Wates

Wates has been selected to build 334 new homes in Barking, east London, as part of the latest phase of an £874m regeneration scheme. Developer Be First, which is owned by Barking and Dagenham Council, chose the contractor for the £142m Gascoigne Estate job.  Phase 3B of the scheme will…

Industry stalwart James Wates is to step down as chairman of the Wates Group – to be replaced by his cousin. The firm, which featured in the top 10 of the CN100 with a turnover of £1.5bn in the 12 months to 31 December 2021, has announced that Tim Wates…

Wates has been confirmed as the contractor for the construction of a £450m gigafactory – its highest-value project to date. Client Envision AESC announced a year ago that Wates had a design role on the electric-vehicle battery plant, and the contractor has now started construction work. The gigafactory, which is…

Wates Construction has appointed Paul Griffin as its commercial director. Griffin returns to the construction firm after spending four years at housing association specialist London Project Consultants. He started his career at Wates as a commercial trainee more than 20 years ago, and in his new role will drive strategy…

Plans have been submitted for a major £263m film and TV studio complex in central Bedfordshire. The scheme will see a former clay extraction works redeveloped into the largest newbuild film studio in the UK, combining 1.7 million square feet of studio space with hotel accommodation, set storage and a…

Changes to building safety rules represent a chance for the construction sector to reach its best standards, the interim chief executive of Wates has said. Philip Wainwright told Construction News the industry is facing an “an ever-increasing regulatory environment”, in terms of both the push for net zero and safety…

Wates Property Services has been named on a £250m building repairs framework. Equans Regeneration and United Living are also among the 97 suppliers who won spots on the framework managed by the framework provider Fusion21. Wates, Equans and United Living have all landed places on three lots – those covering…

Wates has won a £53m refurbishment and extension contract for a Grade II-listed office in the City of London. The contractor will carry out work on 41 Lothbury, a former headquarters of Natwest bank that is situated close to the Bank of England. The job will include the building of…

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…

Lendlease was the contractor with which the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spent the most money in the last financial year, Construction News can reveal. Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show the Australian-owned multinational topped the government body’s spending in 2021/22 with £149.5m – double the next best-placed…