Contract Journal articles from March 2007

Contract Journal archives from March 2007

08 Features.
March 7, 2007... The planning supervisor is dead long live the planning co-ordinator! That, in a nutshell, is the Construction Design & Management (CDM) Regulations 2007. It may not sound much, but there is more to it than that. According to John Malins,...

Nationwide sale boosts Ainscough.(06 Plant)(Ainscough Crane Hire acquires Nationwide Crane Hire)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Ainscough has purchased Nationwide Crane Hire, which trades as Crane Services of Leeds, for an undisclosed sum. Nationwide's fleet of 35 cranes will initially operate as a separate entity from its depot in Ossett, West Yorkshire, with all...

CPA calls for hitch check.(06 Plant)
March 7, 2007... The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has issued a warning following a number of recent accidents and incidents involving 'quick hitches'. In one incident a site worker died after a bucket became detached and fell on him as he...

CPCS to consult trade on scheme proposals.(06 Plant)(construction plant competence scheme)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Industry cautious over changes, including cutting life of trained operator card to one year. The management committee of the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) is to consult the industry on a range of changes aimed at addressing...

Deals done.(06 Plant)
March 7, 2007... AFI-Uplift has invested [pounds sterling]12m, adding 800 machines to its fleet - half are 'Pop-Ups'. It is also putting a further 20 vehicles and eight trailers in its transport fleet. Eco Lift, a new division of Hi-Lift Equipment, has...

06 Plant.(James Hudson Demolition buys Komatsu's man platforms)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... ONE-MAN SHOW: James Hudson Demolition has taken the first of Komatsu's man platforms designed to fit the manufacturer's telehandlers. Fitted to Komatsu's biggest telehandler, the 4t/16.1m WH716, the basket provides a platform that can be...

JS Power unit runs on RME.(06 Plant)
March 7, 2007... Generator manufacturer JS Power has delivered a rapeseed methyl ester (RME) fuelled 200kVA unit. The unit has a nine-litre Scania engine and will be used as primary (415V) power for an environmentally-aware customer. All Scania's latest...

06 Plant.
March 7, 2007... ROYAL DELIVERY: Piling contractor Ivor King has added a 150t GCW 6x4 Volvo FH16 to its fleet. The 492kW unit is fitted with Volvo's I-Shift transmission and will deliver King's piling rigs and cranes to sites across the UK.

06 Plant.(BuckHickman InOne adds new products to its range)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... In brief BuckHickman InOne has added 180 new 3M products to its range, including hearing protection, eye protection, respiratory protection, welding protection, safety matting and cleaning consumables. Users of GenSet's VT-1 lighting...

Weighing system for loading vans.(06 Plant)
March 7, 2007... PM Onboard has introduced VanWeigh, a low-cost on-board weighing system for vehicles up to 7.5t. The system allows drivers to check the front, rear and total weight of a sub 7.5t vehicle while it is loaded by measuring the deflection of...

Topcon 3DXi excavates to exact grade.(06 Plant)
March 7, 2007... GPS, laser and machine control specialist Topcon has introduced the 3DXi GPS+ grade reference for excavators. The unit combines Topcon's GPS+ technology with a touch-screen display in the cab and allows operators to excavate to grade...

Ingersoll Rand purchase boosts Volvo expansion.(06 Plant)
March 7, 2007... [pounds sterling]665m purchase of ABG, Blaw-Knox and IR brands will boost construction equipment firm. Volvo is buying Ingersoll Rand's (IR) road development division for [pounds sterling]665m. The division builds rollers, asphalt...

Industry must work to attract graduates.(01 News)(O'Rourke Construction Co.)
March 7, 2007... O'Rourke chairman says construction needs to make itself a more attractive proposition. Construction must radically change its mindset if it is to attract new blood, according to O'Rourke group chairman Ray O'Rourke. Speaking at the...

Three bag Scot schools work.(01 News)
March 7, 2007... Three firms have won a slice of work on South Lanarkshire Council's [pounds sterling]240m primary school modernisation programme. The line-up for the four-year Phase 2 Tranche 1 (New Build) works is Amec, Bovis Lend Lease and Kier...

BSF will boost output more than Olympics.(01 News)
March 7, 2007... ConstructionSkills predicts a [pounds sterling]4.7bn government schools spend in the next five years. Forget the Olympics, it's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) that will provide the biggest boost to the construction sector between...

NHBC urges collaboration in bid to meet zero-carbon homes target.(01 News)(National House-Building Council)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... The National House-Building Council (NHBC) has called for greater collaboration between housebuilders, RSLs and government to ensure social housing meets the Code for Sustainable Homes and the industry commitment for zero-carbon homes by 2016....

