Pent-up demand powers sharpest rise in activity since lockdown

The latest construction Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) showed the sharpest rise in new business since lockdown, with purchasing activity in September climbing at the fastest pace since October 2015. Forward-looking sentiment also rose to its most optimistic level for the past seven months. However, the…

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NHS seeks offsite build for £500m ‘hospital of the future’

Two new hospital buildings in Leeds costing £500m should be delivered using offsite construction, according to early procurement plans. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has specified the delivery solution as it begins putting together the design team for the job. It said: “The trust shall…

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Grenfell cost consultant told client to stick with original contractor

Grenfell cost consultant Artelia advised the client of the refurbishment project to stick with its original contractor, before being persuaded to change its official advice and advocate for re-procurement to save costs. Artelia, known at the time of the project as Appleyards, drew up a…

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Where will the UK find bricklayers to ‘build, build, build’?

Last week saw the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), the body that advises the government on migration issues, recommend that employers should still be allowed to recruit bricklayers from abroad after 1 January, when the new points-based visa system comes into force. If adopted, this would…

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WATCH: Interserve, ISG and Vinci to address the COVID-19 productivity gap

Experts from Interserve, ISG, Vinci and technology giant Oracle will discuss how construction can close the COVID-19 productivity gap at a free Construction News webinar, which will be broadcast on Thursday 22 October. Most building sites are now fully operational after the pandemic-enforced shutdowns that…

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Failed contractor left project at risk of ‘collapsing walls and landslide’

A Welsh contractor has been drafted in to carry out urgent remedial works due to a “major health and safety risk” on a project that stalled because of the collapse of North West-based firm Cruden Group. Around 100 people lost their jobs when Cruden went…

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Heathrow heads to Supreme Court for third runway appeal

Lawyers for Heathrow Airport have begun their arguments in the Supreme Court as they attempt to rescue plans to build a third runway. In February this year, the Court of Appeal ruled the plans, approved by government, to build a third runway were unlawful. It…

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