New M1 Motorway Services Approved

Approval has been granted for a new service station on the M1 motorway just outside Leeds. The scheme is set to cost £50 million and will be located just off junction 45.

The new stop-off point for motorists will be known as the Leeds Skelton Lake Services and is expected to be opened by the end of 2018, following a year-long construction project by Extra MSA Group.

The proposals approved by Leeds City Council include the construction of a hotel, filling station, business centre and main facilities building that will house food and retail outlets, as well as a visitor centre and viewing deck over Skelton Lake.

Extra MSA Group has taken a different approach to the architecture of this project, with the buildings to feature green living roofs and to make use of natural light throughout.

In addition, the developer is focusing on creating picturesque outdoor areas that motorists can enjoy, including landscaped walkways and a children’s play area, as well as working to link up some of the existing cycle paths, walking routes and nature trails already in the area around the lake.

Construction News reported that 75 per cent of local residents who responded to the public consultation on the plans were in favour of the development.

Local MPs Alec Shelbrook and Richard Burgon also support the project, which is expected to create up to 700 jobs. Of those, 300 are expected to be full-time, permanent positions, while the remaining 400 will be flexible roles.

A construction project of this scale will no doubt make use of local contractors, and may require rebar suppliers among other specialists.

Construction firms refusing to sign charter for sustainable British steel

Steel reinforcement mesh suppliers may well find that their businesses are affected by the refusal of some larger construction companies to sign the Charter for Sustainable British Steel, which is backed by both Tory and Labour MPs.

The Charter calls on companies to use British-made steel whenever they can, but six firms – Wates, Willmott Dixon, BAM Construction, Kier, Mace and Interserve – have yet to sign up, according to the Daily Mirror, which is also supporting the scheme.

A Save Our Steel campaign is also running at the moment, calling for cuts in energy bills and business rates for steel plants, as well as encouraging UK companies to buy British and blocking cheap exports from China.

When asked about the Charter, parent company of BAM Construction BAM Nuttall said the firm was “committed to a local supply chain wherever possible”, although it did add: “The way [the Charter] is currently worded, we wouldn’t be able to stick to it.”

And a spokesman from Mace said: “Mace promotes the use of high quality British steel and local procurement whenever possible. We always aim to use UK steel in the first instance, supply permitting.”

Earlier this month (January 18th), Tata Steel confirmed that it would be making huge job cuts across its numerous sites in the UK after European steel prices dropped because of cheap imports from countries like China.

It was revealed that 1,050 jobs would go at Port Talbot, Hartlepool, Corby and Trostre. The business will now be looking at how more support to local communities can be offered, while also stimulating job creation in the regions affected.