Author Archives: CN Staff

Some big-name contractors have gone under in recent years without following proper redundancy procedures. With taxpayers footing the bill for payouts, is there any incentive for failing businesses to play fair? David Prosser reports Labour. Raw materials. Interest rates. As these costs all soar, the mortal threat to many construction…

Metal-products supplier Rainclear has been steadily expanding its versatile offer Whether it’s a major heritage restoration or building a garden shed, Rainclear’s metal products can be found on many sites, painted and ready to use. “Metal products are often made from a high percentage of recycled material and can be…

Now that the sporting circus has left town, Luke Haynes hears how a flagship venue is being renovated for use by local communities in the West Midlands Project: Sandwell Aquatics Centre Client: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council Project value: £85m Main contractor: Wates Construction Contract type: NEC Project start date: autumn…

Construction News senior reporter Joshua Stein has been named Business/Financial Journalist of the Year at the International Building Press (IBP) Awards 2022. He was recognised for revealing that work had halted at Multiplex’s £900m One Nine Elms site, as well as his in-depth features on the use of the furlough…

Keeping abreast of costs, timescales and resources are major pillars of successful construction and infrastructure projects – but accurately managing the process can be a hard task. Advanced software can help a scheme to stay on track, but professionals also need to have the skills and desire to work with…

Sales of “heavy” construction materials fell during the third quarter of this year after an unbroken two years of growth, with the situation set to get worse. The Construction Products Association’s latest State of Trade Survey showed a negative balance of 12% in the number of firms reporting a fall…

Costain and Mott MacDonald have been awarded a role on the £1.7bn A303 Stonehenge Tunnel scheme by National Highways. Plans for the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down scheme would see a 3.2km tunnel built under the World Heritage Site, 50m away from the current route of the A303. National Highways…

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has announced it will refocus its work as part of a strategy launched today to guide it over the next three years. The trade body said it will focus its efforts on four long-term ambitions to deliver “transformational change”, as it outlined its intentions to…

Several of the UK’s top contractors will limit work or completely shut sites during the Queen’s funeral next week. Earlier this week, the Construction Leadership Council told firms that there was no obligation on them to suspend business during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, as per government guidance. It…

Voices from the world of construction have paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died yesterday (8 September) at the age of 96. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the monarch "died peacefully" at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She had been joined by close family members earlier in the day. As Britain's…