Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Ireland Construction News Archive for January 2010
29/01/2010
There are fears that the real number of construction workers on the dole could be double the official statistic. On paper, there are now more than 13,000 people from the NI construction industry out of work and claiming benefits, according to the latest figures from the Construction Employers' Fede
29/01/2010
New data has shown that the number of new dwelling completions fell sharply in 2007/08, with just 8,827 housing completions, a decrease of 30% on the previous year. On the NI 'Built Heritage', there has been a modest increase of 166 in the number of listed buildings with a total of 8,350 listed bui
29/01/2010
A substantial building project is being anticipated in the North West. Proposals are being discussed to sell-off of the leisure centre on Coleraine's Railway Road to raise funds along with the relocation of Coleraine Football Club to the new premises in Rugby Avenue Coleraine Borough Council is be
29/01/2010
A National Wind Energy Academy is being established at Letterkenny Institute of Technology as part of a €500,000 initiative being backed by the Donegal County Development Board. The first phase will see the development of a wind turbine maintenance programme which will be delivered in conjunction w
29/01/2010
A Co Tyrone building company has been fined for a polluting discharge to a waterway Geotech Construction Ltd, of Shanmaghery Road, Galbally, Dungannon, was fined £2,500 plus £25 court costs at Dungannon Magistrates' Court. On 4 February 2008, a water quality inspector, acting on behalf of the Nor
29/01/2010
It was announced yesterday that the Hughes Christensen drill bit factory in east Belfast was to close with the loss of 210 jobs. Parent company Baker Hughes said its operations would move to Texas. The factory at Castlereagh has been in operation for 55 years making drill bits for the oil and gas
29/01/2010
Town centre 'masterplans' for two mid-Ulster town are to be drawn-up. The NI Department of Social Development (DSD) Minister, Margaret Ritchie has approved the move for both Cookstown and Magherafelt. The Minister made the announcement following her visit to the two towns last week. She said: "I
29/01/2010
An iconic Tandragee landmark is to have a new lease of life as a major £10m housing development. Sintons Mills, at Glebe Hill, will be converted into 59 residential units and 113 apartments overlooking the Cusher River. Applications submitted by Belfast company Forge Properties in December 2007 ha
28/01/2010
A new multi-million pound improvement proposal has been revealed that will boost both Dungannon town centre and the overall construction industry. Hundreds of building jobs are expected to flow from the Department for Social Development plans for the £2.3million redevelopment of the town centre whi
28/01/2010
The old Letterkenny Leisure Centre is being levelled in the coming weeks. The former swimming pool and basketball court which has been unused since it closed down in 2007 is being demolished to make way for a new court facility. The site was sold to the Courts Service for €3m with the money due to
28/01/2010
A top hotel chain - led by Indian-born peer, Lord Rana - is pressing ahead with plans for a multi million pound hotel on the vacant Tillie and Henderson's site in Londonderry. Andras House, the hotel group and property development company, has revised plans for the hotel - first mooted in 2005 and
28/01/2010
Tenders are being sought for the building of a major Co Donegal leisure facility. Councillors from Stranorlar Electoral Area (SEA) have this month voted for the process to get underway so that bids to construct the Ballybofey and Stranorlar Swimming Pool can be made. Tenders must be received no la
28/01/2010
An inter-campus competition between Northern Regional College's (NRC) top electrical installation apprentices has been won by a young bright spark from Co Antrim. Adrian Hughes from Ballyclare was named Electrical Apprentice of the Year, following the practical competition which involved apprentice
28/01/2010
The result of the judicial review on a planning application for Ireland's largest Tesco supermarket will be known this Friday. If it goes in favour of the developer, work could start almost immediately with hundreds of construction jobs likely to follow. The site for the 130,000 square feet store
28/01/2010
A contract to supply a huge 3,000sqmts of architectural panels has just been fulfilled by a Co Tyrone concrete products firm. Acheson & Glover has just finished work on the prestigious Shamrock Plaza development in Carlow in the Irish republic. The project took six months to complete and saw the d
28/01/2010
Delays in completing reconstruction work in a Co Antrim town's main shopping street are causing headaches. Traders on Ballyclare's Main Street were faced with more problems last week as work on the new footpath scheme was delayed due to kerbstones not having arrived. The street had been reopened t
27/01/2010
A new study has revealed that Ireland has over 600 so-called 'ghost estates', with parts of the north-nest hit hardest in the wake of the property crash. The research, released the by National Institute of Regional and Spatial Analysis, highlighted the number of empty or abandoned developments acro
27/01/2010
There has been a call to bring a domestic boiler scrap-and-replace initiative to NI. The Stormont Social Development Committee Chair Simon Hamilton has suggested serious consideration be given to the future introduction of a boiler scrappage scheme. As well as improving energy efficiency, he said
27/01/2010
Northern Ireland Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today officially opened a major extension to Bluestone Business Park in Brownlow, Craigavon. Brownlow Ltd, a community regeneration group, has completed a major expansion that has provided nine new business units. This will cultivate e
27/01/2010
The first part of the major refurbishment of an iconic west Belfast building has been completed. The Stormont Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, attended the opening of the first phase of Conway Mill's Refurbishment Project this morning. Costing well over £5m with the Department for So
27/01/2010
A plan to regenerate a former textiles factory site in Lisburn, Co Down has received planning permission. The £100m project will see the site of the former Barbour Threads Linen factory being transformed into 605 apartments, 15,000 sq ft of light industry units and 17,000 sq ft of offices. Hilden
27/01/2010
