News in brief: 27 September 2006 p 4

Hunter & Partners has secured a £6m scheme to design new learning facilities for the Bettridge Special Education Needs school in Cheltenham. The project will be part new build and part refurbishment.

Constructing Excellence has launched four new best practice clubs in Plymouth, Swindon, Cornwall and the Thames Gateway.

Osborne has been appointed main contractor for a £6m office development at Solent Business Park, Hampshire, by property developers The Premier Property Group Southern.

S&P has submitted a planning application to Bristol City Council for an 18,500-seater stadium for Bristol Rovers Football Club. If successful, work will start in late 2007.

CITB-ConstructionSkills has carried out its one millionth successful health and safety test. Darren Hoft, a carpenter from London, took the landmark test using the group’s SkillsDirect service.

ISG Totty starts work next month on a £5.3m deal to build a four-storey, 120-bed Holiday Inn at the Tempus Ten in Walsall, West Midlands, for client Bodfari. Completion is due in 44 weeks.

McNicholas has won two, long-term frameworks, worth about £8m a year, to provide gas connection services for Fulcrum Connections, part of National Grid.

Yorkon has launched an online guide to off-site construction, www.yorkon.co.uk. The site demonstrates how off-site construction can provide quality building solutions.

Geoff Lister has been appointed national president of the Federation of Master Builders. He will take the post for two years.

ConstructionSkills’ National Specialist Accredited Centre has announced £1.5m in funding from the Learning and Skills Council to support training for 1,100 recruits in specialist sectors.

[Contract Journal, 27 September 2006, p 4]