Carillion plans job losses as rail spending cuts bite

Rail union RMT is vowing to fight planned job cuts at Network Rail contractor Carillion.

Union leaders have been presented with a consultation document from Carillion this week which indicates possible job cuts and redundancies.

The RMT is blaming the move on Network Rail’s cuts in its planned renewals programme for the rest of the current Control Period.

Formal consultation on the cuts plan starts on Friday.

Mick Cash RMT General Secretary said: “The Government and Network Rail have a duty to ensure that our railway is maintained and renewed to the modern and safe standard that the public and our economy needs and deserve.

“The announcement of cutbacks affecting Carillion and other infrastructure companies are a sure sign of cash and job cuts that will put at risk skilled jobs and also the modern, safe rail infrastructure we desperately need.

“RMT will not stand by and watch these jobs vanish and will campaign all the way politically and industrially to protect them.”

A Carillion spokesperson said: “We are in dialogue with Network Rail and the unions.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/05/25/carillion-plans-job-losses-as-rail-spending-cuts-bite/

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Balfour to close seven offices in Scotland

Balfour Beatty is closing seven regional offices in Scotland as part of its cost-cutting programme.

The seven existing offices will be consolidated into one regional centre between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

A Balfour spokesperson said: “As part of its Build to Last transformation programme, Balfour Beatty is consolidating seven of its existing offices in Scotland in to one modern, state- of- the- art office located within the Maxim Business Park at Eurocentral between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

“This move will greatly enhance the collaborative offering across the Scottish markets by bringing together a number of business units and enabling functions in to one location and will also significantly reduce the cost of our Scottish office footprint.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/05/25/balfour-to-close-seven-offices-in-scotland/

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Tarmac poaches director from FM Conway

FM Conway’s surfacing director Toby Pyper is joining Tarmac.

The Enquirer understands Pyper will take up his new role as Regional Director, Contracting South at Tarmac next month.

He will report directly to managing director of Tarmac’s contracting business Paul Fleetham.

Earlier this month Tarmac announced the acquisition of civils specialist JB Riney in a bid to boost its presence in the London highways market.

One sector expert said: “Tarmac swooped after seeing rivals like FM Conway pick up a succession of road maintenance and surfacing contracts in the capital.

“Now they have poached a major figure from Conway so their strategy seems pretty clear.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/05/25/tarmac-poaches-director-from-fm-conway/

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Private rented sector fund raises £250m

The first quoted real estate investment trust to focus on investing purely in the private rented sector has raised £250m.

The Government’s Homes and Communities Agency has made a direct investment of £25m in the The PRS REIT plc

First dealings in shares are expected on May 31 and the shares will trade on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.

The net proceeds of £245m will be used to invest in a portfolio of newly-constructed residential PRS sites of multiple units.

These units will mainly comprise family homes and be located across sites in cities and towns in regions across England, with a focus on the main conurbations and largest employment centres outside London

Steve Smith, Chairman of the Company said: “The launch of this PRS REIT breaks new ground, since it is the first REIT to focus purely on the private rented sector.

“We’re delighted to report that our target of £250m gross has been raised, with the fundraising significantly oversubscribed. Investors include some of the UK’s leading institutions as well as a strong base of qualifying private investors.

“Furthermore, the support of the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency as a cornerstone investor underlines our confidence in our approach, which is to establish investment-grade, professionally managed new family homes for rent at scale across the regions in England.

“We believe that The PRS REIT has the potential to deliver an attractive level of dividend income together with the prospect of capital growth.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/05/25/private-rented-sector-fund-raises-250m/

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Nine firms win places on £225m modular framework

Fusion21 has appointed nine contractors to its national Education Modular Buildings Framework which is worth up to £225m over four years.

The framework is divided into four lots covering modular building hire  and modular construction.

Wernick has picked up the plum single supply partner lots 3, and 4 for modular construction work above £750,000.

