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The number of construction workers using the CIS tax system rose by 39,000 last year despite Government moves to crack down on self employment in the industry. The figures were obtained by construction union UCATT. HM Revenue and Customs confirmed that 963,000 workers received payments via CIS in 2014/15 and “this figure will increase later this year as a result of some returns being made late.” That is a 39,000 increase on the 924,000 workers paid via CIS during 2013/14. UCATT said: “In April 2014 the Government introduced new rules that prevented agencies and other “intermediaries” from employing workers on a self-employed basis. “The changes in the rules, which have resulted in hundreds of thousands of workers being forced to operate via umbrella companies, were expected to result in a fall in …

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Two workers were left clinging to the edge of an eighth floor ledge on a Balfour Beatty university building after a platform came away from the exterior wall. Both workers had a lucky escape and were unhurt during the incident at Balfour’s £42m new Faculty of Art, Design and Humanities building at De Montfort University on Monday. Industry experts said the incident involved a Mast Climbing Work Platform. An eye-witness told the Leicester Mercury the men were on the open lift while working on cladding. He said “The lift was going up and one part of it came away from the wall. “The lift runs on two runners, part of the runner snapped off the wall and fell down. The lift was swinging in mid-…

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Developers Sterling Property Ventures and Rockspring have got the go-ahead to demolish Birmingham’s NatWest tower for a new 26-storey office building. The 105m-high tower planned for the 103 Colmore Row site has been designed by Doone Silver architects and will be the tallest building in Birmingham once completed. Work on erecting the new tower will begin in summer 2016, creating 500 construction jobs and completion is targeted for summer 2018. It will then offer 196,000 sq ft of office space over 19 floors, with restaurants on the upper and ground floors. Demolition contractors H Smith (Engineers) have been on site since mid July, stripping out the building’s interior. Scaffolding is now being erected to allow for the floor-by-floor dismantling of the concrete tower, which will take around 12 months. The two-…

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Construction work on schemes planned under the £2bn Scottish Hub programme could be delayed following changes to accounting rules. The Scottish Government has been forced to reclassify the £745m Aberdeen Bypass from a private to public sector project. The move follows an Office for National Statistics review after a tightening of EU rules around publicly-funded building programmes. The bypass is funded under the non-profit distribution (NPD) scheme which is an alternative to the PFI model Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the bypass would not be delayed by the change. But the decision could have an impact on building plans under the Hub programme which is run by the Scottish Futures Trust under a similar NPD model. Swinney said: “In light of today’s …

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Mitsubishi Estate London has received planning permission from the City Of London Corporation for a 40-storey office tower. The Japanese developer plans an office-led, mixed-use tower with flexible retail use at ground and mezzanine floor levels and a public access viewing gallery at level 40. The 71,510 sq metre tower at 6-8 Bishopsgate, EC2 and 150 Leadenhall Street, EC3 has been designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects and comprises a series of stacked blocks. Managing Director and CEO of Mitsubishi Estate London, Mr Naoki Umeda, said: “I would like to thank the City Corporation planning team for their assistance and efficiency in processing this application. “We have really valued the open and collaborative approach from the City. “This project is a major investment signalling Mitsubishi Estate’s confidence in the City …

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Mobile CAD Surveying Solutions Ltd the measured building survey specialists, have recently completed a major commission for a Full Building Plans, Elevations, Topographical Survey in Union Street, London. The final output will include a Revit model, but it was the view that stole their attention – Breathtaking skyline of London.

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Consultant Turner & Townsend is converting to a limited liability partnership. The move means plans to float on the Stock Exchange have been abandoned. Plans for a partnership come as the firm boosted its turnover to £380m in the year ended 30 April 2015 with revenue in the UK rising to £158m Turner & Townsend now employs 4,100 staff worldwide and staff numbers rose 14% last year. The firm said: “Independence is a keystone of the Turner & Townsend brand, and a unique strength that has served the company and its clients well. “As part of an ongoing strategy to maintain and protect its independence – and to reward and attract world-class talent – Turner & Townsend is now set to convert to a limited liability partnership….

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Carillion started work last Friday morning to erect a 650-tonne roof truss over Anfield’s new Main Stand expansion project. Work started at 6am  to lift the truss onto two 28m high towers at either side of the Main Stand. The lift is being performed by two of the UK’s largest cranes the AK680 and AK912 which are 252ft-high. Work was due to start Thursday but was delayed by high winds. The lift operation was scheduled to take a full day to complete and follows months of detailed planning by Carillion. Ian Ayre, chief executive officer of Liverpool FC, said: “This is an historic milestone in Anfield’s history as the stadium transformation continues to take shape. “We embarked on this significant expansion project just seven months ago …

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Highways England has awarded a raft of smart motorways jobs to contractors worth up to £1.5bn. Balfour Beatty in a joint venture with Vinci has taken the largest deal for a 10-mile stretch of the M5 Junctions 4a to 6 in Worcestershire; a 12-mile section of the M6 Junctions 2 to 4 in the Midlands, and a 32-mile stretch of the M4 Junctions 3 to 12 in London and Berkshire. The contract is worth up to £607.4m and work on the first £45.4m package on the M4 will start this autumn. The M6 deal is expected to start work in 2017/18 and the M4 scheme in 2016/17. Kier has secured work worth up to £475m in a 50/50 joint venture with Carillion under the Collaborative Delivery Framework. The JV will work …

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The Government is pulling funding from the Green Deal Finance Company due to “low take-up and concerns about industry standards.” Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd said she will now “work with the building industry and consumer groups on a new value-for-money approach.” The Government said: “Future schemes must provide better value for money, supporting the goal of insulating a million more homes over the next five years and the Government’s commitment to tackle fuel poverty.” Existing Green Deal Finance Plans and Green Deal Home Improvement Fund applications and vouchers will be honoured. Mark Bayley, Chief Executive, Green Deal Finance Company (GDFC) said: “The most important thing at the moment is for us and the Department to reassure those who …

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