Construction got under way on the Maple Park development which will create 50 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes and a modern office block on land close to South Norfolk Council‘s offices in Swan Lane.

The scheme, set for completion in autumn 2017, has been designed by Big Sky Developments to complement and enhance its surroundings and follows extensive consultation with the local community.

By creating flexible business space locally, it will bring new jobs to the area plus new opportunities for local firms.

There will also be a range of high-quality homes – 42 houses, six bungalows and two flats – suitable for single people, couples and families.

The development is within walking distance of shops, schools, the local medical centre and other community facilities including Long Stratton Leisure Centre, in the popular village, ten miles south of Norwich.

Councillor John Fuller, leader of South Norfolk Council, said: “I am really excited that work on Maple Park has started. The development will bring enormous benefits to the local community, including employment, affordable housing and a range of office space to suit businesses of all sizes.”

Lovell regional director Simon Medler said: “Imaginative developments of this kind ensure that flourishing communities such as Long Stratton continue to thrive and grow. Our team has a strong record of delivering high-quality affordable and open market homes, as well as smart, modern business accommodation.

“We’re delighted to be working with Big Sky Developments on this important community scheme, using our expertise in constructing residential and commercial premises built and finished to the highest standards.”

The number of households in Scotland has continued to increase, though the rate of growth is smaller than before the economic downturn.

There were 2.43 million households in 2015, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland (NRS) in ‘Estimates of Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2015′.

The number of households in Scotland has grown by around 160,000 over the last ten years. Household numbers have been growing faster than the population.

Since 2005, Scotland’s population has risen by five per cent, whilst the number of households has increased by seven per cent. This is because more people are living alone and in smaller households.

This is reflected in the average number of people per household, which has fallen from 2.21 people per household in 2005 to 2.17 in 2015.

Tim Ellis, the Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland, said: “These latest figures from the National Records of Scotland show household numbers continue to rise but the level of growth has changed, with the number of households rising by a much smaller amount each year after the beginning of the economic downturn.

“In most council areas, average household size continues to fall, but average household sizes are now rising in the four city council areas of Aberdeen City, Dundee City, City of Edinburgh and Glasgow City, and in Perth and Kinross.”

The overall number of dwellings also rose in 2015, to a total of 2.56 million. This was 161,000 more than in 2005. In Scotland as a whole, 3.1 per cent dwellings were vacant and 1.1 per were second homes, with the latter being more common in more rural areas.

Wates Living Space Homes has been appointed to deliver a new £48 million residential development on behalf of Network Homes.

Work on the new Thrayle House development is set to start this month and will include the demolition of an existing three-storey building to create a mixed tenure residential complex.

Thrayle House, for which planning permission was granted in April, is the latest phase in Network Homes’ £200 million Stockwell Park regeneration programme.

The project adds to Wates Living Space Homes’ work on behalf of Network Homes, which recently saw the completion and hand over of Park Heights, a 20-storey apartment building in Stockwell.

Throughout the delivery of Thrayle House, Wates Living Space Homes has made a commitment to create extensive opportunities for on-site training and employment for local people.

This is set to include ten apprenticeship positions, ten work experience placements, whilst the developer has also pledged to engage with 300 students through local careers fairs.

The developer will also carry out its national ‘Building Futures’ programme as part of the project, an intensive training course to give local jobseekers the opportunity to secure full-time employment with Wates and its supply chain.

Vicky Savage, Executive Director of Development at Network Homes, said: “This is a landmark project in the regeneration of the Stockwell Park Estate and one that is incredibly important to Network Homes, the residents and the local community. We really look forward to working with Wates Living Space Homes who will bring their significant expertise and resources to this project.”

The latest figures show the Welsh Government supported 5.3% more jobs in 2015/16 than it did in 2014/15, and that in the last Assembly Term ( 2011 to 2016), it supported nearly 150,000 jobs in total.

To celebrate the latest figures Economy Secretary, Ken Skates visited the new Royal Mint Experience visitor centre and The Welsh Pantry in Llantrisant to see first hand the impact that Welsh Government investment is having on the local economy.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Ken Skates said: “These latest figures show we are making significant progress in developing Wales’ economy. In the last Assembly term Welsh Government investment supported almost 150,000 jobs and our success increased year on year throughout the Assembly term.

