Keltbray buys nmcn infrastructure business
Keltbray has agreed a deal to acquire a portfolio of infrastructure contracts and associated assets from nmcn which went into administration last week.
The latest move secures the futures of 117 former nmcn employees and Keltbray will take over existing contracts with immediate effect.
Some infrastructure contracts were not transferred as part of the deal leading to 19 redundancies
The acquired contracts will be managed within Keltbray’s existing infrastructure division reporting to Managing Director, Phill Price.
Keltbray CEO, Darren James said: “Keltbray are pleased with the ‘on strategy’ opportunities presented by the acquisition of these contracts, working with clients on some of the UK’s most important infrastructure projects.
“Today’s announcement accelerates our plans to build a resilient, growth-oriented business. Equally important, we have also safeguarded 117 valuable jobs and livelihoods that could otherwise have been lost to our industry.
“The acquisition has required a very rapid, but collaborative approach, and Keltbray would like to thank all parties for their proactivity throughout. I look forward to working with my new colleagues as we build a rewarding future together as one Keltbray.”
The Keltbray deal is the final sell-off of nmcn which went into administration last week.
Galliford Try bought the water business for £1m saving 900 jobs while Svella picked-up the telecoms, plant hire, transport and accommodation divisions saving 680 jobs.
Administrator Grant Thornton was unable to find a buyer for the building division leading to 80 redundancies.
Spokesperson for Grant Thornton, Rob Parker said: “We are very pleased to have secured this third sale which means that within less than a week of our appointment we have secured over 1600 jobs and helped to maintain continuity and minimise the impact for the greater majority of nmcn’s customers, many of which were involved in important infrastructure projects across the UK. It was important to ensure that transactions were completed as quickly as possible.
“Sadly it was not possible to transfer all of the Infrastructure contracts and therefore regrettably we have today announced 19 redundancies.
“Our focus as administrators now turns to assisting the purchasers of the various parts of nmcn with post completion matters and dealing with the other assets of the company. We will be providing further updates in due course.
“The Joint Administrators would like to thank the efforts of Lee Marks, Alan Foster and the nmcn and Grant Thornton teams for their hard work in achieving these sales.”
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Cement giants hasten plan to cut CO2 emissions
Forty of the world’s leading cement and concrete manufacturers have joined forces to accelerate the shift to greener concrete by pledging to cut CO2 emissions by a further 25% by 2030.
The world’s most used human-made material accounts for 7% of total global CO2 emissions and is a pivotal material in the response to the climate emergency.
The cement producers target marks the biggest global commitment by an industry to net zero so far – bringing together companies from the Americas, Africa, Asia, including India and China, and Europe.
The firms have affirmed their commitment to net zero concrete by 2050 and agreed to a more ambitious intermediate goal of preventing 5 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2030.
This is equivalent to the CO2 emissions of almost 15 billion flights from Paris to New York.
The roadmap to get there is built around a seven-point plan that seeks to cut the amount of CO2intensive clinker in cement, significantly reduce fossil fuel use in manufacturing, and accelerate innovation in products, process efficiency and breakthrough technologies including carbon capture.
Cement industry net-zero plan
The Global Cement and Concrete Association has also called on governments, designers and contractors to play their part by assembling the right public policies and investments to support the global scale transition of the industry.
These include greater development of critical technologies such as carbon capture and storage, and reforms to public works procurement policy to encourage the use of low-carbon cement and concrete products.
Thomas Guillot, GCCA Chief Executive, said: “We now need governments around the world to work with us and use their huge procurement power to advocate for low carbon concrete in their infrastructure and housing needs.
“We require their support to change regulation that limits the use of recycled materials and impedes the transition to a low carbon and circular economy.”
The association counts companies such as CEMEX, CNBM, CRH, HeidelbergCement, Holcim and Votorantim as members.
Click for cement and concrete roadmap to net zero.
