The business lobby group is advising the government in a new report today, “Minor measures, major results – Fine tuning the major infrastructure planning system” , to make further improvements to large infrastructure projects and ease the pre-application process of planning and construction work for UK businesses. The CBI is also urging the government to simplify non-planning consents and allow developers to train case workers who will participate and give advice to applicants at pre-application stages prior to construction work. MORE >>

The Associated General Contractors of America report that the Internal Revenue Service has issued its final version of a regulation that will impair all government contracts by 2014. By 2014, all contracts will be susceptible to withholding. Construction News Federal & State Contracts Legislation & Law New Laws Public Contracting Taxation 3% rule 3% withholding federal contract withholding IRS regulation for construction public construction taxation public contract withholding state contract withholding Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 Tax Relief Ac MORE >>

It seems as if it’s one step forward, two steps back for the construction industry as recent statistics show that its performance in 2011 is not as strong as first thought. in the first quarter of 2011, construction endured a terrible time, falling by 4.7% This news will come as a blow for the construction industry, as the situation has seemingly got worse for the industry after the awful winter it endured, with the freezing weather hampering the performance of the industry. Numerous construction experts have cast doubt over the ONS’ figures. and 56.4 MORE >>

The construction industry has grown for the sixth month in a row, but despite the growth, experts are remaining gloomy surrounding the future of the industry. The Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI Index showed figures of 53.6 While the fact that the construction industry is in growth is a plus, the figure was down from May, dropping from 54 to 53.6. Despite the continued growth this year, many experts have painted a depressing picture for the construction industry, saying it will be another two years before the industry really turns the corner. rise in 2014. MORE >>

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady said in a statement: “Uncertainty caused by the anonymous complaint to the European Commission and ongoing legal challenges have put the Olympic legacy at risk and certainly a stadium, as we envisioned it, may not be in place by 2014 due as a direct result of the legal delay. Therefore we would welcome a move by OPLC and government to end that uncertainty and allow a football and athletics stadium to be in place by 2014 under a new process. Three football clubs, One Olympic Stadium. Lots of bickering and legal battles. MORE >>