Articles by Date : April 14 1997 - April 20 1997

What is the road to recovery? - What's the next step for the PFI
Peter Puplett, former Tarmac group economist and one of the original architects of the Private Finance Initiative, asks why it has failed to.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Two offers for Castle Plant
Tarmac is currently considering two offers to acquire Castle Plant, its plant hire subsidiary. Neville Simms, Tarmac chief executive, said last.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Tagus chaos after collapse deaths
A fatal collapse at Portugal's Second Tagus Crossing during construction last Thursday has thrown the 33 year concession held by the Kvaerner-led.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

1866 case leaves MoD's defensive umbrella waterproof
The carrying out of building operations may involve one of the parties in liability to a third party for injury to person or property. Such.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Refurb rethink after PCB alert
The Department of the Environment is to launch a major programme to remove sealants from concrete tower blocks which contain a dangerous toxic.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

MCG backs Labour's PFI plans
The Main Contractors Group has welcomed statements in the Labour Party's business manifesto to improve the Private Finance Initiative. Jennie.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

INBRIEF
œ8,600 bill for negligence Negligence by roofing contractor Rock Asphalt resulted in a blaze and explosions which hurled shrapnel 46m onto.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Hydrema launches Weimar age
Hydrema UK has brought the first Weimar WL470 into the UK. Last week it used the facilities of the CITB at Bircham Newton to display the.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

CAT attacks OEM engine market
CAT plans to double the size of its engine business by the year 2005 said Alan Lewis, COSA engine division manager, in London last week. "It.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Ten picked for Chelsea contest
Ten firms have prequalified for the PFI contract to redevelop Chelsea Barracks in the city of Westminster, London. The scheme requires the.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Firms put the finishing touches to entries
Activity is reaching a climax among construction firms entering the 1997 Contract Journal Construction Industry Awards. With two weeks to the.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

INBRIEF
Output rise predicted The latest survey by the Building Material Producers is predicting overall construction output to rise by two per cent.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Workload reaches four-year high
The level of workload anticipated by surveyors in the UK construction industry has increased dramatically to its highest for four years, according.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

CIB's guide to success
A "best practice guide" for clients was launched by the Construction Industry Board this week. The report, entitled Constructing Success by.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Union urges action to stamp out tax 'loophole'
Contractors are forming employment agencies to avoid being forced to take building workers onto their books under new tax guidelines introduced.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

œ5bn social housing fears
Social housing contractors are worried that Labour is backtracking on its pledge to revitalise the market with the speedy release of œ5.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Brewer splits with Knowles
Geoff Brewer has quit as head of the London operation of claims consultant JR Knowles, over what he termed as a difference of opinion over the.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Private industrial work tops orders list
The private industrial sector proved the most fruitful source of work over the last quarter (December 1996 to February 1997) according to the.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

œ30m BT deal signed
The Lutterworth Partnership - Gazeley Properties and The Church Commissioners - has completed a œ30 million deal to build BT's 35,250m2.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

BFI invites for 5 projects
The British Film Institute is pressing ahead with its ambitious expansion plans by inviting tender for a five different projects. The schemes.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

An A1 invitation
The Scottish Office is to invite tenders in the next two months for a œ30-35 million road scheme on the A1 between Edinburgh and Berwick upon.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

œ20m chance of a Life time
The œ54 million International Centre of Life in Newcastle is inviting contractors to prequalify for the second phase of the project. The.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Millennium site works set to be up for grabs
English Partnerships has announ-ced a number of works packages for the Greenwich Millennium site in London which will start to go out from May this.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Merchants' sales leap by 4.4%
Builders merchants' sales for the period of December 1996 - February 1997 increased by 4.4 per cent compared to the same period last year. .... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Turn cowboys into outlaws says home repair alliance
Cowboy builders were labelled a "major scandal" at the launch of the AA Home Assistance Approved Supplier Scheme last week. Edward Cowan, chief.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

United's Jaafar takes the reins at Costain
Costain's new chairman is Dato' Jaafar bin Dato' Abdul Hamid, 44, who previously was md of United Engineers, part of the Renong group of companies.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Double for Bovis Europe
Bovis Europe has scored two overseas successes - a new headquarters for Daewoo Corporation in Warsaw, Poland and a Marks & Spencer store in.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Balfour's œ20m nuclear job
Balfour Beatty is believed to be in line for a œ20 million contract at BNFL's Sellafield plant in Cumbria to construct the DryPac unit. The.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

HOT LINE
Southern Water is inviting tenders from its list of approved contractors for an œ18m project to design and construct concrete storm-water.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

œ20 million luxury contract for Amec
Amec Construction has won a œ20 million contract to build a complex of luxury apartments in Kensington, London for Hutchinson IDH Developments.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Ace Hire purchase signals growth strategy for GAP
GAP Group, the Glasgow based plant hire company, is undergoing a period of rapid expansion. Its aim is to keep a competitive edge in a market.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Dam gets a œ1.5m facelift
East of Scotland Water is to use a grouting technique new to the UK to repair the Megget Dam in the Borders. The œ1.49 million project.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Pilkington launch
Pilkington has launched a flexible new ceramic tile range, suitable for both wall and flooring applications. Royal Granite combines the natural.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Uretek refines injection technique
Uretek (UK), the concrete and slab floor lifting and levelling specialists, has adapted and refined its injection technique for lifting and.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

The sun comes out for Tarmac
Tarmac is starting to recover from contracts won in the depths of the recession at abysmally low margins, the company claimed last week. .... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)

Haymills Gp. expansion
The Haymills Group has taken over a number of building supply companies recently to form a new company, Omnico. The new business is the.... more
(16 April 1997 00:00)