Author Archives: Luke Haynes

Concrete became the specialism with the lowest margins across the seven index categories, having boasted the second-highest in the 2021 edition. The median average margin for the top specialists tumbled from 3.7 per cent to just 1.15 per cent in this year’s index, in what has been a tough year…

The strategic housing authority for Northern Ireland has “mutually agreed” to release 10 contractors from maintenance contracts to save them from potentially falling into administration. In a statement, the Housing Executive confirmed it had reached an agreement with the contractors to free them from the contracts due to the impact…

Galliford Try has won a contract to deliver a £65m subsea cable factory in Blyth, Northumberland. The project, awarded by JDR Cable Systems, will see the creation of a 46,000-square metre facility. JDR said the new factory, designed by architectural practice Vincent and Gorbing, would help to expand its product…

The former chief executive of collapsed builder Midas has been named as a business director for contractor and developer Real. Alan Hope was appointed to lead the firm’s South West division, with Real, which was formed in 2021, citing his “wealth of experience” in the construction, housing, property development and…

Plans to redevelop Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park stadium received a huge boost yesterday as Croydon Council approved the club’s revised planning application. The Premier League team originally gained planning permission to revamp its Main Stand in April 2018, which will add 8,000 seats to the south London stadium – taking the…

Abida Lalani has been appointed to Costain's executive board, which now has a female majority. Lalani takes up the role of strategy and transformation director and started her new position earlier this month. It will see her focus on accelerating the implementation of the group's strategy across its four markets…

Planning permission has been granted for a £75m mixed-use student accommodation scheme in Hackney Wick, Greater London. Mixed-use specialist Southern Grove Group has secured permission for the project, which will house 204 student bedrooms in two separate six-and-seven-storey blocks. The ground floors of both buildings will be used by the…

Balfour Beatty's south-east Asian subsidiary Gammon has clinched a job to build a residential development in Hong Kong worth £150m. Contracted on behalf of consortium Top Oasis, the firm will construct a 33-storey residential tower – providing 792 flats above the city's existing MTR metro line. Gammon will adopt Design…

The government should appoint an infrastructure secretary to ensure stronger leadership on nationally significant projects across the UK, Costain’s chief executive has suggested. Speaking to Construction News, Alex Vaughan said a dedicated senior minister in the role would help to “join up” different government departments working on large-scale schemes. Vaughan…

All regions are reporting the “best product availability in two years” but concerns remain over the cost of energy intensive products, construction leaders have warned. The range and volume of products available are improving, as are delivery times, according to John Newcomb, chief executive of the Builders Merchants Federation, and…