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 09/05/2008 : 16:42:31 While the number of Northern Ireland homeowners facing repossession orders - after failing to keep up with mortgage payments - is up by more than 30%, there may be help on the way.Fresh from his 'sales-pitch' for bringing investment and jobs to Northern Ireland at this week's US-NI Investment Conference, the Prime Minister is now planning a scheme to boost home ownership.However, for some the ..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=75733 09 May 2008 Civil engineering output in Ireland has increased by 14.1%, year on year, according to information released by the Central Statistics OfficeThe volume of production figure reflects the accelerated infrastructural development, as set out in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 The €184 billion National Development Plan, launched in January 2007, is a seven year plan, which is centred on sust..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=75720 09 May 2008 Plans have been revealed by Guinness' foreign owners to move the world famous brewery to another site, with the loss of hundreds of jobs.The London based multi-national has revealed that most of the iconic St James' Gate facility is to be sold for development, valued at around €3 billion at the height of the property boom. The brewery is however planning to keep a token presence at the site af..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=75683 09 May 2008 A two-day public exhibition and consultation on proposals for improvement works on the A2 Sydenham Bypass in Belfast will start on Wednesday 14 May.The exhibition, which takes place at the Park Avenue Hotel, will be open to the public from 3.30pm to 9pm on Wednesday 14 May and 10.30am to 9pm on Thursday 15 May 2008. Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy said: "The exhibition is a very imp..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=75677 09 May 2008 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today warned businesses to ensure they carry out a suitable risk assessment before undertaking work. This follows an incident where a worker suffered serious head injuries leaving him needing 24-hour care for the rest of his life.At Aylesbury Magistrates' Court today, Trak Build Ltd, (the principal contractor) from Hemel Hempstead was fined a total of £10,00..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=75695 09 May 2008 Construction union UCATT have renewed their call for the Gangmasters Licensing Act to be extended to the construction industry, after conducting an investigation and discovering that a gangmaster who had recently lost their licence had construction links.This week the Gangmaster Licensing Authority (GLA) stripped Timberland Homes Ltd, trading as Timberland Homes Recruitment of their gangmasters ..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=75701 09 May 2008 The Highways Agency has chosen Connect Plus as its provisional preferred bidder for the M25 Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract from the shortlist of three construction and finance groups that submitted tenders.Balfour Beatty has also announced that Connect Plus, a consortium comprising Balfour Beatty (40%), Skanska (40%), Atkins (10%) and Egis Projects SA (10%), has been appointe..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=75656 09 May 2008 Work has started on a new £16 million bakery for Greggs in east Manchester.The construction of the 75,000 sq ft building on Parkhouse Street in Openshaw has been made possible through a joint initiative between Manchester City Council, New East Manchester and Greggs assisted by a £7 million grant from the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA).The relocation to the new site will also le..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=75700 09 May 2008 Work on London's Olympic stadium is set to commence in two weeks, it is reported. The stadium which has a budget of £496 million and which will seat 80,000 people will be the centrepiece for the 2012 Games.The Independent newspaper reported on Sunday that the budget for the east London stadium could rise to £540m, a figure refuted by an Olympic Delivery Authority (ODC) spokesman.ODC Chief Ex..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=75646 09 May 2008 Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, is repeating urgent safety messages after children were again seen throwing leaves and tree branches into high-voltage power lines in Nottinghamshire.Thousands of people had their electricity cut off by the tiny terrors throwing objects over the power lines in Warsop.Engineers managed to restore power to the 2,363 cust..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=75693 09 May 2008 A construction company has this week been convicted of breaching safety regulations over a fatality on a Dublin building site nearly six years ago.The English-registered firm, PJ Carey (Contractors) Ltd, was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of having a dangerous work system at the site on Ballymun Road on December 09, 2002 when the man died in a collapsed trench.Brendan Cou..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=75674 09 May 2008 Prewett Bizley has been selected as the winning architect for the redevelopment of the Skye Edge site in Sheffield.They were chosen by a panel of judges as part of a Europe wide competition, Europan 9. Europan 9 is Europe's leading housing design competition for architects under the age of 40 and the world's largest housing design competition. Sheffield put forward the Skye Edge site because o..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=75697 09 May 2008 Clare County Council's new multi-million euro corporate headquarters have been officially opened. The Mayor of Clare, Councillor Patricia McCarthy unveiled the premises at New Road, Ennis on Thursday.Àras Contae an Chlàir, which has been delivered at a cost of €25 million, provides accommodation for 300 staff, as well as meeting rooms, staff canteen, laboratory, Mayor's office, Council Chamber a..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=75691 09 May 2008 The bane of many construction projects - planning applications - has been tackled in the North West.Straightforward planning applications in Londonderry are now being processed in just 21 working days, thanks to a new 'Streamlined Consultation' pilot scheme. Indeed, the initiative from the NI Planning Service and Derry City Council has proved so successful that it is being extended to the Lima..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=75648 09 May 2008 Ireland"s first "eco-village" has requested planning permission to begin building work this summer. The Village, Cloughjordan, north County Tipperary, will consist of 130 dwellings of apartments, semi-detached and detached houses. The development will also consist of shops, playgrounds and communal facilities, with the use of the 67-acre site being divided equally for housing, farmland and woo..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=75737 09 May 2008 A report designed to highlight the importance of small businesses" contribution to the Irish economy has been welcomed by The Small Firms Association (SFA). The Small Business in Ireland 2008 Report published by the Central Statistics Office also outlines the position of the small business sector on the island. Assistant SFA Director Avine McNally said the report illustrates how the small bu..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=75721 09 May 2008 The contract to build the Velodrome has been awarded by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).ISG InteriorExterior won the contract, meaning UK firms are now contracted to build the three major sporting venues in the Olympic Park.The 6,000-seat Velodrome will be in the north of the Olympic Park. During the Games it will host Olympic and Paralympic Track Cycling events, alongside a track for Oly..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=75692 09 May 2008 International construction and management consultant, Turner and Townsend, has reinforced its on-going expansion of the Birmingham office with a series of in-house promotions at the start of the financial year in May 2008.In the last three years staff numbers have doubled, growing from 54 to the current employee total of 117 who are spread across three floors at the Church Street premises. Turnove..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=75658 09 May 2008 This week's intensive search for a hill walker missing on the scenic slopes of Benbulben Mountain has ended in tragedy.The body of a Polish man - believed to have been a construction worker - who was tragically killed when he fell from a cliff on the mountain on Monday, is to be formally identified later today.As a result of the accident, the Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team are also issuing..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=75668 09 May 2008 Lord Smith of Finsbury has been appointed as the new Chair of the Environment Agency. He replaces Sir John Harman, who stands down at the end of June after eight years.Lord Smith, currently Chair of the independent Advertising Standards Authority and former Cabinet Minister, will in future be responsible for ensuring that the Environment Agency is able to deliver its objectives in key areas su..... http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=75685 09 May 2008