Interserve has been awarded a £35 million contract by Birmingham Children’s Hospital to design and build an exciting new clinical facility in central Birmingham.

The Steelhouse Lane facility will provide new and improved patient facilities for cancer, haematology and stem cell services, three theatres and 18 surgical beds, and a new rare diseases centre for children and young people.

The ProCure21+ (P21+) project, which is being designed in partnership with the hospital’s clinicians and architects BDP, is currently in the design phase with work due to start on site early in 2016 and completion expected during 2017.

Simon Butler, Interserve’s Divisional Director, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to play such a key role in delivering a world class children’s hospital.

“As one of the official Principal Supply Chain Partners (PSCP) for P21+ we have extensive experience in the delivery of innovative and successful healthcare schemes and we are looking forward to working collaboratively with Birmingham Children’s Hospital.”

Wates Construction has been given a £22.8 million school contract in Newham as part of the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP).

The Education Funding Agency (EFA) and Wates reached financial close on the Little Ilford School in Newham.

With construction now underway, the new build project will comprise a 10,703 sq m. four-storey secondary education facility that will see the school increase its capacity from 1,350 to 1,525 for students aged 11 to 16 years.

Designed by CPMG, the new building will incorporate a sports hall extension and a multi-use facilities.The new school has been designed utilising Wates’ Adapt Schools Solutions model, a standardised solution that facilitates the time and cost efficient delivery of new school buildings.

The Little Ilford contract forms part of the EFA’s £78 million batch of schools being delivered in Barking, Dagenham and Newham under the PSBP, which also includes Eastbrook School in Dagenham and Eastbury School in Barking. Wates was appointed to deliver the batch in January this year.

Since the EFA’s launch of the capitally funded PSBP, Wates has been appointed as main contractor to deliver over £100 million of new and refurbished school buildings on behalf of the EFA. These include schools in Coventry, the North West and East of England.

Ian Vickers, Managing Director for Wates Construction, Home Counties, said: “This project will once again showcase our commitment to delivering high quality educational facilities under the Priority Schools Building Programme.”

The £30 million redevelopment will see the transformation of the Art Gallery, Cowdray Hall and Memorial Hall through significant investment and building work.

A Heritage Lottery Fund grant of almost £10 million has been awarded for the ambitious Aberdeen Art Gallery redevelopment programme that will provide improved facilities for visitors.

Aberdeen City Council has already committed £10 million from its Non-Housing Capital Fund towards the overall cost of the project, and there will be a public and philanthropic fundraising campaign for the remaining £10 million required.

Interior plans include the creation of 21 gallery spaces in place of the existing 11,500sqm space in which to showcase international-quality exhibitions, and a community gallery in a new wing at the rear of the building.

Exterior plans involve removing the pitched roofs and skylights behind the parapets of the main building and adding a new storey of accommodation for temporary galleries and a learning zone.

Aberdeen City Council’s Deputy Leader Councillor Marie Boulton said: “The formal hand over of Aberdeen Art Gallery’s keys to contractors McLaughlin & Harvey of Belfast is a key milestone in this multi-million pound redevelopment project.”

Michael Kieran, McLaughlin & Harvey Construction Director, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this prestigious contract and look forward to working closely with the Design Team and Aberdeen City Council to restore and improve this facility. The finished building will provide the city with an Art Gallery that will rank amongst the best in its class.”

The £30 million redevelopment will see the transformation of the Art Gallery, Cowdray Hall and Memorial Hall through significant investment and building work.

A Heritage Lottery Fund grant of almost £10 million has been awarded for the ambitious Aberdeen Art Gallery redevelopment programme that will provide improved facilities for visitors.

Aberdeen City Council has already committed £10 million from its Non-Housing Capital Fund towards the overall cost of the project, and there will be a public and philanthropic fundraising campaign for the remaining £10 million required.

Interior plans include the creation of 21 gallery spaces in place of the existing 11,500sqm space in which to showcase international-quality exhibitions, and a community gallery in a new wing at the rear of the building.

Exterior plans involve removing the pitched roofs and skylights behind the parapets of the main building and adding a new storey of accommodation for temporary galleries and a learning zone.

Aberdeen City Council’s Deputy Leader Councillor Marie Boulton said: “The formal hand over of Aberdeen Art Gallery’s keys to contractors McLaughlin & Harvey of Belfast is a key milestone in this multi-million pound redevelopment project.”

Michael Kieran, McLaughlin & Harvey Construction Director, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this prestigious contract and look forward to working closely with the Design Team and Aberdeen City Council to restore and improve this facility. The finished building will provide the city with an Art Gallery that will rank amongst the best in its class.”

