Contract Journal articles from May 2004

Contract Journal archives from May 2004

Late adjudicators' decisions.(David Philp (Commercials) Limited)
May 6, 2004... The recent case of Ritchie Brothers (PWC) Limited -v- David Philp (Commercials) Limited in the Scottish Court of Session has re-examined the timescales set down for adjudication under the statutory Scheme for Construction Contracts and...

Pick and Mix.(Concrete Show)
May 6, 2004... For a zone that only made its SED debut in 2002, the Concrete Show has established itself as an integral part of the show. The 2004 event will see even more floor area and stand space for the proven mix of trade show, new product launches and...

back bites.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... What's in a name? Alfred McAlpine plc wants to hold on to its existing name at corporate level but wants to trade as something else. Attempts to push Alfred down the grate met with resistance in the High Court, so what next? A letter in an...

60-second interview.
May 6, 2004... What is your greatest work achievement? Being part of a Finning team responsible for a training and development strategy that supports employees throughout their careers. How would you suggest the industry meets its training needs?...

Skanska tops CJ PFI league table again.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Skanska has again topped the league table compiled by CJ to establish the contractors that have won the most construction business through PFI. The league - the only one of its kind - was also won by Skanska in 2003, its inaugural year....

Rydon high in PFI.(Private Fianance Initiative)(Rydon Group )
May 6, 2004... The East Sussex-based Rydon Group is that rare beast - a small contractor that's made an impact on the PFI market. James Atkinson finds out the secret of the firm's success, and the problems it may face in trying to maintain its market...

A-Plant expands Tool Hire shops to the North.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... A-Plant has increased the geographical spread of its Tool Hire Shops division by opening a series of new depots in Scotland and northern England. Scottish branches in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and another in Egremont, Cumbria, have opened for...

DLR takes off.(Docklands Light Railway)
May 6, 2004... The expansion of the Docklands Light Railway continues apace, with the latest extension to City Airport now halfway through its construction phase. And, unusually for the rail sector, the DLR has managed to fund its capacity enhancements...

Enterprise and MUS tap into AMP4 deals.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Enterprise and Morrison Utility Services have tapped into the water industry's fourth asset management programme (AMP4) and scooped contracts approaching [pounds sterling]800m in total. Enterprise will have about [pounds sterling]650m-worth of...

European disunion.(European Union)
May 6, 2004... The new EU procurement directive is likely to become law in the UK next year. The wording has already been agreed and, depending on how strictly it is enforced by the government, it could mean huge cost increases for PFI bidders. Edward Marston...

Vibration coding set for power tools.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... HAV Working Group aims to reduce risk of hand arm vibration. In a bid to reduce the risk of hand arm vibration (HAV), the Construction Confederation (CC) and the Hire Association Europe (HAE), in partnership with the Health & Safety...

Altor to acquire Metso's Dynapac.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Metso Corporation has signed a deal to sell its Dynapac compaction and paving business to Altor, a Nordic private equity investor, for around [pounds sterling]182m, subject to regulatory approval. Metso said the final price would be based on...

Last call for entries into CJ Awards.(Contract Journal)
May 6, 2004... Get smart, and get the recognition you deserve. You have eight days in which to enter the Contract Journal Awards 2004. The closing date for entries is 14 May. This is your opportunity to join the cream of the British construction industry on...

Top of the class.(Building Schools for the Future )
May 6, 2004... The Building Schools for the Future programme promises [pounds sterling]2.2bn of investment a year in Britain's ageing school buildings - and one of the most far-sighted applications yet of the public-private partnership procurement system. As...

JCB's recycling kit sales nearly double.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... JCB sales in the recycling sector have risen by 96% since 2002, according to David Perks, JCB's waste and recycling development manager. JCB used its annual Waste Day, held at the Rocester headquarters, to demonstrate its recycling machines in...

Part M regs push up cost of projects.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The revision to Part M of the Building Regs has now come into force and will increase the cost of construction projects, building control and fire safety, consultant Butler & Young has warned. Effective as of 1 May 2004, Approved Document M...

Land Rover launches diesel Discovery 3.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Land Rover will launch a 2.7-litre V6 common rail diesel-engined version of the Discovery 3 at The Sunday Times Motor Show Live, to complement the recently introduced 4.2 litre V8 petrol engined version. The Discovery 3 benefits from Land...

Better buildings, bad PR.
May 6, 2004... The image of PFI presented by the national media is about the private sector making huge profits from the tax payer and delivering substandard services in return. But what's the private sector's version of events? Will Mann talks to some of the...

