Inspired by the western Swordfern, a groundbreaking prototype could be the answer to the storage challenge still holding solar back as a total energy solution. The new type of electrode could boost the capacity of existing integrable storage technologies by 3000 per cent, say researchers.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170331120317.htm
Nanotechnology constantly allows for new records in miniaturization. Reduction of the dimension of electronic components, however, has physical limits that will be reached soon. Novel materials and components are required. This is where molecular electronics comes in. Scientists have now succeeded in developing a molecular toggle switch that does not only remain in the position selected, but can also be flipped as often as desired.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170329102511.htm
Scientists have been working diligently to create engineered tissue implants to repair or replace damaged or diseased tissue and organs; but their success hinges on the ability to build a sturdy connection linking the implant’s blood vessels and the patient’s existing vasculature. Now researchers have created segments of engineered blood vessels to address this critical issue.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170328181158.htm
Groundworks and civil engineering specialist O’Brien Contractor has landed its biggest ever deal to work on the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) new Service Family Accommodation scheme.
The latest phase of the Army Basing Programme in the Salisbury Plain area will deliver up to 917 new homes over 3 separate sites.
Working in partnership with main contractor Lovell Partnerships, O’Brien will be undertaking the infrastructure works to the proposed scheme including the construction of adoptable Section 38 roads and sewers, along with associated provision of gas, water, electric, IT and comms services.
The overall project also requires the upgrading of existing county highways in the form of new roundabouts, junctions and highways.
These works will be carried out concurrently by O’Brien with the housing development operation.
Stuart Chamberlain, O’Brien Contractors Director, said: “We look forward, once again, in applying our civil engineering expertise to deliver a development to the highest levels of quality.
“It is testament to our team who worked on the Beacon Barracks SFA scheme, that Lovell has shown confidence in our capability to deliver this prestigious project.”
John Leary, Lovell Operational Director, said: “The SFA scheme presents many exciting challenges but what is paramount is the necessity to assemble the right team, a team capable of delivering quality work throughout a high volume fast track programme.
“OBCL were a key player on MOD Stafford and I am delighted to have them alongside us on the Plain.
“Our partnerships give me the confidence that we can meet the client’s demanding programme and at the same time assure DIO of value for money”.
The opening of Carillion’s £335m Royal Liverpool University Hospital job has been delayed again following construction problems.
Work on the site was temporarily halted in January when cracks were found in two concrete transfer beams
Work was running six months late with a scheduled completion time of June.
But the Liverpool Echo said health chiefs at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust are now resigned to construction work stretching to next February and moving in next summer.
A Carillion spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that the opening of the new Royal Liverpool Hospital has been delayed.
“The construction of such a building on a brownfield city centre location is a very complex process and we have encountered some issues which have unfortunately led to a delay in the handover date to the Trust.
“We continue to work closely with the Trust to ensure that we handover the building as soon as possible in order for the transition into the new hospital to start.”
North Midland Construction has got the business back on track returning stronger group profits despite suffering losses at its telecoms business.
While the construction firm’s key construction, highways and water divisions returned better profits last year, the telecoms arm suffered a £2.6m loss on flat revenue of around £30m.
North Midland Construction said it had now restructured the management at the telecoms business with group chief executive John Homer taking direct leadership of the business, which works mainly for Virgin Media.
Homer said: “The market is very strong in this sector with significant spending plans in place across the whole country. The performance of this division is under careful scrutiny to ensure that the changes made achieve the desired results and achieve an acceptable margin return.”
While group turnover jumped 15% to £250m, pre-tax profit edged up to £2.2m, compared to £606,000 in 2015, after taking into account of a £3.5m loss on legacy contracts.
Homer said work on the last remaining legacy project was completed in 2016, with North Midland now pursuing a final settlement claim with the client.
He added: “We remain confident in in the outlook and expect the positive progress achieved to continue into 2017 and beyond. Key successes will continue in water and improvement will be seen in the other divisions. The strategic focus in utilities will enhance the performance of the group in the short term.”