A leading archaeology company has won a contract to provide consultancy services for an underwater electric power cable linking Ireland with the UK. Headland Archaeology (UK and Ireland) has been awarded the £50,000 contract and will provide transboundary marine archaeology consultancy services for
27/01/2010
Four fuel-laundering plants, with the capabilities of producing around seven million litres of illicit diesel have been dismantled across Northern Ireland. Officers from both Revenue and Customs and the PSNI carried out raids at nine premises in Co. Tyrone and Co Antrim in a 24-hour period. Four m
27/01/2010
An online Japanese gaming company has announced plans to expand its European database in Dublin. GALA has been based in the Irish capital since 2006, and says the expansion is a result of both the expansion of the online games market in Europe and the success of its Irish operation. The move will
26/01/2010
The outlook for Ireland’s construction industry remains bleak with 50% of companies anticipating further restructuring and redundancies in 2010, a new survey has suggested. According to Roger Alexander, head of Construction & Property at accountancy and consulting firm, Mazars, over three quarters
26/01/2010
SIPTU has announced today it was serving notice of industrial action on Kingspan Building Products in Kingscourt, Cavan, after the company implemented a Labour Court ruling. According to SIPTU Cavan Branch Organiser, Declan Ferry, the company has implemented a complete change to the terms and cond
26/01/2010
Almost €50m of capital tenders awarded by Donegal County Council have gone to companies across the border, new figures have revealed. The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) says a fifth of all such contracts were given to companies in Northern Ireland between 2006 and 2008. According to a repo
26/01/2010
A Newry-based construction company has picked up a major quality award for its recent environmental improvement scheme in Armagh. SIAC Construction was granted the 'very good' standard of the CEEQUAL award for the scheme, which was completed within budget and six months ahead of schedule. The proj
26/01/2010
A new book is celebrating Belfast's City Hall – seen by many as the capital's 'architectural centrepiece'. 'Belfast City Hall – An Architectural History', by Dr Paul Larmour, describes the history and architecture of the City Hall, from its inception in 1896 to its completion in 1906. Dr Larmour
26/01/2010
NI Transport Minister Conor Murphy has announced that the contract for the £113m A8 Belfast to Larne dualling project has been awarded to the consortium Lagan/Ferrovial/Costain. The scheme will dual the 14km section of the A8 between the B95 Coleman’s Corner Junction and the B100 Ballyrickard Road
26/01/2010
The cost of the recent cold snap across Ireland continues be counted, after the City of Derry Airport revealed it has spent £70,000 to keep the runway open during the icy spell. According to a spokesperson for the airport, the money was spent on snow clearing operations – including de-icing and cos
26/01/2010
100 Irish jobs are to be created after the owner of Currys and PC World announced plans to combine both retailers under one roof. DSG Retail says the redevelopment will take place at a number of undisclosed locations throughout the company over the course of the next 18 months. Declan Ronayne, Man
25/01/2010
A contractor working on a major Irish construction project faces prosecution by the National Employment Rights Authority (Nera), a newspaper report has claimed. According to the Irish Times, the prosecution is due within the next few months. The job is reportedly a major State-funded construction
25/01/2010
A Co Down woman has become the first female to complete the NVQ Plant Qualification. Lesley Cunningham from Cunningham Services Ltd, a roadwork's contractor based in Hillsborough, completed the course at the ITS Training Centre in Portadown. Ms Cunningham said: "I thoroughly enjoyed the NVQ assess
25/01/2010
The Irish Government is to spend €300m to repair the country's water mains. Environment Minister, John Gormley said the funding would help update old and burst mains over the courser of the next three years. The severe cold snap across Ireland over the past month has served to highlight the prob
25/01/2010
A Co Armagh pumping station could soon be demolished after revelations that it broke planning regulations. The station was built at the corner of Russwood Park and Gilford Road in Portadown. Following complaints from residents, however, it emerged that the facility was larger than it should have be
25/01/2010
The Irish Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe, has officially opened a new €1m, two-classroom national school in Co Wexford. The Ballyoughter facility, which opened in September with 33 pupils, replaces the old one, which was 120 years old. The Department sanctioned a grant of almost
25/01/2010
St Malachy's Church in Belfast has been shortlisted to receive an Award or Commendation at the annual Civic Trust Awards, which take place on 12th March in Liverpool. The awards are given to projects that are "culturally, socially or economically beneficial", and make an "outstanding contribution t
25/01/2010
A Co. Down man has been handed a five year suspended sentence at Newtownards Crown Court for breaches of waste management legislation. Ignatius Geddis (64) of Belfast Road, Bangor pleaded guilty on five waste charges under The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. Mr Geddis w
25/01/2010
Figures just published have revealed that a special lower rate of tax made available to property developers has cost the Dublin Exchequer €800m. The tax rate was introduced to free up land for development in 2000 - and was scrapped in January 2009. It worked on account of land being sold for devel
25/01/2010
A Dublin-based sign and nameplate company has launched its new Anocolour range of outdoor signs. Alpha Signs and Nameplates can now produce a full colour Image on Aluminiuum, which is fade and vandal resistant, and will not be damaged by graffiti removal agents. The image is protected under the a
22/01/2010
County court judgements against companies in Northern Ireland have risen by over one third, new figures have revealed. Data analysts ICC found a total of 1,042 country court judgements (CCJs), with a combined total value of £4.6m, were handed down in 2009. This compares to £3.8m sought through 713
22/01/2010
The visitors' centre at the iconic Giant's Causeway is set to finally go ahead following a £3m lottery grand. Construction is due to begin shortly at the Co Antrim landmark, after years of delays and wrangling over the plans. The cash injection, from the Heritage Lottery Fund, will go towards an £
22/01/2010
A new online tendering service for the Irish constructions industry has been launched.
