The number of households in Scotland has continued to increase, helping economic growth and boosting the house building industry.

There were 2.42 million households in 2014, an increase of 0.8 per cent since 2013, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland (NRS) in ‘Estimates of Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2014′.

Tim Ellis, the Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland, said: “The number of households in Scotland grows every year. The rate of growth was increasing in the lead up to the economic downturn, but since then, it has fallen.

“Between 2001 and 2007, there was an average increase of 20,200 households per year. Between 2008 and 2014, the average increase was lower, at 14,400 per year.

“In 2014, for the second year in a row, the annual increase in the number of households appears to have grown. However, this is not just down to increases in house-building. Instead, there has been an apparent drop in the number of second homes and empty properties.

“This appears to be mainly because some empty properties and second homes have been reclassified, following recent Council Tax changes on empty properties.”

Almost all council areas saw an increase in household numbers between 2013 and 2014. However Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire and Eilean Siar saw slight reductions.

The overall number of dwellings (including vacant properties and second homes) rose in all council areas in 2014 except West Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde. Both of these areas had carried out demolitions as part of regeneration projects.

In Scotland as a whole, 2.9 per cent dwellings were vacant and 1.1 per were second homes, with the latter concentrated in more rural areas.

ISG has been awarded £80 million of commercial office fit out projects that will boost the construction trades and help economic growth.

A key project awarded in the period is a £24 million contract to create one of the largest and most highly specified new office developments in the Thames Valley region.

The scheme at Stockley Park, near Heathrow, involves the significant upgrade and extension of an existing property, with ISG delivering circa 137,000 sq ft of Grade A BREEAM Excellent office accommodation.

ISG has also been appointed by Zurich Insurance to create a new London base for Switzerland’s largest insurer. The 70,000 sq ft scheme involves the fit out of six floors of the striking 70 Mark Lane development in the heart of London’s insurance district.

Additionally, ISG has maintained its number one ranking in the influential Metropolis Property Research report on the central London fit out market. The ‘Living in a Pre-Let World’ report identified ISG as London’s lead contractor with 3.8m sq ft of fit out projects awarded between 2010 and 2014.

David Lawther, ISG Chief Executive, said: “Maintaining our lead position as London’s number one office fit out contractor highlights the strength of our customer relationships and unrivalled sector expertise.

“Demand for high-quality office space continues to grow both within, and increasingly outside of central London, and our Stockley Park win reinforces our strategic decision to invest in a regional office base in the Thames Valley.”

Small business across the north of England could benefit from funds of over £400 million thanks to a new wave of European funding, Chancellor George Osborne has announced.

Just days after delivering his Summer Budget, where he set out the next steps in building the Northern Powerhouse, Mr Osborne visited a number of local businesses to discuss how the government is delivering for the whole of the north.

While there, he announced that government is working with Local Enterprise Partnerships and local authorities to secure fresh funding for small businesses in the north from EU Regional Funds, which would be made available for northern SMEs later this year.

The new funding would come on top of £382.5 million already being invested in the region through an existing similar scheme.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said: “Small business are the lifeblood of the Northern Powerhouse and this funding has the potential to make an enormous difference to hundreds of SMEs right across the north.

“From supporting thousands of northern companies through increasing the Annual Investment Allowance and giving businesses an extra £1,000 with an increase in the Employment Allowance, my Budget last week backed businesses across the north and this funding has the potential to do even more.”

The plans would form the next round of JEREMIE (Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises) funding for the Northern Powerhouse.

The funding provides equity and loan finance to start-ups, growing early stage companies and larger companies with ambitions for strong growth.

There are three existing JEREMIE projects covering the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

Willmott Dixon to design and build new £25 million Eastern High school with Cardiff and Vale College after being chosen by the City of Cardiff Council for the new Eastern High school.

It comes as Willmott Dixon hands over the keys to a new campus for Cardiff and Vale College in the centre of Cardiff that is larger than the size of two pitches at the nearby Millennium Stadium.

Cllr Sarah Merry, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “This represents a £25m council investment in the future of children growing up in the east of the city, and using Willmott Dixon to design and build the new facilities will ensure the best possible education for pupils and students in East Cardiff and the best value for money for the taxpayer.”

Willmott Dixon has an office on Cathedral Road in Cardiff and its managing director for Wales, Neal Stephens, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this excellent new school for the city and given that so many of our staff live here, it will be something their children will benefit from too.

“Community will be a big focus for us and we will try whenever possible to use local labour and companies to build Eastern High.”

The new school is being jointly funded by the City of Cardiff Council and Welsh Government, as part of the 21st Century Schools programme.

Cardiff and Vale College Principal and Chief Executive Mike James said: “Cardiff and Vale College are delighted to be working with the City of Cardiff Council on this exciting project and to see it moving forward at such pace.

“This development will create a fantastic facility that the whole community of East Cardiff will benefit from. It will provide us with the opportunity to inspire and excite young people to learn, achieve and progress in a brand new building with a wider choice of learning opportunities than ever before.”

Seaside towns across the country will have a chance to bid for £90 million of government funding that will help them revitalise areas, create jobs, and boost local economic growth.

Ministers welcomed the extension in the Chancellor’s Budget to extend the Coastal Communities Fund to 2020 as part of the government’s economic plan to unlock their economic potential and create jobs.

Launched in 2012, the Coastal Communities Fund has already invested nearly £119 million on 211 projects local infrastructure and economic projects across the UK. This is helping to create almost 13,700 jobs and provide more than 10,280 training places and apprenticeships.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: “Britain has a proud seaside tradition which this ‘one nation government’ is determined to revive so they can be year-round success stories. Unlocking the economic potential of our seaside towns will create jobs, build infrastructure and boost local economic growth.

