Author Archives: Joshua Stein

Multinational manufacturer ArcelorMittal has warned a “catastrophic” planning decision will cut the UK’s access to concrete rebar steel by nearly a third. Chatham Docks in Kent, which is the firm’s only site producing the product, is set to close after Medway Council approved a project to develop a mixed-use scheme…

The UK construction sector is at risk of inadvertently using Russian aluminium because of a gap in EU sanctions, a trade association has warned. Specifically, the EU has not sanctioned imports of aluminium slabs, ingots and billets, which make up about 85 per cent of the Russian aluminium imports to…

A decision on whether to move forward with the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) road scheme has been pushed back until after the general election. The planning decision is now scheduled for 4 October “to allow appropriate time” for a new transport secretary to consider the plan post-election, said Mark Harper,…

HS2 Ltd has launched a £600m framework designed to put the finishing touches on the London-to-Birmingham high-speed rail project. The £600m framework will give HS2 “flexibility and options towards the end of the [build] programme” so that it can finish work on the line, a source close to the programme…

Mace has been confirmed as main contractor on a bumper job to redevelop a central London office block. Construction News understands that the deal is worth around £100m. The contractor will turn 100 New Bridge Street into a multipurpose site consisting of 194,000 square feet of office space and more than…

Firms under police investigation over the construction of Grenfell Tower are unlikely to find out if they face charges before the end of 2026, according to official prosecutors. The Metropolitan Police expects to receive the Grenfell Inquiry’s phase two report later this year. It will then need “at least between…

Surgo Construction went under while battling a charity for £1.4m and owing creditors £5.0m. The £14m-turnover company collapsed in March. In a report lodged with Companies House, administrators from FRP Advisory said Surgo launched legal proceedings against the unnamed charity when it failed to pay Surgo for two months worth…

Durkan has put aside more than £12m to deal with building defects but still managed to shrink its losses by more than half. The firm reported a £3.9m pre-tax loss in the year to 30 November 2023, close to a 60 per cent drop on the £9.3m loss it made…

Scottish ministers have been given the power to directly commission remediation work on dangerous cladding without owners’ permission. On Tuesday (14 May) the Scottish Parliament unanimously approved the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill. The new law will give building owners seven days’ notice of ministers’ intention to carry out work.…

A contractor’s liquidation process has dragged on past the five-year mark due to a drawn-out pursuit of its clients for outstanding debts. Newman Scott was owed “significant monies” by unnamed firms when it appointed administrators in March 2019, according to documents lodged with Companies House. Liquidators had to carry out…