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The construction recovery slowed to its lowest rate in six months according to the latest survey of buyers. The latest Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 60.8 in April from 62.6 in March. But output continued to rise strongly in all sectors with the index way above the 50 no-change threshold and the long-run survey average of 54.3 New business figures were also the highest seen this year and employment levels rose for the eleventh month on the trot. David Noble, Chief Executive Officer at the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply, said: “While the rate of growth slowed slightly in April, the construction sector is still experiencing a remarkably strong and consistent period of expansion. “Positive news abounds as housing activity reached a near ten-…

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Tender prices will not make up the 20% eroded during the crash for another three years. According to the AECOM’s Tender Price Index average annual tender price inflation, across all sectors, will rise by 3.9% this year. Tender Prices If tender prices then rise as predicted the UK will have endured a 10-year wait to return to peak construction prices. Construction inflation figures, which are based on tender movements in the Capital, actually slowed a little in the first quarter of the year. Competitive supply and install rates for reinforcement (£950- £1,050/tonne); reinforced concrete (£135-£155/m3); steelwork universal sections (£1,400-£1,500/tonne); and steelwork hollow sections (£1,650-£1,850/tonne), remain broadly similar, or only marginally higher to those tendered in mid-2013. But growing capacity …

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A roofing firm and its managing director have been fined after a passer-by took photos of workers without safety harnesses. The member of public tipped off the HSE after seeing a man standing halfway down the sloping roof in Tyldesley using a jet washer to clear moss and other debris. An HSE inspector visited the site later the same day and immediately issued a Prohibition Notice ordering the workers from IQ Roofing Solutions to come down until scaffolding or other safety improvements had been implemented. Trafford Magistrates’ Court heard that Managing Director Stuart Bell had visited the site on the morning the work was due to start, and so knew it would be carried out without scaffolding around the edge of the roof. The company also …

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Part of the main seafront road in Brighton has been closed following the collapse of arches underneath during renovation work. Picture courtesy of the BBC Tonnes of rubble came crashing down underneath the road as contractors carried out renovation work to a pub situated in historic arches beneath the route. Engineers from Brighton and Hove Council are working at the scene to assess the damage. Council Executive Director Geoff Raw said; “Structural engineers will be working over the weekend to assess the extent of the problem which seems to have been caused by historic alterations to premises in the arches. “We’re working as swiftly as possible with the police and key partners to ensure public safety and to keep the traffic moving as smoothly as possible.” …

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Further details of the death of a construction worker in London’s Grosvenor Square this week have been revealed by his employer. Above: 20 Grosvenor Square The victim was Dainius Rupsys, a 33-year-old Lithuanian employed by site contractor McGee since 2012. As previously reported, he was killed on the afternoon of Monday 14th April after a partial collapse at a building site at 20 Grosvenor Square. The £250m project involves the conversion of the former London headquarters of the US navy into luxury apartments. McGee chief executive Declan Sherry said: “The incident involved a piece of machinery that was demolishing a concrete floor slab of around 12 square metres when the floor slab gave way and fell to the next level down.” He added: “Dainius was a …

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Proposals for University of Cambridge key worker homes at the North West Cambridge Development have been approved today by the local planning authorities. The 73 one- and two-bedroom apartments will be built to the north of the planned development’s local centre, providing a critical mass of University affordable housing alongside other residential buildings and social amenities. The proposals by Maccreanor Lavington Architects and Witherford Watson Mann Architects, with Grant Associates designing the courtyard landscape, include three connected buildings of varying heights and two courtyards. Project director Roger Taylor said: “This response and style of architecture reflects the vision for the development, which is to create an urban extension to Cambridge and we are thrilled that the local authorities continue to support the designs for the North West …

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BRE and China’s largest approved professional certification body, China Quality Certification Centre (CQC), have signed an agreement to support sustainable development in the country through collaborative training. The partnership will initially focus on training related to BRE’s environmental standard for buildings and communities – BREEAM. This reflects China’s growing demand for green buildings with a number of BREEAM projects now being delivered in Beijing, Shanghai and Changsha’s Meixi Lake Eco City. BRE China director Jaya Skandamoorthy said: “Through our partnership with CQC we hope to promote the key principles of sustainability across China as well as fostering a culture of continuous improvement and quality construction across the supply chain.” CQC vice president Mr Liu Yanbin said: “CQC have undertaken several research projects related to energy efficiency …

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The building work includes construction of a new entrance and link building in the space between two existing timber-framed 18th century buildings. The estimated value of the scheme is between £2.75m and £3m.

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Balfour Beatty has begun work on two major sea defences designed to protect 12,000 homes and businesses near Blackpool from flooding. The government has put funding of £85m towards the new sea defences in the area. As well as protecting 12,000 homes and businesses, the work is designed to safeguard roads and railways. Balfour Beatty was awarded a £20m contract for Blackpool’s Anchorsholme scheme and a £53m contract for Wyre Council’s Rossall project in October. The work involves replacing over 2.9km of the original 1930s seawalls as part of the promenade renewal and beach management projects. The sea defence in Rossall will be 2km long, from Rossall Hospital to Rossall Point. The Anchorsholme sea defence will stretch 1km from Kingsway to Little Bispham. Both sea defences …

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Advertised construction jobs have more than doubled year-on-year, according to the latest figures from CV-Library. The first quarterly report of 2014 from the independent job board shows numbers of job postings, applications, job searches and CV registrations are up. Construction is the sector that has seen the biggest increase in terms of year-on-year growth in jobs posted, with the number up 118% on the first quarter of 2013. In the first three months of the year, CV-Library saw more than 48 million job searches and over six million job applications made through their website, 856,000 new CVs registered, and over 300,000 jobs posted. When compared to Q4 of 2013, there were 22.25% more jobs posted through CVLibrary’s job board network, and construction was the fifth growth industries …

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