Technology

Legal & General will double the workforce at its modular division factory, it has announced. The 350 new staff at its Sherburn-in-Elmet facility in North Yorkshire will help the delivery of 185 new homes for client Bristol City Council.  The Bonnington Walk scheme, in the Lockleaze area of the city,…

Wates has hired Skanska UK’s former head of strategic markets Inna Lim to help establish its recently formed Wates Integrated Construction Services business. The unit was formed last summer as part of a major restructuring of Wates’ operations. It gathered together SES Engineering Services, Wates Building Services and Prism offsite…

Fragmented geospatial data collection and ownership is undermining planning decisions in the UK, according to a new government-backed report. The report from the Geospatial Commission, an independent expert committee with Cabinet Office backing, has made a series of recommendations for unlocking the potential of data to improve both planning and…

Robertson has begun work on a £22.4m National Robotarium in Edinburgh. Situated on the Heriot-Watt University campus, the new facility has been described as the largest and most advanced building of its type in the UK. The new centre will bring together cutting-edge research and design from the university and…

Augmented reality (AR) technology that helps workers visualise underground utilities is being trialled by contractor Morrison Utility Services in partnership with Vinci-owned highways specialist Eurovia UK. The pair are deploying technology developed by Eurovia called Augmented Visualisation of Underground Services (Avus) in work for clients Thames Water and Yorkshire Water.…

Drax has abandoned plans to build Europe’s largest gas-fired power station in North Yorkshire. The energy firm announced yesterday that it would instead focus on renewable power, including “sustainable biomass generation” and development of carbon capture and storage capacity. The proposed gas scheme, at its main plant near the village…

Homes England has told potential strategic partners they must commit to increasing the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) if they want to strike deals. The body has broadened the type of organisations it will form strategic partnerships with, enabling developers and for-profit providers to apply. Local authorities and…

Interserve Construction has appointed a technical director to oversee its “digital transformation strategy and modern methods of construction (MMC)”. Divisional director for London and the South East Mark Buckle will report to the company’s board with his brief concentrating on “the development, use and implementation of” MMC and design for…

Offsite specialist Premier Modular has been sold to a new owner. London-based Cabot Square Capital has acquired a majority shareholding in the £66m-turnover firm from South African firm Waco International for an undisclosed sum. Cabot Square is a specialist provider of investment capital to small and mid-sized companies in the…

Bowmer & Kirkland has been appointed on a £54m glass-research centre in Merseyside. The firm was selected through the North West Construction Hub to build the facility, for which developer Network Space has just submitted a planning application. The 160,000 square foot Centre of Excellence in St Helens will be…