Planning & Construction News

Stuart Clark, managing director at Russell & Russell Business Advisers, examines five key issues facing construction companies as restrictions ease and the economy starts to recover.

A scaffolder in Kenilworth has been banned for four years after recklessly spending £142,000 prior to bankruptcy to avoid paying creditors.

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, John Sisk & Son, VolkerFitzpatrick, Colas Ltd, Dyer & Butler and Tarmac have secured contracts worth £285m to upgrade the concrete surface of roads across the UK.

Cost increases and the introduction of new restrictions on professional indemnity (PI) insurance are preventing companies from taking on projects and could delay essential work on building safety, warns the Construction Leadership Council (CLC).

Following the publication of the Construction Playbook by the government in December, JCT has made available an article, JCT Contracts meeting the objectives of the Construction Playbook, which provides an analysis on how users wishing to comply with the Playbook’s objectives can do so within the current JCT suite of contracts.

While Covid-19 pandemic has wrought havoc on many industries, the construction industry has so far emerged relatively unscathed. But the impact of the shock to the wider economy, the withdrawal of government support and longstanding and unresolved industry issues will mean the sector is likely to face challenges over the longer term, warns BDO’s head of construction Paul Fenner.

Keltbray has landed a £17.5m deal to deliver enabling deconstruction and new structural works on the first phase of the new home for the Museum of London.

To build safer, stronger structures requires more than just top quality joist hangers; equally important is choosing the correct sized joist hanger.

Vistry Partnerships and Barratt Developments have joined forces to deliver 760 much-needed new homes in Bridport, Dorset.

Balfour Beatty, Costain, HS2, Mace, Multiplex and Skanska have all adopted the Common Assessment Standard to help save the sector up to £1bn a year.

Manchester has been allocated £7.82m in the second tranche of funding from an £81.1m funding pot for Greater Manchester.

Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Nottingham City Council to demolish the remaining Broadmarsh Centre site in the city centre for future development.

Renew Holdings plc has agreed to acquire the water focused engineering business, J Browne Group Holdings Limited for £29.5m.

HS2 has revealed the four bidders which have been shortlisted for a £523m contract to deliver high voltage supply systems.

Passengers are set to get a glimpse of Bristol Temple Meads station following the installation of scaffolding towers ready for the roof restoration.

Work is due to begin at the start of May on the new £27m M55 Heyhouses Link Road to the Fylde coast.

Farrans Construction is set to begin work on two new mixed-use developments in London worth more than £33m combined.

Builders must take full responsibility for their waste to limit disruption to the environment, warns the Environment Agency (EA).

Winvic Construction has been appointed by IM Properties to construct a 2.94m sq ft global parts logistics centre at Mercia Park in Leicestershire.

In the wake of the chancellor’s budget earlier this month, Gary Cawley, director at CPC, gives the view from the North on the latest slew of policy announcements and funding promises.