Mayor Boris Johnson has announced new Growth Commission to help realise Crossrail 2‘s full potential to boost economic growth in London and across the UK.

The Mayor has the support from more than 50 top business leaders who back the economic case for Crossrail 2 as vital to securing hundreds of thousands of new homes and jobs.

The construction of Crossrail 2 will support the UK engineering, construction and manufacturing sectors with a supply chain supporting around 60,000 full time jobs.

This is in addition to the 18,000 who will be employed directly during the peak of construction and over 1,300 new jobs that will be created to operate Crossrail 2.

The Commission will help maximise the benefit of the new railway by bringing together the London boroughs, county councils outside London and other key business and development stakeholders along the route to work together on how the railway can best support housing and job creation.

Tens of thousands of homes could be built ahead of opening in anticipation of the improved connectivity, helping to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, said: “Crossrail 2 will help realise London’s full economic potential, increasing the nation’s productivity and creating thousands of new jobs and homes.

“Major projects take time to plan and prepare and with Crossrail 1 nearing completion, we must move quickly to the next transformational growth project which could see even more benefits delivered. Crossrail 2 will support up to 200,000 more homes and jobs, adding billions of pounds to the national economy and ensuing a prosperous future for the whole country.”

Once operational, Crossrail 2 will allow more people to access jobs, supporting the creation of up to 200,000 new jobs, both locally and in London’s highly productive central area.

A PWC study published in 2014 showed that at least half the cost of Crossrail 2 can be met by London. By linking homes and jobs Crossrail 2 could deliver net additional GVA benefits – the value of goods and services produced – totalling up to £100 billion, generating tax revenues that are more than sufficient to fund central Government’s contribution.

Local councils are being urged to work with their Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to create new jobs and boost economic growth across the country.

Council will have the chance to seize the economic initiative by identifying businesses on their patch with investment or export potential.

This includes building on the commercial strengths of rural areas that will boost the building trades with ambitious plans for new Enterprise Zones.

Ministers want local business and civic leaders to encourage firms with shared interests to stand together and form a stronger commercial proposition.

These new zones, if supported by a strong business case, will enable places to drive growth and jobs creation.

The government is building on the success of the existing 24 Enterprise Zones which by last December had attracted 15,500 jobs around the country since they opened over the past 3 years and delivered a multibillion-pound boost to local economies.

Enterprise Zones bring with them a raft of benefits to businesses including lower taxes, access to superfast broadband and streamlined planning permission to boost local infrastructure.

Minister for Local Growth and the Northern Powerhouse James Wharton said: “Enterprise Zones are creating thousands of jobs, attracting billions of pounds of investment.

“Britain is a great place to do business and this is a chance for local areas to build on their benefits. As part of our long-term economic plan it is only right we allow more to share our national success.

“With this new round of Enterprise Zones even more areas and businesses will be able to benefit from the support they bring.

“Only the very best bids will succeed but this is a chance for council leaders and businesses to make their case and secure a real boost to the local economy.”

Network Rail‘s ‘orange army’ has started work to prepare the railway line through Bath for the arrival of electrification and a new fleet of faster and greener electric trains.

The £50 million project forms part of Network Rail’s Great Western Electrification Programme to modernise and significantly improve the main railway line that runs from London Paddington to Swansea.

The work will involve lowering 10km of track through Dundas Aqueduct, Box Tunnel, Middle Hill Tunnel and Sydney Gardens, removing the need to make significant changes to the historic infrastructure in these areas.

This track lowering work will also involve installing 11 new sets of points over the duration of the project that is due to complete on 1 September.

Andy Haynes, Network Rail’s project director for the west of England, said: “The preparation work we are doing in Bath is essential to make the line ready for electrification and the benefits this will bring.

“The new electric trains are faster and will have more seats, more legroom and more tables. They are also greener and quieter, benefitting those who live close to the railway line.”

Rail minister, Claire Perry, said: “Improving the UK’s rail network is a vital part of our long-term economic plan. We are fully committed to electrification of the Great Western line as our top priority, and the work at Bath is another milestone in delivering this essential scheme.”

NuGen, the UK nuclear new-build developer, has announced that a land contract for Moorside has been signed with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

The signing follows successful completion of site suitability studies at Moorside by NuGen, which validate the site as being suitable for construction of three reactors.

NuGen will now take responsibility for the land following payment of an undisclosed sum to the NDA. The deal underpins the successful policy of selling NDA land to new nuclear developers – and creating value for the taxpayer.

The NuGen Board approved the land contract signing at a meeting in Tokyo. The company is now confident the site is suitable for construction of three AP1000^® reactors, as all criteria were satisfied.

