Author: James Anderson, FRSA, CMgr MCMI

Love Scaffolding Ltd has applied to add an operating centre at The Old Machine Shop, 1 Brook Street, Redditch, B98 8NG. The notice can be viewed on the Public Notice Portal via: publicnoticeportal.uk The company, which is located at 25 Jervoise Road, Birmingham, B29 5QS, currently holds a goods vehicle operator’s licence. It is requesting approval to station three vehicles at the new site, with no trailers. Written representations are invited from owners and occupiers of land, including buildings, near the operating centres, if they believe their use or enjoyment of the land would be affected by the company’s plans.…

Locals in an East Sussex port town have been treated to a high street makeover. Newhaven, like many towns across the UK, has experienced a decline in recent years, with many shops closing – and others looking worn.But thanks to funding made available through the Newhaven Enterprise Zone’s (NEZ) Town Centre Revitalisation Fund, that is changing. The scheme has received 15 applications to date, with four businesses already completing their refurbishments and more due by June 2026. Last year, the NEZ allocated £87,000 to the project, and now they have allocated a further £100,000.The port town, renowned for its natural…

There are no shortcuts when it comes to selecting the right tiles for your home. In fact, a few tiling design mishaps might spell disaster for your home interior design! Furthermore, with a wealth of tiling options available in the market, it is not surprising that a novice 1st time homeowner will be overwhelmed by the array of tile material, design, and placement selections. Nevertheless, fret not! Here are a couple of insider tiling tips to get you started on the right track, according to our experts. 1. Older HDB apartment makes it a challenge to choose the right tile…

West Sussex County Council has backed the creation of a single unitary authority covering the entire county, as part of a wider reorganisation of local government. The proposal, developed in a joint business case with all eight councils in West Sussex, will be submitted to central government by September 26, with a final decision expected in spring 2026. Councillor Paul Marshall, leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “Thank you to my fellow council leaders and chief executives who have worked collaborated successfully to develop the options in the business case.” “As the case shows, creating a singly unitary authority…

Polar NE, based in Skippers Lane Industrial Estate, Middlesbrough, creates what it describes as lifesaving windows and doors16:19, 15 Oct 2025Updated 16:22, 15 Oct 2025Middlesbrough firm Polar NE has supplied windows to HMP Stirling(Image: PR)A Teesside manufacturing firm has supplied specialist windows for a new prison. Polar NE creates safety windows and doors to mental health sites across Britain.Now the almost 20-year-old firm, based in Skippers Lane Industrial Estate, Middlesbrough, has completed a “game-changing” project at a different type of setting – at HMP Stirling, in Scotland. The £85m site is the first new women’s prison in Scotland in a…

Emily Jeffery & Simon Furber,in FirleandJoshua Askew,South EastGetty ImagesFred Fowler was working on the slopes of Firle Beacon in East SussexMany years ago a shepherd tending his flock on the South Downs had a rather strange encounter. The other-worldly apparition he said he had seen captured imaginations far beyond Sussex. His story hit the national headlines and continues to be remembered in local histories and documentaries today. One morning in 1940, Fred Fowler was working on the slopes of Firle Beacon in East Sussex. Perched atop the hill with his crook, accounts say he saw a radiant figure clothed in…

The UK could capture materials worth £1 billion from electrical waste through improved recycling and recovery systems, according to a five-year impact report from Material Focus published today. The report, Saving Valuable Materials, states that 30 million more small electricals were recycled in 2023 and 2024 compared to 2022. However, over 100,000 tonnes of electricals are still thrown away annually, and 880 million items remain unused in UK homes. Material Focus, which operates the Recycle Your Electricals campaign, launched in March 2020. The organisation reports that 9.2 million more people say they are recycling electricals than they did when the…

2024 overall sales dropped 2.6% compared to 2023, with all but the hardwood segment showing a loss. Hardwood flooring, which includes engineered wood products, rose 2.0%, while laminate flooring dropped 8.4%, according to Catalina Research. For 2025, U.S. floor covering manufacturer sales (domestic factory shipment plus import minus export) dipped in the first three quarters, with Catalina Research also projecting a drop in the fourth. Elevated mortgage rates are contributing to the decline. Heading into 2026 however, wood flooring manufacturers are optimistic. NWFA’s 2026 Industry Outlook survey finds 76% of manufacturers surveyed project moderate or better sales growth.The 2025 Wood Industry…

Clark Contracts is campaigning to protect the future of Scotland’s construction talent pipeline following news that Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) may suspend its Building Surveying and Construction Management programmes for the 2026/27 academic session. The proposed suspension comes amid falling application numbers, despite strong employer demand for graduates in these disciplines. Industry bodies and employers have repeatedly highlighted the shortage of skilled professionals entering the sector, a challenge that could be exacerbated if these programmes are withdrawn. Gordon Cunningham, managing director of Clark Contracts, said: “These courses are vital to the sustainability and growth of our industry. They provide the…

Paul Duffy, Managing Director of Onduline Building Products, discusses the challenges and opportunities shaping the roofing market over the past year, and where the sector is heading in 2026. The UK roofing and construction sectors faced another challenging year in 2025, particularly across commercial and non-residential construction. Slow new project starts, higher business taxation, building regulation delays and persistent labour shortages continued to affect timelines and investment confidence across the building envelope and roofing supply chain. Multiple commercial categories, including offices, retail and industrial, saw reduced activity throughout the year as developers paused decision-making and funding constraints delayed projects.…