Green Steel & Cladding Ltd has appeared in court facing a corporate manslaughter charge following the death of a worker in April 2021, alongside related Health and Safety at Work Act offences. A company officer, Paul Gaines, is separately charged with gross negligence manslaughter and related health and safety offences, with the case now moving to Leicester Crown Court.
Ainscough Crane Hire is pursuing a £1.3m claim against Keltbray Plant over alleged damage to a 750-tonne mobile crane during lifting work on a wind turbine in Hull. The dispute centres on responsibility for rigging, supervision and planning under the CPA Crane Hire Agreement, after the crane’s hoist rope allegedly failed and the machine was out of service for 147 days.
Gilbert Ash has been appointed main contractor for the £40m refurbishment of RIBA’s Grade II*-listed headquarters at 66 Portland Place in London. The scheme is part of RIBA’s wider House of Architecture programme and will include upgrades to building services, the external envelope, accessibility, fire safety, environmental performance and health and safety, with the project positioned as a pilot for the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard.
The Ministry of Justice has awarded an enabling works contract for a planned £236m prison near Leyland, Lancashire, as part of its Alliance 4 New Prisons programme. The scheme, which has planning permission, is intended to provide around 1,700 prison places and includes associated buildings and site works, while a separate £110m package will fund prison conversions and land acquisition for future capacity.
The article examines England’s new Hospital 2.0 programme, which will use standardised designs, digital tools and modern methods of construction across a £14bn pipeline. It warns that, without a prototype phase, early design or construction issues could be replicated across multiple schemes, especially where Building Safety Regulator gateway approvals are required.
Applications are now open for cladding remediation funding for buildings under 11 metres where a fire risk appraisal of external walls identifies unsafe cladding presenting a serious life-critical fire safety risk. The scheme is delivered through the Cladding Safety Scheme by Homes England and forms part of a wider shift by MHCLG toward prioritising remediation based on risk rather than building height.
Mount Anvil reported higher annualised pre-tax profit despite setting aside a £14m provision for fire-safety and cladding remediation on legacy developments. The company said surveys and remedial work are ongoing, with most of the expected costs anticipated to be recovered from third parties, while its London new-build market remains subdued.
The Scottish Government has said a review into whether Scottish councils can remain impartial when approving their own building projects is due to conclude in October. The study will assess how effectively Scotland’s pre-emptive building standards system secures compliance with building regulations.
Durkan has announced it will withdraw from contracting after more than 50 years, citing rising legislative and regulatory burdens, higher risk and weaker returns. The decision comes alongside a widened pre-tax loss, lower contracting revenue, and significant fire-safety remediation costs linked to legacy projects.
Lovell has paused work at its Maryon Road site in east London after a partial collapse involving nearby terraced properties on Woodland Terrace in Charlton. The incident affected multiple households, prompted evacuations and temporary accommodation, and is now under investigation with an independent structural engineer commissioned to assess the properties.
Durkan has reportedly withdrawn from contracting, citing poor profitability and elevated risk. The firm says increasing regulatory burden is contributing to higher risk and declining returns in the sector.
The article reports that Telford Homes has seen losses widen, with turnover also falling. It attributes part of the pressure to a jump in building safety costs, indicating continued financial strain linked to safety-related obligations in the housebuilding sector.
