Privatelyfunded council homes scheme to go ahead

An innovative development of privately-funded council homes in Barking and Dagenham has been agreed, lbbd.gov.uk reports.477 new homes will be constructed at two town centre sites, now that Barking and Dagenham Council has given the project the green light. The homes will be entirely self-funding; paying for themselves from rents paid throughout a lease period. At the end of this period, the homes will transfer to council ownership.The affordable...

2/21/2012 10:30:11 AM

Trowbridge hybrid scheme gets green light

A hotel and cinema hybrid complex has been given the thumbs up by planners in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.Construction Enquirer reports that Premier Inn and Odeon Cinemas have signed on the dotted line to become part of the complex, which is expected to cost around £18 million to build.Tim Russell, senior asset manager of Legal and General UK Property Trust, believes the construction process - which could have the potential to create

2/20/2012 3:57:36 PM

Clues to Northern Ireland housing strategy revealed

The first indications to Northern Ireland's housing strategy have been revealed, reports Inside Housing.A briefing to the Department for Social Development committee in Stormont last week outlined the strategy which contains four key pillars: "ensuring decent affordable homes across tenure, meeting housing needs for vulnerable people, using housing for regeneration, and improving the structures that underpin the housing market".Overall, the...

2/20/2012 11:57:14 AM

£1 billion expansion to Shepherds Bush retail area

A £1 billion expansion to Westfield Shopping Centre and the surrounding area in Shepherd's Bush has been given the go-ahead.Hammersmith and Fulham Council approved the ambitious plans which will include the development of over 1,500 new homes and 550,000 square feet of retail space.According to The Construction Enquirer, there are also proposals for the construction of new restaurants, office space and a public green as part of the...

2/20/2012 9:16:56 AM

Earls Court homes scheme gets backing

Hammersmith and Fulham Council has lent its support for plans to build 800 homes at Earls Court, creating many jobs in construction.The council has backed the scheme which has been proposed by Capital & Counties Properties (Capco), comprising town houses and flats to be built around a central public square, Construction Enquirer writes. The development will be located on the site of Seagrave Road car...

2/17/2012 12:15:37 PM

SSE Renewables spies Scottish hydroelectric plant

Plans for a hydro-electric power plant in Scotland have been submitted by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) Renewables, in a move that could reinvigorate construction recruitment in the region.Business7.co.uk says that 150 new construction jobs would be created, should the Scottish Government sign-off on the proposals. It is claimed that this would make the £800 million project one of the...

2/17/2012 11:55:36 AM

Details of AngloFrench deal on nuclear future emerges

A landmark agreement between Britain and France will pave the way for a new generation of nuclear energy, BBC News reports.The coalition is to sign a declaration later today that will mark the start of a shared commitment to the future of civil nuclear power in the two European neighbouring countries.Deals that are to be made under the agreement are predicted to be worth in excess £500 million to Anglo-French companies. Scores of...

2/17/2012 10:55:27 AM

Get Britain Building fund three times oversubscribed

The 'Get Britain Building' fund has been three times oversubscribed.The government has announced that it has received 176 expressions of interest regarding the fund since its launch two months ago.It is thought the fund, which aims to restart the housing developments which have stalled because of financial reasons, will eventually kick-start the construction of over 16,000 homes in the UK by 2014.The Construction Index estimates that 30,000

2/17/2012 9:25:16 AM

Electrical recycling jobs created in Wales

A Newport-based recycling firm is to create 30 new specialist electrical jobs as part of its rapid expansion, Wales Online reports.Celtic Recycling is one of the UK's leading players in the heavy electrical recycling market, and has seen turnover go from £6.5m in 2009 to a predicted £13m in 2012.Its success has led to a £5 million expansion programme, part...

2/17/2012 9:25:16 AM

Olympic chairman to publish UK success report

Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) chairman Sir John Armitt is to produce a report that will help shape the future of Britain's construction industry, reports InsideTheGames.biz.Sir John was responsible for ensuring that all Olympic buildings were completed in time; a task which saw many UK contractors handsomely awarded.In total, around 1,500 businesses in the UK won 98 per cent of the Olympic Park's construction contracts; totalling more than £6...