Construction SMEs make Sunday Times top 100 list.(01 News)
March 7, 2007... Twelve firms in the construction sector have made the Sunday Times list of the '100 Best SME Companies to Work For'. Cardiff-based care home design and build specialist Castleoak Care Partnerships, which employs 91 people, was the...

Men behaving badly.(01 News)
March 7, 2007... What steps can you take to prevent your employees carrying out stunts similar to those posted on YouTube recently, or that bring your company into disrepute? Whether it's firefighters filming themselves spinning around in a tumble drier,...

01 News.(Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Towering threat: English Heritage has tried to put the kibosh on new skyscrapers in London by announcing plans for a protected view from Waterloo Bridge, looking east. The move would spell the end for Land Securities' proposed 160m 'walkie...

Shaylor made.(08 Features)(Shaylor Group)(Company overview)
March 7, 2007... While Shaylor Group remains a family-run business, managing director Steve Shaylor says it is a nepotism-free meritocracy. Helen McCormick talks to him about his ambitious plans to grow turnover while preserving margins and a regional focus....

Busy Q4 drives output.(03 Benchmark)(construction output)
March 7, 2007... Buoyed by a strong final quarter, construction output improved in 2006 after a setback in 2005. Justin Stanton analyses the latest DTI data. Output value ([pounds sterling]m at current prices) Q4 06 Q3 06 Difference Q4...

01 News.
March 7, 2007... Cambridgeshire County Council has advertised a [pounds sterling]300m building projects framework, which will focus mainly on new schools, school extensions and refurbishments. The seven-year contract is extendable by a further three years. ...

Willmott wins Northants leisure deal.(04 Contracts)(Willmott Dixon Holdings Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Willmott Dixon has made a splash in Northamptonshire by winning a [pounds sterling]15m leisure centre deal with a 50m pool, which could be used by Olympic hopefuls to practise for the 2012 Games. The Corby Borough Council project means that...

Three chasing [pounds sterling]40m North East health PFI.(04 Contracts)(publicly funded investors)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Trio of consortia line up bids for County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust scheme. Three groups are vying to make the cut for a [pounds sterling]40m-plus PFI health-sector deal in the North East. Clugston features in Future Care, one of...

Four to share [pounds sterling]50m West Midlands housing project.(04 Contracts)
March 7, 2007... Four contractors are in line for [pounds sterling]50m-worth of new build housing work in the West Midlands over the next four years. Waterloo Housing Association has called on Frank Haslam Milan, Thomas Vale Construction, Kier Partnerships...

Galliford bags Notts retirement job.(04 Contracts)(Galliford Try Ltd.)(Nottingham)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Galliford Try is understood to have the key to a [pounds sterling]30m retirement village scheme close to Nottingham. Sources say the firm has trumped bids from rivals Norwest Holst and MJ Gleeson for the complex, which will be built at...

Sussex/Hants housing work split.(04 Contracts)
March 7, 2007... Three contractors are to share in [pounds sterling]40m-worth of new build housing in Sussex and Hampshire. Saxon Weald Homes has lined up Mansell, Kent firm Denne Construction and Cardiff-based Castleoak to carry out the design and build...

Land Sec completes deal for IIC.(01 News)
March 7, 2007... Land Securities Group has become sole owner of Investors in the Community Group (IIC), buying up the remaining 50% stake from Mill Group for [pounds sterling]7.4m. The acquisition accelerates the property group's drive into the Public...

14 Back Page.(construction industry recruiting)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Many young people really do want to do something about protecting the planet and help poor nations out of poverty. Changing the image of construction The construction industry has long had a poor image, and by extension, a recruitment...

01 News.(John Spanswick on site supervisors' management)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Site supervisors 'unfit' to manage workforce Site supervisors are uncertain of their role, not properly held to account and fail to effectively supervise their workforce, according to John Spanswick, chairman of the Major Contractors Group....

Firms told to be wary of picky lawyers.(01 News)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Contractors should be wary of lawyers who pick holes in new standard forms of contract just because they have not been tested in the courts, according to Sir Michael Latham. Speaking at the House of Commons launch of the new Constructing...

TUC hits out at consultation on agency workers.(01 News)
March 7, 2007... Trade union leaders have slammed a government consultation document on the treatment of agency workers. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "By announcing the consultation, the government has recognised that agency workers can be...

CITB income tops [pounds sterling]250m.(01 News)(Construction Industry Training Board )(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Total income of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) last year topped the [pounds sterling]250m mark. In the year to 31 December 2006, CITB income rose by nearly 10% to [pounds sterling]252.4m. Income from the statutory training...

