Author Archives: Greg Pitcher

The owner of a construction machinery firm has expressed frustration after a major order was cancelled days before shipping because of US president Donald Trump’s controversial tariff campaign. Construction News spoke to Richard Finch, director at Suffolk-based Plant Parts, described himself as “irritated” after a wholesaler with depots across the US…

Offsite specialist Merit Holdings has insisted its future is “tremendously exciting” despite a huge drop in pre-tax profit in its latest full-year results. Pre-tax profit at the Northumberland-based firm plunged by 72 per cent from £8.4m to £2.3m in the 12 months to 30 June 2024. Its turnover fell 8…

The government’s decision to scale back the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project has hit Kilnbridge’s bottom line, the specialist contractor has revealed in its latest accounts. The East London-based building and civils contractor posted turnover of £85.9m for the 12 months to 30 June 2024. This was down 28…

A key figure has called for an “industry-wide adoption” of conflict-avoidance processes (CAPs) after the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) introduced fresh measures to help construction firms avoid court battles. Len Bunton, chair of the Conflict Avoidance Coalition (CAC), hailed updated guidance from the RICS and contracts provider NEC…

Collins Construction’s revenue and profit dropped last year, its latest accounts have revealed. The Croydon-based refurbishment and fit-out specialist posted turnover of £124.1m for the 12 months to 30 June 2024. It was a drop of 14 per cent from the prior period, while pre-tax profit dipped by 13 per…

A minister in the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly has described delays to a £72m waterfront regeneration project in Northern Ireland as “a source of frustration”. DUP communities minister Gordon Lyons said he had “waited decades” for progress on the redevelopment of Queen’s Parade in Bangor. It is almost six years…

Dame Judith Hackitt will chair the new panel of construction industry leaders that is being set up to look at how to improve local authority building control in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Building safety minister Alex Norris revealed the appointment this morning (1 April) as he appeared in…

Grenfell Tower refurbishment subcontractor JS Wright & Co owed more than £13m to other businesses when it collapsed, administrators have revealed. In an update filed with Companies House, administrators Ben Jones and Rajnesh Mittal from FRP Advisory said that trade creditors stood at £13.5m on 17 March. But this estimated…

Directors of construction firms hiring casual staff without checking their right to work could face jail terms under a government crackdown announced today. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced new laws and increased enforcement efforts to tackle illegal employment in the UK. Checks would be mandatory for zero-hours workers under the…

Morrison Construction has been named as preferred contractor for a school renovation and extension job in Midlothian, Scotland. Midlothian Council selected the Galliford Try subsidiary to redevelop Penicuik High School. The local authority is seeking planning permission to add an extension to the 1930s building, which has a B listing…