Category Archives: Construction News

Construction, Construction News, News

New Construction Club launched for National Tradesmen Day

A new ‘club’ for sharing information within the construction industry has been launched to mark National Tradesmen Day (Friday 16th September).

The Construction Club, created by Parm Bhangal of My Build Estimate, is a WhatsApp group consisting of 171 builders, homeowners, and property developers.

It provides a place for people to communicate and ask questions about the construction industry and building projects. Participants can compare costs, share best practice and offer networking opportunities.

The group was developed to mark National Tradesmen Day, an event created to show appreciation to tradespeople and the essential services they offer.

Parm Bhangal said: “We speak to builders, homeowners and property developers every day, but we often found that they weren’t able to communicate with each other. There simply wasn’t an easy, practical way to do that.

“It became clear there was a real need for a forum where they could informally ask questions of each other, gauge opinions and communicate in a way which moves the industry forward.

“With our contacts and knowledge of the industry, here at My Build Estimate we were in the ideal position to set up this WhatsApp group and allow participants to easily reach out to each other with questions, ideas and networking opportunities.

“And what better time to choose, than National Tradesmen Day. Tradespeople form the backbone of the construction industry and provide the tools, experience and skillset to underpin a thriving housing market.

“We’ve seen numerous people helped through the group already. A problem which could perhaps have been causing a costly and stressful headache for one person, is easily remedied with a quick piece of advice from another.”

For more information, and to find out how to join the Construction Club, visit mybuildestimate.co.uk

 

Construction, Construction News, Events, News

UK Construction Week Birmingham on track to be busiest yet

With less than three weeks until the UK’s biggest ‘must-attend’ construction event (4th-6th October 2023), the eighth edition of UK Construction Week Birmingham is set to be the busiest to date – with visitor registrations already up 15% year-on-year, a variety of new networking opportunities, and eBay announced as its latest high-profile sponsor.

As well as hundreds of exhibitors and a packed programme of talks and debates, UKCW Birmingham will host a myriad of busy and engaging networking events, hosted by the likes of Women in BIM, Find It Birmingham, Construction Excellence and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) – taking the opportunity to use the show as a platform to share ideas, present new findings, celebrate and network with the industry.

UKCW Birmingham has also announced multinational e-commerce giant, eBay as the newest sponsor of the show’s sales lounge, starting the conversation for builders and merchants to consider the platform for resale opportunities.

Nathan Garnett, UKCW Birmingham’s show director said: “One of the main reasons this October will be one of the busiest shows we’ve ever done is because the whole industry is embracing and looking forward to that valued face to face time once more. Requests to host and attend networking events before, after and during the show have been in abundance so keep your eyes peeled for updates of these and if you’re coming to the show in October try and get along to as many as possible.”

This year UKCW Birmingham is expecting around 25,000 attendees, will officially be opened by Channel 4 presenter George Clarke and features guest speaker Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands. Celebrating culture change in the construction industry with an exciting programme of debate and discussion from top speakers, the show will also shine a spotlight on over 6,000 products from more than 300 exciting exhibitors.

Register for free and if you are part of an industry group or community and you’d like to host your own networking event please get in touch.

Construction, Construction News, News

Esh Construction invests £1.5m to launch new division

15 jobs have been created by the firm’s new delivery arm, Esh Drainage Solutions

A new delivery arm which will specialise in providing complete drainage solutions to the commercial and utility sectors has been launched by Esh Construction.

The North of England firm has invested £1.5 million to create Esh Drainage Solutions which will deliver planned and reactive trenchless drainage maintenance, repairs, and cleansing services.

More than 15 new jobs have also been created, including operative, administrative, trainee and management roles, with this number set to increase in the coming months.

Operating across the North East and Tees Valley, Esh Drainage Solutions will enhance the delivery offering of Esh Construction and will use the latest and most environmentally friendly technology to offer trenchless solutions for drain repairs.

Services will include CCTV surveys, high pressure water jetting, sonar tracing, drain and sewer unblocking and cleansing, as well as UV Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining, Bluelight LED lining, localised patch repairs and robotic cutting.

David Pratt, divisional director at Esh Construction, said: “Officially launching Esh Drainage Solutions is a huge milestone for Esh and is testament to a significant amount of hard work which has gone on behind the scenes to make it possible. At a time of growing uncertainty within the economy, it is great to welcome a full new team into Esh through the creation of 15 jobs.

