Large contractors pulling out of London bids
We understand that the £600m Ram Brewery site in south-west London is the latest scheme to be hit by the phenomenon.
Developers at the Wandsworth site are believed to be approaching new bidders to potentially tender for the job.
Kier is favourite for the scheme with Brookfield originally its main rival.
But we understand Brookfield has pulled-out of the race leaving developer the Greenland Group to explore other options for its Ram Quarter scheme.
A source close to the scheme said: “The word is Brookfield has decided not to return tenders.
“The developer is now talking to other potential bidders and sounding out what else is out there in the market.”
Greenland is overseeing basement work on the site with Keltbray carrying out demolition and Brookfield building a marketing suite.
Main construction work is scheduled to start next Spring and will include 661 new homes and a 36-storey tower.
The withdrawal of Brookfield is part of a trend which has seen big name contractors shy away from schemes they were previously interested in.
One market expert said: “A lot of big names seem to be pulling-out of bids at the moment leaving the way clear for others.
“A lot of two-stage tenders are not closing out in the current market leaving clients to find alternatives and go back down more traditional routes.”
Consultant AECOM reported earlier this month that contractors are turning down one in three bidding opportunities across London as they pick and chose work.
The expert said: “This is an extension of that with firms dropping out of schemes they were previously interested in.
“It seems a lot of big players got their fingers burned buying work in the downturn and are now turning a lot of things down.”
Continue ReadingJoin the construction industryandrsquo;s national golfing tournament in 2015
Now in its 23rd year, the competition is established as the must-attend event for many hundreds of golfers. The tournament attracts players of all abilities from every sphere of the industry and corner of the country. The Golf Classic Team take care of the admin – leaving you to enjoy your golf! Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Continue ReadingPeta replaces suggestive poster with turkey ad
Peta, the non-profit animal rights organisation, has launched a campaign that encourages consumers to lead a vegan lifestyle and avoid turkey this Christmas. Continue ReadingTop 10 media buyers
1. Mark Collins Collins remains the industry s most significant media buyer following the collapse of the Publicis/Omnicom merger. The Group M operation that he spearheads still controls at least a third of all the UK s trackable media spend. He starts 2015 with notable influence over the commercial TV sector, with Viacom s newly owned Channel 5 50 million down after a withdrawal from Omnicom, and Channel 4 s two-year airtime deal up for renewal. Both sides will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the costly public standoff experienced two years earlier. Game on. 2. Chris Locke By any measure, the enduring success of the veteran Locke at Starcom MediaVest Group is something to behold. The group trading director expanded his remit to take on the duties of managing director of VivaKi in 2014. He has boosted the buying clout of the group by centralising the business out-of-home and barter functions, and is tasked with fully integrating Walker Media s offering in 2015. The ever-bashful Locke says: “I wouldn t say I was the best buyer in the UK, but I m in the top one.” 3. John Overend The managing director of OPera at Omnicom Media Group is well-regarded for being a highly capable, savvy operator. Preferring to keep a lower profile than some of his peers, he remains an effective, if stealth-like, force. Overend is a close confidant of Philippa Brown and the gatekeeper for the group s spend. The power he wields was highlighted in 2014 after Campaign revealed the group decision to move 50 million out of Channel 5 and into ITV. 4. Alan Brydon The elder statesman of Havas Media continues to defy the adage about old dogs and new tricks. In 2014, Brydon was given wider group responsibilities that saw him take on all of Arena s trading duties too and become the first leader of Havas Media Group s new buying offering. A year of firsts continued when Brydon made his debut in Cannes. Needless to say, the smooth operator found the talk of best practices, the Riviera sun and the Carlton Terrace most agreeable. 5. Jon Horrocks Walker Media s managing partner is another old hand able to remind us to value the past while embracing the future. While the market has seen agency-deal-led consolidation, he has retained a distinctive style to generating client-driven, value-rich solutions. The chief executive, Simon Davis, notes that one of Horrocks key attributes is his ability to build relationships with people at several levels, eschewing the temptation in seasoned hands to adopt a hierarchical approach. 2015 will be a big one for Horrocks as the agency becomes increasingly aligned with Publicis Groupe. 6. Dominic Williams Tenacious and sharp, Williams quick wit makes for a lively trading season. His role and influence expanded this year to include all TV and OOH buying for the first time, as well as press, radio and digital. Williams new head of trading role at Amplifi means that he is more likely to have to embarrass himself on the fairways. He usurps Azon Howie on our list, who has announced that he is leaving Dentsu Aegis Network to join Omnicom Media Group. Williams will take on some of his responsibilities. 