Plans submitted to build on former piggery
Plans for a new housing development on the site of a former piggery on the outskirts of Oswestry have been submitted to Shropshire Council.
The...
Construction of bypass awarded to Balfour Beatty
Construction company, Balfour Beatty, has been awarded the £44m contract to widen the A1 Western Bypass around Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The Highways Agency contract to widen the...
Construction Plant-hire Association seeks feedback
The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) is inviting feedback on a new guidance document - “Ground Conditions for Construction Plant”, which is now available as...
Kier awarded A&E building contract
The construction company has been awarded the contract to build a new emergency department at New Cross Hospital on behalf of the Royal Wolverhampton...
The housing crisis requires ‘tough decisions’
Business Secretary, Vince Cable said more houses need to be built, even if it means using green belt.
With housing inflation reaching 'dangerous levels', Vince...
Retrofitting to the Next Level
Solid walled properties make up almost 30% of Britain’s housing stock and with many of these dwellings built long before limiting CO2 emissions became...
Flood mitigation project set out
Bath & North East Somerset Council and the Environment Agency are working together on a major infrastructure project which will provide flood defences for...
An overview of the latest changes to Approved Documents L
For domestic new build, Approved Document L1A (ADL1A) 2013 requires an aggregate uplift of 6% over 2010 standards, and for non-domestic new build, ADL2A...
The UK is falling behind in energy efficiency
In an analysis of Member States’ plans to achieve their 1.5% annual energy savings target, The Coalition for Energy Savings identifies weaknesses in the...
£168m pothole repair fund available for councils
Councils are being invited to bid for a share of a £168m Pothole Fund to repair local roads, making them safer and smoother for motorists, cyclists and other road users
Approved renewable projects will create 8000 jobs
Eight renewable energy projects have been approved as part of the government’s electricity reforms.
The projects aim to give a massive boost to green growth...
The right crane for the job
Construction Plant-hire Association’s Kevin Minton highlights the importance of tower cranes being suitable for purpose.
Tower cranes are not a “one size fits all “solution, and...
Asbestos training – the real ‘know-how’
Terry Slater, Director of SMH Training & Scientific Services UK LTD highlights the hands-on knowledge of asbestos management that comes from the continuous development...
Part M – a duty to equality
Huw Evans, author of the ‘Guide to the Building Regulations’ examines whether the Approved Document M (AD M) is enough to comply with The...
The CDM-C route to added value
John Lacey, Past President of IOSH describes how CDM Regulations are meant to operate, and what qualities a CDM-C should possess.
The 6 European Directives...
Clients under pressure: CDM201X?
Following on from the proposed changes to the CDM Regulations from the HSE, David Carr, MD of Callsafe Services Ltd examines whether the client is...
A new CDM – a wholesale change
James Ritchie, Head of Corporate Affairs at The Association for Project Safety (APS) examines the new proposals for CDM regulations and outlines what challenges they...
Certifying the assessors
SSAIB Chief Executive Geoff Tate describes the BAFE SP205 UKAS-accredited certification scheme’s aims, what it involves and the benefits to customers and certificated service...
The voice for fire engineering
Martin Duggan, General Manager at the FIA outlines the launch of the new Fire Engineering Council and the key concerns they intend to address.
Fire engineering...
A devolution of Building Regulations
Andy Thomas, Building Regulations Manager covering Wales, examines the changes to Part L and the differences between the English and Welsh versions.
With the transfer...
A window to safety
The NHBC Techzone provide guidance for the appropriate requirements for the fitting of French windows.
All designers, builders and building control professionals are familiar with...
BrIMming with opportunities
Professor David Philp, Head of BIM at Mace focusses attention on the challenges to achieving Level 2 BIM by 2016, but also the benefits it creates for construction delivery.
Local skills – fit for purpose
Sarah Fenton Head of Local Sector Strategy at CITB describes how their new Joint Investment Strategy aims to tackle skills shortages at a local...
NPPF – a failure to protect our ‘green lung’?
Paul Miner, Senior Planning Officer at the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) highlights the findings of a recent report that shows planning reforms...
NPPF: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – part 2
Suzan Yildiz, Head of Planning at Olswang LLP considers the emerging case law on the proper interpretation of key housing policies in a decision...
Support for local developers and new home buyers
As developers face the ongoing challenges of the property market it is obvious that many will be looking for support, not only in land...