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NEWSBRIEF
00:00 07 Jun 2000
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CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT GROWS
The total volume of construction output grew by 3% in the first quarter of 2000 compared with the previous quarter, according to the latest figures from the Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions. The increase reflected the growth in both new work and repair and maintenance, in particular growth in public and private sector new housing together with public housing repair and maintenance.
BALFOUR TIPPED FOR GATESHEAD HILTON
Balfour Beatty is being tipped as favourite to build the £20m Hilton Hotel in Gateshead. Shepherd and Balfour were the two firms left in contention for the scheme, which is being developed by Collingwood Properties. But it is understood that Shepherd received a 'Dear John' letter last week leaving Balfour Beatty to continue final negotiations.
CARILLION IN COURT
As tipped by CJ (10 May) page 2, Carillion and its consortium partners have been selected as preferred bidders in a private finance initiative deal that involves the provision and servicing of a new £30m magistrates court facility in Crown Square, Manchester. The new building will have 18 courtrooms, a coroner's court and support facilities for 180 staff. The consortium, which also comprises security specialist Group 4 and investment bank Societe Generale, predicts financial close will be reached later in the year.
DEVELOPER FOR NEWCASTLE CITYGATE SCHEME
Hanro has been selected as preferred developer to create the £20m Citygate commercial, leisure and residential project in the heart of Newcastle. Some 13,064m2 of office space, shops, bars and restaurants are planned together with luxury flats in a seven to two-storey scheme designed by architect Ryder and consulting engineer WSP.
LAND RECLAMATION WIN FOR H&G
Harbour & General has won a £10m-plus contract to reclaim the contaminated Middlehaven Dock at Middlesbrough. The contract is the first phase of a flagship project for One NorthEast, English Partnerships and Teesside council and is the forerunner of a joint £220m private/public sector investment on the 28ha site. Supervising engineer is White Young Green.
SPEEDY MBO FROM ALLEN
Bolton-based construction group Allen has sold Speedy Scaffolding to its management team for £2.1m. Last year, Speedy made a pre-tax profit of £293,000 on a turnover of £3.2m. Allen's board felt Speedy "was not a core activity within the expanding hire services division".
IBC SAYS YES TO SURVEYORS
Members of the Institute of Building Control have voted overwhelmingly in favour of merging with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Some 72% of IBC's 3000 members voted with 91% of respondents saying 'yes'. The vote gives IBC a mandate to continue discussions with RICS on exact details of the merger.
HOUSING FIGURES DISAPPOINT
Applications to build new homes fell by 6% in April compared with the same period last year. Figures from the National House-Building Council show that 11,670 applications were made in April by the private and housing association sectors. Starts were also down with the private sector recording 10,230 starts - a drop of 7% on April 1999. The NHBC said: "Strong growth in housing demand continues to produce only a modest response from the house building industry, possibly due to planning delay."
The total volume of construction output grew by 3% in the first quarter of 2000 compared with the previous quarter, according to the latest figures from the Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions. The increase reflected the growth in both new work and repair and maintenance, in particular growth in public and private sector new housing together with public housing repair and maintenance.
BALFOUR TIPPED FOR GATESHEAD HILTON
Balfour Beatty is being tipped as favourite to build the £20m Hilton Hotel in Gateshead. Shepherd and Balfour were the two firms left in contention for the scheme, which is being developed by Collingwood Properties. But it is understood that Shepherd received a 'Dear John' letter last week leaving Balfour Beatty to continue final negotiations.
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CARILLION IN COURT
As tipped by CJ (10 May) page 2, Carillion and its consortium partners have been selected as preferred bidders in a private finance initiative deal that involves the provision and servicing of a new £30m magistrates court facility in Crown Square, Manchester. The new building will have 18 courtrooms, a coroner's court and support facilities for 180 staff. The consortium, which also comprises security specialist Group 4 and investment bank Societe Generale, predicts financial close will be reached later in the year.
DEVELOPER FOR NEWCASTLE CITYGATE SCHEME
Hanro has been selected as preferred developer to create the £20m Citygate commercial, leisure and residential project in the heart of Newcastle. Some 13,064m2 of office space, shops, bars and restaurants are planned together with luxury flats in a seven to two-storey scheme designed by architect Ryder and consulting engineer WSP.
LAND RECLAMATION WIN FOR H&G
Harbour & General has won a £10m-plus contract to reclaim the contaminated Middlehaven Dock at Middlesbrough. The contract is the first phase of a flagship project for One NorthEast, English Partnerships and Teesside council and is the forerunner of a joint £220m private/public sector investment on the 28ha site. Supervising engineer is White Young Green.
SPEEDY MBO FROM ALLEN
Bolton-based construction group Allen has sold Speedy Scaffolding to its management team for £2.1m. Last year, Speedy made a pre-tax profit of £293,000 on a turnover of £3.2m. Allen's board felt Speedy "was not a core activity within the expanding hire services division".
IBC SAYS YES TO SURVEYORS
Members of the Institute of Building Control have voted overwhelmingly in favour of merging with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Some 72% of IBC's 3000 members voted with 91% of respondents saying 'yes'. The vote gives IBC a mandate to continue discussions with RICS on exact details of the merger.
HOUSING FIGURES DISAPPOINT
Applications to build new homes fell by 6% in April compared with the same period last year. Figures from the National House-Building Council show that 11,670 applications were made in April by the private and housing association sectors. Starts were also down with the private sector recording 10,230 starts - a drop of 7% on April 1999. The NHBC said: "Strong growth in housing demand continues to produce only a modest response from the house building industry, possibly due to planning delay."
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