Industry news

The top stories from across the industrialised construction sector

Consultants appointed to manage UK prisons programme

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has appointed AtkinsRéalis, Arcadis and Mott MacDonald to deliver project and programme management, information management, and health and safety advisory services for the Future Prison Supply Service framework. Turner & Townsend has also been appointed as the cost management service provider for the project.

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Bricklaying robot comes to the UK

A bricklaying robot in County Durham is marking the start of a new chapter in UK housebuilding. Known as WLTR, or ‘Walter’, the wall-laying robot is currently constructing 27 homes in Durham as part of a scheme led by JT Lifestyle Homes. Developed in the Czech Republic in partnership with GreenBuild, Walter is intended to help address the acute shortage of bricklayers across the country.

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Ultrapanel system delivers super-structure in just one day

Ultrapanel Building Technologies has announced an ‘outstanding response’ to its recent live build event to celebrate the launch of the company’s next generation SIP system – Ultrapanel. Set to redefine housing delivery, a full loadbearing Ultrapanel super-structure for a detached house was installed in a single day – including a room in the roof.

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National Grid pioneers 3D printed low-carbon substations

National Grid is working with Hyperion Robotics and the University of Sheffield on a UK-first trial to manufacture, install and test 3D-printed substation foundations, which have the potential to reduce construction-driven carbon emissions and reduce costs to consumers of network construction. This is part of National Grid’s commitment to leverage innovation to future-proof the network.

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Consortium appointed to support UK’s SMR programme

Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) has appointed a consortium led by global professional services company Turner & Townsend, in partnership with multi-disciplinary firm WSP and global nuclear experts NUVIA UK, to provide advisory capabilities for the set-up of the UK’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Programme.

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£700m infrastructure framework tender launched by TfL

Transport for London (TfL) has opened procurement for a major infrastructure improvement framework, valued at up to £700m in construction and design work. The multi-discipline framework will cover both design and construction, adopting early contractor involvement and a multi-stage contracting model.

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