“Esh Drainage Solutions will bolster our offering to clients across frameworks and internally to our group divisions, giving us the capability to self-deliver trenchless drainage solutions while building on the solid foundations we have with supply chain partners to collaboratively provide a complete approach to drainage repairs and maintenance.”

Significant investment in equipment to date has grown the division’s kit and fleet to include CCTV and vactor units, Bluelight lining system, patch lining equipment and jetting units.

Pratt added: “In the coming weeks we will add bespoke designed UV Lining and lateral cutting rigs to our fleet which will be key to offering less intrusive trenchless methods and improved customer service for our clients.”

Construction, Construction News, News

Roann Limited secures Buckinghamshire-based Taylor Wimpey development project

Specialist granite and quartz worktop supplier, Roann Limited, has been selected as the exclusive supplier for the Milton Keynes development, Shenley Park.

Leading construction company, Taylor Wimpey, appointed Roann Limited to supply worktops in 30mm Cosentino Silestone Blanco Stellar. The new development will be located on the outskirts of Milton Keynes and will feature 73 new homes, that will be a mixture of three, four and five-bedroom houses.

Residents will be able to benefit from being located in a family friendly area, with both primary and secondary schools located nearby. As well as this, the location is well-serviced with community centres, green open spaces, bars and restaurants.

Speaking about the project, Scott Wharton, Sales Director at Roann Limited, says: “Securing the Shenley Park development project is an exciting opportunity for us, we are delighted to have secured this project in Milton Keynes. We have completed a number of successful projects in collaboration with Taylor Wimpey and have cemented a longstanding relationship built on our quality service and delivery.”

Nicola Phillips, from Taylor Wimpey said: “We have been involved with Roann since 2017, and I have worked with them across many of our developments. They have been involved with a mix of houses and high-rise apartment schemes. They have always been great at coming back to my quotes within a maximum of 48 hours, and are always happy to meet with the Sales Executives on-site to discuss the products and provide samples. All communication is usually via email and the whole team has always been very friendly.”

Construction News, News

RDM awarded MOD contract with VINCI Facilities

RDM Electrical & Mechanical Services has commenced a new working partnership with VINCI Facilities on a substantial Ministry of Defence (MOD) Future Defence Infrastructure (FDIS) contract with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

Over the coming years, the South Wales-based company will be working with VINCI Facilities on six MOD sites in the Oxfordshire area. The contract is part of the MOD’s new Future Defence Infrastructure Programme.

The contract will see RDM inherit an additional two sites and more than 20 existing staff members. It will also see the company employ an additional five new staff in key roles, including senior management positions.

The company has established an enviable reputation for delivering facilities management within the defence sector. It is highly regarded for its excellent service levels and considered, practical approach, as well as its ethos of utilising a local workforce wherever possible to help contribute to the local economy.

Furthermore, the company is known for its passion for embracing the principles of the circular economy. Both VINCI and RDM Electrical & Mechanical Services share a commitment to work towards a lower carbon society, focusing on sustainable and innovative methods to exceed goals and add value for all stakeholders.

VINCI Facilities is part of VINCI SA, a world leader in concessions and construction, and is the Facility Management (FM) and Building Solutions business within VINCI Construction in the UK. It has supported the defence sector for over 70 years, delivering maintenance, repair, project management, and refurbishment services to operational and support facilities.

It was named the top-ranked FM service provider in the Sustainable FM Index for 2020 and 2021. It works with its partners, customers and supply chain to deliver lasting, positive and effective change in the built environment.

Dave Kieft, Director, RDM Electrical & Mechanical Services, said:

“We look forward to a very successful working relationship with VINCI Facilities over the next few years. RDM will be responsible for ensuring day-to-day delivery of great customer service and performance across the remit of our work, which includes electrical, mechanical building fabric and environmental engineering services at the six MOD sites in Oxfordshire. We will also be working very closely with RDM’s sister company EFT Consult on all the relevant design and innovation opportunities.

“We are very proud to have a proven reputation for going the extra mile in all the projects we undertake. As ever, we remain focused on providing world-class services and solutions, which will make a positive difference to the end users – the forces personnel that do such important work in the defence of our country, and that live, work and train at the six MOD sites across the Oxfordshire region.”

Construction, Construction News, News, South East

Tallest Building Tops Out In Staines-Upon-Thames

Berkeley has topped out Lily House in Eden Grove, the tallest residential building in Staines-Upon-Thames.

The occasion was marked and celebrated by the project director who laid the final brick on Lily House. The first homes will be ready for residents to move into in 2023, with the whole development set to complete in 2026.