“We know our multi-million Coastal Communities Fund is already having a big impact on communities and local seaside economies, and the extension of the fund will mean other areas will have the chance to bid for funding.”

Coastal Communities Minister Mark Francois said: “I’m delighted our Coastal Communities Fund will continue. This government investment ensures areas can create skilled workers and year round jobs that will build stronger communities and stronger local economies.

“This fund, together with the creation of our Coastal Community Teams, will be an important catalyst for change and help secure the long-term future of our seaside towns so communities can drive forward their vision, unleash business opportunities and thrive.”

Coastal enterprise zones have delivered more than 5,300 jobs to date and helped to secure nearly £275 million of private sector investment to coastal areas.

Welsh Government funding is delivering new affordable homes in Rhyl, providing a boost to the local economy and the construction industry, Finance Minister Jane Hutt has said.

The £2.3 million Brickfields development on Cefndy Road is backed by the Welsh Government’s innovative Housing Finance Grant (HFG) scheme.

The investment is helping transform a former ITT factory site into 24 homes consisting of 16 houses and eight flats – which will be managed by Wales & West Housing.

The £120 million Housing Grant Scheme scheme will create 1,000 additional affordable homes throughout Wales by providing £4 million each year for 30 years to 19 Registered Social Landlords (RSLs).

Jane Hutt said: “The Welsh Government is committed to delivering quality, affordable homes and the Brickfields development in Rhyl will help make a real difference to the lives of people who live in them and the community as a whole.

“It is also playing an important role in providing a boost to the local economy through jobs and training opportunities.”

This innovative funding is used to assist with the repayment of private finance to fund the creation of new, affordable, housing developments.

Shayne Hembrow, Deputy Chief Executive and Commercial Director of Wales & West Housing, said: “We are delighted that the Minister has included a visit to Brickfields on her budget tour.

“We contracted Anwyl Construction to build 24 homes, 16 houses and eight flats, on the former ITT factory site on Cefndy Road.

“This has not only improved the area, but has provided an answer to the need for affordable housing in Rhyl as well as boosting the economy and giving the local community work and training opportunities.”

Croydon Council has launched a development company to take control over the Taberner House scheme that will see the building of new homes and boost the local construction industry.

This will be the development company’s first major scheme, which will provide 418 homes, with 30% affordable housing – double that under the previous plans.

The development company will work with a developer, which will build the scheme across four blocks instead of five, providing significantly more green space in The Queen’s Gardens.

It will function as a separate commercial body, while taking on the role of the council’s development partner.

This means it can ensure more homes of different tenures to suit different needs are built in Croydon and a variety of development opportunities are realised.

The revised plans for the Taberner House site are due to be submitted for planning permission later this year with construction work expected to begin on site early next year.

Councillor Alison Butler, deputy leader and cabinet member for homes, regeneration and planning said: “Delivering Taberner House through the development company gives the council direct control of the scheme, enabling us to provide more affordable homes.”

Croydon Council has launched a development company to take control over the Taberner House scheme that will see the building of new homes and boost the local construction industry.

This will be the development company’s first major scheme, which will provide 418 homes, with 30% affordable housing – double that under the previous plans.

The development company will work with a developer, which will build the scheme across four blocks instead of five, providing significantly more green space in The Queen’s Gardens.

It will function as a separate commercial body, while taking on the role of the council’s development partner.

This means it can ensure more homes of different tenures to suit different needs are built in Croydon and a variety of development opportunities are realised.

The revised plans for the Taberner House site are due to be submitted for planning permission later this year with construction work expected to begin on site early next year.

Councillor Alison Butler, deputy leader and cabinet member for homes, regeneration and planning said: “Delivering Taberner House through the development company gives the council direct control of the scheme, enabling us to provide more affordable homes.”

Balfour Beatty has been selected as one of six construction companies to deliver works to support a £250 million ten year building programme at the University of Reading.

Balfour Beatty will work on two of the University’s framework lots, those projects between £2 million and £5 million as well as above that threashold as part of the estate’s upgrade that will focus academic activities onto the Whiteknights campus site in Reading.

Construction on a number of projects is due to begin in January 2017 with the University planning to remodel a 1970s landmark building as the future home of its new School of Architecture.

Meanwhile, the old library at London Road is being converted in workshop and studio space for architecture students starting in September 2016.

Balfour Beatty has a long-standing relationship with the University of Reading, having being part of its construction frameworks for the last 20 years helping deliver, among many achievements, a 10% saving in its carbon emissions with the installation of a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Energy Centre.

Jonathan Winter, Balfour Beatty Delivery Unit Managing Director, said: “The £250m framework will provide a state-of-the-art and improved learning experience for the University of Reading’s 17,000 students.”

Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Shropshire Council, under the Scape framework, for a £3.4 million contract to revive one of Shrewsbury’s most prominent town centre buildings.

The construction company will convert the six storey Mardol House into a modern facility providing homes for 85 students attending the new university.

The work by Willmott Dixon’s housing arm gives a new lease of life to the 50 year old Mardol House, and will see studio apartments with kitchenettes and en-suite facilities added, along with an apartment for a university tutor.

The quick-track project is due for completion in September 2015, coinciding with the opening of the new University Centre Shrewsbury.

Willmott Dixon’s managing director for residential construction in the Midlands, Simon Leadbeater, said: “This project enables us to bring back to life a building that will play a key role in the on-going economic prosperity of the town.

“It also plays to our skills of working in tight, constrained urban sites to deliver high-quality conversions of buildings for new uses.”

The renovation also includes the installation of a new lift and a ground-floor marketing suite, all accessed by a new entranceway into Mardol House.

“Mardol house is a fine example of sustainable design and regeneration and our first project within Shrewsbury town centre,” said Lyndon Glancy, of Birmingham-based Glancy Nicholls Architects.