01 News.(Mead to restructure)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Mead, a groundwork civil engineering company based in the South West of England, has gone into administration. A series of loss-making contracts and a major dispute with Cowlin are said to have had a crippling effect on its cash flow. ...

Erinaceous to acquire Dearle & Henderson.(01 News)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Erinaceous is reported to have struck a deal to acquire Dearle & Henderson (D&H), the property consultancy group. No-one at Erinaceous would comment on the latest acquisition rumour. Erinaceous's share price fell last week as a result...

Keller posts record profit of [pounds sterling]84m.(02 Business)(Keller Ground Engineering )(Financial report)
March 7, 2007... Turnover surges to [pounds sterling]920m, with three of four divisions achieving 10% margins, but UK lags behind operations in rest of world. Keller, the international ground engineering group, has enjoyed a startling 12 months in its...

Pochin construction arm bounces back into profit.(02 Business)(Financial report)
March 7, 2007... Pochin has got its contracting division back into the black, with an interim pre-tax profit of [pounds sterling]1.2m after running into the red to the tune of [pounds sterling]560,000 in the comparable period of the previous year. The...

Rok eyes [pounds sterling]1bn turnover figure.(01 News)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Rok chief executive Garvis Snook said the company would get close to a [pounds sterling]1bn-a-year turnover business in 2007 as the company announced its sixth-successive year of record results on Monday. Pre-tax profit (12 months to 31...

White Young Green reaps reward of rapid expansion.(02 Business)(Financial report)
March 7, 2007... White Young Green (WYG), the rapidly growing consultancy group, has unveiled an interim pre-tax profit of [pounds sterling]5.3m. The figure would have been [pounds sterling]1.6m higher but for the amortisation cost of the goodwill triggered...

05 Products and Materials.(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... AcerMetric shows off versatility of panels AcerMetric has launched a "versatile building system": interlocking timber and laminate panels that can be connected regardless of which edge comes into contact. The patented system has a...

04 Contracts.(Westminster City Council )(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... CAPITAL GAIN: Westminster City Council has issued the Oxford, Bond and Regent Street Draft Action Plan, which details a [pounds sterling]40m makeover for the West End of London's key shopping district. Plans include the pedestrianisation of the...

05 Products and Materials.
March 7, 2007... A new plant will double Hanson Formpave's paving production capacity. The new block paving facility will be built at Whatley in Somerset to meet the growth in demand for the firm's Aquaflow permeable paving SUDS solution. Permanite...

05 Products and Materials.
March 7, 2007... TOP OF THE RANGE: Consisting of 300 different components, International Construction Bureau claims its green roof system is one of the most comprehensive available. Diadem includes drainage layers, edge trims, security railings, irrigation...

05 Products and Materials.(Lafarge Cement UK offers internet services to its customers)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... READY TO POUR: Designed to provide a solution to over- and under-stocking, Lafarge Cement has introduced an internet-based silo monitoring system. From the Spring, bulk cement customers will be able to keep track of their cement stocks and,...

Building suppliers overstate green attributes of products.(05 Products and Materials)
March 7, 2007... Contractors risk using materials that are not as environmentally friendly as they may be led to believe, according to Tim Pollard, general manager of stock building supplies at Wolseley. Speaking at the Innovations for the Built Environment...

Insurer wants involvement at design stage.(05 Products and Materials)
March 7, 2007... Is the insurance industry worried about modern methods of construction and associated materials? "Frankly, the answer is yes," according to Paul Wornell, technical consultant at BLP, the building defects insurance provider. He said...

Masonry alliance to run open days at eco-home.(05 Products and Materials)(Modern Masonry Alliance)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... The Modern Masonry Alliance (MMA) will promote the sustainability credentials of masonry housing to ministers, policy-makers and housebuilders in September, with open days at an eco-home in Cornwall. The six-bedroom home, designed by EDD...

Legal Q&A reintegrating staffThis month's dilemma severe weather conditions.(10 Legal)
March 7, 2007... Guy Guinan, partner, employment team at commercial law firm, Halliwells. The British Airways (BA) uniform policy has finally been changed to allow crosses to be worn. Six months after starting unpaid leave, Nadia Eweida, the check-in...

13 People.(appointments)
March 7, 2007... Wilson James Thomas Rich has been appointed business development manager at construction logistics specialist Wilson James. Rich moves from design and architecture company Foster & Partners. RW Gregory Ian Turner has been...

