Leading commercial property developer, Stoford, and ICG Real Estate, the real estate division of ICG, have secured planning consent for a new job-creating urban logistics scheme in Crayford, South East London. Known as MLM Crayford, the scheme comprises three new, highly sustainable buildings with integral Grade A office space, ranging
Shaftesbury Capital has announced that ERGON House, the Greek boutique hotel brand known for theirunique blend of hospitality and exceptional culinary experiences, is set to open in Covent Garden in anewly refurbished heritage listed building, anchoring King Street next year. This will be the brand’s firsthotel outside of Greece, marking
Mobile access control integration makes entry to The Light Bulb building effortless for customers Smart Spaces announces today that it has partnered with trusted identity provider, HID, to make access to Workspace’s The Light Bulb building in South West London fast, simple and secure by making door access credentials available
Mitre Yard is a landmark residential development helping to redefine the regeneration zone of West London. Developers O’Shea, one of the largest privately-owned construction and property development companies in London and the Southeast, approached SANIPEX GROUP for help in creating interiors that are as palatial as the building’s surroundings. Situated
Customers are set to move into brand new apartments in Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware as Sovereign Network Group (SNG) complete the construction of 100 affordable homes. The spacious one, two and three-bedroom apartments boast several green credentials. All properties will use air-source heat pumps instead of gas boilers for heating,
Following The London Declaration to combat climate change through standards, ISO has published an amendment to many of its existing and new management systems standards. The changes emphasise the importance of addressing the effects of climate change within the framework of management systems standards. BM TRADA, a leading UKAS-accredited independent
The latest industry research by property development appraisal software, APRAO, has revealed that developers across the South East have been hardest at work making way for future new homes, with the region seeing the largest number of demolitions over the last year, as well as the second largest annual increase.
Outline plans have been submitted by the Flagship Group for the regeneration of the Abbey in Thetford. The project is designed to bring meaningful, long-term change and improvements to the Abbey and increase the supply of much-needed affordable homes. It would take place in phases over 20 years. Peter Hawes,
Quote from Ben Bannatyne, president, Prologis Europe “In the first quarter of 2024, demand for our high-quality logistics real estate remained steady across the 12 European markets where we operate. Germany and the Netherlands continue to be the strongest markets, given their high barriers to supply and strong demand. We
Architecture and interior design practice Palladian has won planning approval for the renovation and extension of a four-storey, stock-brick, mid-terrace townhouse with a rear garden, located in London’s Chelsea. The property, which is not listed, dates from circa 1850 and is situated within ‘The Boltons Conservation Area’ in the London
Leading commercial property developer, Stoford, and ICG Real Estate, the real estate division of ICG, have secured planning consent for a new job-creating urban logistics scheme in Crayford, South East London. Known as MLM Crayford, the scheme comprises three new, highly sustainable buildings with integral Grade A office space, ranging in size from c.34,000 – c.170,000 sq ft. Features will include rainwater harvesting, PV roof panels and energy efficient LED lighting, as well as bicycle storage, EV charging provision and wellbeing areas for occupiers. The scheme will target BREEAM ‘Excellent’, EPC A and net zero carbon in whole life cycle. Enabling works will commence on site in June 2024. MLM Crayford could attract in the region of £120 million of inward investment and contribute an estimated £13.3 million per year to the regional economy. The scheme will work towards the objectives and outcomes of Bexley Council’s Growth Strategy by creating significant employment opportunities during construction, and supporting as many as 470 full-time jobs once built and occupied. Angus Huntley, Director at Stoford said: “We are very pleased to be partnering with ICG Real Estate on this exciting new development. MLM Crayford will regenerate a site that has been disused for more than a decade, delivering a market leading, sustainable industrial/logistics scheme in a supply constrained location in the South East.” MLM Crayford provides easy access to Jct 1a of the A282 Dartford Crossing, less than five miles from the M25 and just 10 miles from central London. Established local occupiers include Amazon, ASDA, Currys, DHL, Sainsbury’s and Pets at Home. For further information on MLM Crayford please contact the scheme’s retained agents, DTRE and Savills, or visit www.mlmcrayford.co.uk Stoford and ICG’s professional team included Pegasus Group, Webb Gray Architects, Trinity Property Consultants, Hoare Lea Engineers, Rodgers Leask, Waterman Group and Rachel Hacking Ecology. