A multi-million-pound plan to relieve congestion and improve safety along the A46 in Newark has received formal approval. Transport Minister Lord Hendy, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, has granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the project, giving the green light for construction to move forward on one of the East Midlands’ most important trade corridors. The scheme will upgrade a section of single carriageway on the A46, used by an average of 17,000 drivers each day, and which forms part of the trans-Midlands route linking to the Humber Ports. As well as easing traffic around Newark, the project aims to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. It will also contribute to regional growth by supporting 7,500 new homes, improving access to Newark Business Park and Newark Gateway, and strengthening trade connections including to the International Air and Space Training Institute (IASTI). The Planning Inspectorate has carried out a detailed assessment of the scheme, leading to today’s approval. National Highways Project Manager Izzy Tully said: “We are delighted with today’s announcement which is a major milestone on the project to improve the A46 around Newark for the many thousands of people who use the route each day. “The A46 is an important route, supporting trade and the wider economy, and our upgrade will reduce delays by delivering much-needed additional capacity to the road and its junctions, as well as better connectivity and safer journeys for everyone. “We look forward to now being able to take the project forward.” The upgrade will involve: There is now a six-week period in which parties can lodge any legal challenge to the decision. In the months ahead, National Highways will work with the Department for Transport to identify the most efficient and cost-effective delivery timetable for the scheme, with an update expected next year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Choosing a partner for civil work can feel overwhelming. Big stakes, tight schedules, safety rules, and community pressure create a lot of moving parts. We’ve helped teams navigate choices like this many times, and want to share a clear, practical path that helps project leaders pick a partner who delivers on time, on budget, and with quality. Why partner selection matters Good partners reduce risk. Poor choices create delays, cost overruns, and reputational damage. That’s why an upfront, structured approach saves money and stress later. Use these steps to compare firms honestly and pick a team aligned with goals. Start with clarity: define scope, outcomes, and priorities Before contacting firms, answer three questions together: When scope and priorities stay clear, proposals become comparable. That makes shortlisting easier. Evaluate technical capability and delivery experience Look beyond glossy brochures. Ask for concrete evidence: For example, reading about large-scale urban transformation projects can show how design and delivery teams coordinate on complex sites. Review case studies carefully to understand problem solving under pressure: scope changes, utility clashes, or tricky access. See a recent example of coordinated teams tackling massive transformation here: large-scale urban transformation projects. Check track record: safety, schedule, and claims history Safety and time performance tell a lot. Investigate: Ask previous clients about responsiveness during surprises. Firms that communicate clearly under pressure earn trust. Assess resourcing and supply-chain resilience Availability of equipment, skilled crews, and suppliers often determines success. Verify: Also consider firms with flexible resourcing in nearby regions. They often avoid costly downtime. Sustainability, climate readiness, and long-term performance Regulators and communities expect resilient infrastructure. Prioritize partners who can: For those wanting evidence of strong delivery systems and governance, reviewing project management best practices helps. That gives insight into how teams handle lifecycle risk and asset handover. Explore perspectives on delivery and governance here: project management best practices  Quality assurance, testing, and compliance Quality processes matter from day one. Confirm partner can provide: Good handovers reduce future maintenance drama and cost. Communication, culture, and collaboration style Technical skill won’t save a project from poor teamwork. Use interviews to assess culture: Choose partners who match your communication rhythm. That keeps decisions moving. Commercial clarity: pricing, contracts, and incentives Compare proposals on apples-to-apples basis: Commercial fairness encourages innovation while protecting client interest. Local knowledge versus specialist skills Local firms bring regional know-how, permitting networks, and community relationships. National or international specialists offer niche capabilities and deep technical experience. Often, best outcomes come from blended teams that pair local insight with specialist expertise. When a civil specialty becomes essential—say complex piling or wetland restoration—check specialist portfolios and field references. For instance, when earthworks and drainage form project backbone, firms such as Solve Civil show how specialty providers support robust site delivery. Decision checklist: questions to ask final candidates Before awarding contract, confirm these items: Use scorecards to rate responses objectively. That avoids bias. Onboarding: set partnership up for success After selection, run a short onboarding sprint: Early alignment prevents costlier fixes later. Final thoughts Choosing right civil partner shapes project outcome more than any single technical decision. Focus on clarity of goals, proven delivery, resource resilience, and cultural fit. Use structured interviews, scorecards, and targeted reference checks to remove guesswork. When specialized skills matter, linking with experienced civil specialists helps fill gaps without compromising accountability. For teams wanting examples of specialty delivery on earthworks and drainage, consider how external firms integrate with main contractor teams to boost capacity without losing control. If readers want a printable checklist or a sample interview scorecard, we can share one on request. Our goal remains simple: help project leaders choose partners who build durable infrastructure, protect budgets, and earn community trust.

