The move puts 170 jobs at risk at Oakworth Joinery’s base in Keighley, West Yorkshire.

John Russell of administrator The P&A Partnership said: “Our immediate priority is to look at options for the business and we are consulting with staff, creditors and customers.

“Unfortunately Oakworth is a victim of the continuing downturn in the construction sector and of difficulties in accessing finance for new machinery.”

Oakworth Joinery was bought from Nobia Holdings UK Ltd in 2010 and has been manufacturing in the town since 1965.

Russell added: “Oakworth’s directors have tried their hardest to keep the business trading profitably and took appropriate professional advice early on in order to give the business the best chance of survival.

“They actually found a buyer themselves, but unfortunately the deal fell through last Friday.”

The Government is aiming to impose stricter carbon emissions targets on homes from October 2013 by changing the building regs.

But industry experts have argued that the testing tool for energy performance known as SAP is too unreliable and flawed to proceed.

They also warned that few homes are even being built to current 2010 Part L standards and further changes stand to create added uncertainty for house builders about designs.

Speaking at the Zero Carbon Hub annual conference, Home Builders Federation chief Stewart Baseley said: “Given the demanding standards entailed in the zero carbon policy it is essential that we have a model of SAP that is fully and properly fit for purpose.

“Without this, builders are in an invidious position in having to design buildings they believe should deliver the necessary performance, but discovering that possibly through no fault of their own, actual performance is not what was predicted.”

His concerns were echoed by Mike Leonard, director of the Modern Masonry Alliance. He questioned the sense in pressing ahead with further cuts to carbon emissions levels in homes before there was confidence about the reliability of measurement tools.

“With very few houses built to even Part L 2010 and little or no experience of the outcomes, we should be careful not to introduce another change before we understand how the industry is meeting the existing requirements.

He said: “The SAP tool needs to be made to work properly before we move on.”

He added: “Moving the goal posts now would be a big mistake and will cause further upheaval and cost at a time where housing under delivery is the major issue.”

John Tebbit, Industry Affairs Director at the Construction Products Association, said: “One major concern that has not been resolved is the continuing saga of SAP and SBEM governance and development.

“Despite the problems at the last revision of Part L, we are yet again in the unsatisfactory position of having concurrent consultations on SAP and a Part L consultation using a not yet finalised version known as cSAP. We have made proposals for industry to take on more responsibility for SAP and SBEM development, but we need Government to take action, otherwise these problems will recur in three years time.”

Earlier this week the Government released it draft consultation on proposed changes to Part L 2013.

The proposed Part L changes set tighter carbon dioxide emission standards for new homes and energy efficiency improvements to existing homes when extensions are built.

Responses to the Government’s consultation document can be provided up until 27 April, other than the proposals related to the Green Deal where responses need to be in by 27 March.

The consultations are at www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/publications/consultations/

The Willmott Dixon ‘Centre for Skills’ will train local staff and recruits to its new Green Deal division.

As well as providing training to Willmott Dixon employees, the facility will be open to colleges, community groups and local residents.

Rick Willmott, Group Chief Executive of Willmott Dixon said: “It will deliver the technical skills we require as a business and will also support our commitment to developing local skills.

“These will be qualifications employers want and the skills learnt are transferable within the job arena, with people outside Willmott Dixon also having the ability to undertake the same qualifications that our staff do, so a real asset to the community.

“Not only will this help provide sustainable employment routes within Willmott Dixon, it will support the Government’s wider skills agenda through training and development and ensuring those entering the industry have the necessary skills and competencies required by employers.”

The centre will open in July but an exact location in the city has not been confirmed.

He held several roles at ISG and is presently managing director of ISG Retail where he has steered the ongoing integration of the Pearce and Cathedral fit-out businesses.

Before joining ISG four years ago, he was chief executive of Pearce Group where he led a rapid turnaround of a struggling business.

Under his management, the business grew from revenues of £120m to £320m and returned to profitability.

This prompted ISG to buy Pearce Group in November 2007 and appoint Forrest to the board.

He played a key role in integrating Pearce into ISG and served as chairman of ISG Europe for a year.

Begbies Traynor have been appointed as provisional liquidators after the £7.5m turnover firm ceased trading last week.

All 11 staff at the head office of the roofing, cladding and curtain walling specialist have been made redundant.