22/01/2010
New figures have revealed that a now-scrapped tax rate, applicable to property developers, cost the Irish Exchequer €800m. The 'Special Incentive Tax Rate' was introduced in 2000 to encourage the release of land for residential development. It was abandoned in January 2009. While land that is sold
22/01/2010
NI Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, has called on the people of Downpatrick to express their views on proposals for the regeneration of the town centre. Minister Ritchie today visited an exhibition outlining the draft masterplan proposals for the town, which will remain on display at
22/01/2010
A conference highlighting the development of Ireland's 'build environment' has also looked at the provision of appropriate skills training for the construction and related industries. The NI Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, has encouraged those at the conference to produce workers w
22/01/2010
Irish Housing Minister Michael Finneran is due to speak at an event to celebrate the Government's new social housing leasing initiative scheme. The scheme, which is supported by the Department of the Environment, allows local authorities and approved housing bodies, such as housing associations, to
22/01/2010
Ulster Unionist Social Development Spokesperson, Billy Armstrong, has said that news of a further £6million being made available to NI Housing Executive maintenance programmes will "give hope to many worried tenants". "We have dealt with many housing queries in our constituency offices in recent
21/01/2010
Government and academic figures from around Europe are in Limerick today to launch a new initiative aimed at encouraging greater eco-design in regional planning policies. The Mid-West Regional Authority, in cooperation with the South-West Regional Authority and the University of Limerick, are parti
21/01/2010
The National Standards Authority Ireland (NSAI) has issued a warning to the construction industry on the non-compliance of certain types of imported Chinese plywood. According to he body, it has identified a number of issues regarding the safety, quality and performance of a number of plywood prod
21/01/2010
A company that is under threat from being struck off the register has applied to build a 149-bedroom hotel in Dublin, according to a newspaper report. Wellington General Partner, headed by developer Frank Gormley, was listed for strike-off by the Companies Office last November. However, the compan
21/01/2010
Irish Energy Minister, Eamon Ryan has announced the appointment of Garrett Blaney to the Commission for Energy Regulation. Mr Blaney will serve in the position for a period of five years, commencing on 15th February. Commenting on the appointment, Minister Ryan said: "I am very pleased that Garre
21/01/2010
A major regeneration project at the fishing port in Kilkeel, Co. Down has been officially marked. Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle Gildernew toured four projects that have benefited from the £2m investment, of which DARD provided £1.45m through the South Down
21/01/2010
Northern Ireland Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, was on hand today to officially open the award-winning £10m Knockbreda Health & Care Centre. The new facility is the fifth of seven centres being developed in the Belfast Trust area, and will provide a range of services in a "one-stop-shop enviro
21/01/2010
Northern Ireland Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie has announced a further £6million for Housing Executive maintenance programmes. Minister Ritchie said: "Six million pounds will be spent on kitchen replacements and new heating systems in houses which desperately need to be modernised. This means t
21/01/2010
A six-year plan to improve the quality of water in Northern Ireland's rivers has been launched by Environment Minister Edwin Poots. The implementation of the 'River Basin Management Plans' takes place from 2010 to 2015. The Minister explained: "We rely on our water environment not only for drinki
20/01/2010
Around €8bn worth of construction projects are expected to get underway in Ireland this year, according to a new survey. The Construction Information Services (CIS), said €8.48bn worth of new developments will get underway in addition to €8.2bn worth of schemes that have already begun, reports the
20/01/2010
The building trade continues to the hardest hit sector in the continuing employment downturn, according to a Northern Ireland recruitment company. "While it is disappointing to see a rise of 500 people seeking unemployment benefit last month to a new level of 54,500, we are beginning to see a defin
20/01/2010
A £4m housing scheme for active older people has been launched in Belfast. Some 30 new energy efficient homes were built at Glenview Wood in east Belfast, funded by the Department for Social Development and Trinity Housing Association. Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie extended her best
20/01/2010
NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has congratulated Sandvik Ballygawley as the 2,000th machine rolled off its production line. Three years ago, the Sandvik Group (Sweden) acquired the Fintec Crushing and Screening facility in County Tyrone. Working with Invest Northern Ireland, Sandvik has conti
20/01/2010
Around 2500 jobs will be lost if plans to build an incinerator in Dublin go ahead, the Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA) has claimed. According to a report in the Irish Times, the IMWA warned an Oireachtas environment committee about the ramifications of the construction of the Poolbeg faci
20/01/2010
A member of the Northern Ireland Assembly has said Newry has been badly treated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Industry in making decisions on high-speed broadband hubs for Project Kelvin SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Dominic Bradley raised the issue in a special Adjournment Debate motion.