Set around landscaped gardens, the collection of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments start from £357,500 with many apartments benefiting from sweeping views of the Surrey countryside or overlooking the shared garden space.

The homes come with unrivalled resident facilities that include a new co-working space, a concierge, cinema, private gym and a central landscaped garden with beautiful water feature.

With Central London just 35 minutes away by train, residents will enjoy the best of both worlds and revel in the outstanding natural beauty of the surrounding scenery and River Thames.

Paul Vallone, Divisional Managing Director of Berkeley said:

“We are raising the bar for architecture in Staines-Upon-Thames and delighted to complete this first milestone. Eden Grove will bring a new calibre of living to Staines-Upon-Thames with a market-leading specification inside and out, whether the stylish interiors and first-class facilities or the biodiverse landscaped gardens. Buyers will also get all the advantages of this unique location with plentiful outdoor space and fast access into London.”

Eden Grove will provide 489 private and affordable homes and will have a wider impact on the local economy – with new jobs, training opportunities, improved infrastructure, facilities and green space for the whole community.

At its peak, Eden Grove will employ up to 250 people, sustaining hundreds of jobs during its five year construction programme and will leave behind around 20 permanent jobs as part of its legacy.

Appointments, Construction, Construction News, News

Karbon Homes appoints Esh Construction to deliver £1.2m refurbishment contract

Modern interior upgrades and home improvement works will be undertaken in more than 100 properties across the Tees Valley area following Esh Construction being appointed as contractor. The £1.2 million scheme is part of Karbon Homes’ programme of planned maintenance.

Located in the Coulby Newham area of Middlesbrough, the properties will undergo kitchen and bathroom replacements, and full electrical re-wires.

The scheme was procured via the Prosper Framework and work is set to commence early September.

Andrew Harrow, commercial manager at Esh Construction, said: “This contract award builds on the success of previous work we have delivered for Karbon Homes under the planned maintenance programme.

“Our growing portfolio will see us deliver refurbishment works in more than 1,000 homes across the North East region in the next 12 months and we’re delighted to strengthen our pipeline further with this latest contract.”

Karbon Homes announced a major programme of planned maintenance across its 30,000-strong housing stock last year. This is the second phase of its planned maintenance programme that Karbon has worked with Esh Construction to complete, the first of which saw interior upgrades and improvement works made to over 80 homes spanning from Northumberland to North Yorkshire.

David Milburn, head of investment at Karbon Homes, said: “We’re pleased to once again be working in partnership with Esh Construction to deliver this next phase of our planned maintenance programme to homes in Teesside.

“This work is the latest phase of a larger, £20.5 million investment programme Karbon is delivering across our communities. It illustrates our continued commitment to ensuring our homes are modern, good quality, safe and secure, and we’re looking forward to seeing this phase being successfully delivered.”

As part of Esh’s Constructing Local strategy, which outlines the firm’s commitment to maximising social and economic value within the communities surrounding its live construction sites, the scheme will provide local employment and work experience opportunities, engagement within local schools as well as generating funding for a charitable project.

Construction, Construction News, News

Worktop supplier Roann Limited secured £25 million Nottingham-based development

Premium kitchen worktop supplier, Roann limited, secured the luxury residential scheme The Yacht Club Riverside in Nottingham by contractor, KMRE Group. 

KMRE Group partners with investors to identify investment opportunities and develop homes whilst delivering residential schemes. The property developer selected the Wakefield-based business to supply 91 units of 20mm Compac Luna with 100mm upstands and hob splashbacks as part of the £65,000 contract. The white marble quartz with speckles is easy to clean, scratch resistant and durable. 

Overlooking the River Trent, the brand new exclusive waterside development consists of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. Combining luxury and style, the development project is situated in an idyllic and popular area of Nottingham and will feature an onsite gym, and benefit from excellent transport links. 

Commenting on the project, Scott Wharton, Sales Director at Roann Limited, says:

“This is a project we were very proud to be a part of. The Yacht Club Riverside is located in a stunning area of Nottingham and the finished product looks great. The Compac Luna provides a sophisticated, polished finish to the kitchen area and the colour of the worktop can be paired with a number of decorative pieces to help residents create their own unique kitchen space.”

With more than 30 years of experience in supplying work surfaces, this project marks one of 26,000 to date for Roann Limited. 

More information on Roann Limited and its products is available at www.roann.co.uk.

