Industry News

Fire Protection, Structural Strength and Adaptability

27th August 2015

Structural fire safety is achieved either by what is called ‘passive protection’ for example fire resistant lining boards and/or ‘active protection’ through the use of smoke ventilation, alarm systems and sprinklers. For the structural...

Shepherd wins Queensferry Crossing M&E package

21st August 2015

Shepherd Engineering Services has won the Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing package on the new £1.4bn Queensferry Crossing over the Firth of Forth in Scotland. The two-year contract will see Shepherd deliver MEP systems for the bridge’s...

Pioneering factory assembled social homes ready in just three weeks

18th August 2015

Fully assembled social homes are ready to leave the factory for Highland tenants after just three weeks of construction work, thanks to a pioneering new project. Believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland, the social housing project delivers...

Eco Building Business Inspires a New Generation

13th August 2015

Inspired Building Systems, a business specialising in providing schools with Eco buildings and classrooms, has launched a new project to encourage tree-planting in the UK. As part of their ongoing commitment to sustainability, Inspired Building...

Prefabricated housing construction and OSM seen as a potential solution for the UK housing shortage

13th August 2015

The UK government is looking to other foreign housing construction markets such as Germany to understand the possible solutions to the UK's housing shortage crisis and the need to adopt innovative and new construction practices to accelerate the...

Bailey Offsite outlines plan to double turnover to £20m in two years

10th August 2015

A SPECIALIST Bradford-based division of construction and engineering group NG Bailey is set for significant growth as the group continues to diversify. Doubling turnover at NG Bailey Offsite in Oakenshaw to nearly £20 million over the next two...

Only Two Months left Until the Structural Timber Awards!

7th August 2015

The Structural Timber Awards are taking place on Tuesday 06 October 2015 and will be delving into the most pioneering timber projects from around the UK - showcasing innovative solutions and ground-breaking developments from across a wide...

Engineering firm outlines plan to double turnover to £20m in two years

7th August 2015

A SPECIALIST Bradford-based division of construction and engineering group NG Bailey is set for significant growth as the group continues to diversify. Doubling turnover at NG Bailey Offsite in Oakenshaw to nearly £20 million over the next...

Illbruck system addresses timber frame dynamics

6th August 2015

As the housebuilding industry looks to meet Government and demographic demands for 250,000 new homes a year, the employment of timber-based systems will increase dramatically as they already constitute the most popular branch of offsite...

Scottish CLT Plant on the Horizon

3rd August 2015

A report in The Herald in Scotland has revealed a ‘bold’ property move by CCG that is intended to pave the way for an innovative new manufacturing plant which would give Scotland a UK first. The £100m turnover construction and development firm...

Leading contractors deliver Wood Awards Finalists

30th July 2015

Some of the UK’s leading contractors, including Mace, Canary Wharf Contactors, Balfour Beatty, Speller Metcalfe and Willmott Dixon, have delivered projects shortlisted for this year's annual Wood Awards. A total of 20 UK buildings have been...

Moduloft announces expansion plans

27th July 2015

North Yorkshire loft firm Moduloft has announced plans to expand its operations following the success of its patented invention for modular pre-built roof lifts and loft extensions. The business was set up three years ago by joiner Tim...

Build with Carbon: Don’t Emit It!

24th July 2015

Extoling the benefits of timber construction in overcoming both the industry’s long and short-term challenges are key to growing the market for wood building products. David Hopkins, Executive Director at Wood for Good, explains why its Build...

CDM 2015 – Be Aware

23rd July 2015

Updated health and safety legislation came into effect on 6 April with clients and construction firms facing ‘greater liability’ under the new rules. Construction law expert Charles Brien from top-50, national law firm HBJ Gateley explains what...

Cutting carbon: work starts on world's tallest cross-laminated timber building

20th July 2015

A new residential construction project in London – said to be one the largest of its type – is employing cross-laminated timber instead of concrete in order to save carbon. The Dalston Lane development in Hackney is to use more...

Off-Site Savings

19th July 2015

Working as a principal supplier to Carillion, Caledonian Modular (CM) is in the final stages of handing over a batch of four primary schools as part of the North West Primary Schools Building Programme (NWPSB). Each school needed to meet specific...

