News

HS2 chair and interim chief executive Sir Jon Thompson has said the true cost of phase one of the mega-project will be around £8bn to £10bn higher than the company’s official estimates, which are in 2019 prices. While the current funding envelope for HS2 phase one is £44.6bn in 2019…

Five firms have secured work retrofitting energy-efficiency measures across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Bell Group, PHS Home Solutions and Procast Building Contractors were named to carry out refurbishment and installation tasks across both countries. The trio are joined on the Scotland-specific lot of the framework by Paisley business Clark Contracts…

Northumbrian Water has appointed seven firms to its largest-ever package of framework agreements, which will deliver the company’s £3.6bn five-year investment programme. Costain, Bam Nutall, Esh-Stantec, Farrans Construction, Mott MacDonald Bentley, Avove Ltd and MWH Treatment have joined the water company’s Living Water Enterprise (LWE), a 12-year partnership that will…

A senior Scottish minister has met with administrators for Stewart Milne Group after 217 employees of the collapsed company were made redundant on Monday (8 January). Neil Gray, cabinet secretary for wellbeing economy, fair work and energy, met with administrators from Teneo on Tuesday morning (9 January) to discuss employment…

Two major contractors have appointed new managing directors to regional divisions. Tilbury Douglas has named Phil Shaw as managing director of its Building North unit, while appointing Martin Horne to regional director for the North West. Meanwhile, Simon Martin became managing director of Caddick Civil Engineering. Shaw started his career…

A leading figure in Scottish housebuilding has urged ministers north of the border to “take action” amid fears of further business failures in the wake of Stewart Milne Group entering administration. On Monday (8 January), the Aberdeen-headquartered firm announced it would cease trading after failing to find a buyer –…

The amount of construction work starting on site in the run-up to Christmas was a fifth lower than the same period a year earlier, research has revealed. Data from industry intelligence provider Glenigan showed the value of projects getting underway in the final quarter of 2023 was significantly down compared…

The developer behind the London MSG Sphere has withdrawn its planning application, claiming the scheme has become a “political football”. The 90 metre-high, 120 metre-wide spherical arena, which would have stood near the Olympic Park in east London, has been embroiled in a multi-year planning battle since Madison Square Garden…

Bam’s UK construction chief James Wimpenny is to retire this month. After joining the contractor in 1985 as a management trainee, he rose through the ranks to become chief executive of Bam Construct UK six years ago. In 2021 Dutch-owned parent company Royal Bam Group undertook a major reshuffle that…

Demolition and civils specialist John F Hunt Group has posted a 44 per cent hike in turnover. The Essex-based firm this week revealed revenue of £157.1m for the 12 months to 31 March 2023. This was up from £108.8m in the previous year, while pre-tax profit soared by 72 per…