SITECH and Collins Earthworks played host to industry visitors at a recent Fly Day event, showcasing the benefits of drone technology for site mapping and data analytics. The event, held at Collins Earthworks Ball Eye Quarry in Matlock, Derbyshire, demonstrated the advanced capabilities of the Trimble® Stratus platform, highlighting improved project accuracy, greater productivity and integration of workflows as some of the ways customers can benefit from the cloud-based software system. Attendees were given a variety of demonstrations and talks including a discussion on drone flight regulations by the Drone Pilot Academy and a live-flight demonstration by SITECH partners Propeller, who collected flight data for an interactive classroom demonstration of Trimble® Stratus platform.  Danielle Barker, Strategic Account Manager at SITECH UK & Ireland said: “As industries across the country continue to evolve it is vital that companies look to utilise technology to enhance their operations and combat challenges. The Fly Day event was about demonstrating the depth of information available to customers through the partnership between Propeller and SITECH. “We were fortunate to partner with Collins Earthworks Ltd which allowed us to perform a drone site survey of Ball Eye Quarry. This gave visitors a real insight into the features of Trimble® Stratus, such as volume calculations, drainage channel monitoring and a visual timeline of site conditions for enhancing monitoring. The SITECH Fly Day is the first of these events this year, with more to be confirmed and delegates from across the construction, civil engineering, aggregates and technology industries are encouraged to attend to discover how Trimble® Stratus, powered by Propeller, can empower teams and minimise information bottlenecks on-site. Cyrus Wania, Director at EM3 Solutions, commented on the event: “The Fly Day was a great opportunity not only to speak to the experts and find out more about how we can enhance our usage of Trimble® and drone technology, but to network with other professionals from across the industry. “We really valued the opportunity to have a tour of the Ball Eye Quarry and then see how accurately the drone flight processed with Trimble® Stratus, was able to present the information that operators would need to maintain site safety and management.  “The event proved invaluable for both newcomers and existing users of technology in construction. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with SITECH experts, posing questions and gaining insights. I highly recommend that individuals seeking to enhance their operations with advanced construction technology and connect with industry colleagues attend the upcoming Fly Day events as they offer genuine industry insight and valuable technical knowledge.” SITECH continues to bolster their commitment to enhancing skills and knowledge across the construction industry. Find out more here: https://www.sitechukandireland.com/en-gb Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Portable Building Sales has completed the successful delivery of a bespoke 14-module, two-storey office facility for offshore engineering firm Osbit, supporting the company’s rapid expansion at its new manufacturing base at the Port of Blyth. Osbit, a leader in tailored engineering solutions for the offshore renewables sector, required high-quality office accommodation to match the professionalism and scale of its growing operations. The new factory location provided ample workshop space but lacked sufficient office and welfare facilities to support a larger team and host clients on site. To meet these complex requirements, Osbit turned to Portable Building Sales for a fast, flexible and future-proof solution. Within just 16 weeks, Portable Building Sales designed, supplied and installed a modular office building that includes meeting rooms, a canteen, changing rooms, toilet and shower facilities and breakout areas. The building features a plastic-coated steel exterior to complement the factory’s aesthetic, with a Trespa-clad entrance showcasing the Osbit brand. Internally, the layout was configured to accommodate both office and factory staff, with one side of the building offering a clear view into the workshop to maintain alignment between design and production teams. Steve Binney, Director at Osbit, commented: “We wanted a building that reflected the same high standards as the equipment we deliver and that’s exactly what we got. The flexibility, quality and functionality of the modular office have exceeded our expectations. From a working environment perspective, it’s just as good as our main office and has provided a fully operational satellite office and increased our business capacity.” This project highlights the strength of modular construction as a fast, adaptable solution for companies facing growing operational demands. The new office not only enables Osbit to better support its team and clients but also offers scope for future expansion as the business continues to grow. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

