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A group of five builders have been selected for a new £3bn framework designed to fast-track development of surplus public land. Bouygues, Glasgow builders CCG, Morgan Sindall, Wates and Willmott Dixon have secured places on the four year Social Infrastructure Development  framework, run by contracting authority NPS. The SID framework will be used to deliver projects that span the public sector, from schools and housing through to police stations and care homes. Mike Britch, Managing Director of NPS Group said: “We already have a pipeline of 16 schemes worth around £300m and expect SID to establish itself as the procurement route of choice for both public authorities and charitable bodies.” It will be used to design, finance and construct social infrastructure projects funded through the development …

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The company officially replaces the Highways Agency next week. The improvements over the first five years of operation include: 112 major improvements, including 15 smart motorway projects providing 280 extra miles of capacity, and resurfacing the majority of the network providing a more accessible road system delivering over 150 new cycling facilities and crossings, including 40 by the end of next year, and cycle-proofing new schemes reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on the network by 40% from the 2010 baseline Graham Dalton, Chief Executive of Highways England said: “The launch of Highways England is an incredibly significant moment for those who rely on England’s motorways and major A roads. “As well as delivering the biggest investment in major roads since the 1970s, there will be fundamental changes to …

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Sheffield city council has unveiled plans for a £480m retail quarter to transform the city centre. The ambitious plan designed by Leonard Design Architects comprises 900,000 sq ft of mixed-use accommodation. This will predominantly by retail and leisure led, but also includes over 200,000 sq ft of residential and office space. Sheffield City Council has been assessing the best way forward for the retail quarter since ending a partnership with developer Hammerson in 2013. It plans to part fund the scheme from the New Deal with Government to use tax incremental financing. Simon Green, Sheffield City Council’s Executive Director – Place said: “This is the right time for Sheffield. “We sit at the heart of the devolution debate; we have an ambitious plan for growth; and we are delivering …

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Flashing hi-ves vests are being developed to warn workers of potential dangers on sites. The SmartVest contains strips of LED lights which flash different colours to warn workers of particular hazards. The vests have been developed by software specialist 3Squared and link-up to its site management system. Workers will be alerted with flashing lights to dangers like oncoming trains on rail sites. Lights will also warn operatives when they enter a dangerous site zone as mapped out on the 3Squared ‘SmartSafe’ virtual zone management platform. Tim Jones, Managing Director of 3Squared, said: “The SmartVest concept innovatively and creatively takes an established product with existing safety benefits into the 21st Century. “We are very excited about what this could mean for construction and infrastructure workers in …

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Each winter the demand for de-icing products spikes significantly as winter is harsher each year. Two of the most common de-icing products are brown and white gritting rock salt. Both products are effective in managing the buildup of ice on roads and pavements and both can be easily spread. In fact, in a short amount of time these rock salts can cover quite a large area. Also, both are cost efficient and effective. Salt works by lowering the melting point of ice. When salt mixes with any moisture or water, a saline solution is created (salty water). This saline solution will freeze at a lower point than fresh water, making it more difficult for ice to form. Brown Rock Gritting Salt Brown rock salt is …

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It seems that hardly a day goes by without the news featuring a significant proportion of column space to the ongoing housing crises within the UK. Such a crisis in then only emphasised when we consider a few facts and figures. According statistics referenced by the BBC and CBI only 15,698 affordable homes where built between 2011 and 2012 and with the shortfall of homes expected to be around one million, the crisis doesn’t look set for resolution anytime soon. This is then emphasised by there being a growing social housing waiting list with ever more bloated rental prices, with 1.69 million households upon the list to date and a significant jump in affordable housing rent of 7% to £78.78 per week (Gov.uk 2013). With such a political hot potato …

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Auction houses for cheap property is an attractive proposition for those who are looking to build their property portfolio. Transparency is integral and never more so than from your building survey. It seems that this element of purchasing property has long since suffered from a vague and often misunderstood purpose. So what does this then means for the conscientious property developer.   The modern property developer and their legal and financial challenges According to the Home Owners Alliance, only 20% of buyers think they need to get a survey no matter what the condition of age of property they are buying, is this ignorance or experience? As a property developer, you success will be in the finances, but that doesn’t mean you need to purchase a …

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Production has started into building the UK’s first Eco-Town which will be situated in North West Bicester, Oxfordshire. The project which will see up to 6,000 sustainable homes being built is part of a long term eco-friendly drive known as the “Exemplar”. The initial construction involves the production of 33 homes in the area. Each one will be highly efficient and produce zero carbon making this the first true zero carbon community in the UK. In addition, the development will boast 40% green space which is well above the national average. Mark Fielding MD at Cotaplan building systems highlighted on the project, “Like ourselves, A2dominiona have a vision to transform the way communities live and use accommodation in a sustainable way.  Cotaplan are glad to see …

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Leeds shopfitting and joinery specialist Wood-Mitchell Building Group has been placed in administration. Most of the 70 staff at the £12m turnover firm have been laid off by administrators from Deloitte. The administrators are now in the process of shutting the business down, which traces it history back to 1896. Wood-Mitchell serviced a variety of regional and national clients across a range of sectors, from museums, offices and shops. Deloitte’s Leeds office aims to run the business with a skeleton staff to complete some outstanding contracts and will put the firm’s freehold property in Lowtown, Pudsey up for sale.

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Aberdeen council has backed development partner Henry Boot’s funding proposals for a £333m conference and exhibition centre on the outskirts of the city. The planned £333m Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre will be built at Bucksburn near the Dyce airport and will replace the existing AECC at the Bridge of Don, which was built in 1985. A mixed-use residential-led scheme is proposed for the Bridge of Don site once the new centre is up and running. Boot will submit detailed plans targeting a planning permission by the end of 2015 to develop the initial phase of the project, including the 750,000 sq ft exhibition and conference centre, two hotels and an anaerobic digestion green energy centre. Construction is penciled in to start in mid-2016 and run through …

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