7. Chris Daines Daines is a new name in this year s list, having assumed the duties of Paul Rowlinson as the head of Mindshare s trading function, Exchange, last year. He is responsible for all of the agency s paid media channels, including paid search, and is known for being a calm and measured presence for clients and staff alike. Daines has developed an active outreach programme with all the main media owners, based on the spirit of better collaboration and unearthing joint objectives. 8. John Maloney Maloney has grown into his role as the head of investment at Maxus, proving to be popular among senior media owners. He is credited as a dependable and solid buyer who has provided a good foundation on which Maxus buying clout has ballooned. The momentum behind the agency, which has rocketed into the top-seven spenders with billings in excess of 450 million, means that Maloney takes the place of MediaCom s perennial performer Phil Hall this year. 9. Christian Byron In contrast to the noisy ones on this list, Byron is an unsung hero but, behind closed doors, regularly cited as OMD s most valuable player by Dan Clays, the managing director. Byron s deep understanding of the market ensures that the newly promoted head of investment is highly regarded by clients. He continues to lead his team of 100 from the front and undertook a full departmental restructure this year. 10. John Heather Heather played a more pivotal role at ZenithOptimedia this year as Chris Hayward recovored from an injury. Working in close partnership with the head of display, Dave Mulrenan, he brings a blended skillset for the new world of media. Heather is credited internally for ensuring 90 traders are digitally equipped and their activity supports a wider agency ethos of building seamless customer journeys and brand experiences. Continue ReadingCrossrail under London
New images released by Crossrail reveal the project’s progress as it hits the 60% complete mark.
More than 23 miles (nearly 90%) of train tunnels are now complete, with tunnelling due to finish in spring next year.
Six of Crossrail’s eight tunnelling machines have now completed their drives. The construction of ten new stations in central and southeast London is more than half complete.
Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail Chief Executive said: “Crossrail is being delivered on time and on budget.
“These fantastic images show the scale of work taking place around the clock beneath the streets of London. We are on schedule to provide London and the South East with a fantastic new railway in 2018.”
More than 10,000 people are working directly on Crossrail at around 40 construction sites.
Over the coming months, while tunnelling will continue, the project’s focus will shift to the substantial job of fitting out the stations and tunnels.
Bond Street platform tunnels: The 260 metre long platforms run parallel to and around 100 metres to the south of Oxford Street
From 2018, 220,000 passengers are expected to use Bond Street London Underground and Crossrail station every day
Several hundred tunnellers have been working 24/7 for the past two years constructing the platform tunnels beneath Oxford Street
Farringdon platform tunnel
Continue ReadingDIY skills in decline as more people rely on qualified installers
Media reports recently highlighted the fact that DIY skills are declining amongst the general public. The days of laypeople having the metaphorical and literal tools to complete basic electrical, plumbing or other maintenance work are increasingly behind us. Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Continue ReadingThe benefits of liquid roofing
The low pitch on flat roofs means they are prone to leaks. The damage caused can go unnoticed for long periods of time, as it affects the concealed structures directly beneath the roof. This also means repair is extremely expensive, and can significantly inconvenience the residents or business within the building.
A variety of membranes are used to help waterproof flat roofs, but these often require a lot of maintenance. Without proper upkeep, they are prone to penetration by rainwater, as well as sun damage and fungal growth. Resulting rot or blowing of brickwork means a full roof replacement may be required, at huge expense.
Many proprietors are starting to see the benefits of liquid roofing, a process that creates a durable, seamless watertight seal on flat roofs. Unlike felt and tar, little maintenance is required, reducing the risk of failure while saving the business time and money.
For example, liquid coating specialist Tor Coatings offers products that guarantee waterproofing for up to 25 years. This is certified by the leading approvals house the British Board of Agrément (BBA), so customers are assured of longevity.
Liquid roof coatings are also far easier and safer to install, as they are applied cold. This makes the organisation and execution of adopting this technology quicker and cheaper, and ensures early resistance to rainfall. And despite creating a watertight seal, these products are breathable to allow any condensation to escape, so internal damp is less likely to harm the roof.
As they are suitable for a variety of substrates, and can be used to repair existing damage, liquid coatings are the ideal option for most flat roof projects. Plus, products are available with other features such as UV protection and heat insulation, so proprietors don’t have to compromise.
Continue ReadingGrowth of Conveyancing
Growth of Conveyancing
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