Green light for £10bn data hub prep works in NorthumberlandPreparatory works have been signed off for a £10bn hyperscale data centre at the site of the former Blyth Power Station in Northumberland.
The planning go-ahead for first stage enabling works marks the first on-the-ground step for one of the UK’s biggest inward investment schemes.
QTS, owned by Blackstone, secured outline consent in…
VolkerWessels UK profits jump as rail and marine work surgesVolkerWessels UK has lifted profits as a surge in highways, rail and marine work, helped offset weaker commercial building activity.
Group turnover edged up 4% to £1.49bn in 2024 while pre-tax profit jumped 24% to a record £48m, as robust governance further reduced impacts from legacy loss-making contracts.
The improved performance saw…
B+K to start £50m rebuild of Northumberland schoolBowmer + Kirkland has sealed a £50m contract with the Department for Education to redevelop Cramlington Learning Village in Northumberland.
The scheme will see demolition of nine ageing buildings on the site, making way for a new three-storey admin and teaching block alongside a modern learning complex with improved access, expanded parking and…
Network Rail spend down as CP7 shift bites contractorsNetwork Rail’s £8.8bn supplier spend in the first year of Control Period 7 has sparked concern across the civils supply chain as firms warn workloads are thinner and harder to track.
The rail client’s latest supplier spend report for CP7 shows overall investment in 2024/25 dropped 5% on the prior year and sits 3% below the CP6 averag…
Trade body joins attack on CITB over funding changesThe trade body for fit-out specialists has described recent changes to training funding by the CITB as a “kick in the teeth” for contractors.
Leaders at the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) joined the attack on training chiefs after the Enquirer highlighted industry anger at the changes last week.
The CITB has given the industry only a…
Wall of six towers planned for North London strip sitePlans have gone in for a dramatic six-tower cluster on the Hendon Goods Yard site at Barnet in North London.
The proposed mixed-use scheme will deliver 368 homes, a 243-bed hotel and a 246-bed student block on the former goods yard site.
The challenging strip site for the residential project is just 13–26m wide and 900m long, sandwiched…
M&J Evans lifts profits as eastward regional push pays offGroundworks specialist M&J Evans has lifted pre-tax profit 67% despite a dip in turnover as its regional expansion strategy starts to deliver results.
The Midlands-based housing specialist posted pre-tax profit of £3.8m for the year to December 2024, up from £2.2m, while turnover edged down 3% to £323m.
Operating profit rose 31% to…
Carey demolition cartel claim settled with developerA claim by a developer against Carey Group that it was overcharged £2.4m for demolition work has been withdrawn after both sides reached a settlement.
Hong Kong based developer Circadian Limited launched the action in March claiming it was overcharged for demolition work caught up in the industry’s bid rigging scandal.
Carey owned Scudder was…
Strabag seals financial close for £3bn HARP projectA consortium led by Austrian contractor Strabag has sealed financial close on the £3bn Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP) for United Utilities.
The North West’s 110km Haweswater aqueduct upgrade is the the UK’s first major water scheme procured under Ofwat’s Direct Procurement for Customers model.
Strabag and partners Equitix…
Civils winners revealed for £12bn National Grid high voltage workNational Grid has completed the award of its High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) infrastructure programme with civil works worth £12bn.
The third and final stage of its £59bn supply chain framework awards for the Great Grid Upgrade follows cabling and converter station deals announced earlier this year.
Six HVDC converter civ…