20/01/2010
The owners of a leading Irish property website has announced its expansion into the Polish market. Daft Media Group, owner of Daft.ie, hopes to benefit from the "positive brand recognition" of it’s flagship title amongst the influx of Polish people who have arrived in Ireland to live and work over
20/01/2010
Flogas Natural Gas will continue to be 9% cheaper than Bord Gais for new residential customers after the reduced natural gas price takes effect on 1st February, the company has said. This discount will remain in place until the next review of natural gas prices by the Commission for Energy Regulat
19/01/2010
Plans to build an €18m residential and retail development in Co. Dublin have been scrapped. A nursing home and a primary care unit, however, may now replace the project in Swords. The Ardrium Partnership was granted planning permission for an urban neighbourhood centre in 2007. The project, which
19/01/2010
Plants to build a £14m health centre in Co Antrim have been unveiled. Gareth Hoskins Architects and Keppie Design have designed the polyclinic-style Ballymena Heath & Carer Centre, which will be constructed at the Braid Valley Hospital site. The facility will have its departments split across two
19/01/2010
The worst infrastructure crisis in living memory is currently gripping Co Carlow, a newspaper report has said. Extreme weather conditions continue to take their toll in the area, as roads crumble and water pipes continue to burst and freeze due to the recent cold snap, according to the Carlow Peopl
19/01/2010
Northern Ireland Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie has today approved a 1.9% rent increase for Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants in 2010/11. The increase will equate, on average, to less than £1 per week for tenants. "In these times of financial hardship and budget cuts, for
19/01/2010
A Co Antrim landmark building is to be demolished and replaced with a luxury hotel. The top floor and back staircases have already been removed from the Metropole building in Portrush, according to a report in the News Letter. "The final decision will be made soon, but demolition and the hotel is
19/01/2010
Repairing roads damaged from ice and flooding over recent weeks could cost in excess of €150m. Councils in Ireland have called on the Government to provide extra funding to combat this issue, on a per-kilometre basis. Emergency road repairs are underway across the country following the recent poor
19/01/2010
A Sinn Féin MLA has called for the mandatory registration of landlords. Alex Maskey is to propose the motion later today in the Assembly. Mr Maskey will ask Northern Ireland Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, to address the problems facing residents in the Holylands area of South Belfa
19/01/2010
Proposed legislation designed to help people adversely affected by high hedges bordering their domestic property was outlined to the Northern Ireland Assembly today. Highlighting a public consultation on a draft High Hedges Bill, Environment Minister Edwin Poots outlined the extent of the widesprea
18/01/2010
Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has insisted that the A5 and A6 road schemes will go ahead as planned, despite opposition from some landowners. Mr McGuinness was responding to an Assembly question by Foyle Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson who sought assurances that the Derry
18/01/2010
Dublin-based architect Selma Harrington has been elected as the new President of the Architect's Council of Europe (ACE). The presidency will run from 2010-2012. Selma Harrington was born and educated in Sarajevo, Bosnia–Herzegovina, but has been a practicing architect in Ireland for over 12 years
18/01/2010
Aviva Stadium has achieved the first stage in BS8901 accreditation leading it one step closer to being Ireland’s "most environmentally responsible event space". The stadium, currently being built in Dublin, has been accredited with the definitive benchmark for sustainable events: BS8901, a standard
18/01/2010
Cork City Council has invited applications for the 2010 Conservation Grants Scheme. The objective of the scheme is to assist the owner of a protected (listed) structure to undertake works necessary to secure its conservation. The scheme is not, however, intended to assist in carrying out routine
18/01/2010
Work on the £13.4m Derry Peace Bridge has begun - but a unique twist has been added. Cameras are being placed at Ebrington Barracks in the City, in an effort to record every stage of the construction. Speaking at a launch to mark the turning of the sod at the former Ebrington Barracks site, the Ch
18/01/2010
There has been a welcome for additional funds of £15million for roads' maintenance in NI. It was announced in the recent December in-year monitoring round. Northern Ireland Roads Minister, Conor Murphy said: "This additional money is particularly timely, given that the coldest December since 1981
18/01/2010
A Co Fermanagh kitchen designer has been named as a finalist in a coveted industry award. Peter Leonard, of Ballygawley-based firm Greenhill Kitchen Innovations, is up for the 2010 KBB (Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms) Industry Award. He previously scooped the honour in 2007. Mr Leonard, who beat
18/01/2010
Mr Machinery, the low-cost, user-friendly and reliable auction portal for buying and selling all types of heavy equipment, starts the New Year with an overall optimistic feeling. As Mr Machinery moves into a new decade, there are real reasons for optimism in the market place. Not only is there incr
15/01/2010
The 2010 Apprentice of the Year Awards have been Launched in Northern Ireland, by the Department of Employment and Learning. Launching the competition, Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, said: "This is your chance to shine. These Awards recognise the apprentices who are taking their f
