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Sizewell C: Construction of any new nuclear plant unlikely before 2018 – at least two years later than expected The proposed project to build Sizewell C on the Suffolk coast is thought to be at least two years behind shedule Construction of Sizewell C is unlikely to begin before 2018, according to a senior Suffolk planner – at least two years later than widely expected. Electricity would start to be generated 10 years later, in 2028. EDF Energy has consistently declined to set out its target schedule for getting the proposed nuclear power station through the planning process. However, Philip Ridley, head of planning at Suffolk Coastal District Council, believes the earliest that building of the twin European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs) can start is 2018. The power station – costing an estimated …

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Members of the Pochin family seeking to take back the Cheshire construction group into private ownership have been given more time to prepare their offer. Property development director Jim Nicholson, grandson of founder Cedric Pochin, made an initial approach to the board in December, together with members of the Cedric Pochin concert party. Under Stock Exchange rules, he had until 6th January to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Pochin’s or to walk away. On 6th January the Takeover Panel agreed to an extension to the ‘put up or shut up’ deadline to 3rd February. With takeover talks still going on but not having reached a conclusion, a further extension to 5pm 3rd March 2014 has been granted

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An  iconic Leeds shopping destination has won a major architecture award at a ceremony in the city last night. The Victoria Quarter, in Briggate in the city centre, won the Outstanding Contribution award at the Leeds Architecture Awards 2013 dinner – at Leeds Town Hall – for the outstanding contribution it has made to the city’s architecture over the last 25 years. ‘The Knightsbridge of the North’, as it is known, has seen huge growth in visitor numbers, with a 14% increase in footfall on 2013 since the new year. John Bade, centre director of the Victoria Quarter said: “It’s an honour to have won the Outstanding Contribution Award in what has been a tremendous year for the Leeds cityscape. The Victoria Quarter has a rich and diverse history spanning more …

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Leicestershire County Council has to cut £110 million from its budget by 2018 and has revealed that it is considering installing solar panels on County Hall to help tackle escalating energy bills. The council has identified a range of energy-saving measures that it can implement to help meet its financial target. Currently the council’s energy bills cost £1.5 million every year, with just less than half of that total coming from County Hall alone. Due to the large energy consumption, the council is taxed £600,000 each year in carbon reduction payments. Under the new proposals, the council believes that it can knock £400,000 a year off its annual energy bills by installing a raft of new measures. Chief amongst the new measures is the installation of 600 solar …

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An All Terrain crane slipped off a low loader in Bootle, near Liverpool, UK, Friday. No one was hurt in the incident. The crane, a Grove GMK, owned by Roadcraft Crane and Plant Hire was in the street outside of the crane company’s premises, where it looks as though it was in the process of being loaded or unloaded. The crane came to rest against the side of a building, stopping it from tipping all the way over.

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Construction union UCATT is urging workers to refuse to place themselves in potentially dangerous situations after two workers were injured – one of them fatally – in separate incidents on the same site on Tuesday this week. The first incident at the site in Heaton Norris, Stockport, occurred on Tuesday morning when a worker fell through the roof of an industrial unit that was being demolished. He was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. However later that afternoon paramedics were called to the same site after another worker fell through the same roof. He was also taken to hospital but later died from his injuries. UCATT claims many self-employed workers are particularly reluctant to refuse to work in dangerous conditions because they fear …

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Choosing whether to buy or hire generators is a tough decision to make. It’s also one that can have serious economic and practical effects for your business and its ability to serve customers and respond to challenges and unforeseen situations. Construction firms can benefit from purchasing their generators We sat down with neXpower – a supplier of generators to companies in residential, commercial, and industrial fields – to learn more about whether it’s best to hire or purchase a generator for your business. One-off tasks: Why it’s often best to hire Sometimes, you’ll only need a source of power once or twice a year. Situations that demand a one-off power supply include weddings and other parties, which need an external power source for outdoor catering …

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Embarking on a home refurbishment or renovation project can be daunting to the say the least. There’s no end to tasks, large and small, that need to be completed and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the volume of work that’s required to finish the build. To make things that little bit easier, we’ve compiled these tips to save you valuable time during a project. Seek planning permission online Before you even begin to get your hands dirty, taking care of the planning permission is your priority. Starting work before this has been organised could lead to major headaches at a later stage, as you’ll actually be breaking the law and could be forced by your local authority to undo the changes you’ve already made, should your …

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Yorkshire based construction consultants Rex Procter & Partners has announced that it has merged with Rex Procter & Partners in Marlow.  The business separated to operate as two independent businesses in 1980. The merger is forecast to increase Group turnover by at least 10% to a projected £10 million in 2014 and will also boost the firm’s geographical reach and sector diversity. Collectively the firm will directly employ over 100 people. Andrew Cooper, Managing Director of Rex Procter & Partners based in Yorkshire said, “Over the last five years the business has maintained steady growth and we have become established as one of the largest construction consultants in the North of England.   A robust business plan sets out our ambitions to increase business opportunities in the South and …

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Although asbestos is widely considered to be a thing of the past, it has become increasingly clear of late that asbestos management should be at the forefront of your mind as a commercial property owner. The latest crisis at Heanor Memorial Hospital only reaffirms the knowledge that asbestos can be lethal and, with widespread asbestos still being discovered in public and commercial buildings, isn’t now the perfect time to get your commercial property surveyed to ensure you’re not harbouring this silent killer? The Story of Heanor Memorial Hospital Last week saw the news that talks had reached a ‘crisis stage’ in Heanor Memorial Hospital, with widespread asbestos discovered in the building. Members of the public have been invited to the pivotal talks that will be held from 7.30…

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