A 7m pedestrian bridge in the Netherlands has been unveiled as the world’s first using a concrete mix claimed to be CO₂‑neutral over its life cycle. Developers report that the binder system and aggregate selection are engineered so that production and curing emissions are fully offset by in‑service CO₂ uptake, without relying on external carbon credits. For designers, the project signals that carbon‑neutral structural concrete is moving from lab trials to full‑scale applications, raising immediate questions on durability testing, Eurocode compliance and verification of whole‑life carbon accounting.

Versarien’s collapse puts its Cementene graphene-enhanced concrete admixture in doubt, raising questions over whether graphene additives can achieve consistent performance, certification and cost benefits in mainstream construction mixes. The UK Supreme Court’s Providence v Hexagon ruling is described as a landmark for late payment law, with implications for drafting and enforcing construction payment terms and adjudication strategies. A young plant hire firm in northeast England is reported to be achieving around 40% pre-tax margins, signalling strong demand and tight fleet management in regional equipment supply.

IStructE has released the Manual for the design of bamboo structures to ISO 22156:2021, a 10‑chapter structural engineering guide covering grading and mechanical properties, seismic and wind design, shear walls, durability and connection design for permanent bamboo buildings up to two storeys. Authored by INBAR Bamboo Construction Task Force members David Trujillo, Kent Harries, Sebastian Kaminski and Luis Felipe Lopez, the manual addresses bamboo supply chains and project management from sourcing through to detailed design. The publication formalises design provisions including fire considerations, aiming to make engineered bamboo a credible low‑carbon option in mainstream practice.