“There is no doubt that we have built some firm economic foundations in recent years, and that our approach is working for businesses and people across Wales. I look forward to building on this success in the coming months and years.”

“The Royal Mint Experience visitor centre has been backed by £2.3m from Welsh Government and is an example of how the industry, with Welsh Government support, is investing in innovative and high quality products and events which have helped secure growth in the industry.

“The investment from the Welsh Government has supported over 150 jobs at the Royal Mint site.”

Morgan Sindall has been appointed to deliver a £1.8 million project to ready the new Enterprise Zone at Scottow Enterprise Park in Badersfield, for increased occupation.

The project for Norfolk County Council is already underway and involves the installation of a new water main to supply clean water to the site, which recently received Enterprise Zone status and will house businesses in the creative digital and low carbon sectors.

Enterprise Zones deliver a wide range of benefits to companies including a business rate discount of up to £275,000 over five years, simplified planning and access to superfast broadband.

Norfolk County Council took ownership of the former RAF Coltishall airbase in 2013 and is transforming the new Enterprise Zone site as part of a long-term project to boost businesses and create jobs in Norfolk.

The site will act as a powerful magnet to attract new businesses, particularly overseas companies looking to capitalise on the county’s expertise in these sectors.

Norfolk County Council’s Chairman of the Economic Development Sub-Committee, Stuart Clancy, said: “This investment to provide more infrastructure is very important for the Enterprise Park and will attract more businesses to be based in Norfolk, generating significant income for the future.”

Morgan Sindall is currently delivering a number of projects for Norfolk County Council including the expansion of Queen’s Hill Primary School in Norwich and the expansion of Southtown Primary School in Great Yarmouth. Both projects are already underway and will be completed by spring 2017.

More customers are set to benefit from BIM on projects after Willmott Dixon became the first contractor to achieve company-wide BRE Certification for use across its entire construction, residential and interiors activities.

As more public and private sector clients seek to use BIM (Building Information Modelling) to enhance efficiency on their capital projects, Willmott Dixon has made a significant investment to equip it with experts based in every office that are certified to provide BIM Level 2.

The company is using BIM on an increasing number of projects, including delivering £100 million of projects for Birmingham City University, the National Space Technology Centre in Oxford and three secondary schools in Liverpool creating nearly 5,000 places.

It is currently using BIM to build a new home for the Met Office’s supercomputer in Exeter as well as national colleges for High Speed Rail in Birmingham and Doncaster.

This will expand with a network of BIM experts in every Willmott Dixon office who can advise and guide clients who are keen to embrace the visualisation technology at an early stage in the project cycle.

Garry Fannon, Head of BIM for Willmott Dixon’s construction business, said: “BIM provides huge benefits that enable all teams to work better throughout the construction process to achieve the high quality finish we expect.

“Being a recognised provider of BIM Level 2 means we are also well positioned to meet the Government mandate for BIM use on public funded projects.”

Morgan Sindall has held a topping out ceremony to celebrate reaching a key milestone in the construction of a £9.7 million care home in North East Enfield.

The Enfield Care Home development will include 70 bedrooms, 17 community rooms, a landscaped garden, hairdressing salon and a modern kitchen and will be equipped to the highest regulation standards with hoists, various aids, lifts and safe storage for medication.

The development will replace Coppice Wood Lodge and Bridge House, and residents from these two neighbouring care homes will be the first to be welcomed into the new building in November 2016.

The new building will be fitted with excellent personal and en-suite facilities in every room and will increase nursing care capacity in Enfield, offering more accommodation than the previous homes.

Cllr Alev Cazimoglu, Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “The new care home will be a bright modern building with excellent facilities, specifically designed to meet residents’ needs.

“It will be fully equipped with adapted en-suite bathrooms, activity rooms and a landscaped garden complete with seating areas and wheelchair accessible paths.

