Construction buyers reported a surge in activity and new orders in July. The bellwether S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index rose at its fastest rate for 26 months to 55.3 in July from 52.2 in June. All three categories of construction saw activity increase in July as work on housing projects returned to growth.

Water regular Ofwat plans to fine Thames, Yorkshire and Northumbrian Water £168m for failing to manage their wastewater treatment works and networks, in record penalties from its biggest-ever investigation. In addition to the proposed sewage dumping fines, Ofwat plans to impose enforcement orders to require each company to rectify immediately the problems it has identified,

McLaren has launched a new Construction Management and Specialist Projects division to target large scale real estate and public sector projects. Former Sir Robert McAlpine deputy managing director for London Vince Lydon has joined McLaren to head the new division. Lydon spent nine years at McAlpine after working for Balfour Beatty, Bovis and Lendlease, where

Fifteen firms have secured places on Network Rail’s  £1.4bn Southern Region minor works, buildings and civils partnership framework. The firms will deliver reactive and planned maintenance of buildings assets, as well as small renewals projects, across Kent, Sussex and Wessex Routes for control period 7 and 8. It rationalises seven current frameworks into one and