NEWSBRIEF

AiH opens website debate

Architects in Housing (AiH) has opened a website debate on the Greenwich Millennium Village by publishing the full text of HTA Architect's letter to Stuart Lipton. On the AiH website (www.aih.org.uk) it sets out its reasons for quitting the project and the developer's press releases in response.

pricewaterhouse's record breaker

Pricewaterhouse Coopers has completed a record-breaking 1 billion Euro roads financing deal. It will fund the Northern Concession, a 170km toll road north-east of Porto, in Portugal, on behalf of AENOR which has been awarded a 30-year concession to design, build, finance and operate the road by the Junta Autonoma Estradas (JAE) - the National Highways Board.

CIc joins with ucl for research associate

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has again joined forces with the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London, to announce and invite applications for the second Associate CIC Research Associateship. The successful candidate will be based at CIC for two years while simultaneously studying for an MSc construction and management degree on a part-time basis. A salary of £13,500 per annum plus all tuition fees is offered. Enquiries should be directed to Graham Ive at UCL on 0171 391 1738.

bicc annouces alan jones to retire

BICC has announced that Alan Jones, who will shortly be 60, will be retiring as chief executive at the end of August. He will be succeeded by Mike Welton who has been chief executive of Balfour Beatty since 1996.

clugston expands to facilities

Clugston, the £120 million turnover construction and industrial services group is expanding into facilities management. A new division has been set up to provide management and maintenance services for buildings and structures to large industrial and commercial organisations in what is estimated to be a £20bn market.

cost of quarrying

The Quarry Products Association has said the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) research on the environmental costs of quarrying confirms its views that a proposed package of voluntary and regulatory initiatives will be far more effective in reducing environmental impact than an aggregates tax. It pointed out that in the report only 11.6 per cent of those questioned in the most significant local survey element of the research contributed to the total valuation of external cost calculated by London Economics.

Alfred McAlpine appointments

Alfred McAlpine Construction has appointed Andrew Nash as business development manager and Barry Seeley and Peter Walton are now directors at Barwick Construction.

thomas vale performance figures

Midlands-based construction group Thomas Vale has provided a strong performance for the year ended December 1998. Turnover soared to £42.2million from £37.1m while pre-tax profits rose to £806,000 from £790,000 during that period.

scheme cards available

Construction Skills Certification Scheme cards are now available for skilled and experienced fa‡ade maintenance repairers. Operatives can apply for a card through the system of industry accreditation until May 2001.