Our most read stories of 2017

The Construction Index’s comprehensive plant coverage remains hugely popular with readers – half of out Top 20 most read stories of 2017 were plant related. Our business news service and contract awards updates also prove particularly popular.

Aside from the Grenfell Tower fire, the subjects that were most often returned to during the year were the uncertain future of the Construction Industry Training Board and the impending start of the £55bn HS2 high speed rail project, set to get going in earnest in 2018.

All of these topics figured in our Top 20 most read stories of the year.

Here is the list of our news stories that generated the most views in 2017, whether on PC, laptop, tablet or smart phone.

1. Hewden machines go under the hammer

2. Winners named for £6.6bn of HS2 contracts

3. Grenfell Tower blaze puts cladding systems in the dock

4. Heads turn at Bishopsgate's crooked crane

5. Spurs blames Brexit as stadium costs spiral

6. Terex sells Coventry operation to Mecalac

7. CITB to quit training and leave Bircham Newton

8. CITB hands in notice to CSCS

9. Major contractors end CPCS dominance by recognising NPORS cards

10. Two killed in Seddon crane collapse

11. New guidance for lifting with excavators

12. London's biggest crane ready for work

13. Plant and labour suppliers form HS2 alliance

14. Balfour Beatty set to vote down 'failing' CITB

15. Progress made on dumper dangers

16. Mears bans beards

17. Mott MacDonald team lands design of $10bn JFK upgrade

18. JCB unveils the skid steer telehandler

19. Laing O’Rourke racks up £246m losses

20. Atkins agrees £2.1bn takeover terms with SNC-Lavalin

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