15/01/2010
While extra cash that was expected for road repairs in the Irish Republic after the 'big freeze' has been vetoed, that's not the case over the border. Irish Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said any extra money would instead have to come from existing budgets, shattering hopes by builders of fresh r
15/01/2010
The cost of using 95 prefabs classrooms rented for at least ten years by schools last year was over €1 million according to figures released by Fine Gael this week. "It is a shocking waste of taxpayers' money and a terrible indictment of how Fianna Fáil treats schools and their building needs," sai
15/01/2010
A project to transform a former flax spinning mill in Co. Antrim has been completed. Mossley Mill in Newtownabbey has undergone a £16m redevelopment by local company Graham Construction. The first phase of the project involved the complete refurbishment of the existing mill building. Structural st
15/01/2010
A Dublin-based company has called on the Irish Government to avoid future water shortages by making rainwater-harvesting compulsory for all new build projects. Kingspan Water said there would not have been a water shortage in Ireland in the last few weeks if more homes had rainwater harvesting tech
15/01/2010
Local authorities around Ireland are maintaining restrictions imposed to curb the use of water in the country. Areas in Dublin, Limerick and Westmeath have now been without supply for several days. Local authorities around the country are continuing to impose restrictions on the use of water. Par
15/01/2010
Ballymena-born actor Liam Neeson hosted a private fundraising dinner last week in New York in aid of the reconstruction of the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, of which he is Patron. Special guests who turned out to show their support included actors Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn and Ciarán Hinds. The dinn
14/01/2010
A Co Antrim construction worker - who drowned after falling into an underground water tank - was doing the job of three employees, an inquest has ruled. The 47-year-old victim, Sean Patrick Johnson, of Dervock, died in the incident, which took place in October 2006 at a NI Water waste treatment pla
14/01/2010
A new report has shown that land values in Northern Ireland may have fallen to as much as 60% as their peak figures. Commercial property firm CBRE also said that the NI hotel market is close to saturation point. In its 2010 outlook, the firm also said office rents in Belfast have stabilised after c
14/01/2010
Works to upgrade Main Street in Letterkenny area to begin later this month, Donegal County Council has confirmed. The €1.1m project will regenerate the town’s historical shopping area which has been affected by the emergence of large retail facilities in recent years. In October the town council w
14/01/2010
SDLP members have asked the Assembly Environment Committee to monitor inquiries into events at Castlereagh Council, including the role politicians play in planning decisions. The call comes after the investigation into Iris Robinson and Castlereagh Council's decision to award a contract to her teen
14/01/2010
Supermarket giant Asda has announced a £4m extension for one of its Co Fermanagh stores. Up to 40 full and part-time jobs will be created as a result of the 12,000 sq ft remodelling at the Enniskillen branch. The store has become Asda’s busiest in Northern Ireland, due in part to the surge of shop
14/01/2010
Jobs are at risk as a Donegal timber-frame house builder looks like becoming the latest casualty of the economic downturn that has ravaged the construction industry. Notices published yesterday indicate that Errigal New Homes is to hold a creditors' meeting on January 27, with a view to winding up
14/01/2010
Richmond Building Products is launching a new solution to effectively counteract the estimated 30% building energy losses attributed to uncontrolled air leakage & air infiltration. Protect BarriAir provides an effective air leakage barrier with vapour control qualities. When installed immediately
13/01/2010
A judgment for €62.5m was registered against the property developer Bernard McNamara today. It happened after the Commercial Court was told that he would not be appealing a decision made against him in a case taken by a group of Davy investors. Mr McNamara, one of the foremost property developers
13/01/2010
A survey - published today - has revealed that house prices in Louth have dropped by almost 40% in two years. According to the Daft.ie Housing Price report, the cost of an average house in Louth dropped by 23.3% in 2009 and 38.3% since the 2007 peak. The average price of a house in Louth in the fi
13/01/2010
Outline planning permission has been submitted for a scheme that will see a former Belfast hospital transformed into a residential development. Plans to build more than 300 new homes at the old Belvoir Park Hospital site in south Belfast have now been lodged to the Planning Service by the NI Depart
13/01/2010
Construction stocks have boosted the Irish stock market today, with slight rises reported. The Iseq (Irish Stock Exchange Quotient) had added 26.97 points to 3,080.94 by lunchtime today, lifted by gains in building group, CRH as well as Bank of Ireland and Irish Life and Permanent. CRH saw it’s st
13/01/2010
A top food wholesaler, Henderson Foodservice has announced plans to build a £14m warehouse on the outskirts of Belfast, in a project that will create around 120 construction jobs. The company, part of the Henderson Group, which owns the Spar franchise in Northern Ireland, will build the new facilit
13/01/2010
There has been a call for clarification over a contentious plan to build and operate an incinerator powered by chicken droppings. The construction project is already mired in claim and counter-claim as developers and residents slog-it out over the plans for a large scale electricity-generating inci
