British Safety Council welcomes government support for workers in the Budget Statement
“It is right that the Chancellor is focusing on workers affected by the Coronavirus crisis” says British Safety Council Chief Executive Mike Robinson The British Safety Council today welcomed measures in the government’s Budget Statement that will support workers...
Balfour Beatty announces 2019 full year results
Benefits of Build to Last accelerating Highlights 8% increase in Group underlying profit from operations (PFO) to £221 million (2018: £205 million)22% increase in PFO from earnings-based businesses to £172 million (2018: £141 million)68% increase in average net cash...
Temporary walking and cycling crossing proposed as part of the restoration of Hammersmith Bridge
New structure would maintain link for 16,000 people currently using Hammersmith Bridge while vital repairs take placeTemporary bridge will speed up repairs to crossing that is more than 130 years oldSubject to planning permission, work on the temporary bridge is...
Industry Bodies Hail Rise in Female Electrical Apprentices – But Say More Should be Done to Inspire Next Generation
A group of respected industry bodies have hailed the recent rise in female electrical apprenticeships – and say more should be done to encourage other young women to pick up the tools. The Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB), Scottish Electrical Charitable Training...
Innovators Wanted for Challenge Call ‘Zero Carbon: Smart Buildings and Estates’
Energy Systems Catapult is launching an innovator challenge call in collaboration with Places for People, Geovation and Pineapple Partners, inviting SMEs developing products and services targeted at Zero Carbon Housing Solutions, Smart Buildings and Estates, to...
Perth Grammar School Partners With Robertson to Plant Trees as Part of Carbon Offsetting Programme
Pupils at Perth Grammar School have begun to plant trees in the grounds of the school – with help from a leading infrastructure firm. Robertson, which has a strategic partnership with the school, is supporting the environmentally friendly project as part of a...
Search for Orton Statue Artist Following Campaign Success
The search for an artist to design and produce a statue of the legendary Leicester playwright, Joe Orton, in his hometown has been launched today (9th March) with the issue of an artist’s design brief. The search following a successful, high profile crowd...
Enhanced Cleaning Regime to Make Public Transport Even Safer
TfL has already changed its Tube and bus network cleaning regime to include enhanced anti-viral measures to reduce risk of coronavirus spreadingAdvanced testing of a long-lasting disinfectant, which provides up to 30 days of anti-viral protection, is underwayEnhanced...
Coronavirus – Could it ‘infect’ Your Business?
emergency, the spread of the virus has become a tragic development and threat to humanity that is causing panic and economic uncertainty worldwide. Having spoken to a number of industry professionals from the property sector, opinions are split as to how much of an...
Hudson vs CITB Enters New Phase
Company hits training quango with £10.5m grant claimLodges appeal against court judgment on levy scope Hudson Contract Services Ltd, part of the Hudson Contract group, has served CITB with a £10.5m grant claim, the biggest in the history of the levy. The move came...
TfL announces next steps for plans to make walking and cycling at Lambeth Bridge safer and easier
Changes will add segregated cycle lanes and remove the roundabouts at both ends of the bridge, replacing them with safer signalised crossingsTfL has confirmed its commitment to the project and will continue to engage with the local community ahead of construction work...
East Midlands Building Society Supports MMC Mortgages
Earl Shilton Building Society, or esbs, the Leicestershire-based mutual, is encouraging future home-owners by broadening their mortgage criteria to encompass innovative modern methods of construction (MMC). shutterstock_557023783 - esbs now have a broader mortgage...
The Importance of Female Entrepreneurs for the Property Sector
The latest Real Estate Balance report, commissioned by property company PWC to explore senior commitment to gender balance, reveals that little progress has been made since the corresponding report from 2017. Back then, the paper revealed a considerable...
New 200,000 sq ft distribution centre to increase Southampton’s logistics capacity
A new £23 million distribution centre is to be built on the Port of Southampton strengthening Southampton’s port-centric logistics capacity. In partnership with ABP in Southampton, Import Services, the leading port-centric logistics company in the UK, has...
“We Will Get Through This Together”: Coronavirus Countermeasures at Forefront of 2020 Budget
Chancellor Rishi Sunak opened his Budget announcement this afternoon with a £30bn package to aid the economy during the coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus Business rates for many firms in England are being abolished, sick pay is being extended, and NHS funding will...
Potholes, Roads, and Railways: ‘Record’ Infrastructure Spend Projected for 2020 Budget
‘Historic amounts’ of infrastructure investment is expected within this year’s budget; with estimates in the hundreds of billions of pounds. £5bn will be invested towards faster broadband across the country within the next five years and a £1bn deal to boost 4G...
A Woman’s Place is no Longer in The Home – Unless She’s Building Them
The construction industry is still very much a male-dominated industry with less than 10% of employees being women. With the focus on #EachForEqual this International Women’s Day, Harron Homes celebrates some of the women who are levelling the playing field. SGB 3007...
Busting Firewood Myths & The Benefits of Wood Burning
With the new ban on coal and wet wood coming into play in 2023, Contura expert explains the importance of wood as an energy source from an efficiency and environmental perspective . There are few things in life more comforting than the long, lazy flames and sound of a...