Metsä Wood Delivers Plan B

18th July 2015

Focusing on the intricacies of timber in construction, Metsä Wood has launched its new ‘Plan B’ microsite, looking at the impact wood can have when used as part of a large scale structure. Starting with the Colosseum as its first...

Fabric First Everytime

17th July 2015

The drive to achieve to achieve zero carbon homes is a challenge for the construction industry, but the advantages offered by timber construction will play a central role in achieving these targets. James Walker,...

Confederation of Timber Industries Launched

16th July 2015

After several months of development, the new and inclusive Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI) was launched to an enthusiastic audience at the Building Centre in London on 10 June. CTI will focus on a number of key projects to...

McAvoy looking for London subcontractors

15th July 2015

Offsite construction specialist McAvoy is looking for new subcontractors to work on upcoming education projects across London and the South West. The firm has a full pipeline of work for the rest of this year and 2016 and is now looking at boosting...

Steely determination from Galway start-up Vision-Built

14th July 2015

A Galway-based construction firm showed plenty of vision to shrug off the recession and expand in the UK. Emerging from the rubble of the property market collapse, Galway start-up Vision-Built is now exporting light-gauge steel structures for...

Global Timber Forum Website Live

14th July 2015

The Global Timber Forum (GTF) website has been launched. The website is a source of news and timber sector information and data and also an international networking and communications platform, through which people across the timber and...

Finalists Announced for this Year’s Structural Timber Awards

14th July 2015

The Awards have been submitted and the judges have spoken – it is now time to announce the shortlist for the inaugural Structural Timber Awards! With over 160 entries across 14 categories, this year’s awards have been...

Choosing the Right FR Treatment

11th July 2015

The correct timber fire retardant (FR) is essential to the performance of wood under flame. Earlier this year, the Wood Protection Association (WPA) opened a help-desk for architects seeking generic guidance on the fire protection of wood and...

Timber & Growth Opportunities

10th July 2015

Construction is a sector where Britain has a strong competitive edge and timber is a hugely important element of that sector. Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the STA, sees a massive opportunity to expand the use of timber via the...

Off-site construction offers potential solution to housing crisis

10th July 2015

For decades, Britain has failed to build anywhere near enough homes to meet its growing population, with consequences ranging from unaffordability of housing and social immobility, to the increasing inefficiency of our cities. Addressing...

Another Successful Event from Explore Offsite

9th July 2015

The latest in a series of building technology events – Explore Offsite in the Housing Sector – was declared a huge success yesterday by over 250 delegates and exhibitors. Held at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham, the...

Green light for timber housing tower

9th July 2015

Plans for a six-storey housing block made of timber have been approved for Wimbledon town centre. The fifteen apartments, three townhouses and a commercial unit at street level will be constructed using CLT (Cross Laminated Timber). Architect...

Liverpool landlord begins work on off-site scheme

6th July 2015

A Liverpool landlord has begun preparing a site for an innovative off-site build project where 33 homes will be built in a factory and craned in. Liverpool Mutual Homes’ (LMH) £3.5million scheme after being constructed off-site which it says will...

'Flat-pack' homes could help solve UK's housing crisis

5th July 2015

Prefabricated homes have advanced hugely and could provide houses that are cheaper and greener than those built using conventional methods, say engineering experts “Flat-pack” houses could end Britain’s housing crisis which is pushing...

More lenders embracing new build

3rd July 2015

Legal & General held a new build seminar last month attended by a number of house builders and 19 lenders, up from only five just seven months ago. Craig Hall, new build manager at Legal & General Mortgage Club, said this goes to show how...

Modular off-site building could be the solution to the UK's housing crisis

3rd July 2015

New report calls on Government to provide more incentives to encourage off-site construction and better quality homes 2 July 2015 Modular off-site building could be the key to solving the UK’s broken housing market, according to a new report by...

Modular off-site building could be the solution to the UK’s housing crisis

2nd July 2015

New report calls on Government to provide more incentives to encourage off-site construction and better quality homes Modular off-site building could be the key to solving the UK’s broken housing market, according to a new report by...

Opportunity & Risk Management

2nd July 2015

In a still volatile economic climate, Paul Trigg, assistant Head of Risk Underwriting and timber specialist at trade credit insurer Euler Hermes, examines the risk outlook for the timber industry. Speaking to timber companies across the...

Is offsite construction the answer to hitting housing targets?