In the year ahead North Midland aims to further expand its highways business in the North West and Northern Home Counties.
Contractors working on sites along the Thames in London have called in a leading river safety expert to train workers.
The continuing construction boom along the river has seen firms like Balfour Beatty and McAlpine seek expert advice on keeping workers safe near the water’s edge.
Ant Eddies-Davies, who runs Live the Adventure in Shropshire, has been sharing his rescue skills with builders having previously trained everyone from international defence forces to emergency services in how to stay safe on the water.
Eddies-Davies has been focusing on sites around Canary Wharf.
He said: “We have run courses this year for a number of leading construction companies who are building alongside the water’s edge.
“Regulations mean everyone working near water needs to have proper safety training and protection.
“It makes a lot of financial sense for companies to bring us in to help train up their staff rather than pay water patrols for months and months on end.
“This is a great project to be involved with and I hope my knowledge will ensure the staff are fully up to speed with the correct procedures.”
Joint developers British Land and Universities Superannuation Scheme have got the green light for the £400m regeneration of Kingston town centre’s Eden Walk shopping centre in West London.
The scheme designed by BDP Architects, will see new shops and restaurants, a new cinema on top of a refurbished multi-storey car park and nearly 400 flats in surrounding buildings.
New buildings will vary in height from five-storeys to ten and one taller building of 16 storeys.
The developers are working through vacant possession arrangements and expect to break-ground in late 2019.
Nearly 700 construction jobs will be sustained during construction, supported by a training, skills and apprenticeship programme.
The Eden Walk Shopping Centre was built in the 1960s, and is currently home to a multi-storey car park, 28 retailers and cafés, and office space but is in long-term decline.
It is hoped the new scheme will breathe new life into the town centre, helping to counteract the pull of Westfield in Hammersmith, the West End in London and Guildford.
Richard Wise, Head of Retail Development for British Land, said: “Kingston is a special place which enjoys a unique blend of heritage, retail and leisure from its great riverside location.
“Looking forward, Kingston’s standing in Greater London will continue to rise, because the Council has a positive growth agenda and is willing to get things done.
“The proposed redevelopment of Eden Walk is designed to complement the existing retail offer and create a high quality central space for Kingston which will over time, become the heart of the town. It will be a place that reflects modern lifestyles, where people can live, shop, work and relax with friends and family.”
Joint developers Lendlease and London & Continental Railways have gained consent for their fourth major building at the International Quarter development at Stratford in east London.
Designed by Stirk Harbour + Partners, the new building will create 280,000 sq ft of new workspace across 10 storeys and sit in a prominent location on the site.
Lendlease is presently carrying out some site preparation works and is expected to start construction works on the £45m project later this year.
This planning consent builds on the progress being made at International Quarter London, which will welcome the first commercial tenant, Transport for London, to their new major office in September.
Jonathan Emery, Managing Director Property, Europe for Lendlease, said: “Momentum is truly building at International Quarter London and achieving planning permission for our S9 building is another exciting step forward for the development.”
“Completing our second residential tower at Glasshouse Gardens in May and seeing our first two commercial buildings take shape is a testament to the pace of change happening in Stratford.”
View from F10 Bridge of S9 building in the International Quarter London
from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/03/30/lendlease-gets-nod-for-fourth-london-stratford-project/
This weekend’s Premier League programme kicks-off with the Merseyside derby and some pretty puzzling prices.
Now I know Everton haven’t won at Anfield for nearly 20 years.
But odds of 4/1 are a bit of an insult to a visiting Toffees side who sit just two places below Liverpool in the table.
Everton are also in fine form and are scoring goals for fun led by Romelu Lukaku.
They’ve lost Seamus Coleman with a horrific leg-break but such a serious injury often has a galvanising effect on sides who want to put in a performance for their stricken team mate.
Liverpool meanwhile are so flaky they should be sponsored by Cadbury.
It’s impossible to know what sort of mood Klopp’s men will be in which makes the 4/1 on Everton look very generous and worth snapping up.
Elsewhere on the fixture list it looks like a lot of closely matched games could end in draws.