Big HS2 tunnel segment factory to be built in Hartlepool
An old oil rig fabrication site in Hartlepool is set to be the home of a precast concrete tunnel segment factory for HS2, creating over 100 new jobs.
Austria’s largest construction firm Strabag will build the facility to fulfil a 36,000 segment contract for its joint venture with Costain Skanska delivering twin bored tunnels from HS2’s new Old Oak Common station to Green Parkway running underneath Northolt.
To be located at Hartlepool Dock, owned and operated by PD Ports, construction of the new factory will begin in January 2022 to start production of 6-tonne precast concrete tunnel segments will commence in December 2022.
Work will start by redeveloping the exterior land parcel to suit the segment storage requirements and rail logistics platform.
Former oil rig fabrication site at Hartlepool Port
Then focus will turn to the internal fit-out which will house an advanced automated segment carousel and reinforcement hall.
Robots will also be controlled by telemetry to produce the high quality reinforcement cages required for each segment.
HS2’s chief commercial officer, Ruth Todd, said:“The decision to manufacture the segments not only in the UK, but in a new facility in the North East, is another demonstration of how HS2 is having a positive impact on regional economies across the UK and helping the country to build back better after the pandemic.”
Andrew Dixon, Commercial Director at Strabag said: “This new production facility in Hartlepool and our existing precast factory in Wilton for the Woodsmith Mine project underline our long-term commitment to the region.”
This contract is the second of two for precast concrete tunnel segments for HS2’s London tunnels.
Pacadar UK will be delivering 58,000 segments for the first London tunnel being constructed between West Ruislip and Green Park Way, in Ealing. The combined length of HS2’s London tunnels being constructed by SCS JV is 26miles, the same length as Crossrail.
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Last cooling towers blown down at Eggborough – video
DSM Demolition successfully demolished on Sunday morning the last four cooling towers at the former Eggborough power station plant in Goole, North Yorkshire.
The landscape changing demolition was the next key milestone in the redevelopment of the site, earmarked for mixed-use regeneration in a joint venture between St Francis Group and Marshall Commercial Development Projects.
The implosion took place at 9am within the perimeter of a secured 350m diameter exclusion zone to safeguard the public.
Over 50 DSM staff implemented the localised road closures and the exclusion zone employing heat-seeking drones to ensure the zone was completely clear in advance of the works.
The 90m high towers were only 60m from the National Grid sub-station open switch gear and overhead lines, this was a challenging aspect of the job and meticulous planning and protective measures were required to ensure that works did not impact on their continuing operations
DSM Project Manager, James Fincham said: “18-months of planning and work on site to achieve what has been accomplished on Sunday is a testament to the demolition team on site and all involved with the project.
“Plans and preparation are now well underway for the further demolition works to be undertaken in 2022.”
St Francis Group Director of Operations, Simon Dale said: “The team have worked diligently over the past few months to ensure the event was planned, co-ordinated and implemented safely.
“The removal of all eight cooling towers is a significant milestone for the development, and we look forward to working further with DSM and others to regenerate this site and create economic development for the region.”
Sale agreed for final £70m stalled Elliot Group scheme
Agreement has been reached for the sale of the last of four stalled Elliot Group schemes after the developer collapsed into administration following the arrest of founder Elliot Lawless.
Administrators for the company’s £70m hotel scheme on Norfolk Street in Liverpool’s Baltic tech district have exchanged contracts with the scheme’s original investors.
HBG Insolvency Ltd will now put the sale proposal before the High Court for final ratification.
The 306-bedroom property had secured planning permission and construction had commenced, before ceasing when investors decided not to continue funding the project following Lawless’s arrest in December 2019.
Lawless said: “When my schemes were placed in administration I made a promise that I would work ceaselessly to help secure each site’s sale and protect the interests of investors, so I am delighted that my final stalled scheme is to be acquired by its original investors.
“The process, as with the other administrations, has been handled by a third party under strict rules and I sympathise with investors whose bids for The Residence and Infinity weren’t successful.