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Shaftesbury Capital has announced that ERGON House, the Greek boutique hotel brand known for theirunique blend of hospitality and exceptional culinary experiences, is set to open in Covent Garden in anewly refurbished heritage listed building, anchoring King Street next year. This will be the brand’s firsthotel outside of Greece, marking a significant milestone in ERGON’s expansion. It also demonstratesCovent Garden’s gravitas in attracting groundbreaking and new flagship concepts and high qualityglobal brands, further cementing its position as a world-class mixed-use destination as ShaftesburyCapital’s West End portfolio continues to evolve. The boutique hotel which features artisanal Mediterranean products and cuisine will open a c.20,000sqft location at 26 King Street, boasting a unique blend of living, restaurant spaces and culinaryexperiences in a Mediterranean-inspired atmosphere. The venue will host over 20 contemporary hotelrooms, with access to a private gym, with spaces designed by local artists, paying homage to its Greekroots. It will also boast a 2,220 sq ft rooftop restaurant with an al fresco terrace, which, as one of only afew in the area, will boast striking views of the London skyline. With food at the forefront, ERGON House will deliver a multitude of culinary experiences open to thepublic, including an Agora marketplace where bakers, butchers, fishmongers, and greengrocers willbring farm-to-table produce to visitors. As the only integrated Greek food and hospitality brand in the world with a portfolio of more than 600unique products, 25 company-owned and franchised Mediterranean delis, restaurants, markets andhotels in Greece, UK, Cyprus and the Middle East, ERGON will bring an alternative culinary concept toLondon. Following a successful opening in Greece, ERGON House is looking to grow its presence withinEurope and has selected Covent Garden to for its London flagship, demonstrating the destination’sdrive to attain impactful and high-quality UK debuts. Opening next year, it will complement and join a prime roster of brands on King Street such as Creed, JoMalone London, Polo Ralph Lauren, Reformation and Petersham Nurseries, along with renownedrestaurant Clos Maggiore and the recent arrival of Arc’teryx’s new flagship store, creating one ofLondon’s most attractive lifestyle streets. Michelle McGrath, Executive Director, Shaftesbury Capital, commented: “Making places like CoventGarden thrive requires the right blend of high quality destination concepts and uses which foster anenvironment for trade and consumer experiences to flourish. Covent Garden is now the go-todestination for British and international brands, culture, entertainment, and art, with the opening ofERGON House cementing this further. This unique boutique hotel will enhance the Covent Garden experience, delivering a distinctive blend ofhigh-end hospitality experience which aligns with our goal to continually evolve and enhance theneighbourhood. The addition of a new rooftop restaurant and terrace for the district will deliver a rareand high quality experience for locals and visitors, setting us apart from other destinations.” Thomas Douzis, Founder & CEO of ERGON, also said: “ERGON House Covent Garden marks a significantmilestone for us. It represents our dedication and commitment to providing a memorable, one-of-a-kind experience for guests, and marks a new era in our journey. We chose Covent Garden for our firstlocation in the UK because of its strong reputation in retail and F&B. It offers a unique opportunity forus with local and international visitors, and the solid cultural foundation it has cultivated. We lookforward to embedding ourselves within the West End.” The signing of ERGON House follows the recent announcement that global beauty pioneer ELEMIS, isset to open its first London based standalone store in Covent Garden’s Seven Dials later this year,joining brands such as Missoma and Odd Muse on Monmouth Street. This also follows the recentsigning of Axel Arigato, which is set to open a new Flagship store on Earlham Street this Summer,marking the retailer’s second location within the Shaftesbury Capital West End portfolio. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mobile access control integration makes entry to The Light Bulb building effortless for customers Smart Spaces announces today that it has partnered with trusted identity provider, HID, to make access to Workspace’s The Light Bulb building in South West London fast, simple and secure by making door access credentials available in Google Wallet for all SME customers who lease offices and studios at the centre. Today, any registered Android smartphone user can gain quick and seamless access to The Light Bulb by holding their device near any NFC-enabled HID Signo reader, with doors then opening automatically. Smart Spaces is the first HID Technology Partner to carry out such a Google Wallet integration project, with Workspace the first customer in the world to benefit from this innovative technical collaboration. A FTSE 250 company, Workspace owns and manages 4.6 million sq. ft. of flexible office space across 76 locations in London – home to some of the Capital’s brightest young companies who rent and design their own space and join a vibrant community of other businesses. Chris Boultwood, Workspace’s Head of Technology, says, “Our customers are agile, ambitious SMEs who are digitally savvy, and we know how much they appreciate having ease of access to the building with just their phones. We’re always looking to make their experience as seamless as possible and the HID/Google Wallet door access is a natural step forward at The Light Bulb. We’re now excited to start rolling this out across other London locations.” Smart Spaces’ OS is used by Workspace’s customers to not only access the building, but to book meeting rooms and receive information about events and activities happening onsite, with the software branded MyWorkspace. Unlike issuing traditional plastic RFID