Carillion‘s joint venture with Equitix has been appointed to deliver the Midlands Private Finance Batch under the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP).

The Selected Bidder will finance, design, build and provide hard facilities management for the eight schools under a £190 million Public Private Partnership scheme.

This programme forms part of the Government’s £750 million Priority School Building Programme through which the Education Funding Agency is procuring projects to renew those parts of the schools estate in England that have been prioritised for replacement or upgrading.

Carillion expects to invest up to approximately £9 million of equity in the project from which we also expect to generate construction and services revenues of approximately £190 million over the life of the 27-year construction and concession contract.

The Midlands Priority Schools Building Programme will improve education facilities and outcomes for the pupils and staff in the eight schools listed below, by replacing substandard buildings and providing excellent facilities to support teaching and learning.

Schools:

Alfreton Grange Arts College, Derbyshire

ARK Kings Academy, Birmingham

Greenwood Academy, Birmingham

Plantsbrook School, Birmingham

President Kennedy School, Coventry

The Phoenix Collegiate, Sandwell

The Queen Elizabeth Academy, Warwickshire

Top Valley Academy, Nottingham

Carillion Chief Executive, Richard Howson said: “We are delighted that we have been appointed as the Selected Bidder for the Midlands Private Finance Batch under the Priority School Building Programme.

“This is the second major PPP project in the UK for which we have been selected as the preferred bidder this year, following our success in being selected for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route in which we will invest some £20 million of equity and from which we expect to generate around £175 million of construction revenue.”

Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics show that between 2012 and 2013 Wales saw a 3.4% increase in GVA (Gross Value Added) per head, the fastest growth out of all the nations and regions of the UK.

Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb said they show that the Government’s long-term economic plan is working for Wales, paving the way for more jobs and boosting employment.

Since 2010, Wales’ GVA per head has grown by 8.4%, the fastest growth out of all of the UK nations and regions after London.

Figures published this week by Markit also show that Wales saw the strongest rise in business activity during November since July 2014.

Stephen Crabb said: “These figures are great news and show that our long term economic plan is working for Wales.

“Since 2010 we have lower unemployment, more jobs and now evidence of faster growth than almost any other part of the UK.

“We still have long way to catch up – but the plan we have put in place is Wales’ best hope of building a stronger economy. It would be madness to abandon it now and put the recovery at risk for so many people in Wales.”

Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics show that between 2012 and 2013 Wales saw a 3.4% increase in GVA (Gross Value Added) per head, the fastest growth out of all the nations and regions of the UK.

Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb said they show that the Government’s long-term economic plan is working for Wales, paving the way for more jobs and boosting employment.

Since 2010, Wales’ GVA per head has grown by 8.4%, the fastest growth out of all of the UK nations and regions after London.

Figures published this week by Markit also show that Wales saw the strongest rise in business activity during November since July 2014.

Stephen Crabb said: “These figures are great news and show that our long term economic plan is working for Wales.

“Since 2010 we have lower unemployment, more jobs and now evidence of faster growth than almost any other part of the UK.

“We still have long way to catch up – but the plan we have put in place is Wales’ best hope of building a stronger economy. It would be madness to abandon it now and put the recovery at risk for so many people in Wales.”

Hull City Council has chosen Willmott Dixon as preferred bidder for a £60 million Green Deal and ECO partnership to deliver energy improvements to 3,000 homes across the city.

Hull City Council is one of only a small number of local authorities to ‘partner’ and work collaboratively with an Energy Efficiency Partner for a period of five years to help residents access Green Deal measures in a simplified way.

Refurbishment work by Willmott Dixon will include improvements to homes in the Preston Road and Orchard Park regeneration areas. It will include external solid wall insulation similar to that delivered in other areas of the city, along with other forms of insulation, plus draught-proofing, double glazing and renewable energy generation, such as, solar panels or heat pumps.

Councillor Martin Mancey, Portfolio Holder for Energy City, said: “This is another positive step forward for Hull in becoming a leading UK Energy City. Bringing significant investment and much needed employment and training opportunities to the city.

“We have set an encouraging 80 per cent target to use local labour to undertake the improvement works, highlighting our commitment to employing local businesses and residents.”

This contract expands the significant ECO and Green Deal presence of Willmott Dixon Energy Services in the North of England. The company is currently working with the West Yorkshire Combined Authorities, the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, Leeds Federated Housing Association and Golden Gates Housing Trust. Also, in North Wales it is delivering the Arbed programme.

Rob Lambe, Willmott Dixon Energy Services managing director said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Hull City Council to transform homes across the city – it’s a major step forward for the Green Deal. Our work to install energy efficiency improvements will help residents reduce their fuel bills and live in warmer, healthier homes.”

