Construction SMEs at growing risk of failure

Construction SMEs at growing risk of failure

Image credit: Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images The latest Business Distress Index from Real Business Rescue, a division of insolvency accountants Begbies Traynor, reports an 11% rise in the number of construction companies that it considers to be “in significant financial distress” – reaching 79,570 for the fourth quarter of 2020. It…

Balfour Beatty picked for £32m Inverness health centre

Balfour Beatty picked for £32m Inverness health centre

The £32m contract will see Balfour Beatty construct the 8,305m2 National Treatment Centre, which will provide orthopaedic surgery and ophthalmology services to surrounding communities. The centre will include 24 inpatient rooms, five operating theatres, clinics and outpatient departments. In addition, the company will build rooms for minor operations and procedures, consulting rooms, a café, children’s…

Union claims redundancy rights victory

Union claims redundancy rights victory

A ruling regarding construction workers employed at the Stanlow Oil Refinery in Cheshire confirms the union’s right to be notified of redundancies, Unite said. Bilfinger UK, which employs workers at the facility, decided in April 2020 to make more than 100 workers redundant. However, it failed to notify the union, denied Unite representatives access to…

Bellway cleared to build out Crawley site

Bellway cleared to build out Crawley site

A computer-generated image of the planned development The land, off Russell Way in Three Bridges, was previously occupied by TSB office buildings that were demolished in 2000. Despite various redevelopment proposals being put forward, the land has remained vacant ever since. With plans approved, Bellway will now acquire the 0.79-acre site and start construction work….

Logistics firm hires team to lead infrastructure push

Logistics firm hires team to lead infrastructure push

David Pateman is managing director of DGP Infrastructure DGP Infrastructure is led by a newly-recruited trio with senior experience at major contractors Balfour Beatty, Kier and Murphy. David Pateman has joined as managing director. He was most recently commercial director at Balfour Beatty Major Projects and was previously commercial director at McNicholas in the lead…

Developer tax to help fund cladding removal

Developer tax to help fund cladding removal

The 2017 Grenfell Tower fire exposed the extent to which developers had used flammable cladding systems Housing secretary Robert Jenrick today announced for a ‘Gateway 2’ developer levy to be targeted and apply when developers seek permission to develop certain high-rise buildings in England. In addition, a new tax will be introduced for the UK…

Alternative concrete mix saves carbon at Canada Water

Alternative concrete mix saves carbon at Canada Water

On site at Canada Water in Southwark Keltbray used Earth Friendly Concrete for the piled foundations of the development. Earth Friendly Concrete (EFC) is a concrete manufactured by Australian firm Wagners using blast furnace slag and fly ash instead of ordinary Portland cement. It is supplied in the UK by Capital Concrete. Consulting engineer AKT…

Trade bodies launch new alliance

Trade bodies launch new alliance

Actuate UK is a collective of eight trade, technology, research and professional bodies that plan to deliver a single, consolidated voice for the sector. Joining its ranks are the campaigning trade association Select, representing Scotland’s electrotechnical industry, and SNIPEF, the Scottish & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation, which represents more than 750 businesses and 5,000…

Persimmon to spend £75m on cladding replacement

Persimmon to spend £75m on cladding replacement

While Persimmon mainly builds traditional family homes rather than high-rise blocks, it has identified 26 tall buildings that may need to be reclad. Chairman Roger Devlin said: “The concern around now banned cladding is affecting many thousands of homeowners who live in high-rise buildings right across the country. “At Persimmon we believe we have a…