News

Despite a 14 per cent increase in Government grant for local authority roads, actual expenditure by councils on road construction is likely to fall by up to 10 per cent in the next financial year. Studies by the British Road Federation and aggregates trade BACMI show that only £635 million…

Management, subcontractors and union officials seem to have headed off a potential all-out steel erectors strike at Canary Wharf with an agreement struck last Friday. The various parties agreed a settlement in the dispute over nearly 50 steel erectors who lost their jobs when subcontractor UK Structures withdrew from its…

The latest moves in a row between Eurotunnel and its contractor Transmanche Link are being watched by the construction industry with astonishment. The most prestigious civil engineering scheme that Britain has seen in many years is being sullied by the actions of both bodies, culminating in TML starting legal action…

The grieving mother and girlfriend of a building worker killed at Euston station are still seeking legal satisfaction after months of frustration dealing with the Railway Inspectorate. Ann Elvin and Lorna Elkins have been battling for British Rail and three contractors to be prosecuted since Paul Elvin died during his…

Current year profits forecasts for house builder to office developer Countryside Properties ranged between £15 million and £23 million this week as analysts argued over whether the company would be able to continue resisting the effects of the housing slump. On Tuesday it emerged as one of the few firms…

Britain will become a seldom-used backwater station in the European rail network of the 1990s.That was the bleak message on Monday to the Chartered Institute of Transport from outgoing British Rail chairman Sir Robert Reid. Only a massive investment in the country's rail infrastructure can stop the swing towards France…

A bitter battle between house builders and water companies over new charges set out in the Water Act now hangs on negotiations over two £500 million developments. A new town at Bradley Stoke near Bristol and Tarmac's Crumbles Harbour Village at Eastbourne are faced with bills for millions of pounds…

The leading publicly-quoted British Companies in the construction industry are listed in the tables following on the basis of their construction-related turnover. Where this does not correspond to group turnover, a note on attributable turnover is given beneath the company's name.The list consists of companies involved in construction and engineering,…

Property to materials handling concern Finlan Group is to scale down its involvement in house building because of the tough trading conditions caused by high interest rates. The company has also adopted a more conservative accounting policy under which it no longer capitalises interest into the value of property stock…

Consultants and contractors are being asked to bid for a comprehensive sewage sludge disposal scheme planned by the Sydney Water Board in Australia.The scheme is part of a project to end sludge dumping at sea. The New South Wales government has already said it plans to spend A$6,000 million (£3,000…