Four proposals for eco-towns, designed to tackle climate change and meet housing needs, have been given the nod by the Government. There are plans for 10 environmentally-friendly settlements to be built by 2020, but the scheme has been plagued by controversy and opposition from local communities. The four projects to get the green light: were [...]

Solihull-based developer Earlplace is to begin work on a major land-swap construction project with Bristol City Council that combines public and commercial properties under the same roof. The site off Kellaway Avenue in Horfield will include a private-sector care home for old people at the front and a new Concord Lodge for the council at [...]

The Government should forget plans for controversial eco-towns and instead concentrate on the green issues of the UK’s 26 million existing homes, said Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud. The 51-year-old television presenter argued it would be quicker and easier to work on the existing house stock. He said: “It is a lot less energy and [...]

Up to 500 new jobs could be created after plans for a £15 million business and distribution park in Rochdale were approved by the council. Rochdale Council’s Regulatory Committee approved the plans from Peel Holdings for the 32,276 sq m park at Hareshill in Heywood that is hoped to rejuvenate the retail sector in the [...]

Construction company Kier Group has said it finished its financial year on June 30 with a net cash balance of £90 million despite the challenging housing and property market conditions. It said its annual underlying pre-tax profits were in line with expectations and ahead of the £82 million balance recorded on December 31. Kier said [...]

A bridge-building firm is expected to plead guilty to making improper payments in connection with contracts obtained in Ghana and Jamaica. It is alleged Reading-based Mabey & Johnson made the payments between 1994 and 2001 breaching United Nations sanctions. Mabey is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court where it is also expected to plead [...]

The 2010 construction deadline for Salford City Reds’ new 20,000-seater stadium is looking increasingly unrealistic, club chairman John Wilkinson has announced. The project has run into numerous difficulties since plans were first unveiled four years ago, the latest coming from the Reds’ primary partner in the project, Salford City College. The college has failed to [...]

The largest building firm in the UK hopes its market position will help it progress this year despite the recession. Balfour – which recently celebrated its centenary and joined the FTSE – hopes its broad geographical and business spread will protect it from the worst of the economic downturn. The company also benefited when a [...]

The ailing fortunes of the UK construction industry took another turn for the worse after industry figures showed a record slump in output during 2009. Research carried out by the Construction Products Association (CPA) found that only 72,000 houses will be built this year, illustrating a 20% drop from last year and the lowest figure [...]

New regulations have been put forward that will make it illegal to deny trade union members employment if they have appeared on a secret blacklist. A consultation has been launched by the Department for Business into the proposals, which would make it unlawful for organisations to refuse employment or sack individuals as a result of [...]