Technology

The chair of modular builder Top Hat has said he is “extremely concerned” by government-backed plans to create a standardised kit of parts for modern methods of construction (MMC). In May, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities appointed a consortium to create sector-wide standards for modular parts and…

Homes England is set to receive just 0.1 per cent of the £69m it is owed by Ilke Homes, after the firm’s administration process was hit by equipment theft and problems selling completed modules. The collapsed modular homebuilder owes £321m to its creditors, including £68.7m to Homes England – but…

One company came close to snapping up Ilke Homes for £25m in June, a new administrators’ report has revealed. Administrators announced that 36 businesses were approached about buying the North Yorkshire-based modular specialist in May and June. One bid for the company was received that would have seen it sold…

The Department for Education (DfE) says it is reviewing all work carried out by Caledonian Modular after three schools it delivered have had to be closed due to fears over structural and fire safety. As Construction News reported yesterday, Haygrove School in Somerset and Sir Frederick Gibberd College in Essex…

Kent County Council is looking to acquire £500m-worth of construction equipment. The local authority published an official notice on 18 August, heralding a six-lot framework covering the purchase and hire of machinery, plant and tools. The first section of the agreement focuses on the buying of grounds-maintenance equipment including tractors,…

Bedfordshire-based offsite data-centre construction specialist AC Plc has filed for administration. The firm, which posted a turnover of £49.1m – up from £20.7m the previous year – in its most recent set of accounts for the year ending 31 March 2022, lodged its court application on Friday. AC Plc also…

The shortlist for TechFest Awards 2023 has been revealed. In total, 115 entries have been shortlisted across 18 categories recognising the achievements of the construction and civil engineering industries in harnessing the potential of technological innovation. Firms in the Mott MacDonald family lead the nominations – the firm itself has…

Innovative construction and civil engineering firms now have extra time to enter an awards ceremony recognising their achievements. The deadline for the TechFest Awards has been extended to Friday 21 July, giving potential entrants just under two weeks extra to submit their entries. Celebrating innovation in civil engineering and construction, the awards…

A prominent building-materials supplier has launched its own offsite construction arm to capitalise on demand for the activity. Brussels-based business Etex Group, which has a presence in 45 countries including the UK, created the Remagin brand to offer a “comprehensive” and “end-to-end” service to customers. Created by merging three of…

“Extensive” public sector work has helped offsite specialist firm Reds10 see its third consecutive year of growth in both revenue and profit. Reds10’s revenue for the year to 31 March 2023 rose by 32 per cent to reach £83.8m, more than doubling since 2020/21, when it was £37m. The company’s…