Fusion21 members – including local education authorities, academies, colleges and universities – can now access the framework and benefit from significant efficiency savings and social value, plus other advantages including competitive tension, early supplier engagement and transparency of costs.

Nick Verburg, Procurement and Supply Chain Manager at Fusion21, said: “This framework offers a flexible procurement solution to all education providers and local authorities who require permanent or temporary safe learning spaces to cope with growing student numbers –  and seek quality modular buildings which are compliant with all building regulations and present lower carbon emissions than traditional builds.

“Accessing the single supply option will also generate enhanced value for money for Fusion21 members – providing opportunities for collaborative working and early supplier engagement which will drive down costs and time efficiencies at the design stage of a project.”

The framework will go live next month.

Successful contractors appointed to Fusion21’s national Education Modular Buildings Framework:

• Aike Group
• Ashley House
• Cotaplan Modular Buildings
• Elite Systems
• Integra Buildings Ltd
• Reds10 (UK) Ltd
• RG Stones (Buildings) Ltd
• Wernick Modular Buildings Ltd
• Western Building Systems

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/05/24/nine-firms-win-places-on-225m-modular-framework/

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Facebook snub prompts refurb rethink on Oxford Street

Great Portland Estates is considering a more extensive revamp of its planned Oxford Street scheme after Facebook decided not to move in.

The internet giant decided earlier this year not to take office space at Oxford House.

That delayed the construction schedule which has been put back again while the developer mulls over its plans.

Great Portland Estates said: “At Oxford House, 76 Oxford Street, W1, we achieved planning approval in June 2016 for a 89,100 sq ft major mixed-use refurbishment.

“As part of the letting to Facebook at Rathbone Square, Facebook had a right of first offer to take all of the 55,700 sq ft of office space which they chose not to exercise.

“We are now exploring whether a more substantial redevelopment, including improving the quality and scale of the retail space, would add additional value given the strong demand for high quality retail units at the eastern end of Oxford Street due to the opening of Crossrail in 2018.”

The developer’s other scheme in the near-term pipeline is at Hanover Square in west London where demolition is now complete.

The company said: “These limited works give us the option, should the market be supportive, to accelerate the construction programme for the wider scheme ahead of delivery of the station structure by Crossrail in 2018.”

Great Portland estates said it has 12 uncommitted schemes in the pipeline for the next property cycle totaling 1.3m sq ft.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/05/24/facebook-snub-prompts-refurb-rethink-on-oxford-street/

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Developers scale down plans for Wylfa nuclear plant

Horizon Nuclear Power has unveiled a more “compact” design for its planned £10bn Wylfa power plant on Anglesey.

The developer has started a new round of consultation ahead of a planning application being submitted later this year.

Horizon said: “We are making some changes to the power station layout to make it more compact and, as a result, we’ve streamlined our construction schedule and reduced construction worker numbers.”

The total estimated workforce has dropped from 10,000 to 8,500

Some of the army of construction workers needed will also now be housed in an on-site accommodation campus with 2,500 beds.

Horizon will also be investing in the island’s five secondary schools and funding a new programme for affordable housing around the plant.

Around 80% of all building materials are also now planned to arrive via a newly built harbour to avoid congestion on the roads.

Duncan Hawthorne, Chief Executive Officer for Horizon, said: “As we move towards submitting an application to build the power station, we’re continually reviewing our proposals to ensure they are the best they can be for everyone with a stake in the project, including those living and working on Anglesey now and for generations to come.

“Our latest proposals include a more compact site layout that means more activities can be carried out closer to the power station.

“Many aspects of our proposals remain the same, including our commitment to the residents and communities of Anglesey, and to the Welsh language and culture.

“It’s really important for us to involve local people in shaping and refining our plans, so I’d like to thank everyone again for all of the feedback they’ve provided so far, and look forward to hearing their thoughts on our updates.”

 

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/05/24/developers-scale-down-plans-for-wylfa-nuclear-plant/

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