While Britain grapples with the implications of Brexit, there is still plenty going on in the UK construction sector.
Property round-up
Another new apartment development in Greater Manchester has been given the go-ahead, after partnership of Cheshire-based Select Property Group and Affinity Living received planning permission for a 506-unit development in Salford. The Riverview and Riverside towers will both be private rental schemes and will stand next to the Lowry Hotel on the Salford side of the River Irwell. It is the third time in a matter of months the partnership has secured planning permission for a rental apartment development in the central Manchester area. These include 684 apartments at Embankment West and the 677-unit Circle Square development on the former BBC North headquarters site in Manchester city centre. Chief executive of the Select Property Group Mark Stott said: "Affinity Living Riverside and Riverview promises to bring something exceptional to a generation of professional young renters in a highly sought after area of the city."
A building described as the ugliest in Brighton is finally to be demolished and replaced with a new apartment block. Anston House has stood derelict for 25 years but will be transformed with 230 new homes and a number of units for start-up businesses by developer First Base and housing association Hyde Group.
The new development will overlook Preston Park and the construction work will generate £139 million of revenue for the local economy.
Infrastructure round-up
Gatwick Airport is to invest another £200 million on its facilities as it continues to seek to enhance its reputation as a hub for air travel to and from London. The airport, which still hopes to be chosen to build another runway to increase capacity, wants to bolster its chances through the latest cash injection, taking its improvement project spending up to £1.2 billion. Chief executive Stuart Wingate said: "As Gatwick rapidly approaches full capacity, this increased investment paves the way for our second runway project."
Not to be outdone, Heathrow has appointed Grimshaw Architects to devise its £16 billion modernisation plan, with a new central terminal building. This plan has been carried out with the runway debate clearly in mind. Head of design for Heathrow Barry Weekes commented: "We look forward to working with Grimshaw to develop their bold ideas so that once the government approves the Heathrow expansion, we can create a world-class sustainable hub airport which delivers for our passengers, our airlines and also helps to integrate Heathrow with our local communities."
The new transport secretary Chris Grayling has said he intends to press ahead with HS2. Mr Grayling, who replaced Patrick McLoughlin in Theresa May's reshuffle, told the BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend: "The thing that's important for people to understand is that HS2 is not simply a speed project, it's a capacity project. "We have lines at the moment which have seen huge increases in the number of passengers, the amount of freight in recent years." The comments come after Stop HS2 campaign chief Joe Rukin called on the new prime minister to review the project.
Energy round-up
Concern has been expressed over the decision of new prime minister Theresa May to axe the Department For Energy and Climate Change on her first day in Number 10. The large-scale cabinet reshuffle saw responsibility for the issue being moved to the new Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The old Business, Skills and Enterprise department was rendered obsolete by the moving of responsibility for apprenticeships and higher education to the Department for Education. The decision was described as "stupid" by former Labour leader Ed Miliband, but the new business secretary Greg Clarke said: "I am thrilled to have been appointed to lead this new department charged with delivering a comprehensive industrial strategy, leading government's relationship with business, furthering our world-class science base, delivering affordable, clean energy and tackling climate change."
Conservative leadership contender Andrea Leadsom has been appointed the new environment secretary.
Oil and Gas round-up
Bibby Offshore has won a multi-million pound contract to provide air diving, construction and inspection services with an independent exploration and production company to work on five North Sea projects. This will include the installation of a cathodic protection system on one platform, maintenance and support work at three other facilities and pipeline inspections at all five sites.
