Supply Chain

Sales of “heavy” construction materials fell during the third quarter of this year after an unbroken two years of growth, with the situation set to get worse. The Construction Products Association’s latest State of Trade Survey showed a negative balance of 12% in the number of firms reporting a fall…

As with many commodities, the price of timber soared as a supply shortage gripped the global economy in 2021, while issues were exacerbated with the onset of war in Ukraine in February this year. But despite sanctions, scarcity and the odd port strike, timber prices have settled during the second…

Bowmer & Kirkland has entered the competition to become the main contractor a new £73m events centre in Southport, Merseyside, Construction News can reveal. The contractor is looking to lead on the building of the Marine Lake Events Centre, a 1,500-capacity concert hall with additional exhibition and conference facilities. It…

An increased number of construction-related businesses collapsed in September, Construction News can reveal. Data provided to Construction News by Creditsafe suggests that 21 contractors entered administration during the month. This was one more than in August, when 20 firms collapsed. It represents a slight uptick in business failures, but is…

Lendlease’s £325m restoration of Manchester Town Hall is facing a significant £17m overspend. Work on the Grade I-listed building, which is halfway through the construction phase, is facing shortages of steel, plaster, stone and timber, in addition to uncertainty around energy costs and a “flight” of specialist labour. In a…

Construction activity has risen for the first time in three months, official figures show – but experts have warned of the coming impact of high interest rates on future output. September saw a “modest increase” in output, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index, largely down to a “boost” in…

Hull-based framework provider Pagabo has alerted firms to a £1bn refit and refurbishment framework. The four-year-long framework, in its second generation, will replace the current framework that ends in February next year. The new edition of the scheme will start two months afterwards, in April. Pagabo is tendering on behalf…

Annual construction price inflation has fallen for the second month in a row, latest figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) show. Statistics for all new work showed that prices had risen by 17.8 per cent in the year to August 2022, compared to the same…

The Factory art centre project in Manchester is running almost £100m over budget, official papers reveal. The 12,000m2 development in Walter Street had a £111.6m price tag when it was approved in 2017. The scheme, which is being developed by Allied London and Manchester City Council, includes a 7,000-capacity venue and was…

British Steel’s owner has asked the UK government for a £500m cash injection to keep its furnaces in Lincolnshire burning. Chinese firm Jingye, which bought British Steel out of administration in 2020, said the cash would ensure its Scunthorpe furnaces remain viable, according to the Financial Times. It has asked…