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Berkeley Homes agrees private rental deal

April 24th, 2013 by admin
Author: Lauren Sutton
Berkeley Homes has agreed a deal to create private rented homes in London. Constructionenquirer.com reports that the house building company has come to an agreement with public funding bodies.
Around £90 million worth of private rented homes would be built at seven Berkeley sites. Notting Hill Housing Group (NHHG) has joined the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the Greater London Authority (GLA) to create the scheme.
Berkeley Homes will build 140 homes, where site manager jobs and other construction vacancies may become available. The homes would then be acquired by NHHG through a £45 million loan from the Get Britain Building programme.
Cnplus.co.uk claims NHHG will add another 140 homes of its own to the portfolio.
Chief executive of Notting Hill Housing Trust, Kate Davies said: “The opportunity to acquire such a large number of quality homes, with support from the GLA and HCA, enables us to create a strong market rent operation at Notting Hill.”
The Berkeley homes are due to be completed by the end of March 2015. Homes will be built in Lewisham, Hackney, Harrow and Croydon, along with various other areas around London.
The programmes director at the HCA, Richard Hill said that the deal showed a rise in interest from companies looking to invest in the private rental sector.

Author: Lauren Sutton

Berkeley Homes has agreed a deal to create private rented homes in London. Constructionenquirer.com reports that the house building company has come to an agreement with public funding bodies. (more…)

Posted in Construction & Building, Industry News

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Public sector doubles its share of construction workers

April 15th, 2013 by admin
Author: David Howells
The number of engineering contractors in the public sector has almost doubled in just two years, freshbusinessthinking.com reports.
According to new research by Giant Group, around 21 per cent of engineering contractors in the UK were working within the public sector during 2011. Over the two years that followed, however, this figure had rocketed to 39 per cent, which was recorded between October 2012 and March 2013.
Where individual jobs and requirements were concerned, contractors claimed that security has recently become more of a concern than pay. A huge 70 per cent of those questioned said that, if they were given the choice, an ongoing contract would be more attractive than higher per-hour payment. This represents a rise of 14 per cent on the totals seen in 2011.
The results could mean that construction workers on the lookout for electrical or planning engineer jobs may not be as enamoured by mouthwatering wages as once thought, but may instead prefer roles which offer a safe and secure salary in the long term.
Explaining the figures, managing director of Giant Matthew Brown told recruitment-international.co.uk: “As the public sector was forced to make cuts in difficult economic times, it often led to the freezing of permanent positions.
“As a result, contractors have been called in to bridge the gap, leading to this increase in engineering contractors working in the public sector over the last couple of years.”

Author: David Howells

The number of engineering contractors in the public sector has almost doubled in just two years, freshbusinessthinking.com reports. (more…)

Posted in Construction & Building, Industry News

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More engineers needed for future of infrastructure, says PM

March 27th, 2013 by admin
Author: Samantha Bartlett
Prime minister David Cameron has claimed that more scientists and engineers need to be trained for the future recruitment needs of the construction industry.
Cameron made the comments to attendees at the recent Big Bang science and engineering fair in London, which was opened by business secretary Vince Cable and the minister for universities and science, David Willetts.
According to nce.co.uk, the PM said: “If we are going to succeed as a country, then we need to train more scientists and more engineers. You have got to get them while they are young.”
Thousands of school children, were in attendance at the free event – which took place at London’s Excel venue, according to bromleytimes.co.uk. Companies from sectors such as science, technology and engineering were promoting careers which could include design or project engineer jobs. Schools and other organisations were also showcasing at the event.
Cable also opened the four-day event saying: “Science and engineering are central to economic recovery and growth and so we need to ensure there is a good supply of talented people to meet future demand.”
There were also competitions at the event, where the schoolchildren could show off their construction skills, such as building robots.

Author: Samantha Bartlett

Prime minister David Cameron has claimed that more scientists and engineers need to be trained for the future recruitment needs of the construction industry. (more…)

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Posted in Construction & Building, Industry News

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Candy brothers get go-ahead for Sugar Quay project

March 27th, 2013 by admin
Author: Lauren Sutton
The Candy brothers have been given the go-ahead for their CPC Group to develop a housing scheme at Sugar Quay, according to constructionenquirer.com.
The developers have managed to snag planning permission to build 15 luxury flats on the site in the City of London. The former office of Tate & Lyle, situated on the Thames will be demolished, ready to build the new development.
The building will be part nine-storey and part 11-storey over an area of 280,000 square feet and is to be designed by award-winning architects Foster + Partners. The site was bought for £34 million earlier in the year.
Site manager jobs may become available once the work gets underway, along with various other construction vacancies on the site near Tower Bridge.
Standard.co.uk reports that there had been doubts over the amount of flats to be built but the City of London’s planning committee has accepted the scheme.
Christian Candy, founder of the CPC Group said: “We are delighted with the outcome of the planning application. This is a unique site directly on the river and the redevelopment will make a major contribution to this part of the River Thames, whilst delivering an exceptional living experience in a prominent location in the City of London.”

