Daily briefing
National Construction News briefing: Tuesday 3 November 2026
15 stories from the last 24 hours, one event or deadline today, two dates for the week ahead and five closing dates from our recent stories.
Stories from the last 24 hours
Openreach to start cable diversion ahead of Shaldon retaining wall rebuild
Devon County Council says utility diversions begin on 9 November at the wall between Torquay Road and Ringmore Road, which collapsed in February 2024, with the main rebuild estimated at £230,000.
Constructors' Company puts charitable trust at centre of 50th anniversary year
Henry Lamb, the 50th Master of the Worshipful Company of Constructors, has set out plans for the livery company's Golden Jubilee year, with its Charitable Trust reporting a record £78,000 in grants.
Kier sends 50 leaders on Oxford Saïd AI strategy programme
The contractor has partnered with Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, on a bespoke AI Strategy and Leadership Journey for 50 of its leaders, backing its Naturally Digital strategy.
Leeds to York line reopens after nine-day Common Lane bridge and wiring blockade
Network Rail says Transpennine Route Upgrade engineers installed the new Common Lane bridge at Church Fenton and finished fitting overhead line equipment during a nine-day closure, reopening the railway on time despite Storm Boelo.
Taylor Wimpey buys consented 80-home Brook Street site in Soham from Pigeon
Landowner Pigeon has completed the sale of its Brook Street land in Soham to Taylor Wimpey, which is preparing a Reserved Matters application for 80 homes including 16 affordable houses.
NFRC opens UK Roofing Awards 2027 nominations with 8 January deadline
The roofing trade body is taking free entries across 16 project categories and three individual awards until 8 January 2027, ahead of a ceremony on 16 April at the InterContinental-The O2 in London.
Network Rail completes seven-day timber and S&C renewal between Staines and Windsor
Engineers replaced 58 bridge and track timbers and renewed switches and crossings near Staines during a week-long October half-term closure that Network Rail links to a wider Wessex reliability plan.
Government Property Agency appoints joint chief operating officers in job share
Erin Robinson and Helen Mills will lead corporate services and operational delivery at the agency that holds more than £2.1bn of government property, under a co-leadership model they ran together at DSIT.
R G Carter welcomes 14 new apprentices at Royal Norfolk Showground induction
The Norwich contractor's in-house Academy brought together new starters from R G Carter Construction, Carter Design Group and Eyre Group for presentations and team-building challenges.
Atheni wins £231,000 Barnsley award to train 140 workers at six firms to use AI
The largest of four AI Upskilling Challenge Fund awards will train 140 workers at six manufacturing, engineering and construction firms to use AI built around their own documents for quotes, tenders and safety paperwork.
Willmott Dixon wins £17.9m first phase of Bury Interchange redevelopment
Transport for Greater Manchester has appointed the contractor through the SCAPE framework to build a steel footbridge over the Metrolink lines and upgrade tram platforms, with work starting this month.
Network Rail fits 61 axle counters in October half-term Havant resignalling work
Engineers installed 61 axle counters, new rails between Liphook and Petersfield and 183 metres of track at Fishbourne during the October half-term closure, with the next Havant phase due in February 2027.
DfT publishes transport resilience strategy with 22 commitments for next 5 to 10 years
The Department for Transport has set out a five-to-10-year transport resilience strategy with 22 commitments, including a Transport Resilience Academy and a sector-wide resilience network, minister Keir Mather told MPs.
CECA urges early contractor role as £700m Strategic Sites Accelerator opens
Civil engineering contractors want enabling infrastructure placed at the centre of the government's search for up to 10 industrial and commercial sites, with submissions to the pilot closing on 19 January 2027.
Council Housebuilding Support Fund bidding round closes with £21.8m on offer to March 2029
Councils in England outside London bid for grants of up to £300,000 each before the 2 November deadline, with the fund forming part of MHCLG's £46m Capacity to Build programme.
Today
Building Awards
Takes place today at Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane.
This week
RIA Annual Conference
Starts on Wednesday 4 November.
Constructing Excellence National Awards
Takes place on Friday 6 November.
Closing soon
NOCN Group has opened a new round of its Foundation's Skills Innovation Grant programme, offering grants of £500 to £15,000 for pilot training projects, with applications closing on 15 December and a webinar for applicants on 3 November.
Public-sector buyers have 139 construction works tenders closing on Find a Tender between 23 October and 5 November 2026, with the buyers' own estimates for single contracts adding up to £676.1 million.
The Environment Agency said on 2 November 2026 that it is updating its Fluvial Modelling Standards, the guidance that sets out how hydraulic river models are built and reviewed in England, and has opened a consultation survey that closes on 6 November.
Largest construction works tenders closing 30 October to 12 November 2026
The consultation closes at 9am on Monday 16 November 2026.
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.