access cards, shifting to digital offers self-service plus the seamless provisioning of credentials, making it far easier for all concerned – Workspace’s customers as well as onsite facility management staff. “This partnership highlights our commitment to providing a wider range of secure and convenient mobile experiences for workspaces for all types of end users– from SMEs to larger enterprises. As we diversify and expand our mobile solutions portfolio globally, stay tuned to see more Google Wallet integrations in the coming year,” Sanjit Bardhan, HID’s Vice President & Head of Global Mobile Business. Smart Spaces’ goal is to be the world’s leading smart building operating system for commercial real estate. Winners of the Santander Technology Business of the Year in 2023, a raft of prestigious projects in the UK now use its software which has put London centre stage of global smart building implementations. Dan Drogman, Smart Spaces’ Chief Executive Officer, says, “At Smart Spaces, we continuously strive to provide the best possible user experience for our customers. The ‘tap and go’ functionality and convenience offered by Google Wallet provides this seamlessly. We’re delighted we’re the first to offer this to our customers.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mitre Yard is a landmark residential development helping to redefine the regeneration zone of West London. Developers O’Shea, one of the largest privately-owned construction and property development companies in London and the Southeast, approached SANIPEX GROUP for help in creating interiors that are as palatial as the building’s surroundings. Situated on the Grand Union Canal, the development is set to play an important role in one of the city’s most affluent and culturally energetic districts. This small pocket of London is home to huge globally recognised brands, from Harrods and Harvey Nichols to Victoria & Albert Museum and Kensington Palace. Mitre Yard offers innovation at every level – with 21 floors offering a choice of spaciously designed apartment types all with perfectly proportioned living spaces. The interior decor is specified to include a stylish palette of warm tone hues, rich vertical grain timber and complementary ceramic marbled style floor and wall tiling. Each space is sleek, functional and inviting for high-end London living. Meeting the brief, brassware solutions from the luxury BAGNODESIGN brand create an affluent atmosphere in the bathrooms, in line with the development’s underlying theme of ‘Where Architecture Meets Art’. Basin mixers and wastes, thermostatic shower mixers and shower heads from BAGNODESIGN all feature, creating the desired atmosphere of sophisticated urban elegance. Specification includes beautiful Zephyr brassware and spa-inspired Cube showerheads, along with quality AQUAECO plumbing solutions. For more details, call 01924 233977 or visit www.sanipexgroup.com/uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Customers are set to move into brand new apartments in Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware as Sovereign Network Group (SNG) complete the construction of 100 affordable homes. The spacious one, two and three-bedroom apartments boast several green credentials. All properties will use air-source heat pumps instead of gas boilers for heating, the first in SNG’s London and East region, and there will be solar panels on the development’s roof. The scheme also features rooftop gardens and a play area for new residents to enjoy. The scheme is 100% affordable with funding partly secured from the Greater London Authority’s (GLA’s) Affordable Homes Programme. There are 75 homes for Shared Ownership, 19 for London Affordable Rent, and six for London Living Rent, a GLA scheme that supports customers in saving for a deposit to buy their own home. A new supermarket and a gym are due to take up the commercial units on the ground floor. David Gooch, SNG Executive Director of Development (London and Herts), commented: “It’s great to see this affordable scheme at Burnt Oak Broadway reach completion providing fantastic and sustainable homes for our customers. These apartments are one of over 700 homes handed over across our London and East region in 2023/24, 3.5 times as many homes as in the previous financial year. Over the next 10 years we plan to develop 25,000 new homes in the South of England, more than half which will be for affordable or social rent.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following The London Declaration to combat climate change through standards, ISO has published an amendment to many of its existing and new management systems standards. The changes emphasise the importance of addressing the effects of climate change within the framework of management systems standards. BM TRADA, a leading UKAS-accredited independent management systems certification provider, highlights that the changes are presented as additional text within the organisational context in clauses 4.1 and 4.2 of the management system concerned. The new requirement specifies that organisations shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue and whether relevant interested parties have requirements related to climate change. If found to be a relevant issue, climate change needs to be considered in the development and implementation of the organisation’s management system. The climate change amendment applies to all Type A ISO management system standards, i.e. those that specify requirements and to which companies can be certified. This includes the following standards: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, and ISO 27001. ISO has added two key changes within clause 4 