Author: Lauren Sutton

The Candy brothers have been given the go-ahead for their CPC Group to develop a housing scheme at Sugar Quay, according to constructionenquirer.com. (more…)

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Posted in Construction & Building, Industry News

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Handing local development to communities could create jobs

March 20th, 2013 by admin
Author: Ashley Curtis
Communities receiving control over local development could help create homes, jobs and infrastructure, according to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.
In an announcement cited by freshbusinessthinking.com, Pickles claimed communities in the East Midland and the North East of England will be given more control when their regional strategies are revoked.
The abolition of these regional strategies, which imposed centrally set building targets on communities, will ‘reinforce the importance’ of the Local Plan as a ‘keystone’ of the planning system.
As planning and housebuilding ‘works best’ when control is locally led, the shift in central to local control could help create jobs in these regions. For instance, site manager jobs may become available if housebuilding and other construction projects increase in frequency.
According to the minister, an Order will be laid in Parliament to revoke the East Midland strategy while a similar Order for the North East will be laid at a later date.
Pickles commented on the plan to gov.uk: “The flawed top-down targets of regional planning built nothing but resentment, and threatened the green belt in many local authorities. We are committed to decentralising as much power as possible to local people.
“The abolition of the East Midlands and North East regional strategy will bring a significant in power that will benefit the lives of local people in these areas,” he added.

Author: Ashley Curtis

Communities receiving control over local development could help create homes, jobs and infrastructure, according to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. (more…)

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Posted in Construction & Building, Industry News

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Osborne lobbied to consider infrastructure in Budget

March 19th, 2013 by admin
Author: David Howells
Chancellor George Osborne has been lobbied to get the so-called “infrastructure story” back on track in his upcoming Budget.
Writing for freshbusinessthinking.com, head of infrastructure at KPMG UK, Richard Threlfall, claimed that added focus needs to be given to driving long-term competitiveness in British industry. This could only come, however, through huge investments in the housing, transport and energy industries, he added.
Now, with Osborne’s latest Budget now just days away, Threlfall called for renewed investment opportunities to be provided for the UK’s infrastructure industry in a bid to create jobs and boost optimism.
Threlfall noted both the cancellation of Waste Infrastructure Credits and decision against using private finance in the procurement of trains for Crossrail as some of the latest schemes to derail the infrastructure story. In using the Budget to develop networks, however, Threlfall claimed the UK could see private investment in infrastructure reach new highs in the long-term.
Such action could also bring in foreign investment into Britain and help with the creation of innumerable project planner or planning engineer jobs, to name but a few.
“We need a long-term vision from the government for the development of our infrastructure networks, that can endure across electoral cycles,” Threlfall told govopps.co.uk.
“The government should also launch a formal consultation on re-introducing tax relief for investment in buildings and infrastructure. The UK is currently at a competitive disadvantage as the only G20 country which fails to provide this investment incentive. The request of government is for bold leadership and action now to get industry confidence back.”

Author: David Howells

Chancellor George Osborne has been lobbied to get the so-called “infrastructure story” back on track in his upcoming Budget. (more…)

Posted in Civils & Structural Engineering, Construction & Building, Highways & Transportation, Industry News

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CBI calls for housebuilding investment could create thousands of jobs

March 13th, 2013 by admin
Author: Ashley Curtis
Around 75,000 jobs could be created if housebuilding calls from Britain’s largest business lobby group are answered by government officials.
Reported by guardian.co.uk, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is asking for government to ‘kickstart’ the economy by spending £1.25 billion on building 50,000 new homes.
As well as providing new homes for prospective tenants, thousands of new positions – for example, vacancies like project planner jobs – could be created if the government heeds this advice.
The CBI claims putting around £1.25 billion into capital investment including housing, along with cash for high-business tax measures – such as the removal of stamp duty on equity finance for mid-sized firms – could kickstart the economy.
Speaking to guardian.co.uk, CBI director John Cridland commented: “To boost the construction sector, we are calling for 50,000 new affordable homes to be built, incentives for refurbishing empty homes and the housing guarantee scheme to be extended to all types of housing.
“With its relatively short lead-in times, house building offers the most bang-for-buck in growth terms – unleashing pent-up demand, while creating jobs and growth,” he added.
As well as boosts to the construction sector, the CBI is also calling on the government to bring forward its ‘road spending and repair programme’, reports thisismoney.co.uk.