Westbury sets out its 'bullet-proof' strategy.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Housebuilder says it will stay independent, despite rumours of it becoming a bid target. Westbury has launched a vigorous growth campaign in a bid to counter speculation that it has become a bid target, despite being the UK's sixth-largest...

New body to manage use of RSDs.(Robust Details Limited)(robust standard details )
May 6, 2004... Company headed by a technical adviser at the House Builders Federation will monitor the performance of robust standard details. A new organisation has been formed to handle the monitoring of robust standard details (RSDs), which are due to...

AIM opens door to profit for Vista.(Alternative Investment Market)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Vista, a manufacturer of PVC door panels and composite doors, made a pre-tax profit of [pounds sterling]1.1m in the group's first set of financial results since being admitted to the Stock Exchange's junior division, the Alternative Investment...

RMC quarry's history features on BBC radio.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... RMC's Taff's Well quarry near Cardiff was the subject of BBC Radio Wales's Past Master history programme last Sunday. There is evidence that ore mining took place at the site from the mid-16th century, for use in an early furnace at Pentrych...

St Andrew deal pushes Manor into a bunker.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Manor Kingdom, the Scottish housebuilder, has run up further losses, largely as a result of the acquisition of St Andrew, a Scottish landbank previously owned by the Berkeley Group. Manor's turnover (12 months to 31 December 2002) might have...

Three bid for [pounds sterling]100m Yorks deal.(Combined Secondary Schools Project)(Hochtief; Investors in the Community (Carillion/Mitie/Mill Group); and Leeds Schools Partnership (AWG/Mel Chambers/Classic Contracts).)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Three groups have until the end of June to work up bids for a [pounds sterling]100m-plus PFI schools scheme in West Yorkshire. The line up is: Hochtief; Investors in the Community (Carillion/Mitie/Mill Group); and Leeds Schools Partnership...

Dublin housing PPP up for grabs.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Contractors could soon get the chance to pitch for a big-value housing redevelopment deal in Dublin under the public private partnership (PPP). The city council is looking at the possibility of using PPP to tackle homes in one of the city's...

Contractors frustrated by strike ballot delay.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The threat of strikes on selected engineering construction sites has receded further. Members of the council of the Engineering Construction Industry Associa-tion (ECIA) were told just before the May Day weekend that employer representatives...

Court rules rolled-up pay legal in England.(European Court of Justice)(Working Time Directive cases)
May 6, 2004... Permissible in England and Wales but not in Scotland, rolled-up pay issue is referred to European Court of Justice. The High Court in London has ratified an earlier English employment appeal court ruling that, under specific conditions, it...

Choice narrows for Peterhouse shareholders.(Peterhouse Group plc)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Peterhouse shareholders face a simpler choice now that Babcock's [pounds sterling]96m offer for the group is the only one on the table. David Jackson and Simon Foster have declared that their proposed counter offer, a management buy-out, is a...

Shepherd puts safety info online.(Shepherd Construction (United Kingdom) signs with Knowledge Online )(E-Safe software)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Shepherd Construction has signed up with Knowledge Online for the use of its E-Safe software, a move that will allow Shepherd to transfer onsite health and safety information electronically. Shepherd will roll out the new software, and phase...

Irish PFI school down to two.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Two groups are looking to chalk up victory on a [pounds sterling]13m-plus PFI schools deal in Northern Ireland. The line-up for the Coleraine College scheme is the Northwin Partnership (Bilfinger Berger/John Graham/Farrans) versus Coleraine...

HBG fined over worker's death.(HBG Construction )
May 6, 2004... Firm to pay [pounds sterling]150,000 for failing to ensure non-employee's safety. HBG Construction Southern, formerly known as Kyle Stewart, was fined [pounds sterling]150,000 last Friday following the death of a construction worker who...

Second chance for low CAT score firms.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Highways Agency denies problems after delays in sending out CAT questionnaires. The Highways Agency (HA) has denied that there are any problems with the Capability Assessment Toolkit (CAT) process after it revealed that reassessment...

Interior named as 14th best place to work.(construction companies)(Simons, FaberMaunsell)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Interior was the highest placed construction company in The Financial Times Best Workplaces league table. Interior came 14th, improving by one position on last year. An Interior employee said: "Interior encourages a culture of teamwork and...

CECA attacks HA.(Civil Engineering Contractors Association )(Highways Agency)
May 6, 2004... Past chairman asks Highways Agency for transparent and consistent procurement standards. The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has blasted the Highways Agency (HA) for a lack of honesty, transparency, consistency and failure...

