Aarsleff Ground Engineering has implemented diverse slope stabilisation solutions across three UK sites, addressing unique challenges with tailored techniques. In Alnwick, 57.6m of driven steel sheet piles were installed using a silent press to stabilise a slope near historic buildings, while in Tynemouth, a 10m deep contiguous pile wall with a 120-year design life was constructed to secure a cliff face at King Edwards Bay. In Northampton, an 80m soil nailed solution with R32 hollow threadbars was deployed to stabilise a failing reinforced soil wall, overcoming buried service clashes through detailed 3D visualisation.

National Timber Group, Britain's largest timber merchant, is on the brink of breaking up as it faces insolvency, with notices of intent to appoint administrators filed for each part of the group. Established by Cairngorm Capital in 2018, the group consolidated several timber companies, including Thornbridge and Arnold Laver, but reported a pre-tax loss of £6.3 million on a £197 million turnover for 2023. Now controlled by Sylvan Span and led by CEO Mark Dixon, the group is in advanced talks to sell substantial parts of its business while seeking additional funding to stabilise operations.

Dubai-based developer Arada has acquired an 80% stake in the £2.5bn Thameside West development at London's Royal Docks, marking its second major investment in the city's residential market. The Foster & Partners masterplan includes at least 5,000 residential apartments over 47 acres, with 1,000 homes in the first phase starting construction in 2027. The project, featuring a kilometre of waterfront and extensive green spaces, aims to transform the former industrial site into a connected, sustainable neighbourhood with 35% affordable housing.

An immigration enforcement operation at a Vistry house-building site in Bexhill, East Sussex, led to the removal of 17 men from Albania, Georgia, and India, who were found working illegally. Conducted by the Home Office and Sussex Police on 12th November, the operation could result in fines of up to £60,000 per worker for the employer. Four of the men were detained for removal from the UK, while the others were placed on immigration bail, amidst a 63% rise in illegal working arrests in the UK over the past year.

O’Brien Contractors has commenced the infrastructure phase at the 606-acre Fairham development in Nottinghamshire, following the completion of major earthworks ahead of schedule. This £100 million investment, led by Clowes Developments and Homes England, will support the construction of 3,000 homes and over a million square feet of employment space. The current phase involves installing essential infrastructure such as highways, drainage, and utilities, including water, gas, electricity, and telecoms, while coordinating with local councils and National Highways to minimise transport disruption.

The House of Commons' Environmental Audit Committee argues that nature should not be scapegoated as a barrier to housing development, emphasising the need for sustainable practices in its report, "Environmental sustainability and housing growth". The committee criticises the Planning & Infrastructure Bill for insufficient measures to meet environmental and housing targets, highlighting severe skills shortages in ecology, planning, and construction. Recommendations include reducing VAT on retrofit projects from 20% to incentivise energy-efficient homes and revising tax policies to favour low-carbon housing, aiming to support the government's target of building 1.5 million homes by 2028.

Consumer protection minister Kate Dearden has dismissed calls for a compulsory builders' licensing scheme in the UK, citing concerns over increased consumer costs and a lack of evidence that such schemes reduce poor-quality work. The debate, initiated by Conservative MP Mark Garnier, highlighted support from 77% of SME builders and 78% of consumers for licensing, referencing successful models in the US, Australia, and New Zealand. Liberal Democrat MPs Tom Gordon and Ben Maguire argued for improving existing systems like TrustMark and enhancing accessible redress mechanisms to address rogue builders effectively.

A UK trial led by the Materials Processing Institute has demonstrated the feasibility of using recycled concrete fines (RCF) to replace approximately 20% of clinker in CEM II cement, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Conducted at Holcim UK’s Whetstone plant, the trial is part of the UKRI's 'Decarbonising Concrete' programme and involves key industry players like Mott MacDonald and Aston University. RCF, traditionally a waste product, is now poised to become a sustainable alternative, pending further testing and integration into British Standards BS 8500 by 2027.

Chinese manufacturer Sany has delivered its first 80-tonne SY750H excavator to the UK, purchased by Heritage Quarry Group. This machine, equipped with a 4.2 cubic metre bulk bucket, offers a maximum bucket breakout force of 410kN, a reach of 12.10 metres, and a dig depth of 7.5 metres. Heritage Quarry Group, already operating 40-tonne and 50-tonne Sany models, cites exceptional performance and reliability as key reasons for expanding their fleet with this heavy-duty excavator.

The Monopoly Construction Edition – Deluxe Global Edition, the first trilingual construction-themed board game, features cards and spaces in English, French, and German, and introduces eight exclusive collectable tokens like the Liebherr LR 9800 mining excavator and Hexagon Leica Geosystems Total Station. Players can explore global construction landmarks such as the Grand Paris Express and HS2 while navigating industry-specific scenarios. Launched by The Construction Index, this edition aims to inspire interest in construction amidst a forecasted need for 216,800 additional skilled workers by 2025.