Articles by Date : March 19 2007 - March 25 2007

Cost cutting will damage contractors' confidence in MoD says NAO
Defence Estates’ five Regional Prime Contracts are improving the way the MoD’s estate is maintained, but cuts in spending are putting at risk.... more
(23 March 2007 17:00)

Sustainability supplement: Advertising information
Information on advertising in the 'sustainability' supplement produced by Contract Journal in association with HVCA. more
(23 March 2007 14:33)

Enterprise pre-tax profit of £25m after taking £10m hit
After taking a £10m hit, Enterprise has been left with a pre-tax profit figure for 2006 of £25m. more
(23 March 2007 09:00)

Local authorities need an extra £1bn to clear road maintenance backlog
Local authorities face a funding shortfall of more than £1bn in their highways maintenance budgets, and industry experts are warning that the.... more
(23 March 2007 08:00)

Contractual semantics - saying what you mean
The questioning of the meaning of a legal phrase or a clause - even a single word - is where many a legal case has ultimately found itself. more
(23 March 2007 00:00)

Rant: AR Gibbs
Do you want to get something off your chest? Have your say with the weekly Rant! more
(23 March 2007 00:00)

60 seconds on safety: Mike McKeown, Pennine
Mike McKeown, operations director at Pennine, is questioned on health and safety in the workplace. more
(23 March 2007 00:00)

Plant theft supplement: advertising
RBI Construction, publishers of Plant Managers Journal (PMJ), Contract Journal and the organisers of SED, are producing a supplement on Plant Theft..... more
(22 March 2007 12:01)

Pod partnership takes on residential market
House builders stand to benefit from the efficiencies afforded by off-site manufacture following a partnering agreement between bathroom and kitchen.... more
(22 March 2007 10:45)

OFT issues ultimatum to bid-rigging builders
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has issued an ultimatum to construction companies implicated in its 2-year-old investigation into bid rigging.... more
(22 March 2007 10:22)

More contenders emerge for ODA chairman's role
More names are emerging in the contest to replace Sir Roy McNulty, acting chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). more
(22 March 2007 09:30)

Budget 2007: the expert's analysis
Grant Thornton believes that while the Chancellor promised a “Budget to expand prosperity and fairness”, he did not apply this to the construction.... more
(22 March 2007 08:00)

What it's like working at Galliford Try
Group HR director Howard Walker provides a snapshot of working life inside the company. more
(22 March 2007 00:00)

Ennstone turnover up to £200m
Ennstone announced a pre-tax profit of £14m with turnover at £200m. more
(22 March 2007 00:00)

Maxipay develops employee status verifier
A new product from a composite company has provided an insight into the type of business model that managed services companies (MSCs) may have to.... more
(22 March 2007 00:00)

Four compete for £18m Derby school rebuild
Norwest Holst, Bluestone, Galliford Try and Miller are bidding to rebuild the fire-ravaged Sinfin Community School in Derby under an £18m deal for.... more
(22 March 2007 00:00)

Candidates emerge for Chair of Olympic Delivery Authority
Network Rail and Commission for Architecture of the Built Environment chairmans are contenders to replace Sir Roy McNulty, acting chairman of the.... more
(22 March 2007 00:00)

Fire prevention in timber developments: the inside line
Contract Journal asks Huw Evans, business development engineer at Rockwool, how specifying timber cavity barriers can help prevent fire in timber.... more
(22 March 2007 00:00)

Aquisitions drive merchants' growth
The market share of the UK’s top five builders’ merchants now stands at over 80%, with acquisitive growth driving their monopoly. more
(22 March 2007 00:00)

New private van use laws imminent
New tax laws come into effect on 6 April that will significantly increase the amount deducted from the wage packets of employees using company vans.... more
(22 March 2007 00:00)

Budget 2007: suppliers disappointed with Brown
The Construction Products Association is "fundamentally disappointed" with the Budget as "despite all the expectations that the Chancellor would.... more
(21 March 2007 17:00)

HBF hails construction's progress against Barker's targets
The construction industry has "successfully addressed" the challenges laid down in the Barker Review of Housing Supply three years ago - that's the.... more
(21 March 2007 17:00)

Budget 2007: housebuilders welcome Brown's green drive
The National House-Building Council (NHBC) has welcomed the Chancellor's measures to promote reductions in carbon emissions from the UK's housing.... more
(21 March 2007 16:30)