Liverpool Housing Trust steps up CSCS campaign.(01 News)
March 7, 2007... Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT) has become the first RSL to enforce a fully CSCS-carded workforce on all its contracts. The radical move is expected to see a flood of RSLs follow suit. LHT divisional director (asset management) Simon...

Carillion nets [pounds sterling]100m highway maintenance deal.(01 News)
March 7, 2007... Carillion has won a [pounds sterling]100m, 20-year contract for the maintenance of the M40 between the M25 and Warwick. The contract, awarded by UK Highways (John Laing, Hyder, Tarmac Caisse des Depots et Consignations, Transroute...

Contractors demand overhaul of ECI route.(01 News)
March 7, 2007... Despite government approval, insiders claim industry's appetite for ECIs is waning. Contractors have called for an overhaul of the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) procurement route following its endorsement by the government's Nichols...

[pounds sterling]3m retention row at Scots Parliament.(01 News)
March 7, 2007... Presiding officer reveals retention monies being held back from 27 contractors until "conditions are met". ross.pearman@rbi.co.uk The Scottish Parliament is holding nearly [pounds sterling]3m in retention money owed to contractors for...

Collaboration needed to help combat waste.(01 News)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Government departments, local authorities and the private sector must work more closely to ensure better use of UK construction waste, according to a new report. The How to Deliver a Resource Management Strategy study, compiled by the...

01 News.
March 7, 2007... Design strife What impact will the new CDM Regulations have? Analysis, p16-20 Smooth progress A prison framework boosts Shaylor's turnover. Profile, p22 Factory record The prefab system behind Manchester's latest...

01 News.(Bouygues S.A. to construct skyscrapers)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... French construction company Bouygues has reportedly been approached to construct the Pinnacle Tower skyscraper (formerly known as Bishopsgate Tower) in the City of London (see tallest building pictured right). The property was sold to Arab...

01 News.(Olympic Delivery Authority)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) chief executive David Higgins has vowed to become directly involved in talks between the ODA and trade unions over direct employment on London 2012 projects. Following a speech at the Trades Union Congress last...

01 News.
March 7, 2007... CLASS ACT: Site engineers check levels on the newly-constructed first floor of a [pounds sterling]5m school building project at Heartease in Norwich. It is being built by Kier Eastern as part of Norfolk County Council's [pounds sterling]79m...

01 News.(Leeds inner ring road construction project)(Brief article)
March 7, 2007... BEAM ME UP: The [pounds sterling]50m final stage of the Leeds inner ring road project takes shape as 37m-long steel beams are lowered into place to construct the city's 500m Hunslet viaduct. The beams were made using a special type of steel...

University challenge.(08 Features)
March 7, 2007... Manchester University's space-age science faculty is taking shape - thanks to the prefabricated faAs.ade system specified by main contractor HBG. Margo Cole reports. Manchester University is currently undertaking a massive programme of new...

06 Plant.
March 7, 2007... Visitors and exhibitors at this year's show can get free advice on how to promote their business from proven marketing professionals. Marketing consultancy Moggs recently launched the Construction Marketing Centre of Excellence, offering...

01 News.
March 14, 2007... The Olympic Development Authority has advertised a contract for the design, development, funding, construction and acquisition of the international broadcast centre, main press centre and a multi-storey car park for the 2012 Olympics. ...

01 News.(Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs)(Construction Industry Scheme to increase annual cost for construction industry)
March 14, 2007... neil.gerrard@rbi.co.uk HMRC has admitted that annual administration costs to industry of the new Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) are going to be higher than the [pounds sterling]30m it initially predicted - although it would not confirm...

01 News.(Gabem's certification)(Brief article)
March 14, 2007... Managed services company Gabem could regain its gross payment status under new CIS, despite a Special Commissioners' ruling this week that confirmed it was not fully compliant with requirements for a CIS5 certificate. Construction...

01 News.(construction industry is failing to apply industry standards)(Brief article)
March 14, 2007... A Department for Communities and Local Government report has shown that more homes could be failing the Decent Homes Standards than previously thought, due to the quality of data on insulation. The finding of the report said: "Social...

01 News.
March 14, 2007... Good Week The construction industry can feel all warm and fuzzy after a CJ/NOP poll revealed 85% of people think construction workers make a valuable contribution to society (see page 2). Multiplex handed over the keys to Wembley,...

01 News.
March 14, 2007... Laing O'Rourke handed over two new grandstands at Aintree Racecourse, as part of a two-year, [pounds sterling]35m redevelopment of the facilities. Last week also saw Eric Wright Construction complete Aintree's International Equestrian Centre...

