Companies to pay for Crossrail - 22-10-2007 - 16:04

Money for the construction of Crossrail in London could come from city-wide businesses as the City of London Corporation plans a levy on large companies to pay for the transport project.

The corporation was vital in securing the final £350 million needed for the £16 billion fund to build the new east to west transport link.

Now the City, which will stump up £200 million of its commitment from its own funds, has to find £150 million from businesses in London, the Times reports.

Michael Snyder, the chairman of the City of London's Policy and Resources Committee, said: "Crossrail, the most important new transport infrastructure for 30 years, is vital to the future prosperity and economic success of the City, London and the UK as a whole."

The Crossrail project, which will connect Heathrow with Canary Wharf, is expected to lead to the construction of new office towers for about 200,000 workers.

Construction on £3.5m bus stops starts - 17-10-2007 - 11:02

Construction work has started on a £3.5 million bus interchange in a Black Country town.

An official ceremony earlier this week marked the start of building on the modern bus station and connecting road layout which will provide an "attractive and modern gateway" into Halesowen.

The eight bus stands will have electronic sliding doors that open when a bus arrives.

Two electronic displays will keep passengers informed with up-to-the minute information.

The facility has been designed with ease of access in mind and one stand will serve a Ring & Ride service providing people with limited mobility with transport.

As part of the £35 million project to redevelop the town centre and shopping areas, the station will also be given an attractive entrance and paved area which will connect it to the Cornbow shopping centre.

Carillion Civil Engineering is assisting in the construction which is due to be completed by Christmas 2008 and will also feature an Asda store and a multi-storey car park.

Stansted's £40m extension reaches milestone - 16-10-2007 - 15:59

Specialist contractors working on the Stansted Airport extension have lifted the first of 22 roof domes into place.

Using a 450 tonne crane, the specialists from Watson Structural Steel Ltd lifted the roof dome - a diagrid - into place on the £40 million extension.

The diagrids, which are constructed offsite before being transported to the airport, each weigh 30 tonnes and measure 18 square metres.

When the diagrids are lifted into place, a 75 metre exclusion zone is set up around the crane and contractors pay close attention to weather conditions, with winds above 17 mph bringing an end to any lifting.

BAA Stansted's Paul Chatten, project leader for the terminal extension, said: "The project has already made excellent progress since getting underway in April of this year.

"We have now reached one of the most significant stages of the development as we undertake a series of complex roof lifts - this is not your everyday roofing job!"

Crossrail construction 'closer' - 02-10-2007 - 10:57

Construction on the Crossrail project could be a step closer after business representatives and the mayor of London expressed optimism that a pay deal had almost been negotiated.

Crossrail, which would connect London's Heathrow with Canary Wharf and beyond, has come close to becoming a reality before, only for funding to fall through.

But this time, according to the Financial Times, there is hope that construction on the £16 billion project could be completed by 2015.

Prime minister Gordon Brown has thrown his weight behind the project, calling for "all beneficiaries and the City of London" to contribute towards costs.

Negotiations with businesses to close a funding gap of £400 million are said to be going well.

Jo Valentine, chief executive business group London First, told the Financial Times: "The champagne stays on ice until we get confirmation, but after ten years of campaigning, we are hope¬¬ful a positive announcement might be just around the corner."