Author: Ashley Curtis

Around 75,000 jobs could be created if housebuilding calls from Britain’s largest business lobby group are answered by government officials. (more…)

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Posted in Construction & Building, Industry News

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Thousands of jobs could be created in proposed housebuilding programme

March 12th, 2013 by admin
Author: Ashley Curtis
If the government were to invest in a housebuilding scheme, it could create up to 60,000 new homes along with a 0.6 per cent GDP boost.
That’s according to a number of local authority leaders via the Local Government Association (LGA), cited by freshbusinessthinking.com, which are urging the Treasury to invest in housing on a scale ‘not seen since the early 1990s’.
Investment would be able to tackle the housing shortage, create jobs and inject growth into the economy, according to authorities. Consequently, a number of site manager jobs, construction positions and more could become available in the near future.
Last year, 118,900 new homes were built in England but it is estimated that more than twice as many each year are needed to keep up with demand, according to statistics.
Cllr Mike Jones, chairman of the LGA’s Environment and Housing Board, commented on the call to local.gov.uk: “If Government is serious about building new homes, it should unlock the potential and willingness of councils to play their part in tackling the housing shortage.
“Many of Government’s recent attempts to breathe life into the struggling housebuilding industry have failed to recognise that the main obstacle to a recovery hasn’t been a lack of willingness, but a lack of money,” he added.

Author: Ashley Curtis

If the government were to invest in a housebuilding scheme, it could create up to 60,000 new homes along with a 0.6 per cent GDP boost. (more…)

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Posted in Construction & Building, Industry News

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Construction company is positive and ready to spend

February 28th, 2013 by admin
Construction company Interserve has posted strong figures and is planning to spend up to £250 million on acquisitions, according to constructionenquirer.com.
The company is projecting the construction market to grow next year, albeit with a slightly challenging 2013 ahead. Government spending on infrastructure may be a contributing factor to the company’s prediction of market growth.
Quantity surveyor jobs and a variety of other positions may become available as Interserve looks to spend on worthwhile projects.
Adrian Ringrose, chief executive of the company, said it has strong prospects for medium-term growth, based on expanding into new markets and the fact that the balance sheet is strong.
Cnplus.co.uk reports the company believes private sector investment is set to see some recovery, which will add to the positive outlook for 2014.
Interserve’s chairman Lord Blackwell said: “Active management of our global fleet has ensured that we have been well-placed to take advantage of the strongest markets, while making best use of our invested capital.
“We are now looking to increase levels of investment in this business as future demand progresses.”
Although there has been low demand in the UK for construction, the company has done well, says Lord Blackwell, crediting its focus and desire to be innovative.

Author: Lauren Sutton

Construction company Interserve has posted strong figures and is planning to spend up to £250 million on acquisitions, according to constructionenquirer.com. (more…)

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Posted in Construction & Building, Industry News

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Housing development given the go-ahead in Cheltenham

February 28th, 2013 by admin
Author: Lauren Sutton
A scheme to build 143 new homes in Cheltenham has been given the green light, according to constructionenquirer.com. The development by Homes by Skanska is forming part of a bigger scheme in the area.
Cheltenham Borough Council has plans for a £100 million redevelopment of a car park near the edge of the city centre. As well as the homes, a multi-storey car park, bus terminal, public square and supermarket are all planned as part of the project.
Site manager jobs and various other construction roles may become available as the scheme gets under way. The residential property company is relatively new to the UK, being a Swedish firm, but has so far proved to be quite successful, cites whathouse.co.uk.
Awards have already been given to the firm  for its first development in Cambridge, which could be seen as a promising sign of what to expect from the Cheltenham development.
The president of Homes by Skanska, Magnus Andersson, said: “We are pleased to achieve planning on this exciting city-centre development in Cheltenham. This part of the country is an area we have identified as one that could offer great long-term opportunities.”
The development will contain one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as four-bedroom townhouses. All will have underground parking with them.
Author: Lauren Sutton
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A scheme to build 143 new homes in Cheltenham has been given the green light, according to constructionenquirer.com. The development by Homes by Skanska is forming part of a bigger scheme in the area. (more…)

Posted in Construction & Building, Industry News

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