Strategic Forum to fight against internet auctions.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The Strategic Forum is set to make the case against internet auctions in construction procurement. Forum chairman Peter Rogers told CJ that Construction Products Association chief executive Michael Ankers has been assigned to work on new...

Histon creditors will get 30p in the pound.(Histon Concrete Products)
May 6, 2004... Concrete product supplier's debt runs to nearly [pounds sterling]1.3m but assets are only worth [pounds sterling]573k. Creditors of Histon Concrete Products can expect to see between 30p and 40p in the pound, according to Paul Finnity of...

ISG sells its occupancy business.(Interior Services Group (ISG))(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Interior Services Group (ISG) has sold its occupancy business to Erinaceous, the property services group, for [pounds sterling]10m. ISG Occupancy (ISGO) was established in 1998 to provide occupational management of commercial properties through...

Workers' diversity and skills to be considered.(Highways Agency)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The Highways Agency (HA) wants to see evidence that contractors are encouraging a more diverse and skilled workforce. This criterion will be added to CAT's 18 assessment categories, along with three other criteria: evidence of an incentivised...

SWD rejoins Stock Exchange but losses continue.(SWD Group,)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... SWD Group, which manufactures and installs construction products, has had its suspension from the Stock Exchange lifted as a result of publishing its latest over-due financial results. They show what chairman Robert Muddimer describes as...

Defence Estates unveils plans for Portsmouth base.
May 6, 2004... Defence Estates (DE) has teamed up with Partnerships UK (PUK) to deliver a PPP project for the regeneration of Portsmouth's naval base. The Portsmouth Regeneration and Investment in the Maritime Estate (PRIME) project will include the building...

Lafarge fined [pounds sterling]200,000 after worker fell to his death.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Lafarge Aggregates has been fined [pounds sterling]200,000 after a worker fell 30m to his death. Keith Branston, 52, was carrying out safety work at Mountsorrel Quarry, Leicestershire, in March 2002 when a corroded railing on a high walkway...

Working Time Directive brings logistics to fore.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The construction industry is going to have to work smarter once the Working Time Directive (WTD) for the road transport industry comes into force on 1 March 2005. The details of the WTD were unveiled by the Department for Transport last week....

Roll up, for a decision at last!(holiday pay)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... At last we have some clarity on the vexed issue of rolled-up holiday pay (where workers are given their holiday pay entitlement as part of an inclusive or rolled-up hourly rate). Unfortunately, the High Court ruling, which now sets a precedent...

University challenge.(Accelerating Change in Built Environment Education (ACBEE) )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Eighteen universities are now offering courses that exemplify collaboration with the construction industry, according to an organisation set up to promote such partnerships. Accelerating Change in Built Environment Education (ACBEE) was...

Man falls to death and another injured on Amec site.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... One man was killed and another suffered serious head injuries following an accident on an Amec building site in Manchester last week. Christopher Heaton, 25, from St Helens, was working on a development of 400 apartments for client Westbury...

Six line up for Area 2 EMAC.(Six consortia)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Six consortia have made the shortlist for the Highways Agency's (HA) Area 2 Early Managing Agent Contractor deal covering Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The six in the running for the five-year contract with a two-year...

Looking up.(construction industry trade show preview)
May 6, 2004... The Cranes and Access Village is one of six extensive zones at this year's Site Equipment Demonstration. Geoff Ashcroft provides a sneak preview of what to expect when negotiating the exhibits. Cranes, telehandlers, powered and non-powered...

Kit under cover.(construction industry trade show)
May 6, 2004... Products are the breath of life to SED, and the Pavilion and Workshop are no exception, with more than 80 companies exhibiting their wares. Geraldine Faulkner reports. Products making their debut in the UK at SED 2004 include a modular...

Clearing up.
May 6, 2004... The boom in recycling means wider interest for products in the Site Clearance Zone at SED 2004. Will Mann takes a look at what's on display. Recycling equipment is one of the fastest growing sectors in construction plant. The advent of the...

Space 4 doubles offsite output.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Space 4, the group's offsite manufacturing subsidiary that produces wooden house shells, doubled its output last year and moved from being a loss-maker to break-even. The unit, based in Castle Bromwich, has a total output capacity of 5,000...

On the move.
May 6, 2004... The government wants more new homes and that means business opportunities for road transport exhibitors and their visitors at SED 2004. Kevin Swallow looks at some of the road transport-related exhibits. Potential business for SED road...