1st July 2015

According to some reports, as long as central government and regional public sector bodies continue to rely on the current private sector for sale led delivery as the main method of housing policy, they will continue to miss the targets mapped...

Increasing use of robots and sensors expected in civils construction

30th June 2015

Civils contractors will increasingly use robots and sensors to create structures in futuristic offsite factories, according to the author of recent research. Duncan White, director of science and industry at consultants Arup, and one of the figures...

Construction ‘milestone’ for Milton Keynes Recovery Park

23rd June 2015

The tallest section of the Milton Keynes Waste Recovery Park – a 55-metre high steel stack and a key piece of the site’s Advanced Thermal Treatment plant – is now in place. The park in Old Wolverton will bring mechanical treatment, AD, and...

Laing O'Rourke and L&G model will help councils deliver 2,000 homes a year

22nd June 2015

Laing O'Rourke has teamed up with Legal & General and property management company Touchstone to help councils deliver new build-to-rent housing. Through the alliance, local authorities will lease their land to L&G, with the investor then...

New model needs £3bn annual Govt investment for affordable homes

19th June 2015

The government should invest £3bn a year in a new income-linked rental model to increase the number of affordable homes delivered by social landlords, a new report concludes. Under the proposals, the funding would unlock a further £7bn of...

Judging for the Structural Timber Awards Starts Today after a Fantastic Number of Entries

15th June 2015

Over 160 entries across 14 categories have been submitted to this year’s Structural Timber Awards and it looks like it is set to be a competitive and major inaugural event. The judging process has commenced with submissions from the...

Swansea Bay tidal scheme set to feature offsite construction

15th June 2015

Offsite manufacture is likely to play a part in the construction of the £1bn tidal power scheme off the coast of South Wales, a key figure has revealed. Andrew McNaughton, director of engineering and construction at project promoter Tidal Lagoon...

Local authorities urged to embrace off-site school’s construction

12th June 2015

Chartered Institute of Housing calls on government to protect affordable housing budget and build 135,000 homes per year

10th June 2015

The Chartered Institute of Housing has called on chancellor George Osborne to use next month’s emergency budget to increase funding to the Affordable Homes programme and ensure 135,000 affordable homes are built annually. Ahead of the 8 July...

Offsite is key to Construction 2025 Government’s construction advisor backs Offsite Management School to help the supply chain embrace 'industrialised' construction and deliver strategy targets

10th June 2015

The story of the house built in a day

8th June 2015

Why Sweden beats the world hands down on prefab housing

3rd June 2015

Private sector drives 20% increase in home registrations

2nd June 2015

Housing registrations between February and April 2015 hit 41,307 – a 20 per cent increase on the same period of 2014. Overall, 41,307 homes were registered in the rolling quarter from February to April, compared with 34,451 a year earlier. A 24...

Company has ambition on Titanic scale

1st June 2015

CCG's purchase of £4.15m plant aims to lead the way in production of 'green' timber, says, Bob Serafini A BOLD property move by a Lanarkshire company is intended to pave the way for an innovative new manufacturing plant which would give Scotland...

Final Call for Entries - You’ve Got to Be in It to Win It!

28th May 2015

Today, the organisers of the Structural Timber Awards put out a final call for entries. With the extended deadline for submissions fast approaching on 12 June 2015 - the Awards have attracted entries from project and products large and...

Housing Bill leads Queen's Speech reforms

28th May 2015

Meeting the Brief - The Performance Challenge

27th May 2015

It is nearly a year since the Zero Carbon Hub published the 'Closing the Gap' report, detailing solutions to tackle various aspects of the performance gap. For some time the government had concerns about the potential gap between design and...

CCG kicks off £800m South Lanarkshire primary school modernisation programme

27th May 2015

Work is underway to create a new primary school in Biggar as part of South Lanarkshire Council's £800 million primary school modernisation programme. The new Libberton Primary School will be built on the same site as the current school and will...

How to rapidly meet environmental standards with offsite

21st May 2015

Back in 1998, Sir John Egan’s government report Rethinking Construction recommended offsite construction as faster, safer, cheaper and of higher quality. The ambitious targets, especially on sustainability, set out in the more recent Construction...

We need to build offsite – but how?

21st May 2015

The government’s 2025 vision for construction is compelling and challenging: 33 per cent lower costs; 50 per cent faster delivery; 50 per cent lower emissions; and 50 per cent improvement in exports. In other words, in 10 years’ time our...