But I just can’t get excited about backing a draw in games for some reason.
West Ham face a tricky trip to Hull and the Irons look like they could pull a relegation struggle out of mid table safety following a string of dire results.
A clutch of fixtures against bottom half opponents look exactly like the kind of banana skin the Hammers slip on with alarming regularity come this time of the season.
Hopefully that’s just the pessimistic thinking of the average West Ham fan but Slaven Bilic’s boys will be looking over their shoulders if the Hull visit and subsequent Swansea game fail to garner any points.
Betting Spy has joined forces with Paddy Power to offer all readers a free bet when they open an account. Just click on the link below to visit construction’s favourite bookmaker to find out all the latest prices and follow the easy steps to setting-up an online, telephone or mobile account
Running total of all bets to a £10 stake for 2016/17 season: £-50.00
In 2013, materials scientists grew a ‘garden’ of self-assembled crystal microstructures. Now, applied mathematicians have developed a framework to better understand and control the fabrication of these microstructures. Together, the researchers used that framework to grow sophisticated optical microcomponents.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170330142245.htm
Plans for a new creative district on the site of the former Royal Arsenal munitions factory at Woolwich in South East London have been approved.
Greenwich Council has agreed to invest £31m to bring several landmark historic buildings back into use.
This will include a 450-seat theatre, a performance courtyard and 10 rehearsal studios at the Woolwich development in south-east London.
Now the council is inviting tenders for the provision of architect-led design team to lead the development of the design for the 170,000 sq ft creative hub. Prequalification documents are due back next month.
Phase one works are expected to following the appointment of a contractor in July 2018 to allow tenants to occupy the building in 2019.
If Phase Two is approved at a later date it is anticipated that construction will start after 2021.
The director of a Milton Keynes construction company is feared to be among the victims of a helicopter crash in Snowdonia, North Wales yesterday.
Police have confirmed that five bodies were found in the wreckage today after the helicopter vanished on Wednesday en route from Luton to Dublin.
Local paper the Milton Keynes Citizen said Kevin Burke was a passenger on the aircraft.
Burke was director of Staske Construction which has operated in the area since 1993.
It is also feared that his wife and company secretary Ruth Burke may also have been on board.
Supt. Gareth Evans at North Wales Police said “The aircraft, a red Twin Squirrel helicopter had failed to arrive in Dublin from Luton yesterday afternoon instigating a full sea and then land search and rescue operation.
“Initially, its last known position was believed ‘over sea’ in the Caernarfon Bay area but this was then narrowed to a land based search co-ordinated by North Wales Police in Snowdonia involving all local and RAF Mountain Rescue Teams.
“Local conditions were described as atrocious with visibility down to less than 10 metres in places.My thanks go out to the professionalism and commitment of all those personnel involved in this operation.
“Formal identification has not taken place so details of the passengers are not being revealed at this time.”
Contractors have completed the 300m long bridge deck slide for Sunderland’s new wear crossing in a seamless operation taking just 20 hours.
Joint venture partners Farrans Construction and Victor Buyck Steel Construction have now completed the highest risk elements of the innovative bridge construction programme.
The steel and concrete bridge deck weighing 4,750 tonnes was inched across the Wear and now connects Pallion to the south and Castletown to the north.
In February engineers successfully lifted the 1,550 tonnes A-frame centrepiece from a barge after it was sailed from a Belgian prefabrication yard.
Already the project is being hailed as a landmark in the use of off-site construction for bridge building.
The final 40m of bridge deck will be constructed on the north side of the river and the cable stays will be fitted to the pylon and then attached to the deck.
The cables will be gradually stressed to take the weight of the bridge deck before the temporary supports holding the deck are removed.
Stephen McCaffrey, Project Director for FVB Joint Venture, said: “It was a substantial structure to move across the river, so it was a very slow and steady operation.
“The positioning of the deck throughout was crucial as it had to be navigated through the middle of the pylon and then onto each of the temporary supports built in the river to support it.
“We had a team of people guiding it across and scrutinising its progress, as it was planned to the millimetre, but it went as expected, so we are very happy.”
