In Focus: Latest UK Construction Industry News, November 2006

£1.6 billion Academies Framework goes to Six

Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Skanska and Wilmott Dixon have been chosen from a long list of contractors to work on the massive Partnerships for Schools scheme. The framework is expected to see the construction of 50 sponsored academy schools, around 57 new secondary schools and an as yet unconfirmed number of primary schools. The contract will last 4 years and will be divided into the following four regions; the South East & London, the Midlands & East Anglia, the South West, and the North and Humber.

HBG win £60m Glasgow museum project

HBG’s winning bid has just been confirmed for the first stage of constructing Glasgow’s new transport museum. The building’s unusual shape (designed by Zaha Hadid) deterred several contractors, including Balfour Beatty, Bovis Lend Lease and Sir Robert McAlpine, each stating reasons ranging from workload issues to concerns over costs. Construction works are due to begin early in 2007, and finish in September 2008.

Bouygues top of the class for Waltham Forest schools contract

Bouygues have reportedly been chosen as the preferred bidder for the £190 scheme, which is part of the UK’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative. The project will involve the redevelopment of seven schools over a period of several years. The first works are expected to begin in mid 2007 and involve a combination of new build and refurbishment works. This particular contract only involves school in Walthamstow, one part of the borough, but Waltham Forest Council is planning two further projects to redevelop the remainder of the borough’s schools. No confirmation has yet been issued on a timescale for these future projects.

Willmott Dixon win £15 million college contract

Works are due to begin by the end of this year on a major redevelopment for Herefordshire College of Technology. The scheme, dubbed Hereford Learning Village, involves the demolition then new build of the college’s Folly Lane facility, including classrooms, workshops and learning, resource & business centres.

Costain washes away opposition on £18m Cambridgeshire water project

A new water pumping station is due to be constructed in St Germans in Cambridgeshire, valuing around £18 million. The pumping station will serve a network exceeding 193km in size, and is due to be completed by Costain by the end of 2009.

Aberdeen office contract goes to Stuart Milne

Two schemes worth an estimated £45 million have been awarded to Stuart Milne Construction in Aberdeen. The first is a £23m project to build a nine storey office block in the city centre, works on the building are due for completion within 18 months. The second scheme is for a four building complex for an oil company in the Westhill area of Aberdeen. When completed, the buildings will include workshops and leisure facilities.

Wates makes the grade for £23m Liverpool university project

Wates look set to win a contract for an extension on John Moores University in Liverpool. The project, set to begin early next year, will add to the University’s current art and design department at a total estimated cost of £23 million. Completion of the project is currently expected for an unconfirmed date in 2008.

Mansell to carry out campus redevelopment in Leicester

A £16 million contract to develop a further education campus in Leicester has just been awarded to Mansell. The project is a part of a larger £44m scheme to redevelop three campuses in the area as part of a large initiative to bring further education facilities up to 21st century standards. Mansell are due to begin works on site shortly before Christmas.

Morgan Sindall wins £33m London fit out contract

Overbury, the fit out division of Morgan Sindall, have secured a contract to fit out two buildings in central London. The scheme involves the fit out of 11 floors in one building and 6 in another. Both buildings will serve as high-spec offices for the business advisory firm Deloitte upon completion late next year.

Scotland shopping centre deal in the bag for Miller Construction

Miller Construction has won the £92 million deal to extend the Almondvale shopping centre in Livingston town centre. The extension will include a multitude of new retail outlets when it opens in 2008. Works on the project are scheduled to begin early next year.