NuGen Chief Executive, Tom Samson, signed the land deal with the NDA’s Chief Executive, John Clarke.

Mr. Samson was delighted at the “major milestone for NuGen’s Moorside project.”

“This is a key moment in our Moorside Project journey. Our board has reached a decision of significance which confirms Moorside is suitable, against criteria at this stage of the development. NuGen, our vendors and our expert partners are all confident we can build three reactors on the site.”

“This is great news for the North-West, and particularly for West Cumbria, the UK’s nuclear heartland. We are delighted to be taking forward Moorside, a massive development which will supply some 7 per cent of the UK’s future electricity.”

Site characterisation studies will continue at Moorside in the autumn and will feed in to detailed planning and site layout work.

John Clarke, the NDA’s CEO added: “The completion of this stage of the land sale brings a range of benefits both nationally and locally.

“It supports the initiative to have West Cumbria recognised as a centre of nuclear excellence, building on over six decades of nuclear expertise in the area, whilst delivering excellent value for money for the taxpayer and the national economy.”

Energy Minister, Andrea Leadsom, said: “Backing the next generation of nuclear projects is a key part of our long-term plan to power the economy with clean, secure energy and keep bills as low as possible for hardworking families and businesses.”

“We want the recovery to benefit all parts of our country, and Moorside will be a major infrastructure project that creates jobs and economic security for thousands of people and helps to deliver the Northern Powerhouse.”

Affordable housing developer Lovell has been selected by Cross Keys Homes to build a £9.1 million extra care housing development in Peterborough.

The scheme will create 54 much-needed high-quality, well-designed one- and two-bedroom apartments for over-55s on land to the north of Matley Primary School in the Orton Brimbles area of the city.

In line with Lovell and Cross Keys Homes’ commitment to investing in communities, the construction programme will create a number of jobs for local people as well as training opportunities.

Construction work is under way on the project, designed by PRP Architects, which is set for completion in January 2017.

As well as the individual apartments, the three-storey apartment building includes a communal lounge and restaurant, shared landscaped gardens and car parking. In addition, there will be a new vehicle and pedestrian access off Matley.

The development is set to achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ status for environmental performance and will incorporate green technology including photovoltaic panels.

The scheme follows Lovell’s earlier completion of a major housing refurbishment project for Cross Keys Homes. Lovell regional director Simon Medler said: “We’re delighted to be working on our first new-build project for Cross Keys Homes.

“Our team brings a wealth of expertise in the delivery of new-build extra care accommodation and we are thrilled to be bringing our knowledge and skills to a project which will create smart, modern and well-equipped homes for older people in Peterborough at a location within easy reach of local facilities and services.”

Chief executive of Cross Keys Homes, Claire Higgins, said: “Lapwing Court is our second extra care scheme. The success of our first scheme shows there is a real need for independent living solutions that provide people with a personalised care service delivered by Cross Keys Care, that can be adapted as needs change.

“We are really looking forward to working with Lovell on this development which will benefit not only the residents, but the community as a whole.”

Affordable housing developer Lovell has been selected by Cross Keys Homes to build a £9.1 million extra care housing development in Peterborough.

The scheme will create 54 much-needed high-quality, well-designed one- and two-bedroom apartments for over-55s on land to the north of Matley Primary School in the Orton Brimbles area of the city.

In line with Lovell and Cross Keys Homes’ commitment to investing in communities, the construction programme will create a number of jobs for local people as well as training opportunities.

Construction work is under way on the project, designed by PRP Architects, which is set for completion in January 2017.

As well as the individual apartments, the three-storey apartment building includes a communal lounge and restaurant, shared landscaped gardens and car parking. In addition, there will be a new vehicle and pedestrian access off Matley.

The development is set to achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ status for environmental performance and will incorporate green technology including photovoltaic panels.

The scheme follows Lovell’s earlier completion of a major housing refurbishment project for Cross Keys Homes. Lovell regional director Simon Medler said: “We’re delighted to be working on our first new-build project for Cross Keys Homes.

“Our team brings a wealth of expertise in the delivery of new-build extra care accommodation and we are thrilled to be bringing our knowledge and skills to a project which will create smart, modern and well-equipped homes for older people in Peterborough at a location within easy reach of local facilities and services.”

Chief executive of Cross Keys Homes, Claire Higgins, said: “Lapwing Court is our second extra care scheme. The success of our first scheme shows there is a real need for independent living solutions that provide people with a personalised care service delivered by Cross Keys Care, that can be adapted as needs change.

“We are really looking forward to working with Lovell on this development which will benefit not only the residents, but the community as a whole.”