The bridge is on track to be complete in the spring of 2018.
Developer Lodha UK has appointed Mace to build its new Mayfair development at No. 1 Grosvenor Square.
Mace will be main contractor under a £140m design and build contract for the site which was formerly occupied by the Canadian High Commission.
Work will include reconstruction and restoration of the façade of the neo-Georgian building which has been dismantled brick by brick.
More than 2,000 pallets of stone and brick were removed and transported to a secure off site location for storage during the deconstruction process.
Mace will start construction work this Autumn once specialist contractor McGee has completed piling and excavation of the site.
Pranav Goel, co-head of Lodha UK, said: ““Mace has a very strong track record of delivering high quality, iconic developments in central London.
“No. 1 Grosvenor Square will be one of the most sought-after residential developments in the world and we look forward to working with Mace to deliver this exceptional scheme.”
Gareth Lewis, chief operating officer of construction at Mace, said: “Whether we’re refurbishing or converting older properties, including listed buildings, or delivering new build developments, we are committed to raising the quality of living both in the UK and abroad.
“We look forward to working closely with Lodha to bring their plans for No.1 Grosvenor Square to fruition.”
The original building was constructed in the 1930s and was previously occupied by the US Embassy between 1938 and 1960.
No. 1 Grosvenor Square is one of two residential projects that Lodha UK is developing in London and is scheduled to complete in 2019.
Lodha UK purchased the Mayfair site in 2014. Full demolition including the existing basement is expected to complete in April.
The firm’s other project, Lincoln Square, is located in the heart of London’s legal quarter and is due for completion in early 2019.
A road surfacing specialist been fined after one of its workers lost two fingers while building a new footway.
Nuneaton Magistrates Court heard how Coldmac Limited had been appointed specialist contractors for the new footway in April 2015.
The worker was using a screwdriver to scrape asphalt residue off a mixer when the screwdriver slipped causing him to lose his middle and index fingers after catching on the lip of the mixer.
An HSE investigation found that the guarding on the mixing machine was below the safety standard required.
Coldmac Limited of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire pleaded guilty to breaching safety regulations and were fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1995.92.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Luke Messenger said: “This case highlights the importance of safety checking equipment and machinery, ensuring that they have the appropriate guarding in place to avoid serious injuries like this.”
Heathrow Airport has revealed plans to invest an extra £650m in expanding existing facilities over the course of 2019.
Intrnational investors in the airport will fund plans to ramp up spending to pave the way for expansion of Terminal 2 and a new access tunnel.
The plans send a strong signal that Britain continues to be open for business in the eyes of international investors.
With the UK set to leave the European Union in 2019, the planned investment aims to further boost passenger experience at the UK’s hub airport and improve Heathrow’s operational resilience.
Initial plans for the new investment include the possibility of enabling works for the expansion of the award-winning Terminal 2 and planning works for a new southern access tunnel for the Central Terminal Area.
Heathrow’s shareholders include UK pension fund Universities Superannuation Scheme in addition to Ferrovial, Qatar Investment Authority, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, GIC, Alinda Capital Partners of the United States and China Investment Corporation.
Chief of the Qatar Investment Authority, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Thani, said: “Our investment in Heathrow is much more than just an investment in one of the world’s great airports – it’s an investment in Britain’s connections to the world.
“As the UK reshapes its role in the world, we confirm our commitment as proud partners of a great trading nation.”
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “The planned investment is great news for Heathrow passengers and for Britain – it will help us build on our success as passengers’ Best Airport in Western Europe and further improve resilience at the nation’s hub.”
Former Crossrail innovation programme manager Will Reddaway has been appointed as head of innovation at Murphy.
Reddaway will work across the contractor’s various boperations to deliver the business’ innovation strategy, in line with the objectives of Murphy’s ten-year plan.
Previously he was heavily involved in Crossrail’s innovation programme, Innovate18, and its next evolution, the Industry Innovation Programme (I3P).