Neil Franklin, area director for Morgan Sindall, said: “We’re very pleased to be taking part in this ceremony which celebrates a key milestone in the construction of Enfield Council Care Home.”

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama’s provision has announced plans to go ahead with the next phase of development on its site in Swiss Cottage.

The new North Block building will improve the campus’s provisions and provide access to cutting-edge arts facilities for both students and the local community, further cementing the School’s reputation as a North London cultural hub.

GRAHAM will construct the new eight-storey building that will be connected to the existing West Block via mezzanine walkways on floors 1, 3 and 5 creating 2,400 sq m of new space.

The works will extend the school’s teaching, rehearsal and performance spaces, and will include the addition of studios with a focus on training for film/ media and a new public, courtyard theatre.

The additional space will also provide the School with opportunities to expand its youth work and to contribute more comprehensively to cultural offerings in the local area.

The new facility will be traditionally-clad and painted stucco to integrate with the surrounding architecture of the Belsize Conservation Area.

Sustainable design solutions including photovoltaic panels and natural ventilation methods will be installed to reduce the environmental impact of the running of the building.

GRAHAM Construction’s London Office Director, Rob Joyce said: “The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama’s vision to provide high quality, bespoke teaching and performance spaces that meet its students’ needs and uphold its world-leading reputation, will be further realised with this development.

“Distinctive, fit-for-purpose theatrical and performing arts facilities will integrate with local architecture and contribute to the surrounding cultural quarter, creating a long-term sustainable solution.”

Skanska and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) celebrated the topping out of Worthy Down’s new College Building for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in Hampshire.

The new building, which has reached its highest point in construction terms, will be home to the Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration.

It will cover areas including catering, supply, transport and military human resources.

Skanska Managing Director, Terry Elphick, said: “We are delivering this large project on time and on budget. Our collaboration with our customer, the DIO, and the MOD as end customer, is positive and productive.

“We are also working with local suppliers and employing local people to benefit the community and local economy.”

The College will also enable the MOD to train personnel more efficiently and effectively so that they can provide the best possible support for military operations.

On completion, the developed site will also provide high-quality accommodation in a series of ‘villages’ – one for junior ranks, one for officers and one for senior non-commissioned officers (SNCO).

Trainees will also enjoy sports and recreation facilities, bars, officers’ and SNCO messes, as well as other supporting amenities. There will also be a Royal Logistics Corps museum.

Leo O’Shea, Chief Operating Officer, DIO, said: “DIO supports service personnel by providing a fit-for-purpose estate and accommodation so we’re happy to be undertaking this project with Skanska.

“The new world-class buildings, such as the College, being delivered by the DIO for the MOD, will replace outdated buildings and provide our Services personnel with opportunities to learn from each other in facilities fit for the 21st Century.”

Morgan Sindall has started the £12 million transformation of Ridgeway High School in the Noctorum area of Birkenhead.

The project is one of 12 schools being rebuilt by the company under the Education Funding Agency‘s (EFA) Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) which aims to provide purpose-built school buildings to those in most need of urgent repair.

Owing to the site’s profile in Birkenhead, the buildings are arranged around three terraces and are set within the existing playing fields which are retained for sports and recreation use.

New utilities, including an electricity substation which supplies power to local homes and the school, will also be built.

Morgan Sindall’s contracts manager Richard Potts, said: “Starting on site is a key milestone in any project and it is great to get underway at Ridgeway. We have delivered many new school buildings around the region and we are sure that the local community will be very proud of the new school which will emerge over the coming months.”

Cllr Tony Smith, Wirral’s Cabinet Member for Children and Lifelong Learning, said: “Ridgeway is one of 260 schools in urgent need of repair that are being rebuilt or refurbished under the national Priority School’s Building Programme.

“This ambitious scheme will help the Wirral Partnership meet its 2020 pledges towards supporting academic achievement in Wirral by providing students, staff and the local community with cutting-edge facilities and technology to support students’ learning.”

Through the national PSBP programme, 261 schools will be rebuilt or have their condition needs met by the EFA, the first of which was completed in 2014. All schools within the programme will be delivered by the end of 2018.