The UK’s first carbon negative social housing development in South Tyneside has been shortlisted for a national housing award.

Sinclair Meadows, a development by not-for-profit housing provider Four Housing Group, has beaten over 300 entries to be announced as one of the six projects shortlisted in the Development of the Year (Small Schemes) category at the UK Housing Awards 2013.

Ideal Standard, a leading provider of innovative and design-driven bathroom solutions, will return to Ecobuild, the UK’s largest event dedicated to sustainable design and construction on Tuesday 5th March 2013.  Located on Stand 335 Ideal Standard will present a range of products, highlighting the company’s commitment to water efficiency and sustainable design.

Research conducted in 2012 by Ideal Standard in conjunction with the charity Waterwise found that, although more than four in five people claim to be conscious of their water usage, the average UK adult uses around five times more water per day than they realise.  Nearly half of those surveyed say they have never considered installing water saving appliances, despite the average water use per person now reaching 150 litres per day.

The first nationally accredited environmental training programme for those working on construction sites, the Site Environmental Awareness Training Scheme (SEATS), was officially launched today at an industry event in London.

Developed by leading construction and engineering solution providers Costain, Skanska and Wates Group with support from CITB-ConstructionSkills, the new course is fully endorsed by the UK Contractors Group (UKCG) and the Environment Agency (EA).

The Scottish government has approved plans for a 96-turbine wind farm on the border between Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire.

It said Scottish Power Renewables' Kilgallioch project near New Luce could meet the energy needs of more than 130,000 homes.

Skanska expands its highways operations and maintenance business with a major acquisition from Atkins

Today, Skanska UK announces it has signed an agreement to purchase a highways operations and maintenance business from Atkins for £18 million, of which £2 million is to be deferred and paid subject to future performance.

The business comprises eight live contracts with six local authorities and the Highways Agency to deliver operations and maintenance for the road and motorway network.

The purchase is in line with Skanska's strategy to position itself as a significant player in the UK highways operations and maintenance market, building on the Asset Support Contract Area 2. 

The business Skanska will acquire reported revenue of £80.0 million and an operating profit of £1.3 million in the six months to 30 September 2012. It has a workforce of 1,200 people.

Commenting on the acquisition, Skanska UK’s President and CEO, Mike Putnam, said: “We look forward to welcoming this skilled and experienced team into the Skanska family. This represents a significant, strategic development for our UK business. It demonstrates our strength and confidence in the UK market, on the back of four years of robust performance by our UK operations.” 

Executive Vice President Bill Hocking said: “Our new clients are set to benefit from Skanska’s global highways maintenance experience, as well as our commitment to responsible project delivery with minimal impact on the environment. We look forward to working with our clients to safely achieve their goals and efficiency aspirations. This acquisition positions us well for further growth in this market.” 

Skanska assumes ownership on 1 June 2013.

My last blog on this site suggested an answer to a question which it didn't explicitly provide, although anyone carrying out a little research (and I mean a little) would have been able to infer the reason the Scottish Affairs Committee is investigating the so-called blacklist held by the defunct Consulting Association. It is because the citizens of that proud nation don't want the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to be tainted with the whiff of any similar scandal.

OK, the Commonwealth Games aren't on the same scale or have the same impact as the Olympics, but anyone who was in Manchester in 2002 knows the feeling of optimism and pride the event can generate.

Construction workers will step-up their demonstrations at the Capenhurst construction project near Chester over attacks on terms and conditions by the site's owner Urenco and its contractor Jacobs.

Hundreds of demonstrators are expected at the site from 6.00am tomorrow (27 February 2013). Unions are once again being forced to take action in the defence of a long standing agreement, the national agreement for the engineering construction industry (NAECI). Unite is accusing the employers of undermining the NAECI which has been in existence for more than 30 years and sets terms and conditions for construction workers.

For those dreaming of building their own home, planning to renovate, trying to evaluate different green technologies or even have a construction project that's stalled -  The National Self Build and Renovation Show at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon is a must visit.

The Show runs from the 12th - 14th April 2013 (9:30am - 5pm).

Across the three days visitors will have the opportunity to attend exciting seminars, meet product manufacturers, listen to educational talks, visit example life size houses, take informative audio tours and meet a raft of experts – all on hand to answer any questions.

The recovery of twelve stolen brand new mini-diggers, valued at around £200,000, has highlighted the importance of companies taking steps to safeguard the security of their vehicles and plant.

The newly-delivered diggers were stolen from an industrial estate in Maidstone, Kent before Christmas.  The owners immediately reported the theft to the police, who were able to investigate the crime utilising real-time location data provided by the Skyline tracking system, produced by Essex-based Enigma Vehicle Systems.

Homes by Skanska, the residential property arm of Swedish construction company Skanska, has received planning permission on its first Cheltenham residential development.

The planning application was approved as part of Cheltenham Borough Council’s redevelopment of North Place car park, on the northern edge of the city centre.

‘Trinity Square’ will offer 143 properties, comprising a mix of four-bedroom townhouses, as well as a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments all with underground parking.