Why timber is driving offsite construction

19th May 2015

Offsite construction was born of the post-war rush to build new homes and this earned it a negative reputation in the past. Many have perceived it as a cheap option that limits the quality of the end product. It’s this view that has perhaps...

Innovative eco house designed by students takes shape

13th May 2015

Bulk order of 500 off-site homes moves a step closer

11th May 2015

The sector’s first bulk order of fully off-site homes has moved a step closer, as a group of north west landlords seeks a project manager to oversee a potential 500-home programme. Modular Allianz, a consortium representing 17 north west social...

Crossrail Place Rooftop Gardens with Timelapse Video

8th May 2015

A fascinating time lapse video shows the construction of the rooftop gardens above Crossrail Place, as the distinctive seven storey structure designed by Foster & Partner opens at Canary Wharf. Crossrail Place, which opened to the...

China Masters Prefab Building

7th May 2015

A Chinese construction company has built the world's tallest prefab tower in under three weeks of work time. China is taking the lead in the further development of cutting-edge construction techniques, as part of efforts to expedite the creation...

Laing O'Rourke goes offsite to build £160m Guy's Hospital Cancer Centre

6th May 2015

Research and Markets: UK Timber Frame Construction Market 2015-2019

6th May 2015

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Timber Frame Construction Market UK 2015-2019" report to their offering. This market report provides a fresh, comprehensive & reliable review...

Offsite construction will kickstart revolution

6th May 2015

Offsite construction will "change the structure of the industry", according to business secretary Vince Cable. Dr Vince Cable was speaking to Construction News after a Laing O'Rourke-led consortium was awarded a £22.1m government grant...

Lessons learnt from 20 years on the front line of DfMA

6th May 2015

There are a huge range of offsite solutions available in the construction industry. From large volumetric pods, ‘flat pack’ or panelised systems, through sub-assemblies that require some site work to ‘pre-kitted’ assemblies for site...

L&Q pledges to double annual output of new homes by 2020

6th May 2015

Housing association L&Q has launched a programme to deliver 50,000 homes over the next decade as part of a major development drive. The social landlord has pledged to more than double its current output to 5,000 new homes a year by 2020, with...

Timber hotel under construction at Redstone

27th April 2015

Privatization of Army lodging is reaching a new level at Redstone Arsenal. A four-story hotel, under construction in the former troop barracks area, will become the first in the United States built with cross laminated timber. This wood...

Nottingham Hosts Major Offsite Construction Event

27th April 2015

Robot wars: Why automation must be embraced, not feared

22nd April 2015

The growing demand from housebuilders for materials to be manufactured offsite is placing new pressure on suppliers to the sector. How to produce high-precision, high-quality materials fast enough to keep up with the rapid rate of construction in...

Mar City suspends shares as it searches for new nomad

20th April 2015

SHARES in troubled housebuilder Mar City were suspended today pending the appointment of a new nominated adviser. The board of the Birmingham firm has also confirmed the resignation of its current chairman, although this had been expected. It has...

Contractor wanted for "pop-up" village

20th April 2015

Lewisham Council has started the hunt for a contractor to build a “pop-up” village to provide temporary housing for local people. The temporary homes will sit on the site for between one and four years and can then be moved to a different...

Luxury Liverpool student digs up in a flash with modular design

20th April 2015

Housing deals worth £1.5bn up for grabs

16th April 2015

O'Rourke off-site housing factory gets £22m grant

8th April 2015

Offsite's time may have arrived as election nears

8th April 2015

Another week, another housing initiative. As we edge closer to the election, we can no doubt expect the pledges to build more homes to be re-announced and repeated from all the parties. This week it was the turn of the Conservatives to grab the...

Subcontractors wanted for education work

8th April 2015

Prefab Building Makes for Sustainable Homes of All Sizes

7th April 2015

Prefab building techniques are being used to develop sustainable dwelling places at both ends of the size scale. As the market becomes increasingly mindful of environmental issues, prefabricated building solutions are acquiring greater...

Brand new sustainable visitor centre at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

3rd April 2015

The new visitor centre at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo was unveiled on Saturday. The striking timber structure will dramatically enhance the visitor experience at the UK’s largest zoo. The building design focuses on creating a light, open and...

