Balfour Beatty construction margin hits 3.5%Balfour Beatty’s UK construction business fired on all cylinders last year as booming energy work helped push margins through the 3% barrier and drove a record £22.7bn order book across the group.
The contractor posted a standout performance from its home construction arm, where turnover rose 3% to £3.1bn and operating profit jumped 36% to…
Plans unveiled for 70-storey Liverpool towerDesigns have been unveiled for a 70-storey tower to form the centrepiece of the £1bn Kings project on the Liverpool waterfront.
The tower, designed by SimpsonHaugh, will comprise a 5-star hotel and luxury residences managed by the hotel operator.
The latest designs come just weeks after the scheme’s first tower of 28 storeys, named No. 1 Kings,…
FRC probes accountants over Vistry South division reportingThe Financial Reporting Council has launched an investigation into the conduct of two accountants linked to the financial reporting and forecasting of Vistry Group’s South Division.
The probe will examine work connected to the house builder’s financial statements for the years ending 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2024.
T…
Bid race starts for £3bn West Midlands frameworkThe race has started to secure places on the £3bn third-generation Constructing West Midlands framework.
Acivico, owned by Birmingham City Council, is leading procurement of the CWM3 framework alongside partners Solihull and Sandwell councils.
Contractors fighting to renew places include Galliford Try, Morgan Sindall, Willmott Dixon, Speller…
Costain builds record £7bn order book as profit jumps a thirdCostain has laid down a strong base for its next phase of growth after piling up a record £7bn forward work position and lifting operating profit despite a sharp revenue drop in transport.
The firm posted revenue of £1.05bn for the year to 31 December 2025, down 16% from £1.25bn, as lower road and rail activity dragged back the to…
North East Mayor to pump cash into arena and film studio jobsA £104m public funding package to kick-start a new arena, film studios and cultural infrastructure across the North East is set to unlock major construction work starting this summer.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said the investment programme would help to unlock a new film studio complex plan for Sunderland and enabling works for a…
Two firms and site manager fined after asbestos blundersTwo Midlands companies and a site manager have been sentenced after a large scale asbestos disturbance and illegal clearance operation was carried out at a Cannock demolition site.
Following concerns about unsafe demolition work, an HSE inspector visited a site at Greenheath Road, Cannock on 7 September 2023. The inspector found that…
Persimmon brick factory working 24/7 to meet demandPersimmon’s in-house materials are now the preferred choice across the whole business.
The house building giant has boosted production at its Brickworks, Tileworks and Space4 timber frame operations.
At its latest results Persimmon said: “Further investment across all three facilities will also play a pivotal role in supporting our growt…
Market sounding starts on £46m Mid Wales schoolPowys County Council has kicked off early contractor engagement for a £46m all-age school project in Mid Wales.
Firms are being invited to take part in discussions ahead of inviting tenders later this year for the new Ysgol Bro Hyddgen development in Machynlleth.
The project will deliver a net-zero operation education campus for 540 pupils on t…
£150m Cambridge to Cambourne busway job heads for tenderCambridgeshire County Council is preparing to invite bids for the construction of the £150m Cambourne to Cambridge busway and park-and-ride scheme.
The council plans to invite tender in May for the major transport project, which forms a key part of the Greater Cambridge Sustainable Transport Programme.
The scheme will deliver a new…