The Construction Leadership Council has welcomed confirmation that the government has delayed planned changes to product marking rules The government has extended the start date for the new post-Brexit certification rules for construction products by 12 months. As part of Brexit, changes were due to come into force on 1 January 2022 that would require products that had previously had CE markings to shift across to the new UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark. However, the indus

The grave shortage of lorry drivers is forcing suppliers to tell builders merchants to come and collect their own supplies from works. Haulage and the lack of availability of drivers is now a serious concern with regional distribution being hit. Firms are now finding challenges arranging deliveries to Scotland and the South West of England. A report from a joint working group between suppliers and distributors warned because the problem was not limited to construction, and wi

Long-awaited plans to revamp Preston city centre with a £40m cinema and leisure complex will finally move to construction after councillors agreed a funding package for the project. The new development, called ‘Animate’, will be located on the site of the former indoor market and will feature an eight-screen cinema and bowling alley along with five new restaurants and bars, a street-food hub, a car park, and new public square. The scheme is being developed in partnership with

Construction of the high-rise development was completed in early 2016. But a structural assessment this June indicated that “the stone panels affixed to the façades will need to be modified, reinforced or replaced to meet performance requirements.” Balfour said: “The expert’s assessment of the rectification methodology, which will determine the cost of the group’s obligation, is ongoing together with the group’s evaluation of any losses that could be incurred and any potentia

Scape has started the renewal race for places on its East Midlands and the East of England framework for projects worth up to £7.5m. The next-generation framework, worth £750m over four years, introduces a parallel lotting structure to give clients the option to engage early with two contractors before awarding a project. Scape’s existing regional construction framework has successfully delivered 362 projects and is due to expire in Summer 2022. Current framework incumbents

The 122-year-old firm, which collapsed on Friday, as first reported by CN, had suffered falling margins on current jobs and viewed future work as unviable. A statement from joint administrator Leonard Curtis Business Rescue & Recovery said: "Current volatility in availability and prices of construction materials made the completion of existing contracts on site and any new contracts in the near future unprofitable and therefore unviable." Material costs have risen by more tha

EQUANS will build 268 homes on the site as part of a wider partnership that includes QWEST, Cheshire West and Chester Council and the Riverside Group. The consortium has secured Homes England Accelerated Construction Funding to deliver the project. EQUANS has also worked alongside environmental assessors to progress an energy strategy that exceeds Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning policy and will support its wider net zero carbon ambitions. This includes the use o

Blackstone and Hudson Pacific Properties plan to create a major new centre for film, TV and digital production in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire The proposed development, Sunset Studios, which is subject to planning permission, would transform the site into one of the largest film and television studio campuses. Funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners and Hudson Pacific Properties acquired a 91-acre site, 17 miles north of central London, through a joint venture for £120m

Campaigners have won a court battle to block the £1.7bn construction of a road tunnel near Stonehenge. Mr Justice Holgate has ruled that a decision to allow a dual carriage way road and tunnel to be built within the ancient World Heritage Site was unlawful. The judgment effectively quashes development consent for the A303 improvement project which was granted by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. Shapps will now have to decide whether to appeal against the judge’s ruling that