BRCK Group reported a 46% fall in pre-tax profit as subdued housebuilding, pricing pressure and wider macroeconomic uncertainty weighed on performance. While turnover and cash increased, growth in fire remediation, renewables and roofing helped offset weaker brick sales and delays linked to Building Safety Regulator processes.
Laing O’Rourke reports a stronger financial performance, with profit doubling and a record order book, but it has also increased provisions for building safety defects again. The article indicates that exceptional items rose to £48m, suggesting ongoing costs linked to remediation and related liabilities.
NISTA has downgraded the government’s cladding remediation programme to a red rating, stating that delivery now appears to be unachievable. The warning cites inflation and delays within the Building Safety Regulator as key constraints on progress.
A construction worker has died following an incident at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, prompting a joint investigation by the Health and Safety Executive and West Midlands Police. The hospital trust and contractor BSN Group have both said they are supporting those affected while enquiries continue.
The Environment Agency marks five years since the July 2021 flash floods in London, which affected 24 boroughs and more than 2,000 properties. The article highlights the continuing high risk of surface water flooding in the capital, the vulnerability of basement homes, and ongoing partnership work to improve resilience through strategy, community action and sustainable drainage schemes.
The government has announced changes to the Cladding Safety Scheme and building assessment certificate processes, with remediation funding for buildings under 11 metres to be prioritised by risk to residents rather than height alone. It also signalled wider building safety reforms, including a future Single Construction Regulator, a National Remediation Database from autumn 2026, and further consultations to streamline regulatory processes while maintaining safety standards.
A London construction company and its director have been fined after an incorrectly assembled tower scaffold overturned and injured two members of the public in Putney. The Health and Safety Executive found failures in the design, installation and maintenance of the temporary structure, including inadequate separation from the public and the added wind load created by sheeting.
A residential renovation project in Bangor, North Wales, led to the death of an 18-year-old apprentice joiner after unsecured board materials fell on her. The employer was fined and its director received a suspended prison sentence after the Health and Safety Executive found failures in supervision, risk assessment, training and safe storage of materials.
The Government has extended cladding remediation funding to low-rise buildings under 11 metres, with support to be channelled through the existing Cladding Safety Scheme and prioritised by risk to life. Campaigners have welcomed the move in principle but warn that limited funding and a case-by-case approach could prolong delays for leaseholders facing unresolved safety defects.
A man in his thirties died after falling from height at a construction site in Mayfair, central London. Police are leading the response, and the Health and Safety Executive has been informed; the article also notes that falls from height remain the most common cause of fatal injury across sectors.
Ministers have indicated a policy shift in remediation funding for unsafe buildings, with greater emphasis on prioritising buildings by risk rather than by height. The move suggests that some low-rise buildings may become eligible for support where risk justifies intervention.
A school building in Devon constructed by ISG is set to be demolished and rebuilt rather than repaired after structural problems were identified. The issue has affected a Department for Education project, with the defects severe enough to prevent the building from ever being used.