Hull City Council has chosen Willmott Dixon as preferred bidder for a £60 million Green Deal and ECO partnership to deliver energy improvements to 3,000 homes across the city.

Hull City Council is one of only a small number of local authorities to ‘partner’ and work collaboratively with an Energy Efficiency Partner for a period of five years to help residents access Green Deal measures in a simplified way.

Refurbishment work by Willmott Dixon will include improvements to homes in the Preston Road and Orchard Park regeneration areas. It will include external solid wall insulation similar to that delivered in other areas of the city, along with other forms of insulation, plus draught-proofing, double glazing and renewable energy generation, such as, solar panels or heat pumps.

Councillor Martin Mancey, Portfolio Holder for Energy City, said: “This is another positive step forward for Hull in becoming a leading UK Energy City. Bringing significant investment and much needed employment and training opportunities to the city.

“We have set an encouraging 80 per cent target to use local labour to undertake the improvement works, highlighting our commitment to employing local businesses and residents.”

This contract expands the significant ECO and Green Deal presence of Willmott Dixon Energy Services in the North of England. The company is currently working with the West Yorkshire Combined Authorities, the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, Leeds Federated Housing Association and Golden Gates Housing Trust. Also, in North Wales it is delivering the Arbed programme.

Rob Lambe, Willmott Dixon Energy Services managing director said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Hull City Council to transform homes across the city – it’s a major step forward for the Green Deal. Our work to install energy efficiency improvements will help residents reduce their fuel bills and live in warmer, healthier homes.”

Leeds Enterprise Zone is gearing up to become one of the country’s premier locations for engineering and modern manufacturing thanks to millions of pounds of government funding, Local Growth Minister Penny Mordaunt has announced.

The Minister visited the enterprise zone to see how £8.57 million of Government investment is being used to improve infrastructure, unlock development and pave the way for thousands of new jobs for the region.

It comes just days after the Autumn Statement in which the Chancellor announced that up to £25 million would be spent upgrading nearby junction 45 of the M1, significantly improving access to the zone and providing a boost to the local construction sector.

Local Growth Minister Penny Mordaunt said: “Leeds Enterprise Zone is really starting to take shape and everything I’ve seen today tells me it’s going to be a great success.

“Companies can have every confidence that this is a world-class facility and we are investing millions to ensure they have infrastructure in place to grow their business.

“It’s all part of our long-term economic plan to create a northern powerhouse that drives forward local economies, create jobs and delivers real benefits to hard-working people.”

Covering 142 hectares of prime development land, the enterprise zone is already home to a number of well-established companies, including Roberts Mart, one of the UK’s largest packaging manufacturers, floor covering manufacturer Mercado and branded foods manufacturer Symington’s.

The government opened the zones in April 2012 as part of a 25-year project to rebalance the economy, offering tax incentives, simplified planning and super fast broadband to companies. Latest figures show they have created 12,530 jobs, attracted 434 new businesses and generated over £2 billion worth of private investment.

Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said: “There has been significant progress on the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone this year and I am pleased government has recognised the hard work and commitment from our public and private partners.

“We will continue to explore new opportunities for further development and promote the scale of opportunity this major investment location brings the City Region and the entire country.”

Wandsworth Council has launched an international competition to design a new bridge across the River Thames as part of a £1 billion infrastructure scheme in Central London.

The 480 acre Nine Elms district is now well into the construction phase and on course to create thousands of affordable homes, 25,000 jobs and billions in growth for the UK economy.

The Nine Elms to Pimlico bridge is part of a major infrastructure package transforming the Nine Elms regeneration area into a well connected Zone One destination.

As well as the bridge there are two new Northern Line tube stops, improvements to rail stations, two riverbus piers and a new network of footpaths, parks and cycle lanes.

A Transport for London feasibility study completed in 2013 found that there is a strong transport case for a new bridge at Nine Elms and it would provide pedestrians and cyclists with an attractive car-free alternative to Chelsea or Vauxhall Bridges.

Around £26 million is committed to the project through the development of Nine Elms and the new design would be used to lever-in match funding.

Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council and co-chair of the Nine Elms Vauxhall Partnership, said: “This is a competition to find a team of brilliant engineers and architects to design a beautiful bridge spanning the Thames.

“This bridge has the potential to become an inspiring landmark, heralding the changes that are taking place south of the river and making vital connections to the north shore. The transport case is strong and this will be a valuable and sustainable addition to London’s transport infrastructure.

“This bridge needs to be designed to the highest quality standards; it must be inspiring, elegant and functional. The conundrum of creating a bridge that can be readily used by cyclists and pedestrians alike, that also provides adequate headroom for river traffic, is at the heart of the challenge.

“The design must also win the hearts and minds of Londoners, particularly the people living in the local area. Developing an inspiring, beautiful design will help us to leverage further funding and take the project to the next stage.”