of all management system standards. The additional wording is as follows: Lee Horlock, Head of Technical & Approvals – Management Systems at BM TRADA, said: “We welcome the amendments being made to the ISO management system standards. Climate change considerations will now be placed at the front and centre of organisations minds when determining factors which influence the organisation’s purpose, objectives and sustainability. “For organisations currently undergoing the certification process or already hold an ISO management system certification, our experts are on hand to guide you through these new amendments.” BM TRADA, part of the Element Materials Technology group, emphasises that the overall intent of the requirements for clauses 4.1 and 4.2 remain unchanged. These clauses already include the need for the organisations to consider all internal and external issues that can impact the effectiveness of their management system, and these new inclusions are assuring that climate change is considered within the management system. The certification provider also mentions that the standards themselves have not been revised so organisations do not need to purchase new standards. ISO has released the changes as amendments titled ISO 14001:2015/Amd 1:2024 and ISO 45001:2018/Amd 1:2024 which can be obtained free of charge from the ISO website. Lee said: “BM TRADA clients who already have a management system certified to an ISO standard will already be conducting this type of contextual analysis and many will already be determining how climate change affects their businesses. “We stress that our clients already holding an ISO management system certification, will not need any additional audit or a new certificate issued. For those who have yet to do so, climate change must now always be a topic that is considered in your analysis and if found relevant be part of your management system. Going forward your BM TRADA auditor will include the above new requirements in future audit activities when assessing these parts of the management system.” For more about BM TRADA and its management systems certifications, please visit www.bmtrada.com/certification-services/management-systems-certification Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The latest industry research by property development appraisal software, APRAO, has revealed that developers across the South East have been hardest at work making way for future new homes, with the region seeing the largest number of demolitions over the last year, as well as the second largest annual increase. APRAO analysed Gov data looking at the number of demolitions to have taken place over the last year* across England and which areas of the property market have seen the largest increase in demolitions as developers look to make way for the construction of new-build housing. The analysis by APRAO shows that some 5,474 demolitions took place over the last year, a drop of -4.5% versus the previous year and the lowest annual total seen over the last 15 years. This suggests an air of hesitation amongst the big housebuilders to clear ground in order to deliver new homes, having faced a landscape of higher interest rates, cooling house prices and subdued buyer appetites due to higher borrowing costs. However, this decline in demolitions isn’t a trend that has engulfed the entire property market and, in fact, some areas have seen a sharp increase. With 1,729 demolitions taking place over the last year, the South East ranks as the nation’s demolition hotspot. The region has also seen this number climb by 39% year on year, the second highest annual increase of all regions. However, it’s Yorkshire and the Humber that has seen the largest annual increase, with the number of demolitions seen across the region climbing by 53% year on year. The North West (+32%) and East Midlands are the only other two regions to have seen an uplift in developer demolitions. Of those to have seen a decline, London has seen the largest reduction, with -58% fewer demolitions taking place over the last year versus the year before. CEO of APRAO, Daniel Norman, commented: “The demolition of existing structures is often the first step in the development journey and, as a result, demolition data can give us key insight into just where housebuilders are moving forward with their plans to deliver new homes. This can be done to make way for new homes specifically, as well as the required infrastructure required for a development, or even for a commercial venture. What the data does highlight is that the volume of demolitions has fallen considerably over the last 15 years, although the decline seen over the last year has certainly been intensified by wider economic headwinds such as higher interest rates and a decline in buyer activity. However, this trend hasn’t been seen at a national scale and based purely on demolition levels alone, Yorkshire and the South East certainly look poised to see an influx of new homes over the coming years.” Sources and data tables View the full data tables and sources online here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Outline plans have been submitted by the Flagship Group for the regeneration of the Abbey in Thetford. The project is designed to bring meaningful, long-term change and improvements to the Abbey and increase the supply of much-needed affordable homes. It would take place in phases over 20 years. Peter Hawes, Flagship Group’s Chairman, said: “This is an exciting day for the Abbey, which has been at the heart of the Thetford community since it was built more than 50 years ago. “The outline planning application follows five years of talking to the people who have a home