“It has not been easy but with flexibility and good will on all sides the administrators have been able to ensure that all of my stalled projects will now be placed in the hands of new owners and move forward to completion.
“What this latest deal reinforces is that my projects were always very good schemes in prime locations. I’ll take considerable satisfaction from seeing them completed. If you take a look at the outstanding job done by the investors who bought Aura in Liverpool, for example, you can see that the original vision for each project can still be delivered in the right hands.”
No charges have ever been brought against Lawless and he says he “looks forward to Merseyside Police concluding their investigation.”
Willmott Dixon wins £10.9m Oxford decarbonisation deal
Willmott Dixon will work with Oxford City Council on a £10.9m project to reduce carbon emissions from public leisure centres.
The programme will see water and air source heat pumps installed at four leisure centres around the city.
The work is part of the council’s aim to become a Zero Carbon Council across its own estate and operations by 2030, with leisure centres responsible for around 40% of current building carbon emissions.
Richard Poulter, Managing Director from Willmott Dixon’s Central South region said: “We are proud to be working alongside Oxford City Council on this exciting carbon reduction project, which will deliver a step change in the mitigation of fossil fuels in the local community.
“The programme is close to our heart and through our own 2030 ‘Now or Never’ Sustainability strategy, we have committed to achieving net zero operational carbon on all our new buildings and major refurbishments within the next decade.
“Working in tandem alongside the council, Fusion Lifestyle and the local community, we will deliver the works as swiftly as possible while ensuring the highest standards are met, ensuring the leisure centres provide the best possible facilities once the works are complete.”
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Re-energised Kier tops September contracts league
Kier has bounced back with a winning streak of contract wins after getting its finances back on track.
The firm top September’s contracts league with a haul of 22 project wins, including the £200m Liverpool Bixteth Place office scheme for its in-house property division and a £66m project for Thames Water to modernise Mogden Sewage Treatment Works in Isleworth.
The surge of projects last month also lifted Kier from sixth to second place in the 12-month rolling league table of secured work just behind league leader Morgan Sindall.
Click for full tables
According to data collected by information specialist Barbour ABI, other big project wins included Buckingham Group securing a major warehouse deal for Trixtax at Symmetry Park near Kettering, south of junction 9 of the A14.
Infrastructure works will be completed early next year allowinbg new logistics buildings of up to 1.3 million sq ft to be delivered by late 2023.
The firm also bagged a £45m warehouse job for Prologis at Pineham Buisness Park in Northamptonshire, due to start towards of the end of this year.
Two new warehouses will be built on cleared land at Pineham business park
Among the other big wins Vinci secured a major near £80m deal for student accommodation for the University of the West of England at its Frenchay Campus in Bristol.
Design for UWE blocks which will be the largest Passivhaus student scheme in the country
Phase one of the £200m scheme will initially involve demolishing the existing Carroll Court buildings and constructing 900-bed spaces across three buildings rising to six-storeys.
ISGbagged Millennium Bridge House redevelopment in London
On the civil side Bam Nuttall signed an ECI deal to deliver detailed design and advance works for the £118m Cross Tay Link Road in Scotland.
The new road north of Perth will connect the A9 to the A93 and A94 north of Scone.
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Crest Plus passes HMRC compliance inspection
Outsourced CIS payroll provider and Umbrella Company Crest Plus has passed its latest HMRC compliance inspection.
HMRC’s inspection team regularly carry out compliance checks on payroll companies like Crest Plus, assessing approximately the tax agents per week.
In the latest check HMRC’s agent conducted an in-depth analysis of Crest Plus’ tax return service, exploring how they maintain compliance standards throughout the process.
Detailed checks were carried out on the multi-step procedure, from how they compliantly engage with clients; carry out and evidence the returns; communicate assurances with clients; and finally submit the tax return.
