Suddenly, any organisation wanting to procure construction products and services or manage projects on an internet platform, is spoiled for choice.

In the third such announcement in recent weeks, clients, designers, engineers and contractors are to be targeted with a new web-based solution.

The latest venture will see publishing group Emap invest upwards of £4M in an existing site to extend its reach into trading in materials and services. www.constructionplus.co.uk currently serves as a joint homepage for the Emap magazines Architect's Journal, New Civil Engineer and Construction News.

The publisher intends to add on a marketplace function, as well as the capability to conduct tender exercises and conclude contracts. A part of the new funds will no doubt go into keeping the site fully up-to-date. Oddly, news headlines on Emap's own corporate site are currently no more up-to-date than December 9th.

Elliott Chase