'Without prejudice'.
May 12, 2004... The English legal system requires, as a matter of general public policy, the application of certain rules requiring disclosure of documents in civil proceedings. These rules have been carried through to Rule 31 of the Civil Procedure Rules,...

Record sales at Caterpillar.(finance)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Caterpillar has reported record first-quarter sales of [pounds sterling]3.6bn, up 34% compared to the same period in 2003. The results were mainly due to higher machine and engine volumes, up by [pounds sterling]740m,2 and a favourable...

A Daily work-out.(Daily 35C12)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... It is not without reason that Iveco calls its 3.5t Daily a city truck. Compared to other 3.5t equivalents, the Iveco is wide, tall and drives more like a truck than a light van. But will this enhance its appeal to the construction sector? Colin...

Bell eyes UK for scraper tractors.(Speedy Hire)(Triax MP400)(Bell's 4206D )
May 12, 2004... Lower fuel burn and higher travel speeds from Bell's 4206D could be ideal for UK's tricky underfoot conditions. Machines such as the 4206D tracked scraper tractor could be the next big thing in the UK muckshifting market, according to South...

Lofty ambitions.
May 12, 2004... With prestigious clients such as Windsor Castle and the French Embassy, Surrey roofing contractor the Maguire Brothers is used to the high life. And now, with a five-year business plan aimed at delivering 20% growth a year, the firm is looking...

Bidders slam Prison Service.
May 12, 2004... Framework contracts deemed 'long-winded' and 'too costly'. Bidders have slammed the procurement process of the Prison Service's [pounds sterling]320m framework contracts for being "long winded" and "too costly" due to paperwork...

Timetable out for Construction Act review.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... The timetable for the Construction Act review group has been unveiled following its first meeting since its formation after the Budget. Chaired by Sir Michael Latham, the group, which will look at adjudication and how to tackle late and...

Icopal set to help cut roof firms' insurance.(Icopal AB)
May 12, 2004... Icopal's flame-free roofing technology is helping to reduce insurance premiums for roofing contractors. Launched in September 2002, FireSmart is a roofing system comprising a range of polyester reinforced SBS modified membranes, insulation...

Solar panel roofing 'will add value'.(photovoltaic roofing)
May 12, 2004... Specifiers urged to look beyond the "well-intended hype" when selecting PV roofing. Just one solar panel on the roof of every household in Britain would produce enough energy to light every streetlight in the country, the Energy Saving...

PFI means roofing materials must last.(private finance initiative)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... The roofing industry needs to be "supremely confident" of the materials it uses as PFI projects look for added value from contractors, building envelope specialist Weatherwise has claimed. Weatherwise sees project involvement from contractors...

Construction group boosts Terex sales.(financial results, Terex Construction group )(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... [pounds sterling]580m sales boosted by strong performance in construction line. Terex Corporation's first-quarter 2004 sales increased 13% to [pounds sterling]580m. Net profit was up 42% to [pounds sterling]9.4m. Net sales in the Terex...

Vapour permeable underlays cause ventialtion confusion.
May 12, 2004... Until recently, roof ventilation practice was clear, but the introduction of a new product, vapour permeable underlays (VPUs), has resulted in a perception that roof ventilation is no longer needed. Marley Roofing general technical manager John...

Yorkon wins [pounds sterling]1m ProCure 21 deal.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Portakabin subsidiary Yorkon has been awarded a [pounds sterling]1m NHS ProCure 21 contract. The project is part of a [pounds sterling]12m redevelopment programme being undertaken for the Christie Hospital NHS Trust by HBG Construction. The...

Bucknall's young flyers to shape firm's future.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Young fast-track employees at Bucknall Austin, the consultancy group, have the opportunity to influence the future shape of the company. Known as the Future Initiatives Team (FIT), the 12-strong group of bright sparks will function as an...

Reinvented Multibuild looks to [pounds sterling]50m turnover.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Expansion into commercial, residential and healthcare pays off for 'rounded' contractor. Multibuild's transformation into a "rounded contractor" has put the Stockport-based group on course to hit a record [pounds sterling]50m turnover this...

Local players share [pounds sterling]100m worth of Leeds council work.(Baldwin, Mears and Webster)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Baldwin, Mears and Webster to repair and maintain 30,000 homes for city council. Three local firms are to share out housing repair and maintenance work potentially topping [pounds sterling]100m for Leeds City Council. Leeds contractor...

Prisons face building strike action.(HM Prisons Service)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Some 2,000 building workers employed by HM Prisons Service have voted in favour of industrial action after rejecting an imposed 1% increase in basic rates of pay. The increase itself is the delayed settlement of the operatives' 2003 pay claim....