Construction, Construction News, News

500,000 jobs posted on My Local Toolbox totalling £750m of potential work for tradespeople

  • My Local Toolbox received its 500,000th job posting on the 25th of August 2022
  • The value of this work is £750m for tradespeople
  • Launched in 2018, My Local Toolbox helps homeowners to find trusted tradespeople in their local area
  • Their unique approach of partnering with a range of ‘find a tradesperson’ platforms enable them to pick the strongest trades from each platform
As of August 25th 2022, My Local Toolbox reached their 500,000th job post on their platform by homeowners looking for tradespeople.
Based on the budget homeowners specify when they post a job, approximately £750,000,000 worth of work has been generated over the last four years.

Table: Total value of jobs posted on My Local Toolbox since 2018 for the top ten trades (based on the budget homeowners specified when posting their job).

Trade  Total value of jobs 
Builder  £               356,915,750
Roofer  £               100,525,875
Plasterer  £                 49,175,625
Painter & decorator  £                 43,995,750
Electrician  £                 32,030,875
Gardener  £                 24,812,515
Carpenter  £                 19,324,000
Plumber  £                 16,270,000
Tiler  £                 12,077,500
Tree surgeon  £                 11,034,625

 

Mylocaltoolbox.co.uk was founded in 2018 by Adam Clark to help homeowners find great tradespeople near them, without having to endlessly trawl the internet.
Working in partnership with some of the UK’s leading ‘find a tradesperson’ platforms and receiving up to 100,000 visitors per month, they’re able to offer homeowners every trade imaginable.
It’s this unique approach that allows them to service the needs of homeowners, whilst also driving new business for local tradespeople. Over 10,000 jobs are posted every month.
The easy-to-use job posting platform ensures users get matched with the right trades who then get in contact with a quote, allowing homeowners to easily compare prices and, most importantly, pick the best people for the job!
From builders to roofers, to more specialist trades like asbestos removal and house clearance professionals, landscape gardeners and tree surgeons, My Local Toolbox is home to them all.

Whether you’re a homeowner looking for a local tradesperson or you’re a tradesperson looking for your next client, visit Mylocaltoolbox.co.uk for more information.

Adam Clark, Founder of My Local Toolbox, said: “We’re very proud to have reached this milestone. Over the past four years millions of people have visited our website and over 500,000 have posted a job to connect with quality tradespeople near them. This gives us confidence that our unique approach is the right way to best serve homeowners.”
Construction, Construction News, News, North of England

MC Construction completes facelift for 18th century mansion house

An historic council-owned building in Stockport has been refurbished to provide modern offices for community-based adult social workers.

Salford-based MC Construction has completed a project which has created new office space on the first floor of Gatley Hill House, a former public library on Church Road, Gatley.

The Georgian mansion house, built in the mid-18th century, houses a community centre on the ground floor which the council rents out for meetings and social events.

The first floor had been vacant for years but has now been brought back into use as office space for around 40 social workers covering Gatley, Cheadle and Bramhall, who are relocating from other existing offices around the borough.

Jo Smith, construction lead for Stockport Council, said: “Thanks to the successful completion of this project, the team has a much better and bigger working environment and will be able to operate more effectively.

“It is pleasing to bring the first floor of Gatley Hill House back into use, while also carrying out improvements to the ground floor for the benefit of the wider community.

“The works carried out by MC Construction have preserved and significantly enhanced the condition of the building in a manner that is sympathetic to its heritage, which is extremely satisfying to see.”

MC Construction undertook a programme of external and structural works as well as an internal revamp of the two-storey building, which is set in parkland and lies within the Gatley Village Conservation Area.

The project included the installation of a new roof, windows and rainwater goods, underpinning, interior partitions and doors, new mechanical and electrical systems, a refurbishment of the kitchen and washrooms, new office access and fire alarm systems, a rewire, and decoration. Original features were repaired and refurbished wherever possible.

Electric vehicle charging points have been installed in the grounds as part of the scheme.

David Lowe, managing director of MC Construction, said: “The project has greatly modernised a lovely historic building which was in need of significant repair, leading to an improved appearance, restoring the first floor to good use, improving the energy performance of the building and positively benefiting the environment with the installation of electric vehicle charging points.

“I’m extremely proud of our team who worked on this scheme, which truly showcases our expertise in sympathetically and successfully updating and regenerating heritage buildings.

“Alongside our own staff, we were delighted that all of the contractors appointed to work on the project were located within a 30-mile radius of the building, ensuring a significant sum went back into the local economy and once again demonstrating our commitment to adding social value to the work we undertake.”