sewer networks to warm around 1,000 buildings in central London, including the Houses of Parliament.
  Drawn up by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and consultant Aecom, the £1bn scheme will be delivered by a joint venture between leading players in the heat network market Vital Energi and Cumbria-based Hemiko.
  Known as the South Westminster Area Netwo
  
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• Paralysed builder stranded on floor for six hours after fall

  06-11-2024 08:45 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  A builder was left paralysed from the chest down after falling through a ceiling at a housing job in Derbyshire.
  Father-of-three Andrew Clifford remained lying face down on the floor for around six hours before he was found by a delivery driver. He judged the time by hearing hourly news bulletins from his radio.
  Clifford had been working alone installing first-floor joists during the construction of a house on Main Road in Dronfield. The 51-year-old was carrying out the work on behalf of Paul Fr
  
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• Plans in for Birmingham 300-bed student scheme

  06-11-2024 08:33 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Birmingham-based developer Sama Investment Group has submitted plans for 301-bed student project on a prominent brownfield site in the heart of the city’s vibrant China Quarter.
  The new scheme would be delivered across a stepped brick building of 4 storeys, 10 storeys and 15 storeys on Pershore Street.
  As part of the transformation, a variety of amenities will be delivered, including a social lounge, TV room, gym and workspaces.
  Bilal Ahmed, founder and executive chairman of Sama, said: &l
  
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• Key industry rebar supplier loses fight to stop factory closure

  06-11-2024 08:30 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Developer Peel Waters has cleared the final planning hurdle for its business park proposal at Chatham Docks in Kent.
  The final planning clearance by Medway Council after the Secretary of State decided not to call in the scheme means steel producer ArcelorMittal will now have to shut its major rebar facility supplying 30% of UK needs.
  The dockside factory sits on land forming part of the 18 acre waterfront industrial estate being readied for regeneration.The steel giant had claimed that it had no
  
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• Multiplex tops October contracts league

  06-11-2024 08:28 via constructionenquirer.com
  A £300m order for a new teaching block at Glasgow University helped to catapult Multiplex to the top of the contract wins rankings in October.
  The Keystone project will be the fifth major building to be constructed through the University of Glasgow’s £1.3bn campus development programme.
  Lendlease ranked second in the month as its development arm advanced plans for the Dovetail Building, a 24-storey office scheme on Houndsditch in the eastern cluster of the City of London.The UK
  
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• Network Plus names new chief executive

  05-11-2024 09:26 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Network Plus has appointed Kevin Fowlie as chief executive officer succeeding Dan Holland, co-founder and CEO of the private equity-backed utility and infrastructure contractor.
  Fowlie joined Network Plus as chief operating officer from United Utilities in April 2023, shortly after the company’s investment from OMERS Private Equity.
  (l-r) Kevin Fowlie succeeds Dan Holland who becomes non-executive director
  During this time, the business has continued its growth path topping £500m tur
  
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• New consultant buys M&E specialist TACE

  05-11-2024 09:11 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Contollo Group – a new building consultancy group backed by private equity firm NorthEdge – has completed the acquisition of mechanical and electrical consultancy TACE.
  It is the second deal by Contollo this year after completing its inaugural partnership in February with cost and project management consultancy Abacus.
  TACE has offices in Manchester, Liverpool and London and its 35 staff will remain within the business operating from current locations.Ruth Percival, CEO of Contollo G
  
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• Network Rail scales back Liverpool Street station scheme

  05-11-2024 09:01 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Network Rail has gone back to the drawing board to rethink its ambitious Liverpool Street Station redevelopment plan.
  The rail infrastructure firm has dropped its development partner Sellar and architect Herzog & de Meuron to recast the ambious project after coming under fire for the massing on large offices above the scheme.
  The previous plans submitted last year for a £1.5bn wholesale redevelopment of London Liverpool Street generated thousands of objections from the public. It also
  
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• TanRo lands latest Clowes business park

  05-11-2024 08:39 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  TanRo has been confirmed by Clowes Developments as main contractor on its latest business park in Nottinghamshire.
  Ground remediation assessments have been completed at the 31-acre Harrier Park site in Hucknall and an extensive four-week clean-up project is now underway at the former Rolls-Royce site.
  The boundaries will also now be fully secured as TanRo ramps up its presence on the site with a 20-week programme of remedial groundworks set to start in the new year.The business park has planning
  
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• Muse JVs with pension fund insurer to build 3,000 homes

  05-11-2024 08:07 via constructionenquirer.com
  
  Morgan Sindall-owned placemaker Muse has formed a long-term public-private partnership with investor Pension Insurance Corporation and Homes England.
  The £45m joint venture, named Habiko, aims to deliver 3,000 low-carbon, low-energy affordable homes for the rental market, unlocking institutional investment.
  Phil Mayall, managing director at Muse, said: “The Government has set out a bold and ambitious challenge to deliver a significant number of new affordable homes over the next five
  
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• £1.3bn revamp plan for South London shopping centre

  05-11-2024 08:07 via constructionenquirer.com
  Landsec has submitted ambitious plans to redevelop 1970s-built Lewisham shopping centre in south London into a new town centre district around an urban meadow.The 17-acre masterplan will retain parts of the shopping centre while allowing room for 1,700 new homes alongside 445 co-living flats in a 23-storey building and up to 660 student beds in a 15-storey building.
  The new district will be built around eight-acres of green space and public realm, including an urban meadow above a central p
  
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