Daily briefing
National Construction News briefing: Tuesday 13 October 2026
15 stories from the last 24 hours, three dates for the week ahead and five closing dates from our recent stories.
Stories from the last 24 hours
Westminster wins Gateway 2 approval for 334-home second phase of Ebury Bridge regeneration
Westminster City Council says the Building Safety Regulator has approved building safety applications for the £229m second phase of its Ebury Bridge Estate scheme, clearing the way for main construction with McLaren.
Environment Agency varies permit for Portland energy recovery facility after 296 comments
The regulator has allowed Powerfuel Portland Limited to change the waste types its proposed Dorset incinerator can burn, following a second consultation that drew about 296 responses.
AECOM names Dwight Pullen chief executive of its global Transportation business
The consultancy's aviation and surface transport leader takes over the global business line with immediate effect from interim chief Russell Jackson, with the UK named among five countries with particularly strong growth prospects.
GRAHAM appointed to build £45m student housing scheme at Marshgate Lane in Stratford
Gamuda Land UK has named GRAHAM as contractor for its 321-bed purpose-built student accommodation scheme at 14 Marshgate Lane, on a consented site next to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park that it bought in October 2025.
Housing associations pick first eight Social Housing Scholarships recipients from 316 applicants
Clarion Housing Group and six partner landlords have named the first scholars in a programme paying social housing residents £18,000 each over three years, with seven more places to follow in 2027.
Blue Gem Wind opens supply chain for 100MW Erebus floating wind project in Celtic Sea
Developer launches supply-chain engagement for its consented, CfD-backed Erebus test and demonstration project off Pembrokeshire, inviting Welsh and UK firms to register interest ahead of construction by the end of the decade.
Gardiner & Theobald cost-managed Palm Houses restoration reopens at Edinburgh Biomes
The first stage of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's Edinburgh Biomes programme has reopened to the public, with Gardiner & Theobald providing cost management and Balfour Beatty as main contractor.
Read Construction calls Rochdale suppliers to Meet the Buyer event for pupil referral unit
The contractor will hold a half-day session at Unity House on 11 November to brief Rochdale-based subcontractors on more than 30 packages, from piling and steel frame to solar PV and landscaping.
CPA says HGV phase-out mandates are premature in response to government consultation
The Construction Plant-hire Association has published its response to a Department for Transport consultation, arguing that new mandates and phase-out dates for non-zero emission HGVs present a profound risk to the plant-hire sector.
East West Rail drops Fulbourn train care centre from DCO after industry agrees alternative
EWR Co has removed the proposed Cambridge Eastern train care centre from its Development Consent Order plans after agreeing with Network Rail and train operators to use existing rail industry-owned sites elsewhere in the Eastern region.
Stace appoints Gaby Noimark to head neighbourly matters in London building surveying team
The 200-strong consultancy has hired the party wall specialist to lead its neighbourly matters work from London, with plans to grow the team and bring 360-degree cameras to schedules of condition.
Future Homes Hub points housebuilders to heat pump guidance ahead of March 2027 standard
The industry body has used the first National Heat Pump Week to push its checklists and procurement advice as the Future Homes Standard, which rules out gas boilers, approaches in March 2027.
CPA opposes per-mile electric vehicle tax and proposes VED alternative for commercial fleets
The Construction Plant-hire Association says it backs a long-term funding model but rejects mileage-based taxation of electric vehicles and the precedent it could set for other vehicle types.
NFB urges Chancellor to restore construction's red diesel rebate at 28 October Budget
The National Federation of Builders has asked John Healey to follow a US executive order on dyed diesel and give construction back its rebated fuel at the 28 October Budget.
CPA presses for fuel security and technology neutrality in downstream oil response
The plant-hire trade body has published its submission to the government's call for evidence on fuel supply chains, which the department said will inform an upcoming downstream oil strategy.
This week
British Construction and Infrastructure Awards
Takes place on Wednesday 14 October.
Highways UK
Starts on Wednesday 14 October.
RIBA Stirling Prize
Takes place on Thursday 15 October.
Closing soon
The consultation closes on Friday 16 October 2026.
Rochdale Boroughwide Housing Limited's ITT for the Provision of Repairs Services Tender, valued at £32,197,500 including VAT, also closes on 16 October at 12:00.
Largest construction works tenders closing 5 to 18 October 2026
That consultation runs until 21 October.
Public-sector buyers have 121 construction works tenders closing on Find a Tender between 9 and 22 October 2026, with the 105 single contracts that carry an estimate valued at £431.0 million in total, according to Cabinet Office open data.
About this briefing
Published on weekday mornings. Every item comes from a story National Construction News has already published and checked against its sources, from dates organisers have published, or from our data trackers. See the events and awards calendar, or get the week's stories by email with the weekly newsletter.