Val Lawton, Managing Director at Crest Plus said: “One of our core values has always been and always will be that we put compliance first. The importance of operating compliant systems and processes can’t be undervalued in our sector, especially as we aim to provide the highest level of customer care to our clients and agency partners.
“Passing this inspection was a great achievement and a satisfying reward for our teams who work hard day-in, day-out to ensure rigorous checks are carried out and regulation is always followed to the letter. We’re very proud of our tax return procedure and happy with the positive feedback from HMRC’s inspector.”
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Nmcn Building division fails to find buyer as 80 jobs lost
Administrators at nmcn have been unable to sell the group’s Building division leading to 80 redundancies.
Grant Thornton were appointed administrators of the contractor in Wednesday and have since overseen the sale of the Water, Telecoms and Plant divisions safeguarding more than 1,500 jobs.
The Infrastructure division is also set to be sold within the next few days.
But joint administrator Rob Parker said: “It is, however, with regret, that due to a number of legacy contract issues, the Joint Administrators have not been able to achieve a sale of the Group’s Buildings division, which together with some other central roles in the Group has resulted in the redundancy of 80 people.
“The Grant Thornton team will work with the employees affected to support them through this process”
News of the redundancies came as CEO Lee Marks posted a message to all employees.
He said: “The past few days, indeed weeks, have been very hard. I joined nmcn at the end of May with a clear set of objectives: put simply, to make the business a success – a company to admire, and a great home for our talented and dedicated workforce, loyal customers and suppliers. To achieve great things and make the company a fun and engaging place to work.
“Alas, despite the very best of efforts of us all, we ran out of time. You learn a lot in adversity and I will never forget the day I had to tell 1800 people to go home, placing them at risk of redundancy. Anyone with an ounce of human compassion knows just how worrying that is for my many colleagues and their dependant families. I feel for all of you and I am only sorry I could not have done more. ‘Gutted’ might be a better phrase.
“When the inevitable seem the only plausible outcome, we kicked into ‘plan B’. A plan to save as many jobs as we could and save the business. We have been working round the clock (literally) to achieve that outcome, and it is fantastic that today we have been able to formally announce that our Water (and specialist companies – Lintott, Fabrications and Asset Security), Telecoms, Plant, transport and accommodation divisions have transferred into the new ownership of Galliford Try and Svella, respectively.
“We are working hard to conclude a remaining deal for one of our other divisions which should transact in the next couple of days.
“Whilst this was not the outcome I had planned, I am immensely pleased that we will have saved the vast majority of jobs and provide continuity for our customers. I would thank our customers for their forbearance and support.
“Sadly, as in all these situations, there are some colleagues who will not be as fortunate and I would ask for sensitivity at this difficult time and I wish them luck in their new pursuits.
“Finally, I would like to thank my leadership team for their support, and the team at Grant Thornton for working with me to achieve this largely positive outcome.
“But most of all, I would like to say a huge thanks to my many and wonderful colleagues at nmcn. We do not all go on together, but I am certain you have a bright and exciting future. It was my pleasure to be your captain and we played in a good team. Sometimes though, we do not win every match. That does not mean we should not give up hope of finishing top. You have the capability to be the best. Work hard, seize these new opportunities and do great things. All the very best and keep in touch.”
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Anti-construction protesters face six months in jail
Tougher penalties for protesters will include new measures to protect key construction sites.
Home Secretary Priti Patel revealed a raft of tougher penalties and new police powers in the wake of chaos caused by Insulate Britain members.
The measures will also cover campaigners who try and disrupt major infrastructure jobs like HS2 which have been hit by demonstrations.
Penalties for blocking construction will see a new offence of obstructing the construction of authorised infrastructure introduced carrying a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both.
The government will also propose amendments to deal with the “lock-on” tactics used by groups including Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain where demonstrators physically attach themselves to objects.
A new offence will be introduced to criminalise the act of locking-on and new stop and search powers will allow police officers to search individuals and seize items that are likely to be used for lock-ons.
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