Torus has awarded a £224m multi-contractor framework to deliver 9,000 new homes by 2029 and support retrofit works across its existing 41,000-home portfolio around Liverpool, Warrington and St Helens. The 13 appointed firms include Eric Wright Construction, Seddon Construction, Caddick Construction, Vistry Merseyside, Starship Modular and others covering both traditional build and modular delivery. The framework will be central to scaling fabric upgrades and new-build output, giving regional contractors a structured pipeline of housing and refurbishment projects.

Wigan-based Marsden Crane Services has added a 150-tonne Liebherr LTM 1150-5.3 all terrain crane as its new flagship, featuring a five-axle carrier, seven-section 66-metre main boom and remote-controlled superstructure functions for safer site operations. With extensions, the crane reaches a 92-metre hook height and 72-metre radius, and can legally travel under STGO with 29 tonnes of its 46-tonne ballast, reducing support transport for many lifts. The unit has already erected Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s new 138 ft Aviktas gyro swing and follows Marsden’s recent addition of a 50-tonne Liebherr LTC 1050-3.1 city crane used for precast lifts at Burnley FC’s stadium.

Availability of 411 purpose-built studio rooms on Newcastle’s Heber Street has been delayed by a year after Downing’s Building Safety Regulator Gateway 2 approval took 42 weeks, shifting construction start to March 2026 and first occupation to September 2028. The Simpson Haugh-designed block forms a single building in three elements of 10, 12 and 14 storeys and targets BREEAM Excellent with embedded sustainability measures. As the final phase of the Downing Plaza redevelopment of the former Newcastle & Brown Brewery site, the delay affects capacity planning alongside the existing 1,800+ student beds and 183-bed hotel already delivered.