Budget 2007: quarry producers attack Aggregates Tax hike
The increase in the Aggregates Levy to £1.95 per tonne from April 2008, announced in today's budget, amounts to an increased tax burden of between.... more
(21 March 2007 16:00)

Budget 2007: the construction industry reaction
Construction union UCATT has welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement that the Treasury will enact legislation to end the tax loopholes associated with.... more
(21 March 2007 13:30)

Budget 2007: green taxes push construction costs higher
Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown's drive to 'green' Britain will see construction hit by higher taxes. more
(21 March 2007 13:30)

Housing associations' turnover swells
Turnover for the housing association sector has grown 8.6% to a total of £9.1bn since last year, underlining the continuing importance of the sector.... more
(21 March 2007 12:28)

NHBC backs virtual reality training
The National House-Building Council (NHBC) has given its blessing to the UK's first ever virtual reality simulation centre, which is set to be built.... more
(21 March 2007 12:08)

News roundup: 21 March
Grand Canyon Skywalk As prestige projects go, they don't get much more impressive than the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the completion of which was.... more
(21 March 2007 11:20)

Jon Rouse announces Housing Corporation departure
The competition for the post of chief executive of Communities England has been thrown wide open after Jon Rouse announced that he will leave his.... more
(21 March 2007 10:40)

Henry Boot makes record £41m pre-tax profit
Henry Boot’s closer focus on fewer activities has again paid off in spades. The group’s latest pre-tax profit ran to £41m from a turnover of £140m. more
(21 March 2007 10:00)

Confusion reigns over particulate filter fitting
Construction Plant-hire Association boss says fitting programme has ground to a halt more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Are you covered when specifying roofing products?
Lindsay Pullen of BCIS runs through the dos and don'ts for roofing contractors when specifying products more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Asphalt system used by Bell on war memorial
In a new monthly focus on product specification, James Stagg reports on the asphalt system used by Bell on a war memorial in northern France. more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Plant and tool hire set for 19% increase
The latest survey into the UK plant and tool hire market has predicted the sector will increase by 19% in real terms between 2006 and 2011. more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Launches see JCB putting innovation high on agenda
Re-engineered 444 engine and 4t Midi CX backhoe head up the new additions. more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

SMEs told to up the ante on green waste reduction
Companies of all sizes must embrace green policies if initiative is to be effective. more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Are 'trophy' projects risky business?
As the Olympic Delivery Authority looks for contractors to build the London 2012 venues, Tom Bill asks what risks companies run when working on.... more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Costain back in the red with £62m loss
Costain has dived into the red again, announcing a loss in 2006 running to £62m. more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

More doom for Amec following £109m loss
Amec’s woes go on and on as the latest set of results show another pre-tax loss, this time of £109m. more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Running Britain's biggest grader fleet: the inside line
Contract Journal talks to Geoff Hodgson, fleet engineer with the Foresty Commissions, about the UK's largest grader fleet, which includes the UK's.... more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

London's Great Ormond Street Hospital invites tenders for £75m new clinical building
Great Ormond Street Hospital is inviting firms to bid for a £70m to £75m contract to construct a new 18,000m2 clinical building at its London site. more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Northern Ireland advertises £500m to £800m framework for range of building and civil engineering projects
The Central Procurement Directorate in Northern Ireland's Department of Finance and Personnel is inviting firms to bid for a £500m to £800m building.... more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Olympic Village to house construction workers
CJ uncovers the plan to house workers on Olympic Village site to help Lend Lease fund the £2bn project. more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Applying for time extensions under NEC 3 (Legal Q&A)
Legal Q&A on applying for time extensions under NEC 3 contract framework by David Weare, partner and head of construction at law firm Davies Arnold.... more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Bob Holt, Mears: Taking care of business (Profile)
Mears chairman and chief executive Bob Holt tells Neil Gerrard about the company's bold plans for expansion into the community and care sector. more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Tax loophole costs £2.5bn per year
Bogus self-employment is costing the Treasury £2.5bn a year, according to UCATT figures. more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

ODA dismisses union plan for self-employed
Talks between the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and trade unions over the use of direct labour have reached a further impasse, two weeks after ODA.... more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Portsmouth tower hit by lift door problems
Portsmouth Spinnaker Tower lift to get further modifications after doors malfunction. more
(21 March 2007 00:00)

Shetland restarts £48m school deal
Shetland Council is retendering its £48m Anderson High school design and build contract under the traditional restrictive dialogue procedure after.... more
(21 March 2007 00:00)