13/01/2010
A new Dart service employed in a Co Wicklow town has drastically improved local infrastructure, it has been reported. Trains from Greystones now depart on the hour and half-hour in a move that has significantly benefited access into and out of the town, reports the Bray People. "It was clear to me
13/01/2010
High winds have left residents in several Irish counties without electricity. Thousands of homes in north Wicklow, Carlow and Cork suffered power cuts on Tuesday night, as falling timber struck overhead cables. The winds have caused more problems to areas already struggling to cope with the freezi
12/01/2010
There's a high-tech approach being adopted from today to gauge the public's view on proposed Dublin 'skyscrapers'. As taller building projects were given professional backing in the North - with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors supporting such high-rises as having an "essential role in
12/01/2010
An MLA has warned over the future use of a recession-hit engineering company's site. She was commenting after news that Londonderry engineering company, Arntz Belting, is expected to close with the loss of over 100 jobs. Foyle Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson said yesterday: "My thoughts are with t
12/01/2010
Despite the reversion of stamp duty in Northern Ireland, more prices fell than rose in the local housing market in December. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) survey said it also expects house prices to stay the same for the next three months. The rate at which Stamp Duty Land Ta
12/01/2010
A prominent Irish property developer is said to have 'no assets left' and is unable to pay back €62.5m owed to investors, a Dublin court has heard. Bernard McNamara was a well-known figure in the 'Celtic Tiger' property boom – his portfolio including the purchase of the €288m Burlington Hotel. The
12/01/2010
Dublin City Council has urged the public, businesses and schools to conserve water. The plea comes at a time when water levels are at a critically low level and demand is at an all-time high. The prolonged freeze over Christmas and the early days of January caused a dramatic increase in broken wat
12/01/2010
The High Court in Belfast has ruled in favour of a local property developer in the first 'test case' against buyers over new apartments. Barry Gilligan began legal proceedings against 20 people who had booked homes at the Bakery development in the south of the city, but failed to complete the sale.
12/01/2010
Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy is supporting NI Water's (NIW's) appeal for property owners to continue to check their premises for any leaks resulting from burst pipes. The Minister said: "Due to on-going thaw conditions in some areas in the North, NIW is experiencing
12/01/2010
Taller buildings will play an essential role in reducing Northern Ireland's carbon footprint can provide "high quality urban living environments", according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Northern Ireland Environment Minister, Edwin Poots, recently revealed that his departm
11/01/2010
Conditions facing the Irish construction industry fell again in December, at the fastest rate in seven months. The latest Ulster Bank survey has revealed that activity, new business and employment all fell sharply during the month. The seasonally adjusted Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Manage
11/01/2010
A proposal to redevelop a derelict housing property in Co Down has been rejected by planners. Planning chiefs cited a total of eight reasons why the property in Newcastle should not be transformed into a high-density housing development. Shimnah House, at Bryansford Road, had been earmarked for a
11/01/2010
A decision to demolish an historic Victorian building in the centre of Belfast has been quashed by the High Court. Planners must now reconsider the decision to redevelop the Athletic Stores site on Queen Street, following Judge Treacy’s decision. It was accepted a conservation area architect shoul
11/01/2010
Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced a further £88,000 for technology trials, to improve broadband services in rural areas across the country. The financial support, from the £1.9million Broadband Fund, has been awarded to two companies, H2O Ireland Limited and North Wes
11/01/2010
Building merchants Wolseley has sold its businesses on both sides of the Irish border. Wolseley Ireland, along with the Brooks business in Northern Ireland, has been sold to a group of private investors for a total of €26.5m. The sale is under a share purchase agreement and includes the trading bu
11/01/2010
The Irish Red Cross has reached its target of €1m in its Floods Disaster Appeal. The appeal was launched at the end of November 2009 in response to the severe flooding around the country. "Reaching our goal of €1m is a fantastic achievement for the Irish Red Cross and a true testament to the kindn
08/01/2010
As promised in December, some 90 jobs have been created as the construction of a new data centre got underway in Dublin last month. As reported in build.ie in December, StructureTone was appointed to build the €12 million facility for Interxion Ireland, with the data centre due to be completed late
08/01/2010
As many as 500 construction jobs may be in doubt as the building of a highly controversial 600,000 tonne waste incinerator in Dublin's Poolbeg continues to be debated. It has now emerged that any so-called interference with the project could leave the Irish State facing a multimillion euro compensa
08/01/2010
The future of building work on the proposed multi-million euro Greencastle Harbour Project is in doubt, according to Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh. It's emerged that only €104,000 has been allocated for the ongoing work in 2010, substantially less than the €800,000 which local people believ