2/16/2012 11:12:27 AM

Green light for Stafford retail schemes

Proposals for a two-centre £70 million retail development have been approved by Stafford Borough Council, reports The Construction Index.Developer LXB Retail Properties gained permission for two projects; the first being the Riverside shopping centre, for which Marks & Spencer was promptly signed up as "anchor".The second, smaller development at Kingsmead comprises 71,500 square feet, of which 14,000 square feet has been allocated for a Morrisons...

2/16/2012 10:52:24 AM

Hillingdon town centre set for revamp

The London Borough of Hillingdon is set for a major refurbishment.London mayor Boris Johnson announced yesterday that £2.7 million will be donated to the rejuvenation of two town centres in the region.Both Ruislip Manor and Northwood Hills will be completely revamped. This forms part of the Mayor's efforts to ensure that local high streets remain viable, prosperous and competitive. The improvements will include new signage, street furniture, improved street...

2/16/2012 10:02:17 AM

NI investment to safeguard 3000 construction jobs

Thousands of construction jobs will be created as a result of a £580 million investment in Northern Ireland's roads and hospitals, BBC News reports.Many jobs will be saved as part of the investment, too, which was revealed during a "very good day for Northern Ireland."First Minister Peter Robinson announced a series of capital investments, including a £330 million upgrade on the A5...

2/16/2012 10:02:17 AM

Liverpool Underground stations set for refit

A number of underground stations in Liverpool are set for a refit after an £8 million deal was agreed with maintenance group Morgan Sindall.Improvement works will begin at James Street, Lime Street and Central Street stations from April; potentially creating a fair few rail jobs in the city.The work will include the replacement of escalators, passageways and wall claddings to tunnels. A...

2/16/2012 9:42:15 AM

Scotland welcomes wave energy cash injection

A bevy of research jobs in the Scottish wave and tidal energy sector will be created thanks to a multi-million pound investment, the Press Association reports.Scottish Enterprise has released a further £6 million from an initial £13 million fund launched in March 2010. The Waters fund (wave and tidal energy) is destined to bring a number of research and development jobs in engineering to the...

2/13/2012 11:37:18 AM

Engineers should be seen as heroes says Rolls Royce CEO

Britain should produce more manufacturing "heroes" to help rebalance the economy and boost the industry's profile, according to Rolls Royce CEO John Rishton.Mr Rishton believes that the public should consider the likes of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Professor Lord Robert Winston and Professor Brian Cox as heroes; helping to encourage more young people into engineering jobs, rather than perpetuating a...

2/13/2012 11:07:16 AM

Local employment guaranteed in £27 million library build

A national building firm has promised that a plethora of local construction jobs will be made available as it prepares to build a new library in Southend, Essex.Wates Construction has said that it will recruit a number of unemployed workers from the surrounding area, as well as source 75 per cent of its supplies locally for the £27 million project, reports Southend.gov.uk.The...

2/13/2012 10:07:08 AM

Dyson pledges hundreds of new engineering jobs

Dyson is to create 200 new engineering jobs in the UK, with many roles allocated specifically for graduates, BBC News reports.The Wiltshire-based engineering firm, best known for its bag-less vacuum cleaners, has confirmed it is to open up 300 vacancies, which will account for around eight per cent of its total workforce.In addition to engineering roles, the company has revealed it will be looking...

2/13/2012 9:57:08 AM

Over 60 towns to receive additional flood protection

A nationwide flood protection scheme is set to safeguard over 25,000 homes after being given the thumbs up by the government last week.Ministers gave the go-ahead to flood protection measures in over 60 towns late on Friday, spending £243 million in total. High-risk flood areas such as Cockermouth, Morpeth and Warrington are amongst the towns that will receive work.The scheme is likely to create plenty of jobs for those in the construction industry...

2/13/2012 9:27:06 AM

£233m Belfast City regeneration detailed

Plans for a multi-million pound regeneration of Belfast City centre have been unveiled by local government today.Of the £233 million investment, £150m will be injected directly into local business schemes, while another £75m is reserved for a number of construction projects, reports BBC News.The most significant building project is the redevelopment of the landmark Waterfront Hall conference and exhibition centre, which is set to receive £20...

2/10/2012 11:34:14 AM