Author Archives: Ian Weinfass

Altrad and Kaefer have landed places on a £180m deal at Sellafield. Sellafield Programme and Project Partners (PPP) has appointed the specialists to deliver access solutions, insulation and painting services on major projects at the nuclear decommissioning site. The framework is worth £90m to each of the companies over a…

Sir Robert McAlpine has been appointed on a preconstruction services agreement for a new £4bn battery cell manufacturing facility in Somerset. Client Agratas, part of Indian multinational Tata, today (22 July) named the contractor as its delivery partner for the first building on its site near Bridgwater. So-called Building One…

The asbestos removal industry is finally making progress towards protecting female workers from predatory behaviour, campaigners have said. Asbestos analysts, whose job is to independently check the substance has been removed properly from buildings, have warned for years that industry and regulator policies are leaving them at risk of sexual…

Industry figures have called for clarity around product-marking regulations after the government signalled it may allow alignment with European standards to continue. This week’s King’s Speech, the first under Sir Keir Starmer's premiership, contained plans to bring forward a Product Safety and Metrology Bill. Background papers published after the speech…

Construction insolvencies are expected to remain high until the impact of the new government’s plans for homes and infrastructure is felt, commentators have said. New figures released today (19 July) show that construction remained the worst-hit sector for insolvencies in the year to May 2024, as in April. This was…

Kier has more than doubled its net cash, it revealed in a trading update on Thursday morning (18 July). At the end of its latest financial year, for the 12 months to 30 June 2024, the contractor’s net cash hit £165m, up from £64m in 2023. The update continues the…

Permasteelisa has landed the facade package on the £300m Salisbury Square development on Fleet Street in the City of London. The buildings, also known as the Justice Quarter, will serve as a new court and City of London Police headquarters. Mace is the main contractor on the job, and Keltbray…

Costs have risen on the main civils works of HS2 in the south of England. Skanska revealed in a stock market statement on Friday that it is set to receive an extra £50m for its role on the southern section of the megaproject after agreeing changes to its scope of…

Charles Henshaw & Sons has filed for administration after 120 years of trading. Directors of the Edinburgh-based envelope specialist blamed issues with legacy contracts and main contractor delays on new project starts for causing it to become loss-making. Administrator Shona Campbell at Henderson Loggie is seeking a buyer for the…

A joint venture involving Morgan Sindall’s development arm is in line to regenerate Wolverhampton city centre. City of Wolverhampton Council is set to enter into a development agreement with ECF, formerly known as the English Cities Fund, for the £50m programme. ECF comprises Homes England, Legal & General and the…