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Contractors involved in the construction blacklisting scandal have settled claims with another 180 workers. Campaigners claimed the latest payouts totalled “in the region of £15-20million plus legal costs.” The settlements come as the full blacklist trial looms at the High Court with the case set to start on May 9 and scheduled to run until July 31. The first tranche of payouts to 71 workers was agreed in February at a cost of £5.6m. Eight contractors – Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska UK and Vinci PLC –  have set up The Construction Workers Compensation Scheme to try and settle with victims out of court. A spokeswoman for the contractors confirmed that 180 new settlements had been reached but declined to discuss payout figures…

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Accidents at Work Unfortunately, accidents at work do happen. Your employer has a responsibility for your health and safety at work. Their duties include: •  providing appropriate training to all staff •  warning of tripping or slipping hazard •  providing adequate lighting •  providing suitable equipment that is well maintained Your employer is responsible for the actions of all of their staff. If you have been injured at work, you may be able to claim compensation for your injuries. Kent Compensation’s personal injury lawyers will guide you through the claims process and answer any questions you may have regarding your claim. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

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An HSE inspector ordered a site worker to immediately get out of a dangerous excavation during a safety visit to a London site. Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how RS Construction UK (London) Limited was working at a site on St Dionis Road, London.The inspector found there was an excavation directly behind the front door, which was the only entrance and exit for the site. The excavation was approximately 3.5 meters deep with no means of shoring to support the sides of the excavation and no edge protection around the top to stop anyone falling in. A worker in the bottom of the excavation was instructed to get out. An investigation by the HSE found that RS Construction had received previous enforcement action on similar risks on other…

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Surveyors acting on behalf of commercial property owners are now allowed to use email when dealing with Party Wall notifications. The first ever amendment of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 came into force yesterday allowing notices and awards to be served to neighbours by email for the first time. Surveyors have still been issuing notices of construction work to neighbours by post or in person. James Audsley, the partner who heads up the Party Wall team at national building surveying firm, Malcolm Hollis LLP, said: “It has been 45 years since the first ever email was sent, but finally we are being trusted to modernise our practices. “It will be sad to see our corporate branded carrier pigeons let go, but times are changing. I am looking forward…

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London’s first timber skyscraper came a step closer to reality this week after researchers presented Mayor of London Boris Johnson with conceptual plans for an 80-storey building. Researchers from Cambridge University have teamed up with engineers and architects to work up plans for a 300m high wooden building integrated within the Barbican. At present, the world’s tallest timber building is a 14-storey apartment block in Bergen, Norway. The proposal presented to the Mayor by Cambridge University working with PLP Architecture and engineers Smith and Wallwork pushes the boundaries to envisage a structure that could be the second tallest building in London after The Shard. Simon Smith of Smith and Wallwork engineers said: “Timber is our only renewable construction material and in its modern engineered form it can work alongside steel and concrete…

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UK’s most considerate constructors get ready for 2016 National Site Awards The Considerate Constructors Scheme – the national Scheme to improve the image of the construction industry – will be hosting the prestigious 2016 National Site Awards at ceremonies throughout the UK this month (April). The Scheme will be rewarding the top-performing registered sites that have demonstrated the highest level of considerate construction towards the public, the workforce and the environment. This year’s National Site Awards apply to registered sites that completed in 2015. Over 3500 guests from construction sites of all different sizes will be attending award ceremonies during 11-29 April in Edinburgh, London and Manchester. For the first time, ‘value bands’ are being introduced to enable sites to be assessed based on their project value. The value bands are: …

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Lagan Construction International has been chosen by London City Airport for its runway overlay and taxiway widening scheme. Work is expected to start at the Docklands site in May. Main works will include overlaying the existing runway surface and widening and reinforcement of the taxiways. Refurbishment of the existing drainage network will also be carried out alongside installation of a new pit and duct network and upgrades to the lighting. Works will be undertaken outside of airport operating hours to ensure there will be no disruption to flights. Darren Grover, Chief Operating Officer at London City Airport said: “The runway overlay is a major project, made more complex by the unique location of our runway surrounded by water on three sides. “I look forward to working with…

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Barratt London celebrates as the 90,000th Site Registration with Considerate Constructors Scheme London, United Kingdom, 23 March 2016: The Considerate Constructors Scheme – the national Scheme to improve the image of the construction industry – has reached a formidable milestone; registering 90,000 construction sites. This historic registration was made by one of the country’s leading house builders Barratt London, for the high profile Nine Elms Point development in London. Barratt London is also working with Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd, who are the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s founder member Client Partner, and housing association L&Q to deliver 645 new homes, a new 80,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s store and 27,000 sq ft of local shops, restaurants and office space at Nine Elms Point. Following its first registration in 1997, the Scheme has become an integral part of …

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A online photographic resource detailing the buildings and places connected with William Shakespeare William Shakespeare’s legacy continues in classrooms all over the world. Despite the fact some of his works are over 400 years old, they still offer a foundation for learning and inspiration for literature. While his plays, texts and sonnets have been poured over by academics and amateurs alike, information about his life is poorly known as records are few and far between. The little we do know about his life we can be fairly certain of thanks to public records. It is these records which have been able to reveal the locations and areas where Shakespeare frequented and lived. Shakespeares Buildings

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Brightening your home is crucial in creating a peaceful living space for you and the family. There are plenty of ways and tricks to lighten up the mood in a home, with a few well chosen accessories and a good lick of luminous paint on the walls. But when this isn’t cutting it – and this is especially true for older buildings that tend to have smaller windows, it might be time for a bigger structural makeover. Conservatories Getting a conservatory to lighten up a room such as a dark kitchen is an excellent investment as you’re getting more space and much more light for a reasonable budget. Depending on your home style, you can decide to go for traditional CR Smith conservatories, or go full on …

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