10-Year Infrastructure Strategy publishedThe government has published its much-heralded 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy.
It sets out a long-term plan for how the government will invest in infrastructure and ensure that “funding is spent effectively and efficiently, marking a new approach to how projects are planned and delivered.”
You can read the full 106-page document here.
A pipeline of…
Competition watchdog turns attention to civil engineeringWatchdogs at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have launched a new “market study” into the design, planning and delivery of road and railway infrastructure across the country.
The study will examine opportunities to improve how the public sector and civil engineers work together.
It is likely to result in recommendations to…
Korean firm buys part built Hackney job from failed Elements EuropeThe joint administrators of Elements Europe have sold the company’s stalled site in Hackney east London to Korean-owned GS E&C Corp.
Offsite construction specialist Elements Europe went into administration earlier this month after moving into main contracting alongside its core skills of room modules and bathroom pods.
T…
Mark Wild radical reset plan to rescue HS2The Government has revealed HS2 chief executive Mark Wild’s reset plan to rescue the troubled rail megaproject.
In a blunt letter to transport secretary Heidi Alexander, Wild said a “comprehensive reset” was now essential to deliver the railway on a credible timescale and within a realistic budget.
The letter sent at the end of March but published…
Lords launch inquiry into Building Safety Regulator delaysThe House of Lords has launched an inquiry into complaints about construction delays caused by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
Contractors have been up-in-arms for months over backlogs in the approval process for new high rise building projects.
The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has issued a call for evidence wit…
HS2 supply chain fraud claims spark ministerial probeTransport Secretary Heidi Alexander has promised a fundamental one-year reset for HS2 after admitting to Parliament that there was no way presently to deliver the project on schedule and to budget.
She slammed a litany of failures for wasting billions on the project, blaming bad management, constant changes and ineffective contracts with t…
Willmott Dixon director becomes co-owner of local contractor BSNFormer Willmott Dixon deputy managing director for the Midlands Nick Gibb has joined Dudley based national contractor BSN Group as co-owner.
Gibb will lead the next phase of BSN’s growth strategy with the £50m turnover business looking to double in size over the next three years with its value-for-money offering.
He said: “Wit…
Take That brother buys steelwork giant William HareEntrepreneur Simon Orange has snapped up the country second biggest steelwork contractor William Hare in a move that marks a new era for the £350m-turnover firm.
The Bury-based business, which employs around 2,000 staff across nine UK sites and international operations in Europe, the UAE and India, has been sold for an undisclosed sum.
Orang…
Morgan Sindall upgrades profits forecast for this yearMorgan Sindall Group is set to smash previous profit forecasts for 2025 after stronger-than-expected performances from its fit out and construction divisions.
Since its last update in May, the firm said it had enjoyed continued robust trading in its Overbury business, with full-year profits now anticipated to significantly outstrip earlier…
Major project bidders to face ‘British jobs’ testContractors bidding for major public sector work will face a new test to prove they can boost British jobs and skills under plans to overhaul infrastructure procurement.
The Cabinet Office has launched a consultation that will see contractors bidding for road, rail, school and hospital jobs ranked not just on price and quality – but on how…