New land bridge to provide level access route through urban park to connect the High Street to the River Tees. Esh Construction has marked a significant milestone in the transformational Stockton Waterfront urban park project with the installation of the precast beams to form a new land bridge being completed. The North of England contractor is carrying out the £23 million urban park on behalf of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. The project is a major part of the Council’s blueprint for the regeneration of Stockton over the next 25 years. Upon completion, it will feature a series of green, flexible spaces capable of hosting events and impressive, unique play areas, transforming the High Street and providing uninterrupted access to the riverside. With paving works progressing at pace along Finkle Square in the upper park, works to connect the High Street to the River Tees via a new land bridge and Millennium Bridge, have taken a significant step forward. A total of 47 prestressed concrete bridge beams have been installed with support from reinforced concrete specialists BEMAC Construction, to form the land bridge above the A1305 Riverside Road carriageway. The beams, which were manufactured by Shay Murtagh Precast Ltd in the Republic of Ireland, include 45 standard units measuring 21.5 metres in length and weighing 17 tonnes, alongside two edge beams which weigh 35 tonnes each. David Player, Contracts Manager at Esh Construction, said: “The bridge beam installation is a key milestone in the Stockton Waterfront project and a testament to the collaborative planning and engineering expertise of all involved. “With the beams in place, we can now move forward with casting the bridge deck and progressing the next phase of public realm works that will bring the land bridge to life.” A 200-tonne crane was used to lift the 47 beams into position over four days, with the heaviest lift taking place at an 11-metre radius. Ahead of the installation, Esh Construction’s project team visited Shay Murtagh’s manufacturing facility in County Westmeath to inspect the cast beams, review the quality assurance process, and ensure compliance with project specifications. Working closely with the specialist precast concrete provider, robust plans were then implemented to ensure safe delivery of the product in line with the installation schedule. Steve Lowe, Chief Structural Engineer at Shay Murtagh Precast Ltd, explained that the beams for this project are environmentally advanced with concrete using 40% GGBS replacement of Portland cement making them a significantly carbon efficient option. He added: “It was great to bring our technical expertise to this project and support Esh Construction in the beam and bridge deck installations, which will enable the next construction phase of the development of the land bridge and support the urban park’s progress for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.” With the beams forming the base for the 55-metre-wide land bridge above the realigned Riverside Road, the next phase of works will involve pouring 170m3 of concrete to cast the bridge deck, followed by the installation of 163m2 of porphyry paving, 420m2 of resin and 75m2 of granite paving to create a seamless public realm open space. The project will create an iconic, nationally recognisable new public space for the Borough’s residents and visitors and is part of Council ambitions to make Stockton-on-Tees a place of choice for people to live, work and visit. Councillor Richard Eglington, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: “It’s very exciting to see the progress of the transformation of the Stockton Waterfront site taking place and this important milestone helps make the vision of reconnecting the High Street to the river more of a reality. “The scale of change will also be felt across the entire Borough. Stockton Waterfront is set to be the catalyst for further regeneration work across Central Stockton and North Thornaby and we are looking to build on this success to create a thriving place for our communities and businesses.” In the coming months, residents and visitors will see marked changes on the site as works commence to install the amphitheatre and landscaping elements across the lower park, while construction of a new play park in the upper park is also set to begin. Procured via North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO), Esh is working with design partners Ryder Architecture and Billinghurst George & Partners to deliver the project. To find out more about Stockton Waterfront Urban Park, visit Stockton Waterfront urban park – Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council To find out more about Esh Construction, visit www.eshgroup.co.uk  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has reached a significant milestone, following five consecutive weekends of intensive engineering work between Leeds and York to advance electrification of the line. As part of the ongoing upgrades, engineers have now installed 7.5 kilometres of overhead line equipment (OLE) wiring between Micklefield and Church Fenton. This latest progress builds on earlier mast installation and is key to delivering faster, greener rail journeys across the north of England. The electrification work in this stretch brings the project a step closer to connecting electric passenger services between York and Church Fenton, due to launch in the coming months. This follows the successful introduction of electric services between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge in 2024. In Cross Gates, major infrastructure improvements were also completed, including the safe demolition and replacement of the Station Road bridge, clearing the way for future OLE installation in the area. Elsewhere, around 750 metres of track have been renewed between Killingbeck and Cross Gates, supporting smoother and more reliable services. A new track crossover was installed to improve operational flexibility, enabling trains to switch lines and maintain service continuity during future construction phases. Adam Sellers, senior sponsor for TRU, said: “This latest series of upgrades has taken us a step closer to the electrification of the route between York and Manchester. Wiring is now in place in the Barkston Ash area, whilst Cross Gates station can now facilitate the installation of OLE masts. “Work to deliver cleaner, greener services throughout this area will continue throughout the year, whilst attention also turns to the introduction of electric passenger services nearby, which is another huge milestone for the programme.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals