Planning Bill beefed up with new powers to tackle ‘blockers’The government has just announced late-stage amendments to its flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill, to hand itself sweeping new powers to break through planning gridlock and fast-track housing, energy and water schemes across the country.
The move comes as part of a pro-growth package tied to the flagship Planning and…
Nuclear safety boss joins O’Rourke in board shake-upFormer Chief Executive and Chief Inspector of the Office of Nuclear Regulation Mark Foy is joining the Laing O’Rourke board as a Non-Executive Director.
Foy will take-up his new role next month alongside lawyer Helen Ruelle who has been appointed as Group Company Secretary.
The contractor said the move will help drive a “new paradigm…
Trio bag £2.9bn Sellafield infrastructure delivery dealMorgan Sindall Infrastructure, Costain and Hochtief have secured contracts worth up to £2.9bn to deliver vital non-nuclear infrastructure across the Sellafield site in West Cumbria.
The trio secured spots on Sellafield’s new Infrastructure Delivery Partnership (IDP), a long-term arrangement designed to modernise and maintain the site’s…
Science council puts £800m estate overhaul out to bidThe Science and Technology Facilities Council has kicked off the hunt for a long-term construction partner to help transform and decarbonise its vast science estate.
The eight-year deal worth up to £800m forms part of UK Research & Innovation’s major programme to modernise, replace, and decarbonise its laboratory and research facilities…
Willmott Dixon starts first Wave 1 New Hospital Programme jobWillmott Dixon has kicked off main construction on the first hospital rebuild under Wave 1 of the Government’s flagship New Hospital Programme.
The firm has broken ground on a £140m Emergency Care Building at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
Procured under ProCure23 with Mace, the four-storey facility will double capacity for…
McLaren to oversee Birmingham tower refurbAP UK (Ashtrom Properties) has appointed McLaren as construction manager for the refurbishment of its Colmore Gate tower in Birmingham.
Work will see the 1990s tower become a Grade A office building offering 290,000 sq ft of space.
Managing Director for Construction Management & Specialist Projects at McLaren Construction, Vince Lydon, said: “This is a…
Renew buys overhead power line specialistRenew has acquired overhead power line maintenance specialist Emerald Power for £12.3m.
Cheshire based Emerald is focused on the maintenance and upgrade of electricity networks for Distribution Network Operators in the North West.
The deal via Renew subsidiary Excalon Holdings is for an initial cash consideration of £7.8m with an additional £4.5m…
Firms put on standby for £5bn flood defence shake-upThe Environment Agency has ramped up plans for its next-generation flood and coastal defence framework, with the budget rising from £3bn to £5bn.
Contractors are now being put on standby for a final round of market engagement on the new Collaborative Delivery Framework 2 (CDF2) after a one year delay in procurement.
The new setup replaces t…
Work halted across HS2 London tunnels after safety scareAll construction work across the London tunnels section of HS2 has been suspended following a site accident.
The Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture in charge of the work is undergoing a full safety review following the incident on September 29.
The Telegraph said two workers narrowly escaped being crushed by a steel beam swinging across a…
OCU’s buying spree drives revenue to nearly £900mEnergy and utilities infrastructure services contractor OCU Group revved revenue up 45% to £887m for the year to April 2025 after bedding in three more acquisitions.
The rapid growth of the private equity-backed group saw it booked a £64m pre-tax loss, double last year’s £31m.
Red ink was driven by higher interest on £656m of borrowings, a…