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Long-established historic building restoration specialist Fairhurst Ward Abbotts has gone into administration. More than 200 staff with the Dartford-based firm are understood to have received letters informing them they have been made redundant. The news comes as two other contractors – Nottingham M&E specialist D H Fathers and Tyneside builder Turney Wylde Construction – also entered administration bringing total job losses to over 400 last week. FWA was established back in 1941 and holds the royal warrant for building and decorating services to the Queen. The firm built up a countrywide reputation for delivering renovation and refurbishment of historic properties, plus luxury new build projects. As well as the Royal Palaces, FWA worked on some of the UK’s finest historic buildings including the National Galley, the V&A …

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Construction experts are warning that more contractors will fail as the industry struggles to cope with booming workloads. The warning came as construction buyers reported workloads rising at their steepest level for eight months in the CIPS/Markit Construction PMI. But Richard Threlfall, head of infrastructure, building and construction at KPMG UK, said: “The industry will soon be running white hot, as housing, commercial and infrastructure demand are rising together. “What we are seeing is very unusual. Private demand is rocketing in response to an improving economy and much stronger business confidence. “And public demand is surging too, following the Government’s post-election re-commitment to a huge infrastructure investment programme. “The critical question is, can the industry deliver? I am concerned it cannot. “The industry is …

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A brand new study looking into the musical tastes and preferences of construction workers has revealed the songs most likely to be played on the building sites of Britain this summer. The construction workers’ top 50 songs have also been assembled into a Spotify playlist. As we approach the peak summer months of July and August, a leading construction insurance company has revealed the top playlist of British builders and construction workers in the UK. The study also assessed the impact of music on the productivity of construction workers during warmer periods. The team at www.constructaquote.com polled a total of 2,948 UK-based construction workers from around the UK and between the ages of 18-62 for the research. Each participant confirmed that they worked within a sector of …

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Mobile CAD Surveying Solutions Ltd have been working at Brentford FC’s ground Griffin Park. Mobile CAD recently produced plans and sections of the main stand to aid the clubs ongoing developments as they look to gain promotion to the Premier League next season. Good luck to the Bees for the forthcoming season.

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A new study has revealed that just under half of construction workers don’t carry out DIY jobs around their own home, despite the nature of their jobs. ‘A lack of time to do DIY’  and ‘lessened confidence with different capabilities’ emerged as the most common reasons behind respondents lack of DIY skills. Almost half of construction workers in the UK refuse to carry out any DIY jobs around their own homes, according to a new study conducted by a leading business insurance website In a bid to further extend its research into the habits and lifestyle preferences of those working within the UK construction industry, the team at www.constructaquote.com polled a total of 2,038 UK based construction workers for the study. Those taking part in the …

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The Innovative Design Lab – The Centre for Urban Design, Architecture and Sustainability  TWO new research centres that aim to use design and technology to solve problems of modern living and improve the quality and sustainability of the urban environment have been established at the University of Huddersfield. They will carry out important research and teach the next generations of experts in the field. The centres – which come under the aegis of the University’s School of Art, Design and Architecture – are the Innovative Design Lab (IDL) and the Centre for Urban Design, Architecture and Sustainability (CUDAS). The IDL is headed by Professor Patricia Tzortzopoulos Fazenda, an architect with industrial experience in collaborative design integration and management who is the University’s Professor of Integrated Design and …

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After several flat years, the commercial property market in London has really taken off. In 2014, investment in commercial property in the city reached record-breaking levels. During the first 3 months of 2014, over £4.3bn was invested into commercial real estate in the centre of London and the tide of money has not stopped since. Much of that money has come from overseas investors who are looking for a slice of the pie. They know that the availability of office space in Mayfair, The City of London and other business districts is limited. Yet there is a lot of demand with thousands of new firms setting themselves up in the capital every year. For investors interested in commercial real estate London presents a fantastic opportunity. The influx of …

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In the real estate sector, it is essential to study demographics and local markets and have a good marketing strategy. With the high risks and gains of the real estate business, drawing on the services of a professional marketing company can help you make the informed decisions on advertising and promotion that are vital to your continued success. The specialist products and services, which the consultants will bring with them, will combine to form a much more detailed insight that will help you to meet the needs of your existing and potential clients. Here are a few things a marketing consultant can help you with: Initiate a long term strategy A marketing company will help you to initiate the most appropriate strategy to promote your business and …

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There are many good reasons why you might be looking to invest in real estate in your retirement years. Property gives you security and is functional, giving you a place to live in all or part of the year. Of course, with property and real estate – whether it’s a residential home, commercial property or a piece of land – location is everything. Where your property is located will determine its cost and investment value, and, of course, whether it’s somewhere you would want to spend time yourself. If part of your investment plan is to let your property as a holiday home, or indeed to lease it as commercial premises, then location is also crucial. Looking abroad Given the above considerations, your best bet …

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Lancashire County Council has finally fired the starting gun on finding a contractor to build the Broughton Bypass. The Broughton Bypass scheme will be one of the first schemes to be delivered as part of the £383m Preston and surrounding area City Deal after first being mooted 20 years ago. Council highways experts believe the bypass would reduce 80-90% of the traffic currently passing through the village centre. Many housing developments are currently stalled because the transport infrastructure in the area cannot take any increase in vehicles – according to reports submitted to the city council’s planning committee. The 2km long bypass will create a new route from the Broughton roundabout at Junction 1 of the M55 to the A6 north of the village. The bypass route in the northern …

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