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…
Avant Homes takes £107m fire safety hit as losses mountAvant Homes, the house builder run by former Persimmon boss Jeff Fairburn, has sunk deeper into the red after ramping up its fire safety remediation provision to over £100m.
The group, which completed 1,700 homes last year, swung to a £83m pre-tax loss for the year to 30 June 2024 after booking a £107m provision to cover cladding and…
Profit recovery continues at Laing O’RourkeLaing O’Rourke has posted a rise in pre-tax profits despite a drop in revenue at the Europe hub which includes UK operations.
The construction giant saw pre-tax profit for the year to March 31 2025 hit £41.5m from £14.1m last time with turnover steady at £3.9bn.
At the Europe hub pre-tax profits were £14m from a £21m loss last time as revenu…
JRL replaces Ardmore on £150m City landmark revampJRL Group has secured a major London job to deliver the £150m revamp of the landmark 25 Finsbury Circus building in the Square Mile.
The Malaysian developer IJM Corporation bought the long lease on the historic Grade II-listed building earlier this year, with planning consent already secured for a major overhaul.
Ardmore was previously lined u…
Firms readied for £145m Welsh bridge raceContractors have been put on alert to bid for the £145m River Dee Bridge replacement, with the bid race due to launch later this month.
The Welsh Government will run a two-stage early contractor involvement race using NEC4 contracts with an incentivised cost model and a strong emphasis on social value.
Five firms will be shortlisted, followed by a…