News

Construction of a new specialist paediatric hospital in Cambridge has moved a step closer. The outline business case for the Cambridge Children’s Hospital was signed off by the treasury and health ministry this month. This step recognises that the project “has the appropriate funding streams in place” to deliver the…

Scaffolding used by contractors undertaking remedial work could have played a part in spreading fire at a residential block in Dagenham yesterday, according to a fire expert. Fire broke out at the Spectrum building early on Monday morning (26 August), causing a blaze that took more than 200 firefighters to…

The London Fire Brigade has announced an investigation into the Bank Holiday weekend blaze at the Spectrum Building in Chadwell Heath, east London. Construction News has pieced together a history of the building from planning documents. Circa 1973: The part-five-part-six-storey office building is built on a 3,106 square metre site…

Easier entry routes into construction are needed for young people to counter offers of work abroad, according to the head of the industry’s training board. Tim Balcon, chief executive of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), said more needs to be done to promote apprenticeships and chances of progression in…

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has raised local competition concerns in the Midlands as part of its probe into last year’s merger of two duct and fittings suppliers. In its provisional findings from the second phase of its inquiry into Lindab’s acquisition of HAS-Vent, the CMA found the deal…

Ground engineering firm Van Elle has signalled it will be targeting new work in London and the South East. In its stock market update, released to investors on Thursday last week (22 August), the firm said it will be using the acquisition of Rock & Alluvium in November last year…

Project delays have sent envelope specialist Yuanda UK tumbling to an £11.8m pre-tax loss. The UK’s seventh-largest envelope contractor fell into the red in the year ending 31 December 2023, dropping from a pre-tax profit of £635,000 in 2022. Directors attributed the loss to “prolonged programmes” on its ongoing projects.…

Construction industry innovators and experts have had their successes recognised in the shortlist for TechFest 2024. In total, 133 finalists were shortlisted across 20 categories, highlighting achievements in the construction and civil engineering industries that make the most of technological innovations. TechFest Conference and Awards is a joint effort between…

A Birmingham hospital beset by delays after contractor Carillion collapsed has finally been given an opening date – six years after it was originally due to finish. Midland Metropolitan University Hospital (MMUH, pictured), which is being completed by Balfour Beatty, will open on 6 October, the Sandwell and West Birmingham…

An amicable split at Keltbray is among the changes of the guard across the UK. The decision by the firm to sell its infrastructure business to private equity firm EMK Capital has led to board-level changes. Darren James (pictured), Keltbray’s chief executive, is moving with Keltbray Infrastructure Services to become…