Articles by Date : November 25 2002 - December 01 2002

Ringrose named as new Interserve chief executive
Interserve has announced today (Thursday) that its next chief executive will be Adrian Ringrose. He takes over the reins on 1 January. more
(28 November 2002 11:45)

Valued projects are vital for construction's economy
Construction could double its 7% GDP figure in the national economy if it took into account the value of its projects, according to the Collaborating.... more
(28 November 2002 11:17)

Products premiums leap by 100%
A Construction Products Association (CPA) survey has revealed that premiums have risen by more than 100% in the construction products sector. more
(28 November 2002 11:10)

Balfour Beatty forms new operating company
Balfour Beatty has today (Thursday) announced that it is to integrate its two gas and water utility services businesses, John Kennedy and Kentons, to.... more
(28 November 2002 10:06)

Kier buys Partnerships First from Belan
Kier has bought Partnerships First, the social housing developer, from its parent Belan. more
(27 November 2002 17:15)

Chancellor confirms employer's liability insurance review
Chancellor Gordon Brown confirmed in his Pre-Budget report that the Department for Work and Pensions will review employer's liability insurance. more
(27 November 2002 16:10)

CEA challenges theft blame
Contractors and insurers must bear as much of the blame for the continuing problem of plant theft as manufacturers, said the Construction Equipment.... more
(27 November 2002 15:05)

Levy jeopardises UK jobs
If the Aggregates Levy rises next year it will start a trend to relocate production and British jobs to the other side of the Channel, the British.... more
(27 November 2002 15:04)

PFI schools milestone
Privately financed education projects in east London and Northern Ireland reached key milestones last week. more
(27 November 2002 15:03)

Amey IT: £15m in sight
Amey is reported to be set to raise £15m from the sale of its Shared Services Centre near Portsmouth. more
(27 November 2002 15:01)

Wates' road to safer working
Wates' health and safety roadshows are already paying dividends with feedback from staff providing more health and safety improvements, the company.... more
(27 November 2002 15:00)

New safety alert over foreign labour 'influx'
Tony Tynan, chairman of the National Demolition Training Group, has sounded a fresh warning on the safety implications of the "vast influx" of.... more
(27 November 2002 14:58)

Newcastle to shortlist 30 for £500m framework deals
Nearly half of the 160 contractors that showed an interest in Newcastle City Council’s £500m partnering framework deals have now submitted proposals. more
(27 November 2002 14:56)

Holyrood to come in late and £30m over revised budget
Scotland’s Holyrood building will come in at least four months late and will cost close to £350m, nearly double its original budget, the Scottish.... more
(27 November 2002 14:55)

Carillion cuts 50% from supplier base
Swingeing cuts to Carillion’s supply chain will see its civils and construction supplier base slashed by 50% over the next two years. more
(27 November 2002 14:54)

MCG challenged on CSCS contractor bar
A proposal to bar contractors without the relevant training qualifications from sites of members of the Major Contractors’ Group (MCG) from the end.... more
(27 November 2002 14:52)

Revenue indifferent over reforming CIS
The Inland Revenue (IR) has been blasted for taking a "passive role" and showing a "lack of interest" at the first round-table meeting on employment.... more
(27 November 2002 14:51)

Ballast wins £13m housing PFI in Blackburn
A Ballast-led consortium has been appointed preferred bidder by the Blackburn, Hyndburn & Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust to develop a residential.... more
(27 November 2002 12:01)

£40m housing up for grabs
A £40m housing deal in east London will come up for grabs within the next two months. more
(27 November 2002 09:58)

Access Project faces fine after workman falls 20m
Luton-based Access Project has been committed to the Old Bailey for sentencing following a court hearing into an accident in 1999 in which a workman.... more
(27 November 2002 09:56)

Ballast to push software training
Ballast has launched a push to make its 350 software users more technically competent. more
(27 November 2002 09:55)

BCSA gets tough on main contractors
The British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) is considering naming and shaming main contractors that have failed to adopt its Safe Site.... more
(27 November 2002 09:54)

Birse lines up four clubs for 'off the shelf' stadium package
Birse has entered discussions with four football clubs with a view to selling them its "off the shelf" stadium package, Nextadia. more
(27 November 2002 09:53)

CCC to be disbanded
The Confederation of Construction Clients (CCC) was expected to be wound up after a meeting on Monday evening (25 November) between its chief.... more
(27 November 2002 09:52)

