Author Archives: Greg Pitcher

The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) has summarily axed 20 of its monitors, Construction News has learned. In an email seen by CN, the not-for-profit organisation said it had taken a “tough decision” to reduce the number of people carrying out inspections of registered sites. Such visits are typically carried out by…

Tier one contractor Balfour Beatty has pushed back its target dates for achieving net-zero carbon operations. The UK’'s biggest contractor has said it now hopes to negate scope 1 and 2 emissions – those coming direct from its activities and indirectly through its power use – by 2045. This is…

Construction activity is growing at its fastest rate for two years, according to data published today (6 June). The closely watched S&P Global Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index registered a higher score in May 2024 than at any point since the same month in 2022. The score of 54.7 rose from…

Bouygues has been picked to build a health facility in west London to speed up the diagnosis of cancer and other illnesses. The UK arm of the French firm was named as lead contractor for the design and build of the Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex University Hospital. Chelsea…

An Irish government official has accused Bam of backtracking on a promise to complete a new national children’s hospital in Dublin this year. Eamonn Quinn, head of major capital projects in the country’s Department of Health, said the contractor should “meet its commitments” on the troubled project. Bam was appointed…

Failed industry disruptor Urban Splash House is to go into liquidation, more than two years after collapsing into administration. The move marks the final step in the winding-up of the modular-build specialist, and could bring certain suppliers closer to receiving some of the cash they are owed. Spun out of…

Contractors are being sought for a £155m road-dualling project in Scotland. Transport Scotland has formally advertised the job to work on the A9 between Tay Crossing and Ballinluig. The 8.2km section of road in central Scotland is being upgraded to a dual carriageway as part of a wider programme to…

MPs have called for a radical rethink of how facilities to tackle the risk of highly infectious diseases are delivered, after the cost of new labs soared by more than 500 per cent in under a decade. In a report released on Monday (27 May), parliament’s Public Accounts Committee says…

A leading construction body has urged the next government to provide financial incentives to encourage companies to invest in modern methods of construction. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) made its views known in its manifesto for the forthcoming general election. Major contractors have already called for a clear focus…

The transport secretary has green-lit a major road-dualling scheme that was awarded to Costain almost three years ago. Mark Harper acted in line with the Planning Inspectorate’s recommendation, granting a development consent order for the 20km project to upgrade the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham. Costain secured the contract in…