He said: “Murphy has an excellent reputation and I’m excited to be part of the team. I look forward to working with all the teams to bring Murphy’s innovation capability back to life”.
Reddaway will report to engineering director, Alastair Smyth, who added: “Will’s exposure to cutting-edge innovation at Crossrail made him the ideal fit for this role.
“We seek to embed a culture of creativity and innovation to improve how we deliver our projects through new technologies and products, and by improving our systems and processes.”
Nearly two thirds of specialist highways firms fear they will be forced to turn down chances to tender for work because of chronic skills shortages.
A new survey of the sector highlights how contractors and consultants are struggling to meet demand as infrastructure investment increases.
Companies quizzed in The Highways UK skills survey said the shortages were most severe in core engineering and design skills.
Paul Wheeler, content director with Highways UK said: “Previous work on the skills gap in construction and infrastructure has looked across the entire sector.
“And while this produces eye-wateringly scary headlines, the analysis has not drilled down sufficiently to allow an informed view on what that means in terms of delivering projects on the ground within individual sectors, such as Highways.”
To download a copy of the full report click here
Buckingham Group is facing a nail-biting wait after being named as the favoured contractor to take on the Bristol Arena project after Bouygues walked away from the job over price.
Now the contractor will have to wait for the outcome of a crunch council cabinet meeting on Tuesday to determine the fate of the project before it can celebrate what could be one of its biggest contract wins.
The council’s ruling cabinet will be asked to decided whether to press ahead with as pre-construction agreement or look at scaling back the project and retendering.
Buckingham Group was the second choice contractor when the council originally put the arena plans out to tender.
After failing to agree a price with Bouygues UK, the authority has turned to the runner-up to move the scheme forward, now estimated to cost around £94m.
Should cabinet decide to proceed with the Arena project, final negotiations with Buckingham Group will take place over coming months to agree a final contract price for the 12,000-seat arena.
The council has already spent £9m on the project which was hoped to regenerate the arena next to Temple Meads railway station.
South Wales-based scaffolding and cladding specialist SHS Group has called in administrators with the loss of over 150 jobs.
The group, which operated mainly in the industrial sector from offices in Barry, Doncaster and Port Talbot, had been struggling with losses for several years.
This was mainly down to poorly performing contracts within its cladding and HVAC insulation divisions.
SHS’s management was winding down the insulation business to concentrate on scaffolding and cladding but ran into severe cashflow problems.
Founding director Paul Smith had explored several options in order to secure the future of his group, either via a re-finance or a sale of the business but failed to secure a deal.
The group has now ceased trading while administrators from Deloitte hold talks with potential buyers for the contracts and assets.
Deloitte’s appointment covers SHS Integrated Services Ltd, SHS Cladding Ltd, SHS Integrated Services (Transmission) Ltd and SHS Insulation Ltd.
The firm, which was established in 1998, worked mainly across the utility, petrochemical and transmission sectors and was expanding into mainstream construction sectors after working at Heathrow Airport and seeing opportunities at Hinkley Point.
It counted Balfour Beatty, Costain, McGee and Laing O’Rourke as clients.
The latest accounts for main group business SHS Integrated Services showed a £2.3m pre-tax loss from revenue of £16.5m in 2015.
Engineering researchers have made a fundamental advance in controlling so-called soft robots, using magnetic fields to remotely manipulate microparticle chains embedded in soft robotic devices. The researchers have already created several devices that make use of the new technique.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170329102448.htm
Researchers have devised a novel supramolecular strategy to introduce tunable 1D periodic potentials upon self-assembly of ad hoc organic building blocks on graphene, opening the way to the realization of hybrid organic-inorganic multilayer materials with unique electronic and optical properties.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170329102454.htm
CH2M has pulled out of its role as delivery partner for HS2 on the £170m phase two route from Crewe to the North.
The move follows a storm of controversy following the contract award last month.
Beaten bidders led by Mace raised questions over the award.
The concerns followed the appointment of CH2M European managing director Mark Thurston as HS2’s new chief executive just two weeks after the contract award.
CH2M wrote to HS2 Chairman David Higgins today confirming its decision to withdraw from the Phase 2b Development Partner Contract.
