NEWSBRIEF

CPA URGES BROWN TO INVEST

The Construction Products Association has written to Chancellor Gordon Brown urging him to invest in the country's infrastructure in the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review. CPA president Roy Harrison wrote: "Our roads are in their worst state since the National Road Condition Survey began in 1977. Traffic levels and road congestion is increasing and there is a £10bn backlog of disrepair in the local authority housing sector alone."

NMC MAKES £500,000 IN FIRST QUARTER

North Midland Construction (NMC) is pleased with its performance in the first quarter of the new financial year, logging a trading profit of over £500,000. NMC remains a preferred contractor to Severn Trent Water for both sewage treatment and sewerage projects. NMC's duct and cabling laying division has won £7m-worth of new contracts from Torch Telecom, Cable & Wireless, ntl, Marconi and Kingston Communications.

MOTT BUYS US CONSULTANT

Mott MacDonald has expanded in the US with the acquisition of BAC Killam's transportation business - its 70 employees specialise in the design, construction, inspection and rehabilitation of highways, railways, bridges and airports. Recent projects include improvements to New Jersey's largest curved girder bridge and a new £14m vertical lift bridge over the Hudson River.

PETERHOUSE SEES 2000 AS "A GOOD YEAR"

Peterhouse Group chairman David Jackson said last week that current trading in 2000 is in line with expectations. He anticipated that 2000 would be "a good year". Totty Construction has entered a £7m contract to build a private hospital underwritten by the Northern Rock Building Society. The money will be paid on completion in June 2001.

NEW MEN AT ACE

Chris Irwin-Childs has been appointed full-time business director at the Association of Consulting Engineers. Previously he was appointed ACE's technical director designate to cover for the retirement of Brian Woodford. Irwin-Childs will take over the duties of ACE's business affairs director Mindy Wilson who left last month. Craig Beaumont also joins ACE as an assistant director.

TURNER & TOWNSEND RESHUFFLE

Turner & Townsend chairman Tim Wray has completed the reshuffle of his senior management team with the appointment of Jeremy Lathom-Sharp into the newly created position of finance director. T&T has 650 staff and a £33m-a-year turnover.

PICKETT LANDS MD'S JOB AT HASWELL

David Pickett is the new managing director of Haswell Consulting Engineers. He succeeds Malcolm Nunn who is retiring this month. He previously worked for contractors Wimpey, A Monk, and Tilbury Douglas where, for the latter, he was regional manager and later a divisional director.

PATERSON CANDY LANDS £6.5M CONTRACT

Paterson Candy has been awarded a £6.5m contract by Southern Water to upgrade and increase the output of the Hardham water supply works. Hardham is the primary source of water to a population of 230,000 in Sussex. Projected completion date for the contract is June 2001.