01 News.
March 14, 2007... NG-pic cap Research by the Campaign to Protect of Rural England (CPRE) has revealed that over 4,000ha of greenbelt land is likely to be used up for development over the next 30 years. It renewed calls to maximise development brownfield...

01 News.
March 14, 2007... The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail claimed that the government was warned about spiralling Olympic costs up to 18 months ago. They reported that Gordon Brown and Tessa Jowell were told in October 2005 that VAT would increase the cost of the...

01 News.
March 14, 2007... Construction firms were well represented in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies To Work For 2007 competition. The 12 making the list are:

04 Contracts.
March 14, 2007... Lend Lease Projects is to project manage a [pounds sterling]28.4m school redevelopment scheme in north London. The Pathfinder deal, part of the Building Schools for the Future programme, is for a new Community School for the London Borough...

04 Contracts.(Norwest Holst Holdings Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 14, 2007... Industry insiders are putting their money on Norwest Holst to clinch a [pounds sterling]15m design and build education deal in East Sussex. Sources say the firm has edged ahead of rivals Haymills, Walter Lilly and Galliford Try for the...

04 Contracts.(Cross Keys Homes Developments's contract)(Brief article)
March 14, 2007... Peterborough-based Cross Keys Homes Developments has earmarked 14 firms to undertake new build and refurb housing projects in a wide variety of locations. The least contractors can expect is [pounds sterling]10m-worth of work over the...

04 Contracts.(Titanic Quarter Ltd.'s Ivy Wood got the contract from Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education)(Brief article)
March 14, 2007... A preferred bidder has finally emerged for a [pounds sterling]70m PPP university deal in Northern Ireland. The Ivy Wood Colleges consortium, with local firm Patton on board as its contractor, has gained admission to the city centre campus...

04 Contracts.(Morrison is bidding for the construction of the hospital)(Brief article)
March 14, 2007... Morrison has edged out two rivals to land a [pounds sterling]25m PPP hospital deal in Fife, Scotland. For NHS Fife, the firm will build a 10,700m2 hospital to bring a range of services into a single complex in St Andrews. The centre will...

04 Contracts.
March 14, 2007... brian.warner@rbi.co.uk THREE RIVALS are hoping to open the door to a [pounds sterling]100m PFI social housing deal in one of London's most deprived areas. The London Borough of Lambeth has lined up Create Homes, Partners for...

04 Contracts.
March 14, 2007... Wates Construction has scooped a [pounds sterling]14.6m deal to build a nine-level office complex in the City of London for Friends Provident. The job involves new build spanning 5,600m2 behind retained facades and the 74-week programme is...

04 Contracts.(Wates Building Group Ltd. to build shopping centre in West Midlands)(Brief article)
March 14, 2007... Wates has moved to the head of the queue for a [pounds sterling]38.5m deal to regenerate a run-down shopping centre in the West Midlands. The contractor has held off challenges from Balfour Beatty, Taylor Woodrow and HBG to tackle...

01 News.(sample design work required is required in bidding for Building Schools for the Future )(Brief article)
March 14, 2007... The amount of sample design work required in bidding for Building Schools for the Future (BSF) contracts is to be reviewed, said Partnerships for Schools chief executive Tim Byles. The move is in response to bidders' concerns at the number...

01 News.
March 14, 2007... carol.millett@rbi.co.uk The Department of Health (DH) is bracing itself for a welter of claims from PFI consortia following its national review of hospital schemes, launched last year. Three claims are already in the pipeline and more...

02 Business.(Carillion Construction acquires Mowlem PLC)
March 14, 2007... Carillion has emerged from a landmark year with a smile on its face. Thanks to the Mowlem acquisition, it has doubled in size to become a [pounds sterling]4bn-a-year turnover player. Chris Girling, finance director, said: "The Mowlem...

01 News.(Interserve International (Freight) PLC's profit and goodwill)(Brief article)
March 14, 2007... The process of cleaning up Interserve's image has taken a major toll on its latest figures. Pre-tax profit was dragged back to just [pounds sterling]15m as a result of the weight of [pounds sterling]43m of exceptional items and other one-off...

01 News.(T. Clarke PLC's has changed its senior management and financial controls)(Brief article)
March 14, 2007... T Clarke, the electrical contractor, has changed senior management and brought in improved financial controls in three of its regional operations: Scotland, Derby and East Anglia. The group said: "Administrative expenses are being...

02 Business.(Tolent's earnings)(Brief article)
March 14, 2007... Tolent has unveiled a record turnover as a result of "buoyant construction market in central and northern England" said chief executive John Wood. Turnover (12 months to 31 December 2006) was firmly ahead at [pounds sterling]170m ([pounds...