Once the winning design is selected, it would need to go through the planning process before work could begin.

More people will get help to improve the energy efficiency of their homes through a new release of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund that will boost the trades.

The popular scheme will open to new applications from this week, with up to £5,600 available to households, to help with the cost of installing energy saving measures such as solid wall insulation, double glazing, boilers, cavity wall and floor insulation.

In providing a fund to householders the Green Deal will create job opportunities for professionals in the energy efficiency sector while helping economic growth.

It is estimated that more than 1100 Green Deal authorised businesses are currently registered to provide work under the scheme.

Up to £30 million in vouchers will be available and details of further releases will be announced on a quarterly basis with the next release expected in February 2015.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: “This fund is a big success story for the Green Deal – helping thousands of people improve their homes so that they’re warmer, greener and cheaper to run.

“The best way people can cut their energy bills, this winter and every winter, is to improve their homes so that they leak less heat and use less energy. That’s why we’ve increased the funding available for the Green Deal to help even more people start saving money sooner.”

Once the funding under each category has been committed, no more applications will be taken for that category – though applications will still be taken for the other category if funds are still available.

The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund launched in June and has already provided vouchers for more than 20,000 households. Through this second release of funding, domestic energy customers can now receive:

• up to £4000 for installing solid wall insulation;

• up to £1000 for installing two measures from an approved list;

• up to £100 refunded for their Green Deal Assessment;

• up to £500 more if applying within 12 months of buying a new home.

Householders are encouraged to get more than one quote, particularly when they are having expensive work done, to make sure they are getting the best deal available.

The £100 million announced in October is in addition to the £450 million allocated to household energy efficiency over three years, which was announced in December 2013.

In providing a fund to householders the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund will create job opportunities for the energy efficiency sector as a whole. More than 1100 Green Deal authorised businesses are currently registered to provide work under the scheme.

Funds are limited and DECC may vary the terms of the scheme (including the incentive rates) or suspend or close the scheme, with immediate effect, without notice and at any time.

Bouygues UK has been awarded a £27 million design and build contract by developers Morgan Capital Partners LLP at 45 Cannon Street in the City of London.

This deal will see the demolition of the existing offices and the construction of a new eight-floor office building, including a Category A fit-out and the addition of 13,000sqm of retail space on the ground floor.

The award comes hot on the heels of the handover of another major office refurbishment at 71 Queen Victoria Street, which is a stone’s throw away from the new site at 45 Cannon Street, in the heart of London’s financial district.

As part of the works, the entrance to Mansion House underground station will also be refurbished as it sits on the site. Bouygues UK is aiming for a BREEAM Excellent rating on the project.

Arnaud Bekaert, Bouygues UK’s Managing Director for Construction London and South East said: “We have a solid reputation for taking existing office sites and redeveloping them to maximise the commercial space available for clients. This in turn is helping businesses to meet the continued and growing demand for more offices in the capital.

“We’ve recently completed our office building at Queen Victoria Street; signed a deal to deliver new apartments for The Hempel Collection in Bayswater and handed over the last of 17 schools that formed part of the Tower Hamlets Building Schools for the Future Programme.

“That, coupled with the work that my colleagues are doing on the Housing and Development side of the business means that we’re diversifying and consolidating our already strong presence in London and the South East.”

Demolition work is already being carried out on site, with Bouygues UK scheduled to begin construction work in the New Year. The project is due for completion in 2016.

Bouygues UK has been awarded a £27 million design and build contract by developers Morgan Capital Partners LLP at 45 Cannon Street in the City of London.

This deal will see the demolition of the existing offices and the construction of a new eight-floor office building, including a Category A fit-out and the addition of 13,000sqm of retail space on the ground floor.

The award comes hot on the heels of the handover of another major office refurbishment at 71 Queen Victoria Street, which is a stone’s throw away from the new site at 45 Cannon Street, in the heart of London’s financial district.

As part of the works, the entrance to Mansion House underground station will also be refurbished as it sits on the site. Bouygues UK is aiming for a BREEAM Excellent rating on the project.

Arnaud Bekaert, Bouygues UK’s Managing Director for Construction London and South East said: “We have a solid reputation for taking existing office sites and redeveloping them to maximise the commercial space available for clients. This in turn is helping businesses to meet the continued and growing demand for more offices in the capital.

“We’ve recently completed our office building at Queen Victoria Street; signed a deal to deliver new apartments for The Hempel Collection in Bayswater and handed over the last of 17 schools that formed part of the Tower Hamlets Building Schools for the Future Programme.

“That, coupled with the work that my colleagues are doing on the Housing and Development side of the business means that we’re diversifying and consolidating our already strong presence in London and the South East.”

Demolition work is already being carried out on site, with Bouygues UK scheduled to begin construction work in the New Year. The project is due for completion in 2016.