A spokesperson for CH2M said: “CH2M today provided formal notice to HS2 Ltd that we are withdrawing our interest in the HS2 Phase 2b contract.
“CH2M has demonstrated all appropriate measures taken throughout to ensure the integrity of the procurement process.
“Notwithstanding these efforts, we have taken the decision to alleviate any further delays to this critical national infrastructure project which could ultimately lead to increasing costs to UK taxpayers, as well as to our firm.
“CH2M’s reputation reflects excellence earned by placing the interests of our clients and communities first, best exemplified by our delivery of vital programmes like Crossrail, the London 2012 Olympics, the most sustainable to-date; HS2 Phase 1; and the Thames Tideway and Lee Tunnels.”
Bechtel is now believed to be lined-up as a replacement.
The government’s Homes and Communities Agency has hired former Barratt Partnerships chief Stephen Kinsella to head its Accelerated Construction unit.
As director of the unit he will steer a £2bn programme that involves the HCA taking direct action to build homes on surplus public sector land.
Rather than sell land directly to the market, the HCA will enter into partnerships with developers through the unit imposing robust contractual conditions to deliver housing schemes.
The Government hopes this will increase the pace of house building and diversify the market by supporting smaller builders and modern methods of construction.
Kinsella has a track record in delivering major housing developments on public land, having spent the last 11 years as the Growth and Partnerships Director at Barratt Partnerships, the house builder’s national public sector team.
He said: “I am excited by this opportunity to create a new delivery model for housing supply and increase innovation in the sector.
“The major housebuilders have a huge role to play in increasing supply but it is clear to me that Accelerated Construction and other HCA-backed initiatives are essential to diversify the market and ensure we can meet the pent-up demand for housing in this country.”
He will report directly to HCA chief executive Nick Walkley, who said: “This is a very important appointment for the agency. Stephen is a private sector housebuilding leader with a comprehensive understanding of developing on public land.
“He will bring strong leadership skills, extensive industry knowledge and a track record for doing things differently.”
Contractors building the new £790m Queensferry Crossing have confirmed they need more time to complete the project.
Bad weather and windy conditions have hampered work by the Forth Road Crossing Bridge Constructors – who consist of Hochtief, American Bridge, Dragados and Galliford Try.
Economy Secretary Keith Brown confirmed the expected opening date will be achieved in a window between mid-July and the end of August – approximately 4 to 10 weeks later than predicted on a six year construction programme.
The contractor has reported there have been fewer clear weather windows than expected, particularly in relation to wind.
This has delayed weather dependant activities causing them to bunch together at the end of the programme to a much greater degree than was anticipated in May 2016.
This means that a lot of construction activity is underway simultaneously and careful planning is required to ensure that this can be done safely, so that one activity does not impact on another.
At this stage of the project all remaining activities are vulnerable to weather conditions.
The tower cranes can only be removed in wind speeds of less than 25 mph and when this is happening, it is not possible to safely work within a 50 metre radius of the crane itself.
Work on cable stays is sensitive to wind, waterproofing the bridge deck is sensitive to rain and road surfacing is sensitive to both rain and low temperatures.
Brown said: “Today there are only nine weeks remaining to the end of May and the review has concluded that even with the best weather this date is not now safely achievable.
“I fully recognise the effort of the workforce in building this amazing new bridge. Over 13 million hours have gone into building the Queensferry Crossing over the past six years.
“There is no additional cost to the public purse and the Forth Road Bridge continues to carry traffic over the Forth during these final weeks of construction.
“While its clearly very disappointing the new bridge won’t be ready ahead of the contractual completion date, I believe it is important to take the time to make sure the bridge is built in the safest possible circumstances to the highest possible standards.”
Sally Cox, chair of the Board for the Forth Road Crossing Bridge Constructors said: “FCBC acknowledge that the uniqueness of this project and the onerous weather conditions it has experienced, particularly working at height crossing the Forth have created more challenges than we anticipated.