N Ireland books [pounds sterling]220m schools renewal work.(Northern Ireland)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Contractors are set to reap a [pounds sterling]220m-plus new build and refurb work bonanza on schools projects as Northern Ireland's biggest-ever renewal deal gets under way. A government initiative has earmarked 43 schools throughout the...

Worker ruling may cost firms 'millions'.(self-employed workers entitlements)
May 12, 2004... Court upholds decision that self-employed workers are entitled to holiday pay as they do the work personally. Contractors should prepare themselves for millions of pounds in claims after a ruling on self-employed workers' entitlements. This...

back bites.(Construction industry)
May 12, 2004... Keep out Everyone knows how hard it is to keep unwanted visitors off construction sites. No more so than a Romanian priest who noticed that building materials bought to restore his church were going missing. Father Ioan Ciocan said he had...

Amec pulls plug in US.(business restructuring)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Amec has reviewed its troubled US construction management business and will make a "controlled exit" from the sector. The cost of pulling the plug is put at [pounds sterling]15m with a further [pounds sterling]11m needed to cover goodwill...

Boom expected for offsite industry.
May 12, 2004... Interbuild featured an offsite construction area for the first time this year and showed some of the latest innovations and products. Spending on offsite construction solutions is expected to rocket over the next three years according to...

Nearly half of investors say yes to Babcock's bid.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Babcock has reported that 42% of Peterhouse's shareholders are willing to accept its [pounds sterling]96m take-over bid. The offer ran out on Thursday 6 May and Babcock has extended the deadline by another three weeks to 27 May. Babcock chief...

Modar launches offsite firm.(Design Group 3 Architects, Pyramid Building Systems)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... A new launch at Manufactured Solutions at Interbuild was Modar, which will develop and sell architecturally-led offsite manufactured solutions. Modar is a partnership between Design Group 3 Architects and manufacturer Pyramid Building Systems....

Shortlist out for Dublin Metro by end of the year.(Railway Procurement Agency)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Hopes are high that by the end of this year the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) will finally be able to draw up its shortlist of firms to pitch for one of Europe's biggest transport projects - the [pounds sterling]3.8bn Dublin Metro. The Irish...

HA loses patience as Skanska delays A38.(Highways Agency)(Saltash Tunnel)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Saltash Tunnel cost and time overrun results in Highways Agency seeking penalties. The Highways Agency (HA) has lost its patience with Skanska after more delays to its contract to refurbish the Saltash Tunnel on the A38 in Cornwall....

Highways Agency road budget cuts take toll on civil contractors.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... The rumoured cuts to the Highways Agency's (HA) budget appear to be taking their toll on civils contractors following the Civil Engineering Contractors Association's (CECA) weakest survey for five years. Figures for April show that 47% of...

T Clarke plans recovery after challenging times.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... The tough trading conditions T Clarke experienced last year did not improve in the first four months of this year. Chairman Russell Race told shareholders at the group's AGM last week: "Since the announcement of our preliminary results for...

Directors wary of HSE's ability to investigate.(Health and Safety Executive)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Construction company directors have no confidence in the Health & Safety Executive's (HSE) ability to carry out accident investigat-ions under the proposed corporate killing legislation. According to a survey carried out by Norton Rose, just...

A McAlpine wins [pounds sterling]65m contracts.(Alfred McAlpine's Infrastructure Services Business)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... Alfred McAlpine's Infrastructure Services Business has won four new contracts worth a total of [pounds sterling]65m It has secured two five-year contracts with Thames Water worth [pounds sterling]30m covering repair and maintenance services in...

Ex-Ballast staff find new work.(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... All the former Ballast employees who have contacted Stephen Jackson, the solicitor offering to work on a no win/no fee basis (CJ 6 May), have found new jobs, with most going to major construction groups. "I've had phone calls and e-mails and it...

CECA to keep watchful eye on CAT.(Civil Engineering Contractors Association)(Capability Assessment Toolkit)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2004... The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has vowed to keep a close eye on the Highways Agency's Capability Assessment Toolkit (CAT) over the issue of market share. Last week CJ reported former CECA chairman Trevor Walker's concerns...

McAlpine subcontract is 'one-sided disgrace'.
May 12, 2004... Parts of Amendments to the Dom 1 Standard Terms of Subcontract could be 'illegal'. Alfred McAlpine Special Projects' subcontract form is a disgrace, according to the Specialist Engi-neering Contractors' (SEC) Group. The Amendments to the...