London Charing Cross landmark office to be rebuilt insideArchitect Hopkins has unveiled detailed plans to overhaul 1 Embankment Place above London’s Charing Cross Station, turning the ageing air-rights landmark into a high-spec, low-carbon office and mixed-use destination.
Working for developer Bridgemont, the scheme will retain around 90% of the existing Terry Farrell-designed structure and…
Government set to ban retentionsThe Government is planning to ban retentions in construction as part of a major crack down on late payments.
It said: “We propose to ban the withholding of retention payments under the terms of construction contracts, consulting on its implementation.
“This will prevent small firms losing retentions to insolvency or non-payment.”
Initial consultations showed…
Hercules shares to be suspended as results delayedShares in labour supply specialist Hercules will be suspended after the firm confirmed it will miss the deadline for filing its latest annual accounts.
Final results for the year ended 30 September 2025 where due to be posted by 31 March 2026.
But Hercules said the accounts have taken longer than expected “due to the consolidation of…
Tower plans squeezed as London build costs spiralLondon’s next wave of skyscrapers is at risk of stalling after build costs surged by up to 40% in five years, leaving developers struggling to make schemes stack up.
A new report from Turner & Townsend warns that viability has become the single biggest barrier to delivering tall buildings in the capital, with rising costs now colliding wit…
Ministers delay HS2 reset plan for extra cost savingsHS2 has been ordered to hunt for more savings as ministers push the troubled high-speed line towards a cheaper and quicker finish.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has tasked HS2 chief executive Mark Wild with testing whether stripping out complexity from the railway could save taxpayers billions and bring services into operation sooner.
To…
McLaughlin & Harvey lands Old Broad St revampMcLaughlin & Harvey has landed the £50m contract for a deep retrofit of the former Pinners Hall at 108 Old Broad Street in the City of London.
Development manager Patrizia confirmed the award with work starting this month and practical completion targeted for August 2027.
Planning consent achieved in November will see the 1990s building transformed…
John F Hunt kick starts work on colliery site revampJohn F Hunt has been appointed to deliver a £15m package of enabling works for first phase of the Parkside regeneration project in Newton-le-Willows, St Helens.
The scheme’s 800,000 sq ft first phase will contain three logistics units on the site of the former Parkside Colliery.
The enabling works programme includes site clearance, earthworks…
Five firms land £1bn Guinness maintenance dealFive firms have been confirmed as long-term housing maintenance partners for The Guinness Partnership under a 15-year deal worth more than £1bn.
The winning contractors and regions they will cover are:
Axis Europe Ltd – Greater London & South East and Coast
Fortem Solutions Limited – Yorkshire, Humberside & East Midlands
Morgan Sinda…
Government steel strategy set to drive up construction costsContractors are bracing for a fresh wave of cost inflation after the Government unveiled a hardline steel strategy designed to curb imports and boost domestic production.
Ministers have set out plans to cut steel import quotas by 60% from July and impose a 50% tariff on material brought in above those limits — a move aimed at shielding…
Gobion lands £52m DP World London Gateway yard jobGobion Construction has secured a £52m contract to deliver a major container storage yard expansion at London Gateway Port in Thurrock.
The job, awarded by London Gateway Port, will see the SME contractor build out a new automated container yard at Berth 5 as the port ramps up capacity.
The one-year programme is due to start at the end of Marc…