08/01/2010
The UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined a Co Down mortgage broker for failures which led to fraudulent mortgage applications being submitted to lenders. Newtownards-based Case Funding Centre (CFC) has been ordered to pay £35,000. James Ian Shanks, an ex-partner at CFC, has been banne
08/01/2010
Efforts to build an offshore electricity transmission network linking Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland have taken a step forward. RPS Group have been awarded a contract to examine the feasibility of the construction of an offshore grid in the Irish Sea. The study, on behalf of the Scottish G
08/01/2010
Cutbacks in repairs to historic buildings in Londonderry are up for high level discussion. SDLP Leader Mark Durkan is to meet NI Minister for Environment Edwin Poots at Stormont on Monday to discuss a planned cap on the listed building repairs project in Derry. The Foyle MP said: "I welcome the Mi
08/01/2010
A new civil and commercial mediation service is to be launched in Co. Limerick this month. MidWest Mediation Services says it offers an "efficient and cost effective" alternative to litigating disputes in the Court. Speaking at the launch, Accredited Mediator, Martina Murphy said that while litig
08/01/2010
Northern Ireland Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, has met with representatives from the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce to discuss the impact of the economic downturn on the Belfast and wider Northern Ireland economy. Discussions included the issues of bank lending and the grants available for
07/01/2010
Leading experts on the housing market will address a local audience at an event in Belfast later this month. RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) global chief economist, Simon Rubinsohn; Professor Brendan Williams of UCD (University College Dublin), an authority on NAMA; and television p
07/01/2010
A leading consultancy business has been earning millions of pounds for a proposed new road that aims to vastly improve a vital 'transport corroridor' in the North West. Information revealed in response to an Assembly query tabled by DUP MLA for West Tyrone Allan Bresland, showed that Mouchel has be
07/01/2010
House prices in Ireland fell by 19% during 2009, a new report has shown. The review, by property website DAFT.ie, also said the national average asking price for a house at the end of 2009 was €242,000, down more than €100,000 from the 2007 peak. Prices in Dublin are down 42% from 2007, while the
07/01/2010
The PSNI in Lisburn are appealing for information following the theft of a JCB Micro Excavator from premises on Old Coach Road, Hillsborough. The theft was reported at 11.40am on Monday morning, 4 January, and is believed to have occurred between Saturday, 2 January and then. Police are appealing
07/01/2010
Even snow clouds have a silver lining as a mine near Carrickfergus is producing 4,000 tonnes a day to keep NI roads moving during the prolonged cold spell. The Irish Salt Mining and Exploration Company Ltd, based at Fort Road, Kilroot, is currently working extended shifts seven days a week to keep
07/01/2010
A call has been made for the people of Newtownards to have their say on the redevelopment of the town centre. Minister Ritchie is in the Co Down town today to view an exhibition outlining draft Masterplan proposals on display in the Town Hall, Conway Square. The Masterplan identifies the key town
07/01/2010
It has been confirmed this week that work to upgrade the road and footpath at Main Street, Ballyclare will run from the first week of January until the end of March. The Department for Regional Development said the substantial contract follows on from the £670,000 town centre improvement programme
07/01/2010
Shareholders of consultancy firm, WYG, have given the company a vote of confidence in favour of the company's proposed refinancing at yesterday's extraordinary general meeting. Over 95% shareholders voted through the proposals, which will secure the financial future of the company and save around 2
06/01/2010
Farrans in Northern Ireland and Northstone NI are facing hard times as the construction industry continues to struggle. The parent company, Irish building materials giant CRH has increased its proposed cost-savings targets as it signalled a fall in profits and warned that trading conditions would r
06/01/2010
Belfast could be in line to become a city of virtual skyscrapers, if a new policy just mooted receives approval. NI's Department of Environment is currently developing a policy that will prevent "ad hoc" decisions on tall buildings by planning officers. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, NI Enviro
06/01/2010
In the third quarter of 2009, planning permissions were granted for 8,584 dwelling units across the Irish Republic, compared with 15,293 units for the same period in 2008, a decrease of 43.9%. The third quarter figures also show that planning permissions were granted for 5,362 houses in the third
06/01/2010
An independent hygiene inspection has found a hospital in Drogheda failed to deliver safe and efficient services. The Health Information and Quality Authority report follows an inspection at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital last month, which found missing and cracked tiles in the emergency department a
06/01/2010
Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has welcomed Roads Service's progress in the Derry City Council area. Over the past year, the authority has invested a total of £21.5m in the region. Speaking ahead of a meeting between Roads Service and Derry City Council, the Minister
06/01/2010
Gas prices in Ireland are to be cut by 8% from February, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has announced. The drop will include the residential sector, as well as for small and medium-sized businesses and represents the third reduction in a matter of months. The CER evaluates internationa