Provisional liquidator Ken Pattullo said: “We are currently investigating the reasons for the demise of CDW Ltd, but it appears to have been another victim of the economic downturn which has hit the building and construction industry particularly hard.”

CDW also offered a design consultancy and has worked on a string of major projects including White City and the Burns Monument.

The Enquirer understands that Ritchie quit his current role and handed in his union membership yesterday.

The dramatic move is the latest twist in a turbulent 12 months for Ritchie.

He was removed from office last year following the discovery of voting irregularities.

Ritchie was installed as an office administrator in Glasgow on full pay following his demotion.

He was facing an internal investigation into alleged expenses irregularities but collapsed at the latest hearing last week.

One union source said: “The whole situation has become a joke but this latest move was a bit of a surprise.

“It seems incredible that Ritchie was stripped of office but then put on full pay while an investigation was carried out which now has been stopped in its tracks by his resignation.”

A UCATT spokesperson said: “Alan Ritchie has resigned from his employment and from the union”.

Balfour Beatty, Mace and Sir Robert McAlpine are among the firm shortlisted for the building contract, estimated to be worth as much as £160m. A winner is expected to be named next month.

Enabling works have just been awarded to McGee and will run until April.

The 3-acre site was once to be developed as NoHo Square, because of its location to the north of Soho, by the Candy Brothers but stalled.

Under the new plan, the big West End brownfield site will be transformed into an mixed-use community, centered on a landscaped public square containing the listed hospital chapel.

The development will consist of two 9 to 11-storey buildings for mixed use purposes.

Together they will house 291 homes, around 200,000 sq ft of offices, 20,000 sq ft of retail and restaurants.

Neighbouring Camden Council had called for the scheme designed by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and Sheppard Robson’s to be rejected on the grounds that it was incongruous with the local area.

Mark Younger of Exemplar said: “We are delighted that Westminster City Council has approved our plans for the former Middlesex Hospital site, as it is one of London’s most important development opportunities.

“With enabling works underway, we are already bringing this vacant site back into use and anticipate strong demand for the offices, retail units and apartments once we begin marketing later this year.

He added: “We will continue to work closely with local residents to ensure that the chapel and other community spaces provided within the scheme are fully utilised to benefit everyone in the surrounding area.”

Two of the main buildings sit on the border between Westminster and Camden Council

But the heating and plumbing division has escaped the administration and continues to trade.

Gavin Ward  employed around 50 staff and specialised in the government grant funded sector for central heating and home insulation, particularly through the last Government’s Warm Front scheme across the north west.

The Coalition Government’s decision to scrap the scheme last year is understood to have seen sales fall leading to a cash crisis.

“A cut-throat trading environment and major changes to government policy in how domestic insulation services and repairs are funded is hitting our industry hard,” a spokesman told the Burnley Express.

He added: “It has become necessary to focus Gavin Ward Ltd’s efforts solely on the heating side of the business,”

“As a result, it is with regret that I can confirm the closure of the company’s insulation and building services divisions, with the loss of those people employed in that division.

“The heating and plumbing division will remain with us. We must now look forward as a company.”

The company, which employs around 50 people, provides heating, insulation, renewables, plumbing and building services from its base in Northbridge House, Elm Street.

The move has perplexed the giant builders merchant which took full control of the trade and DIY supplies specialist last month.

Travis Perkins said: “Travis Perkins has been informed by the Office of Fair Trading that it intends to review Travis Perkins’ recent acquisition of the remaining 70% of Toolstation.

“While Travis Perkins will cooperate fully with any review, the Company sees absolutely no basis for this notification and will be seeking clarification from the OFT at the earliest opportunity.”

Travis Perkins bought a 30% stake in the business for £18m in 2008 before securing the rest of the company last month.

Toolstation has 103 outlets and a strong online presence.

A decision was originally due in December on which projects will go forward under the Priority Schools Building Programme which replaced Building Schools for the Future.

Work-starved contractors were told an announcement was now due in late February.

But that date looks like slipping into spring and possibly beyond as the programme is swamped with bids for funding.

Any delay would have a knock-on effect for the start of contract bids which were due to get underway in April.

One contractor told the Enquirer: “This looks like it will be delayed which is just what the industry doesn’t need at a time when everyone is desperately chasing work.”

Education specialists have already been dealt a blow following government plans to scrap BREEAM ratings for new schools.