CJ.com stays free as rivals demand cash
Contract Journal's website www.contractjournal.com has re-affirmed its commitment to provide free access to continuously updated news stories,.... more
(27 November 2002 09:51)

EC urged to open EU trade borders
The European Commission has been asked to negotiate away national restrictions limiting the ability of non-European Union construction companies to.... more
(27 November 2002 09:50)

Estimator software debut
A computer programme called Estimator has been designed to help quantify construction materials and avoid over spend. more
(27 November 2002 09:48)

Four bid for £70m Hove sports centre
Four groups are trawling for a £70m deal to revamp the ageing King Alfred sports complex on Hove seafront in East Sussex. more
(27 November 2002 09:47)

Frameworks 'beneficial'
Small and medium firms (SMEs) in the construction industry should view framework agreements as an opportunity rather than the beginning of the end. more
(27 November 2002 09:46)

GDS gets its designs on gas industry
A design service called Gas Design Consultancy has been launched to serve the gas industry. Based in Coleshill, it will operate throughout the UK. more
(27 November 2002 09:45)

Heery International wins £100m blood centre jobs
Heery International is to project manage the redevelopment and expansion of five blood centres, valued at up to £100m in total. more
(27 November 2002 09:44)

High-Point Rendel posts pre-tax loss of £2.5m
High-Point Rendel, the consultancy group, has made a pre-tax loss of £2.5m and says that certain fee entitlements have put the company under strain. more
(27 November 2002 09:43)

In brief
A team of 33 Health & Safety Executive inspectors will blitz construction sites in Yorkshire between 28 November and 6 December. The inspectors will.... more
(27 November 2002 09:42)

In brief
Terex Compact Equipment has appointed its first full line dealer since the division was announced at SED this year. Carig Equipment UK, in.... more
(27 November 2002 09:42)

In brief
The Construction Best Practice Programme is offering a new service to help contractors set up Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). KPI Business.... more
(27 November 2002 09:41)

In brief
Brent Council is near to completing its outline business case for using PFI for new build and maintenance social housing contracts. The council will.... more
(27 November 2002 09:40)

KPL taken over by consultant
Consultant Scott Wilson has acquired the UK practice of Knight Pi'sold Limited (KPL). There will be no redundancies. more
(27 November 2002 09:39)

Metro shortlist down to two
Two groups look set to jump on board for a £500m-plus deal to design, build and operate three extensions to the Manchester Metrolink. more
(27 November 2002 09:38)

Myers: Industry still hasn't improved safety standards
The Health & Safety Executive's (HSE) chief inspector of construction believes the industry has failed to change its safety culture on site. more
(27 November 2002 09:38)

Newcastle to transfer to ALMO
Newcastle City Council plans to transfer its housing stock to an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO). more
(27 November 2002 09:37)

Partial possession
In August this year (CJ 29 August), I reported the case of Impresa Castelli -v- Cola Holdings in which the parties were in dispute regarding the.... more
(27 November 2002 09:36)

Pilot audit of English language needs
A pilot project is to be carried out to audit the number of foreign construction workers currently on London sites who have an inadequate grasp of.... more
(27 November 2002 09:34)

Product guide
CIRIA has launched a website to encourage construction companies to be more sustainable. The Internet Register of Construction Recycling Facilities.... more
(27 November 2002 09:33)

Takeuchi exceeds 2002 sales targets
Two months before the end of the year, Takeuchi has passed its annual sales target and has opened its Southern depot at Thatcham in Berkshire. more
(27 November 2002 09:32)

Three-in-one unit from BL-Pegson
BL-Pegson's new 4242SR is based on the Trackpactor horizontal impact crusher and is said to combine crushing, screening and stockpiling in one.... more
(27 November 2002 09:31)

UCATT asked to investigate Midlands official
George Guy, North West regional secretary of UCATT, has been asked to investigate and prepare a report on the actions of Midlands official John.... more
(27 November 2002 09:29)

Vauxhall Vivaro adds high-roof panel van
A high-roof variant of the Vauxhall Vivaro is due to go on sale next spring. more
(27 November 2002 09:28)

Monteray loses out as BT reviews supply costs
Monteray is to lose eight variable works contracts that it currently manages for BT in tandem with Project Jaguar. more
(27 November 2002 09:17)

Roads work - Cambridge City Council
Cambridge City Council Invites contractors to tender for contracts more
(26 November 2002 16:18)

Highways maintenance - Derby City Council
Derby City Council, as the Highway Authority, is responsible for the maintenance of nearly 638km of highways. more
(26 November 2002 16:16)