Grid delays hit £2bn Essex data centre

A planned £2bn data centre due to be built in Loughton, Essex, is set to be delayed after developer Nscale was told power to the site will not be available in time. The firm had hoped to open its 50-megawatt (MW) site – scaling up… The post Grid delays hit £2bn Essex data centre appeared first on Construction News.

British Steel nationalised to ‘support’ construction projects

The government has taken British Steel into public ownership, in what it said was a move to preserve steelmaking and support construction projects. The move followed through on a plan announced in May, and is one of Sir Keir Starmer’s last acts as prime minister.… The post British Steel nationalised to ‘support’ construction projects appeared first on Construction News.

CSCS cuts card requirements for industry placements

The operator of the main Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card programme has reduced the minimum work placement needed to qualify for its Industry Placement card from 30 days to three weeks, with the changes taking effect from 17 July. CSCS Cards Ltd has also… The post CSCS cuts card requirements for industry placements appeared first on Construction News.

Laing O’Rourke to expand offsite manufacturing capacity

Laing O’Rourke has announced plans to expand two of its UK manufacturing operations. Explore Manufacturing will add 3,200 square metres of production space at Explore Park in Nottinghamshire. The site forms part of the contractor’s Centre of Excellence for Modern Construction (CEMC), which produces components… The post Laing O’Rourke to expand offsite manufacturing capacity appeared first on Construction News.

Construction output drops for second consecutive month

Overall construction output has fallen for the second consecutive month despite a small increase in new work, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The government statistics agency estimated a 0.8 per cent fall for May, following a revised 0.1 per cent drop the… The post Construction output drops for second consecutive month appeared first on Construction News.

CN - Finally, a playbook to reverse low productivity, 022023

This article in Construction News advocates the guidance and use of 'The private section construction playbook' (a copy of which is attached below). The recommended approaches in preparing and managing our projects to achieve imporved productivity are highlighted

CN - Supply chain in danger as smaller firms hit by economic challenges, 022023

This CN article shows on a monthly basis, the number of companies that have gone into Administration since September 2021, and highlights that 23 'small' construction firms went into Administration in (the usually quiet month of) December 2022

CN - Future Freeze - Autumn Statement, 022023

David Prosser comments on the Government's Autumn Statement and the impact this can have on the Construction Industry

CN - Five years of inaction on retentions reform is totally unacceptable, 022023

Rudi Klein gives his view on retentions and the impact it has on supply chain firms

CN - Are 3D-printed homes about to hit the mainstream, 05122022

There has been a recent uplift in the creation of and interest in 3D-printed developments. As the construction industry tries to keep up with the government's affordable-housing targets and the deadline for Net Zero gets closer, could 3D-printed homes provide some of the answers to the issues facing the Housing development sector - and what do contractors and developers need to know when using 3D-printing technology in this space?

Are you familiar with construction timelapse monitoring technology?