“FCBC have always been and remain ambitious about completing this challenging project at the earliest possible date and share Transport Scotland and the public’s frustration over this delay.
“We have assured Transport Scotland that every endeavour is and will continue to be made, to safely complete the project at the earliest opportunity.”
Volker Stevin Boskalis Westminster (VSBW) is looking for local suppliers and subcontractors to work on its £115m Dover Western Docks Revival Development scheme.
The firm is holding a supplier event next week with client the Port of Dover in partnership with Constructionline.
VSBW has been appointed as the main contractor for the £115m marine structures and bridge contract of the Port of Dover’s flagship development.
Rob Coupe, Managing Director at VolkerStevin, said: “We are delighted to be awarded the contract by the Port of Dover to design and build this stage of the Dover Western Docks Revival.
“Our extensive experience in managing complex marine projects leaves us well qualified to deliver this significant scheme.
“We look forward to engaging with local contractors during our supplier engagement event who will be essential in helping us realise this project.’’
Boskalis Westminster will undertake dredging, reclamation and compaction work.
Paul de Jong, Managing Director of Boskalis Westminster Ltd, said: “We look forward to bringing our UK and international experience of dredging and related works to this prestigious, nationally significant infrastructure project and renewing our long association with the Port of Dover.”
Tim Waggott, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover, said: “The Port is committed to playing its part in delivering the vision for the Dover Western Docks Revival, as the town continues to see an unprecedented level of investment.”
The event will take place on Tuesday April 4 at Cruise Terminal 1, Lord Warden Square, Dover, CT17 9EQ.
The day will begin at 3.00pm and finish at 8.00pm with meetings held in an informal first come, first served basis.
The event is free to attend, but all must register here
Nuclear construction giant Westinghouse has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States.
A statement from the company said its operations in Europe would be unaffected by the move.
Westinghouse said: “The Company is seeking to undertake a strategic restructuring as a result of certain financial and construction challenges in its power plant projects.”
The company has been hit by huge cost overruns on US projects which have forced parent company Toshiba to write-down billions and exit from nuclear construction.
Westinghouse Interim President & CEO José Emeterio Gutiérrez said: “We are focused on developing a plan of reorganization to emerge from Chapter 11 as a stronger company while continuing to be a global nuclear technology leader.”
The company added: “Westinghouse’s operations in its Asia and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Regions are not impacted by the Chapter 11 filings.
“Customers in those regions will continue to receive the high-quality products and services they have come to expect in the usual course.”
Westinghouse is a key player in plans for a new power station at Moorside in Cumbria.
Leeds City Council has secured an investor to salvage the £35m redevelopment Headingley stadium.
A previous scheme to pay for the work fell through, but the council said a new deal involving a London-based investment group was on the table.
Councillor Judith Blake Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “I’m delighted we’ve found a solution that will ensure Headingley continues to enjoy full international sporting status.
“Subject to the final approval of the Council’s Executive Board, this will deliver the funding to redevelop the stadium in full. The money will be provided by a private financial services company at no cost to the council tax payer, which offers the best and most viable option moving forward.”
The Leeds site is home to rugby league side Leeds Rhinos, rugby union side Yorkshire Carnegie and Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
Under the redevelopment proposals a new rugby south stand and a replacement for the existing joint stand, which overlooks both the rugby pitch and cricket ground would be built.
Plans for the redevelopment of Headingley stadium were given the go-ahead two months ago.
Funding was due to be raised from the development of two sites for housing development located off Weetwood Avenue, Weetwood and off Old Thorpe Lane, Bradford Road, Tingley.
But these plans have been dropped after running into planning difficulties.
Transport for London is on the hunt for a joint venture partner to sensitively restore and develop South Kensington Tube station.
TfL plans to improve the commercial and retail units of the station and refurbish the four storey buildings at 20-34 Thurloe Street, with the potential to place a single storey on the distinctive Bullnose building and create new opportunities along TfL’s stretch of land on Pelham Street.
The site also includes the main station entrances through the Grade II listed shopping arcade, which will be restored to its original state, and a second entrance via a Grade II listed pedestrian subway.
This scheme will provide vital funds to provide step-free access to the District and Circle line via a new station entrance on Thurloe Street.
TfL is aiming to identify a partner later this year. TfL and the chosen partner will then form a joint venture to develop proposals for the site in consultation with the local community and seek planning permission to develop the site.
Subject to planning, the development including step-free access to the District and Circle line and the pedestrian subway could be complete in 2022.
Separately, TfL is continuing to progress plans to rebuild a disused platform for eastbound District and Circle line services.
The ticket hall and gate line will be expanded and a new emergency exit to the road bridge leading onto Thurloe Square bridge will be opened. Subject to planning permission, works could start early next year.
Graeme Craig, Director of Commercial Development Director at Transport for London said: “We want to find a long-term partner with whom we can work to create a station that reflects its historic legacy and unique setting, while generating vital revenue to reinvest in transport and provide step-free access for millions of journeys.”
Two roofing companies have been fined a total of £147,000 after a worker fell nine metres through a skylight onto concrete flooring below.
The man suffered life changing injuries and required surgery to install metal rods into his back.
Coventry Magistrates Court heard how ACG Roofing Limited had been subcontracted by JDB Industrial Roofing Limited to complete re-cladding work on the fragile roof.
At the time of the fall in December 2015 no nets or guardrails were being used.
The Mobile Elevating Working Platform which had been provided as an anchor point for the fall arrest equipment did not have enough capacity. When he fell the injured man did not have his harness attached to anything.
An HSE investigation found that JDB, the principal contractors of the work, failed to have effective management systems in place to control the risk associated with working at height and on fragile roofing.
JDB Industrial Roofing Limited of Kettering, Northamptonshire pleaded guilty of breaching CDM regulations and were fined £112,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2216.68.
ACG Roofing Limited of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire pleaded guilty to breaching Work at Height Regulations and were fined £35,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1721.78.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Edward Fryer said: “This incident could have been fatal; the worker has suffered life changing injuries due to the company failing to properly plan and supervise work at height.
“This case highlights the importance of proper planning, supervision and implementation of work at height especially on fragile roofing.”
London Biggin Hill Airport has secured a £15m finance package to fund the construction of an additional 140,000 sq ft office, hangar and business aircraft parking facility and the development of a 50-bed four star hotel.
The new deal with HSBC for infrastructure projects will meet steadily growing demand for visiting aircraft and access to the airport’s aerospace businesses.
London Biggin Hill is a major centre for engineering and aerospace innovation and has recently welcomed the arrival of Bombardier Business Aircraft who has established a brand new state-of-the-art maintenance facility.
Will Curtis, Managing Director at London Biggin Hill Airport said. “Completing the deal with HSBC enables us to fulfil the next stage of our development strategy for further enhancing Biggin Hill’s reputation as the gateway to London and the City for business aviation.”
James Shepherd, Area Director in HSBC’s Corporate Banking team, commented: “London Biggin Hill Airport is an ambitious business with plans to build more hangar capacity and house internationally recognised engineering and maintenance companies.
“Our experience funding significant development projects like this one helped us put a competitive and flexible finance package in place that has enabled work to start at the airport straight away.
“We look forward to watching the project as it progresses and continuing our relationship with the airport team.”
Flintshire developer and contractor Anwyl Construction has got the nod from Liverpool planners to build a 21-storey residential tower in the city’s Pall Mall district.
The building at the corner of Pall Mall and Cockspur Street West has been designed by architect Falconer Chester Hall to provide 336 rental flats.
It will include a mix of studio flats and one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and office space on the ground floor and a private garden terrace on the first floor.
Construction Director Tom Anwyl said the development would provide 4-star hotel facilities for the residents of the building.
He added: “We are committed to ensuring that the areas in which we work benefit from the investment in them by ensuring that wherever possible we use local sub-contractors and source our materials through local supply chains and this is a policy we will continue in Liverpool.
“Our construction division has a number of developments both in progress and due to start this year and we are scheduled to build over 300 houses this year and over a thousand over the next three years.”