World’s largest CLT building starts on site in Hackney

1st April 2015

A 121-unit residential block, that when complete will be the largest cross laminated timber (CLT) building in the world, has started on site in Dalston Lane, Hackney in London. Designed by Waugh Thistleton Architects for property...

Stora Enso plans to rationalize Building Solutions Finland with proposed closure of Pälkäne production unit

30th March 2015

Stora Enso plans to rationalise the operational model in Building Solutions Finland and starts co-determination negotiations with all employees within this unit. The co-determination negotiations will include a possible reduction in personnel by...

Fresh calls to improve ‘as built’ housing sustainability results

30th March 2015

Construction action plan focuses on skills shortages and new technologies

30th March 2015

TRADA unveils Timber Expo seminar programme

27th March 2015

Some of the biggest hitting topics from some of the highest profile names in the industry: this is the goal for TRADA as it works to collate the main seminar programme at this year’s Timber Expo. As part of TRADA’s on-going...

Explore Offsite

27th March 2015

Rendaclad-for-timber-framed-structures

27th March 2015

Minister admits some priority schools are delayed

27th March 2015

Europe’s largest timber frame takes shape

26th March 2015

Work on erecting the largest timber framed structure of its type in Europe has begun in Leeds as part of the latest phase of the City’s new Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility. The timber frame is one of several sustainable...

Timber-framed Gower learning centre to be a 'landmark' building

25th March 2015

Emerging from a six-acre site near Cilibion is a striking timber-framed learning centre, and client groups and volunteers are very much part of the workforce. RICHARD YOULE reports. IT is a learning centre, but not as you might know it....

From skyscraper to 'plyscraper': The tower blocks made from wood

25th March 2015

(CNN)If the 20th century was the century of the skyscraper, then the 21st century is shaping up as the century of the "plyscaper." Despite its historical reputation for great city fires -- London in 1666, the Great Chicago fire of 1871 and...

Government Adviser backs launch of Offsite supply-chain School

25th March 2015

NG Bailey opens ground-breaking £40m motorway services

25th March 2015

O’Rourke and Imtech land £171m waste water deal

25th March 2015

nHouse sets new standards for offsite construction

24th March 2015

The nHouse modular housing solution was launched last week at MIPIM in Cannes, to positive industry acclaim, with prefabricated housing high on the agenda as a key way to providing volume housing. The nHouse, the ‘n’...

30 jobs created by Bala builders Williams Homes in a bid to meet demand and improve North Wales site

23rd March 2015

Bala based Williams Homes – which specialises in low carbon eco-build timber framed homes - has created 30 jobs after a major investment at its premises, supported by the Welsh Government. Brothers Sion and Owain Williams, who are joint...

East Yorkshire manufacturer brings innovative products to Hull's social housing mix

23rd March 2015

A MANUFACTURER that has won lucrative contracts around the UK is now launching its latest innovation closer to home in Hull. Over the past few years, East Yorkshire firm Premier Interlink has provided modular buildings for prestigious projects...

Structural Timber Awards – the Platform to Showcase Innovation

20th March 2015

With the industry embracing the aesthetic appeal of structural timber technology, the full potential of this adaptable and sustainable material is now being realised. Celebrate the best in building with the world’s leading mainstream,...

Tier 1 contractors sign up supply chain to ‘offsite school’ to boost output

16th March 2015

Wates CEO cool on Shepherd link as firm looks to improve offsite design ability

16th March 2015

Wates is taking a “real interest" in improving its offsite manufacturing capability to emulate Laing O’Rourke, according to its CEO, who declined to comment on the group’s links with an acquisition of part of Shepherd Building Group....

Chinese firm builds world's tallest prefab tower

13th March 2015

Chinese modular building specialist Broad Sustainable Building is claiming a new record for rapid tower assembly. The company, which had previously claimed that it would build a structure taller than Dubai's Burj Khalifa in just 90 days, is claiming...

New UK schools to be built throughout 2015

11th March 2015

The McAvoy Group has £75 million worth of projects planned for 2015 after being named a principal contractor under the Crown Commercial Service framework and funded by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to build nine new schools. The...

Zero-bill living: Offsite pilot offers vision of sustainable housing's future

9th March 2015

Vince Cable: Offsite construction will kickstart revolution

5th March 2015

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