Daily updated construction news for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland from http://www.build.co.uk http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp 09/02/2010 : 00:52:43 Construction firms are in for disappointment with news today that a mooted building project will not now take place.Gatwick Airport's new owners say they have no plans to build a second runway at the West Sussex site.Gatwick Chairman Sir David Rowlands said there was "not a shred of interest" in a second runway.He also talked about the overall future of the airport with members of the Gatwic..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=106480 08 February 2010 The extensive refurbishment of the HSBC Branch in Clumber Street, Nottingham by Archial Architects has received a commendation.The accolade came from the Lord Mayor's Awards for Urban Design. The £2m project, developed by Oakgate Group Plc, has given new life to an abandoned listed building and provides large clear floor plates in a city centre location. The refurbishment sees the new bank b..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=106448 08 February 2010 Construction work on Dublin's M50 motorway come a step closer to conclusion this morning with the opening of the third lane in both directions between Junction 10 at Ballymount and Junction 14 at Sandyford.However, motorists face the possibility of a rise in toll rates in the summer due to a change in the VAT code. This is despite the fact that VAT was already budgeted into the toll price when t..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106438 08 February 2010 Concorde Business Park near Manchester airport has received a boost following the completion of a unique and revolutionary "Café pod".It will provide the development's occupiers with an attractive place to have lunch and hold informal meetings. The pod has been designed by Manchester-based architects, The Harris Partnership, and it will be operated by an ambitious coffee house tenant. The prac..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=106445 08 February 2010 Planners have given the green light to a new Sainsbury's store in Bangor.Jobs in the beleaguered construction sector will follow the decision, which involves the demolition of existing buildings, the construction of a new retail store and extension of the existing retail warehouseIt is the eighth major planning application approved by the Environment Minister in the past twelve months.Minist..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106429 08 February 2010 The Nightingale Associates' new building known as the 'Research Complex at Harwell' at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire has been officially handed over. The project was born out of the UK Government's commitment to making the UK an especially attractive location in the world for research. Maintaining access to cutting-edge, large-scale facilities is a key element in ensur..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=106439 08 February 2010 The Irish Government has been accused of reneging on commitments to regenerate parts of Limerick city, according to a newspaper report.The commitments were made in a €3 billion public-private programme to redevelop the area.However, Fine Gael"s Limerick East TD, Kieran O"Donnell has labelled the plan "a shambles", reports the Irish Times.Mr O'Donnell"s attack comes after comments made by Min..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106446 08 February 2010 The Catholic Church has said it will foot the bill to repair St Mel's Cathedral in Longford, which was extensively damaged in a fire on Christmas Day last year.Estimations have suggested that the cost of construction work on the repairs would be between €2m and €8m.However, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Dr Colm O'Reilly said he had "no doubt" this sum could be provided through an insurance..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106431 08 February 2010 A controversial former Co Antrim prison facility is to be further protected.The Maze Prison buildings are to keep their listed status, Northern Ireland Environment Minister, Edwin Poots has announced.Last year, Mr Poots' predecessor Sammy Wilson asked officials for permission to revoke the listed status given to the Maze hospital and part of the H-Blocks.However, Mr Poots has said that an En..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106441 08 February 2010 A stately home in Co Wicklow has been badly damaged in a fire.Fire crews were called out to Russborough House, near Blessington at around 9.30pm on Sunday evening. The crews fought for three hours to bring the blaze under control.The west wing of the building has reportedly suffered severe damage, while part of the roof is understood to have collapsed.Russborough House is widely considered..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106424 08 February 2010 A Glasgow-registered recycling company and a director have been fined a total of £145,000 for exposing workers to toxic mercury fumes at a site in West Yorkshire.Twenty employees had levels of mercury in their system above UK guidance levels, and five of them showed extremely high levels following the exposure between October 2007 and August 2008.Electrical Waste Recycling Group Ltd, registere..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=106416 08 February 2010 Years of construction work have paid off as more than 200,000 people have now visited the revamped Ulster Museum since it reopened.That makes it the busiest visitor attraction in Northern Ireland, according to the Director of National Museums Northern Ireland, Tim Cooke, who said: "It's great to see so many people from across NI and beyond so excited by the new Ulster Museum. It"s been very enco..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106434 08 February 2010 The building industry is currently responsible for almost 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with residential homes consuming 27.5% of the world's electricity.However, a focus on space heating and cooling, hot water systems, appliances, indoor lighting, and refrigeration can deliver 60 - 80% reductions in energy demand in residential homes.That's according to Factor Five, a book on transf..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=106418 08 February 2010 The London Brownfield Sites Database has won the coveted e-Government award at the Royal Town Planning Institute awards ceremony. The London Brownfield Sites Database is the country's most comprehensive database of land available for redevelopment. It was developed by Arup and launched by the London Development Agency (LDA) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) in October 2009. The Datab..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=106426 08 February 2010 Members of the public in Co Clare are being urged to provide input on the finalising of a seven-year strategy outlining the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.A public information and consultation session relating to the Draft Clare County Development Plan 2011-2017 will take place at Àras Contae an Chláir in Ennis from 1.00pm to 5.30pm on Monday 15th February 2010. The in..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106413 08 February 2010 Plans for the first development phase of the former RAF Locking site, approved recently by North Somerset Council,will provide a catalyst for the development of 6,000 sq ft of office accommodation, 100 new homes, a 14,000 sq ft office building and a 30,000 sq ft Innovation Centre.The site, which has been owned and managed by South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and the Homes..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=106377 05 February 2010 Crossrail has announced its intention to award the first six contracts under its Enabling Works Framework.The contracts are as follows: UL LI Package C209 - Farringdon Demolition - Eastern Ticket Hall - Keltbray Ltd /LI LI Package C223 - Bond Street Eastern and Western Ticket Hall - Select Plant Hire Company /LI LI Package C225 - Liverpool Street Site Facilities - Select Plant Hire Company /LI ..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=106348 05 February 2010 The Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCS) has predicted that a further 40,000 construction jobs could in 2010 unless the Government provide a stimulus package.SCS President, Ken Cribben told the audience at the society's annual dinner in Dublin last night that these job losses could be avoided if the Government provides €5bn to build roads, schools and hospitals."The industry is sliding off the..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106356 05 February 2010 The transformation of New Street station took a major step forward as the design was given the stamp of approval by Birmingham City Council's planning committee.The Gateway project will turn New Street into the world-class station that passengers deserve with more light and space, additional entrances, easier access to platforms and a stunning new exterior.Work is expected to start in the stat..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=106375 05 February 2010 An Irish company that designs turbines capable of converting wave power into electricity, has signed a major US development deal.Ocean Energy has agreed a deal with multi-billion dollar US multinational, Dresser-Rand.The Irish company's Chief Executive Officer, John McCarthy said the agreement would significantly develop wave energy in Ireland and should lead to the creation of thousands of jo..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106376 05 February 2010