06/01/2010
Gardaí in Longford are to examine a cathedral in the town that was destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve. The investigation has been delayed until now, due to concerns that parts of the windows and walls within St Mel’s Cathedral could collapse. Due to the size of the building, it is unclear how lon
06/01/2010
Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed BT's announcement of a new investment in Northern Ireland’s telecoms infrastructure. The Minister said: "This is a further significant and very welcome investment in our telecommunications infrastructure. BT's investment comes on top o
06/01/2010
A local politician has called for more action to ensure that rural roads and pavements in built-up areas are gritted. Even though the Roads Service had 134 gritting lorries out overnight, battling to keep over 4,000 miles of roads open and safe for traffic, SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh Dominic Bra
05/01/2010
High-risk sectors such as construction have shown the largest falls in work-related fatalities in recent years, new figures have shown. Minister for Labour Affairs, Dara Calleary, has today welcomed figures from the Irish Republic's Health and Safety Authority, which show that 2009 had the lowest n
05/01/2010
Irish Minister of State, Tony Killeen has confirmed that two remedial work schemes have been approved for local authority housing stock in Ennis and Scarriff. €26m is being provided by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, towards schemes around the country including hou
05/01/2010
A £10m project to transform a Co. Armagh landmark into a housing development has been given the go ahead. Sinton Mills in Tandragee will be converted into 59 residential units and 113 apartments overlooking the Cusher River. Belfast company Forge Properties submitted applications in December 2007
05/01/2010
Anglers are casting doubts on a massive construction project that would see the restoration of a once thriving commercial waterway into the heart of Belfast. Plans to re-open the Lagan Canal to navigation could threaten key wildlife species that now thrive in the existing waterway, anglers have war
05/01/2010
Work is due to start on a scheme that will transform a vacant east Belfast primary school into brand new social housing. Managed by Connswater Homes, the local housing association expects to receive planning permission to turn the listed Mersey Street Primary School into 30 new apartments. The dev
05/01/2010
The Irish Greyhound Board is seeking expressions of interest for the naming rights to the new Limerick Greyhound Stadium, which is due to open in the autumn. "The new stadium in Limerick is already creating a real buzz around the mid west," said Orla Strumble, Head of Marketing at the Irish Greyhou
05/01/2010
Vandals have targeted a stately home in Co Sligo that is at the centre of a legal battle over rights of way. An estimated €1,500 worth of damage was caused at Lissadell House Estate after a large gate was pulled from its hinges and thrown into a nearby river. Estate manager Isobel Cassidy describe
05/01/2010
Waterford Crystal's 36-acre manufacturing plant has been put up for sale. The decision, taken by a receiver that was appointed last year, would appear to end any hopes of saving the facility. The site, at Kilbarry, near Waterford city, includes the Waterford Crystal visitor centre, and is valued b
04/01/2010
One of Northern Ireland's biggest building materials manufacturers has seen its pre-tax profits slump from £6.9m to £1.2m. Even though Co Antrim-based Brett Martin, is a global company with four sites in the UK and one in the Netherlands, it was also hit by a small fall in business group turnover,
04/01/2010
It has emerged that no new road schemes will be started by the Irish Republic's official National Roads Authority (NRA) this year. This is the first time it has happened since 1994, and is being blamed on 'budgetary constraints'. However, the four interurban motorways from Dublin to Belfast, Cork
04/01/2010
Work has begun on the regeneration of the town centre in Lurgan, Co Armagh. The £2.7m public realm scheme will focus on Market Street and Church Place and will include widening pavements and improving the quality of main civic spaces. Welcoming the project, Northern Ireland Minister for Social Dev
04/01/2010
A guesthouse in Co Dublin is still lying idle, four years after it failed to meet strict safety rules, a newspaper report has claimed. Carriage House Guesthouse in Lusk was bought by the HSE for €1.69m in November 2005, according to the Irish Independent. However, the building is now boarded up a
04/01/2010
Three men are being sued by the Bank of Ireland for allegedly failing to pay €1.1m in interest on a loan they took out to buy its headquarters in Baggot Street, Dublin. Patrick Shovlin, Turnberry, Kerrymount Avenue, Foxrock, Dublin; Patrick Fitzpatrick, Dargle Lodge, Cookstown, Enniskerry, Co Wickl
04/01/2010
House prices in Ireland fell by over 20% in 2009, according to figures published by estate agent Sherry Fitzgerald. However, the rate of decline is slowing with the average price of a second-hand home down by 4% in the final quarter of the year compared to 8.3% in the first quarter, the estate age
04/01/2010
Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, has approved proposals for the £100 million investment package to regenerate housing across the Village area of South Belfast. The Minister made the announcement after accepting the recommendation from the Independent Inspector who
04/01/2010
The NI Planning Service has still made no decision on an application by a Co Antrim manufacturer to construct a massive wind turbine at its Roughfort Road headquarters. People living near Mallusk plastics company Brett Martin have objected to the firm's plan, raising concerns about the sheer scale
