Regulatory gridlock ‘knocks confidence’ in constructionConstruction professionals are warning that widespread delays caused by the Building Safety Regulator and planning red tape are throttling the industry’s ability to recover and deliver on Government targets.
According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Q2 2025 Construction Monitor, 61% of respondents said planning and…
Spencer jostles in for £29m Waterbeach rail station jobC Spencer has secured the £29m contract to deliver the relocated Waterbeach railway station in Cambridgeshire, despite Volker Fitzpatrick carrying out early contractor involvement on the scheme.
The win sees Spencer take over the reins after Volker’s early input shaping the scheme’s scope and construction strategy.
The contract…
McLaren tops contract league with Ebury Estate rebuildMcLaren Construction took pole position for most work won last month after signing off on a major estate rebuild project in central London for around £300m.
The firm is expected to start work on Westminster Council’s Ebury Bridge Estate phase 2 rebuild in September delivering five housing blocks rising to 19 storeys.
Confirmation of the big…
Cheetham Hill Construction sold to staffCheetham Hill Construction Ltd has become the latest contractor to transition to an employee-owned business.
The civils firm has established an Employee Ownership Trust so 100% of shares will be held for the benefit of satff.
Long-serving Managing Director Howard Chamberlain – who has led the company for nearly six decades – will continue as a Director,…
Buyers see sharpest fall in activity for five yearsConstruction buyers reported a sharp slump in July as activity levels fell at the steepest pace since May 2020.
The bellwether S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index posted 44.3 in July, down from 48.8 in June signalling the sharpest contraction in over five years.
Firms blamed site delays, lower volumes of incoming new business…
Bid race starts for Manchester £1.6bn light rail infrastructure workTransport for Greater Manchester has started procurement for up to £1.6bn of infrastructure work to help maintain and grow the Metrolink light rail network.
The contract covers Metrolink’s asset renewals programme, which includes replacing key infrastructure – such as track, overhead lines and the distribution system that…
Cardiff to get 50-storey skyscraper in bold new tower planA developer has unveiled bold new plans to build a 50-storey skyscraper in central Cardiff that will become the tallest building in Wales if approved.
REAP 3, a subsidiary of specialist build to rent developer BlueCastle Capital, is preparing a planning application to replace its previously approved 35-storey scheme with a much taller…
Competitive brick market sees Ibstock struggle to increase pricesMaterials giant Ibstock is seeing brick sales continue to recover but price rises are not sticking in a more competitive market.
Latest results for the six months to June 30 2025 saw revenue rise to £193m from £178m but pre-tax profits dipped to £8m from £12m.
Chief Financial Officer Chris McLeish said: “Pricing progression…
Collins starts major London city fringe office retrofitMunich Re investment manager MEAG has appointed Collins Construction for a 140,000 sq ft office retrofit at 30 Finsbury Square on the edge of the City in London.
Work started this week on the major overhaul designed by architect Fletcher Priest which will see another floor added to the building to create a nine-storey commercial office.
This…
Civils boss banned over classic car salesA Staffordshire civil engineering boss who sold seven historic cars including two Jaguars and three Rolls-Royces for just £1 to another company he also controlled has been banned as a director.
Kulbarg Singh, 62, was the director of Aldridge Construction Engineering Ltd when he entered into an asset purchase agreement with Ace Earth Solutions Ltd in…