Although local authorities have spent millions as part of the Government’s flagship scheme for school buildings, only 15 schools have been opened in the last five years.
Figures obtained by the Conservative Party through the Freedom of Information Act reveal that local councils across England have spent £170 million in consultation fees relating to the bidding [...]

Tenders for construction projects of up to £80 million worth will be sought by Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, it has been announced.
The four-year framework, which has been expected to start from April 2010, will cover individual projects in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and surrounding counties.
Up to six economic operators could be invited to [...]

Carillion has sealed a £500 million contract to build nearly 14 new schools and remodel 30 more in Durham under the Building Future Schools programme.
The construction giant will work on 44 secondary and special schools across the county, leading the Inspired Spaces consortium.
The Durham project is part of the UK government’s £55 billion BSF programme.
David [...]

Healthcare managers responsible for green energy have been invited to attend a sustainable energy conference in Liverpool in October.
The inaugural Green Power Forum (GPF) will take place at the city’s new BT Convention Centre on October 15.
GPF chairman Mark McManus explained that the event aimed to spread the latest knowledge, learning and expertise in renewable, [...]

The Environment Agency’s news office in Deanery Road, Bristol, has been named by both the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and Breeam 2006 as the most eco-friendly office in the country.
The development earned the highest BRE score for its environmental credentials and also achieved a score of 85.06% under Breeam 2006 - the most widely used [...]

Construction firm Laing O’Rourke has secured a £100 million contract to redevelop the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.
The North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust chose the builder from among seven bidders for the project, which it says will boost the local economy and help regenerate West Cumbria.
The new facility will include an emergency care centre, [...]

The University of Ulster is building a £7.6 million sports centre in Coleraine with indoor training facilities for soccer, Gaelic games and rugby.
Slated for completion in 2011, the state-of-the-art centre will be the university’s single largest investment on the campus for student support.
Vice-chancellor Professor Richard Barnett said: “Our aim is to create world-class sports facilities [...]

A planning application for a new waste facility in Cheshire has been submitted to a number of North West councils.
Developers Viridor entered the application to Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East councils, after they requested alternative, sustainable waste treatment for the next 25 years.
The facility, planned for brownfield land in Lobstock Gralam, will handle [...]

Councillors in Sunderland will discuss the construction of a new bridge to aid transport connections in Sunderland this week.
Decisions about moves for the Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor (SSTC) project will be made, including filing a planning application for a landmark bridge 180 metres (594ft) above the River Wear.
During the meeting on Wednesday, city council cabinet [...]