CALA Announces Charity Partnership with Samaritans
CALA Group has announced the launch of a fundraising partnership with Samaritans, which aims to support the charity’s vital work across the UK, while strengthening employee mental health and wellbeing at CALA. Samaritans is a charity working across the UK and Ireland...
CapitaLand acquires prime freehold Arlington Business Park in United Kingdom for £129 million
CapitaLand has entered into an agreement to acquire a prime freehold business park in the UK for £129.3 million (S$226.9 million¹). The acquisition of Arlington Business Park will expand CapitaLand’s assets under management (AUM) in Europe to S$4.8 billion²,...
Smart Tech is Changing Perceptions of Construction
The rise of smart technology is changing the reputation of construction, as the sector embraces innovative solutions to some of its more traditional challenges. Health and safety are obvious concerns across all of the UK’s industries, but it’s of particular importance...
Targeted tax relief could boost capital investment, renovations and retirement builds – MHA MacIntyre Hudson comments
Ahead of the budget on 11 March, Brendan Sharkey, Head of Construction and Real Estate at MHA MacIntyre Hudson, outlines the tax reforms that would do most to boost investment for the year ahead “The green light for HS2 was good news and freeports would stimulate the...
HSE REPORT QUESTIONS EFFECTIVENESS OF TOOL MANUFACTURERS’ DUST EXTRACTION SYSTEMS
An independent report by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has called into question the effectiveness of tool manufacturers’ dust extraction systems. The report, entitled Assessment of dust extraction system solutions on hand-held electric diamond cutters to BS...
CHESHIRE HOMEBUILDER SETS OUT GREEN AGENDA
BUILDING A-rated homes is just the first step towards an ambitious Green Agenda, independent developer Archway Homes has pledged. The Cheshire-based family-run business believes the new homes industry can lead by example in helping cut carbon emissions. Rachael...
Council approves next steps for BioQuarter expansion
Councillors have unanimously backed the strategic business case behind a major project to transform the BioQuarter into a vibrant new neighbourhood in the south east of Edinburgh. Billed as Edinburgh’s Health Innovation District, the planned expansion would see more...
Rotherham Council submits vision for Future High Streets Fund Bid
Rotherham Council is developing its vision for a more vibrant markets area including a brand new library. The Council has put forward a bid for just over £20 million to the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) which would help deliver the redevelopment plans. Last year,...
HS2 decision will destroy precious wild places – The Wildlife Trusts call for a redesign
The Government gave the green light to the High Speed 2 rail project, without acknowledging the devastating impact on the hundreds of precious wild places and the wildlife that depends on them – that lie in the path of the route. The Wildlife Trusts recently published...
‘An important step forward’: UK water sector aim to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030
The water industry is the first sector in the UK to target net zero carbon emissions, as outlined at a major industry event held by Water UK in London. Alongside help from global consultancies, Ricardo and Mott Macdonald, the event analysed the sector’s current...
SOUTHERN GROVE SECURES PLANNING CONSENT FOR LUXURIOUS £10MILLION GREEN BELT HOME SKYFALL
Southern Grove’s specialist bespoke property team took the project from drawing board to planning consent in just five monthsWaM Architecture helped win planning consent by creating a 12,775 sq ft home that boasts a smaller visual footprint than the 4,800 sq ft...
TfL and A2Dominion announce plans for hundreds of new affordable homes in Hounslow
New scheme located close to Hounslow West Tube station will deliver around 400 new affordable homesThe proposals will also see creation of commercial space and a new public square and gardens for local people Transport for London (TfL) has announced that it is working...
Construction starts on £133m city centre residential scheme in Birmingham
Construction on the highly anticipated 504 bed build-to-rent scheme on the former site of Kent Street Baths in the heart of Birmingham began earlier this week, with work expected to complete in two phases in 2022 and 2023. Located in Birmingham’s Gay Village, between...
Celebrating the Women of our Industry during Women In Construction Week (March 1-7)
The UK construction sector is a huge and ever-growing industry, estimated at £117 billion in 2018. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most gender divided. Trade union, GMB, estimate only 12.5% of the workforce are women – around one in eight. And so, for the first...
“Silica is the biggest risk to construction workers after asbestos”, says new MP backed report
An independent group of MPs have highlighted the risks of silica dust in the workplace, calling for measures to be taken to reduce exposure. A report, based off a six-month inquiry and published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), made a set of...
Women in Construction Awards winner – February
The winner of this month’s Women in Construction Awards is the owner and director of Hammond Homes, a housing developer based in the North and North East responsible for building dozens of dwellings per year. Debbie has held previous roles in HM Forces, C Spencer...
Competition & Markets Authority Doubles Down on Industry Malpractice
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published guidance on avoiding collusion in construction. The post on the Gov.uk website begins with what project managers should be alert to - including bid rigging - an illegal agreement amongst suppliers about who...
O2 Target Zero Carbon Emissions by 2025
Mobile network giant, O2, has announced its plans to become a Net Zero Business by 2025. In what it claimed to be the “fastest and furthest reaching carbon reduction programme”, the company has set itself the target of cutting carbon output across its entire business...