on the Abbey. Local people have told us that they do want to see improvements for the Abbey and they’ve let us know what things could be better.” The Abbey has around 1,100 homes and Flagship hopes to improve and retrofit some existing homes while replacing others with new homes, built to a high standard. The new homes will also be far more energy-efficient. The plan also seeks permission for an additional 320 to 500 homes – although this figure is yet to be confirmed and will be based on further consultation. Flagship’s vision includes improved parking, lighting, pavements, play areas and green spaces. The Abbey will get a new neighbourhood ‘heart’ with a neighbourhood park and community centre. There will be better and safer walking and cycling routes to the town centre, Little Ouse riverside and Thetford Forest. Mr Hawes added: “We are still at an early stage. The application is just for the principle of change for the Abbey and doesn’t set out the details of what would happen. A regeneration project of this size must be delivered in multiple phases. “Each phase of the detailed design will be informed by local people, through further consultation, with separate reserved matters applications submitted at each stage. Flagship has never undertaken a project with more engagement and consultation than this – but this is still the beginning. We’re going to keep listening and speaking to residents in the weeks, months, and years to come.” The Group plans to fund an independent tenants and leaseholders advisor to act as a “resource for the community” as the plans progress. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Quote from Ben Bannatyne, president, Prologis Europe “In the first quarter of 2024, demand for our high-quality logistics real estate remained steady across the 12 European markets where we operate. Germany and the Netherlands continue to be the strongest markets, given their high barriers to supply and strong demand. We anticipate our customers’ need for space when and where they need it most, whether that is meeting the demand of e-commerce or building data centres. We leverage our extensive ready-to-build land bank, robust financial position and super integrated logistics platform to provide a complete solution tailored to their needs.” Operating Performance – First Quarter 2024: Total portfolio: 22.5 million square metres* First quarter total leasing activity: 1,078,262 square metres: Q1 2024 rent change: 20.5%** Occupancy: 97% * includes operating, development, held for sale, other and VAA/VAC** rent change is based on lease start date GROUNDBREAKERS 2024 will be held in London GROUNDBREAKERS, Prologis’ signature thought leadership event, will take place in Europe for the first time! Last year’s event explored the electrification of everything, a rapidly changing workforce and how AI is influencing the supply chain — among other themes (view panels). This October, we’re gearing up for even more innovation, engagement and knowledge sharing in a one-of-a-kind event. Mark your calendars for October 2nd, and stay tuned for more information! Resources/Insights Prologis receives HRH The Prince of Wales’ Terra Carta Seal Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Architecture and interior design practice Palladian has won planning approval for the renovation and extension of a four-storey, stock-brick, mid-terrace townhouse with a rear garden, located in London’s Chelsea. The property, which is not listed, dates from circa 1850 and is situated within ‘The Boltons Conservation Area’ in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The new plans will see the property transformed, including a new basement level, a newly-raised ground floor, a reconfigured top floor and the removal of a dated rear conservatory in order to extend the new owners’ ground floor living space and create a better indoor/outdoor flow. The client requested that the remodel should allow for flexible future use, from family living to the provision of seamless entertainment spaces. ‘The vision for the property is to retain and conserve its traditional street frontage’, Palladian Founding Partner & Commercial Director Hugo Lindsay-Fynn commented, ‘but to create an entirely new interior layout that maximises space and light and makes use of highly contemporary forms, with the property’s rear façade revealing the full extent of the transformation.’ Currently, the interior of the property consists of a lower ground floor kitchen, dining room and conservatory; a ground floor double reception room and study; a master bedroom with ensuite on the first floor and a further bedroom with ensuite and study on the top floor. The renovation will involve removal of an existing dated conservatory to the rear of the house in order to create a large-scale open-plan kitchen and dining space leading directly to the terraced garden and patio outside. A new glazed roof and glazed doors will be added to bring additional light from the Northeast-facing rear garden. The plan also includes the creation of an enlarged patio area in the new rear upper garden space, accessed via existing external stairs from the rear ground floor. A new basement directly beneath the existing footprint of the lower ground floor will also be created to accommodate a new guest bedroom with ensuite as well as a utility room and a wine cellar, accessed through a new basement hall. Work will also involve increasing the height of the existing ground floor as well as the reconfiguration of the top floor, featuring a butterfly roof, to create more living space including a snug, an additional bedroom and a new powder room. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
