Category: News
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Dozens of firms suspended after substandard solid wall insulation jobs
The government has suspended 39 businesses that installed poor-quality solid wall insulation using publicly funded energy efficiency schemes. Routine checks carried out by independent quality body TrustMark uncovered cases of substandard solid wall insulation fitted under the Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS). Around 65,000 households have had solid…
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CMA closes probe into suspected concrete admixtures cartel
The Competition and Markets Authority has dropped an investigation into suspected conduct relating to the supply of chemical admixtures and additives for use in concrete, cement and related construction products in the UK. The competition watchdog’s statement said that it closed the probe “on the grounds that [it] no longer constitutes an administrative priority”. It…
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Skanska launches new asphalt reuse guidance
Infrastructure engineers at Skanska have updated an essential guide for the road surfacing and maintenance industry in the UK. Andy Simms, materials engineering manager, and Max Townsend, senior waste and resources manager, led the update of the Managing Reclaimed Asphalt guidance to ensure it meets current legislation. The guide helps users determine whether asphalt contains…
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Skanska leads new asphalt reuse guidance update
Infrastructure engineers at Skanska have led an update to an essential guide for the road surfacing and maintenance industry in the UK. Andy Simms, materials engineering manager, and Max Townsend, senior waste and resources manager, contributed to the update of the Managing Reclaimed Asphalt guidance to ensure it meets current legislation. The guide has been…
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NAO: ‘Few credible contractors’ for public buildings maintenance
Property professionals have told the National Audit Office that there are “few credible contractors” for some types of government building maintenance. A shortage of contractors is one of the concerns the NAO highlights in a new report on the government’s £49bn maintenance backlog across the public estate. The public spending watchdog is calling on the…
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CIOB Art of Building winners announced
Saul Townsend, head of communications at CIOB, said: “This year, we are delighted to recognise two outstanding winners. Roman Robroek’s evocative image of an abandoned school in Italy, which earned him the Public Choice Award, beautifully highlights the quiet elegance and historical significance of old buildings. View the original article and our Inspiration here
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Contractor with ‘outdated H&S attitudes’ fined after fatal church steeple fall
Ecclesiastical Steeplejacks Ltd, which has ceased trading since the accident, pleaded guilty to contravening Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was fined £60,000 at a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 15 January 2025. View the original article and our Inspiration here
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CIOB reveals Construction Manager of the Year Awards shortlist
Name Category Company Simon Bywater Commercial & Leisure Willmot Dixon Jason Elphick Commercial & Leisure Willmot Dixon Alex Heath Commerical & Leisure Willmott Dixon Connor McMahon Commercial & Leisure McAleer & Rushe Graham Mercer Commercial & Leisure Skanska UK Jason Sims Commercial & Leisure Caddick Construction Dillon Siva Commercial & Leisure Willmott Dixon Fraser Tanner…
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CITB levy row: Court dismisses Hudson appeal, agrees with Board
The Court of Appeal has dismissed Knot Builders’ appeal against a High Court decision that ruled it was liable to pay the Construction Industry Training Board levy. In the latest development in the legal battle between Knot Builders Ltd (KBL), formerly known as Hudson Contract Services Ltd, and the CITB, the Court of Appeal also…
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Persimmon launches home lab to trial construction tech
Persimmon has launched a three-storey ‘model home’ to trial new construction technologies and train its staff and supply chain. The facility is located at the developer’s Space4 factory in Castle Bromwich, West Midlands, and was built using modern methods of construction. The trial home’s Mauer brick facades were factory-fitted to the Space4 timber frame before…