Loungers, a prominent player in the UK hospitality industry, has witnessed remarkable growth, with the 2024 financial year marking a milestone in its expansion journey. Founded in 2002 by three friends with a vision to establish a neighbourhood café-bar they themselves would frequent, Loungers has evolved into a leading operator
Leading building and civil engineering contractor Farrans Construction has completed a new £37m Keynsham Recycling Hub for client Bath & North East Somerset Council, on time and on budget. The significant project involved the development of a modern facility offering a range of services that have made it easier for
Further growing its new build investment in Cheshire East, housing Group, Torus, is celebrating planning permission being awarded to build 236 new affordable homes at Viking Way in Congleton. Once again partnering with award-winning developer, Castle Green Homes, Torus will invest £59 million into the scheme. As part of a
LGIM announces today the completion, on behalf of Legal & General Retirement Institutional (LGRI), of its first direct-let Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) acquisition, following the purchase of the Aqua Portfolio from Global Student Accommodation (GSA). Building on its strong track-record of investing and lending into the sector, this marks
Ashe Construction has been awarded £14m of contracts to transform Bedford’s North Wing hospital site. The two projects will create a one-stop shop for primary and secondary care to create better access to healthcare and diagnostics, without the need for patients to attend Bedford’s acute hospital site. The first project
As fast and reliable internet connectivity becomes increasingly crucial, Pulse Fibre is proud to showcase its recent introduction of full-fibre internet in three award-winning Vertus residential developments in London: Newfoundland, 10 George Street, and 8 Water Street. The projects showcase the unparalleled benefits developers can enjoy with Pulse Fibre. The
Contractor Clegg Construction has completed an exciting £5.9m renovation scheme to transform Maltby Grammar School near Rotherham into a community resource and education centre. During the course of the project, Clegg invested more than £3m into the local economy by using local labour and materials wherever possible. The company’s commitment
Maidstone housing association Golding Homes has entered into contract with Skillcrown as the development partner for phase one of its regeneration of Cambridge Crescent in Shepway. Skillcrown has over 30 years’ experience and will deliver 119 new homes, made up of 91 one- and two-bedroom flats and 28 two- and
COWI, a leading international engineering consulting group, has been awarded a design contract by Network Rail for a section of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) scheme between Stalybridge and Huddersfield. The project forms part of the TRU scheme, a major programme of railway improvements across the Pennines, better connecting passengers
LEADING regional procurement specialist EN:Procure, part of Efficiency North Holdings consortium of social housing providers, has continued its support of communities in Yorkshire through its Social Value Credits scheme for members. Efficiency North members who use EN:Procure’s frameworks can accrue the credits to be used for local community investment or
Loungers, a prominent player in the UK hospitality industry, has witnessed remarkable growth, with the 2024 financial year marking a milestone in its expansion journey. Founded in 2002 by three friends with a vision to establish a neighbourhood café-bar they themselves would frequent, Loungers has evolved into a leading operator with a distinct presence across England and Wales. As of December 2023, the company boasts 247 establishments under its umbrella, spanning three unique brands: Lounge, Cosy Club, and Brightside.Embracing an organic growth strategy, Loungers has consistently outperformed the broader UK hospitality sector over the past three years. The company’s directors remain steadfast in their commitment to this strategy, focusing on the continual rollout of new sites under the Lounge, Cosy Club, and Brightside banners. With an emphasis on operational enhancements to drive sales and margin improvements, Loungers aims to maintain its upward trajectory in the market.During the 2024 financial year, Loungers achieved a significant milestone by opening 39 new sites, setting a record for the company. These additions included 33 Lounges, one Cosy Club, and two Brightside locations. As of 21st April 2024, the company’s portfolio expanded to encompass 257 sites, with an additional Lounge site opening in Ely, Cambridgeshire, after the reporting period.The company’s financial performance during the 2024 fiscal year also reflected its growth trajectory, with record revenue reaching £353.5 million, marking a robust year-on-year increase of 24.7%. Notably, like-for-like sales surged by 7.5% during this period, underscoring Loungers’ resilience and appeal in the competitive hospitality landscape. Nick Collins, CEO of Loungers, expressed his satisfaction with the company’s achievements, highlighting its consistent outperformance within the sector and the successful launch of 36 new sites. He attributed this success to Loungers’ unwavering commitment to menu innovation, value for money, and exceptional hospitality, which resonate with both existing patrons and new customers. Looking ahead, Loungers remains optimistic about its growth prospects, buoyed by a resilient UK economy and its well-positioned stance in the market. As the company embarks on the new financial year, it seeks to build upon its momentum, further solidifying its status as a key player in the UK hospitality sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading building and civil engineering contractor Farrans Construction has completed a new £37m Keynsham Recycling Hub for client Bath & North East Somerset Council, on time and on budget. The significant project involved the development of a modern facility offering a range of services that have made it easier for residents to recycle and help reduce general waste and operational costs. The four-hectare site includes a reuse shop for people to donate pre-loved items for resale and an MOT and Servicing Centre. While the Reuse and Recycling Centre opened to the public in April 2023, Phase 2 of the project continued throughout the year with the demolition of the old Pixash Recycling Centre. Additional construction works in this phase included the development of new operational infrastructure for waste and recycling collections and bulk transfer to processing or treatment sites and a significant installation of sorting and baling equipment for recyclables. Phase 2 was completed in January this year. Clare Taylor, contracts manager at Farrans Construction, said: “Our team has been proud to deliver Keynsham Recycling Hub, a state-of-the-art facility which offers its visitors a truly sustainable experience by encouraging reuse and recycling in line with the council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency policy aims. With its own onsite power generation capabilities, this hub is an example of what can be created with innovation and collaboration. “We have worked with local partners in Keynsham and the wider B&NES region to provide employment and training opportunities, engage in educational and community initiatives and support the local economy throughout the project. We worked with local supply chain, led construction workshops for 1,295 school children and donated over £4,000 to charities in this area. We have had a growing presence in the Bath and Bristol region over the last decade and we are continuing our work here on site at a large public transport hub at Bristol Airport with our JV partner Alun Griffiths.” Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “The investment in construction of the purpose-built, modern Keynsham Recycling Hub and the consolidation of collections, disposal and recycling processing operations will help to reduce general waste and operational costs and ensure the service can meet current pressure and future demand from an increasing population.” Information on the new reuse and recycling centre can be found on the council website including directions and a layout of the new site. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Further growing its new build investment in Cheshire East, housing Group, Torus, is celebrating planning permission being awarded to build 236 new affordable homes at Viking Way in Congleton. Once again partnering with award-winning developer, Castle Green Homes, Torus will invest £59 million into the scheme. As part of a larger development project for the site at Viking Way, which will see a total of 396 new homes built, Torus will deliver 215 homes for Shared Ownership and 21 for Affordable Rent. Castle Green Homes will deliver 160 private homes, to create a modern, multi-tenure community. The latest step in its ever-growing partnership with Castle Green Homes, which has already seen the two companies engage on over 360 homes across three other sites – Flowers Lane, Crewe, Bridgewater View, Daresbury and Orchard Place, Thornton – Viking Way will provide even more affordable homes to communities across Cheshire. A key growth area for Torus in the past few years, Cheshire East has already seen Torus invest over £76 million into building over 450 affordable homes, to date, and Viking Way is the latest scheme to reiterate Torus’ commitment to bolstering access to more affordable housing. Discussing Torus’ latest Cheshire-based scheme, Torus Developments’ Managing Director, Chris Bowen, said: “I’m proud of everything we have accomplished as a developer to not only expand our geographic footprint, but to work with an excellent partner in Castle Green Homes to facilitate our ambitions of building even more new, affordable homes across the North West. “Viking Way is another fantastic step in our journey to being able to create modern communities and to help regions redress the balance when it comes to the availability of good quality homes that actively help people onto the property ladder and I am excited to see how these additional 236 homes will go onto benefit Congleton.” Partnerships director for Castle Green Eoin O’Donnell explained: “We are delighted to finally achieve a planning consent on the Viking Way development. This will be another major step forward in our developing relationship with Torus, with whom this will now be our fourth project. We aim to deliver homes to Torus at a record pace to assist them in placing local families in well-designed, fuel-efficient homes as soon as possible. We believe that together Torus and Castle Green can be a driving force for the provision of much needed affordable homes over the coming years.” Kate Collins, Senior Manager – Provider Manager, from Homes England, continued: As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities. “As a Homes England Strategic Partner, Torus has committed to delivering new affordable homes via the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26. Investment at Vikings Way, Congleton will transform the site and provide much needed, good quality, affordable new homes in Cheshire. At Homes England we are committed to supporting our partners to increase the supply of good quality affordable housing in the communities where they’re needed most.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LGIM announces today the completion, on behalf of Legal & General Retirement Institutional (LGRI), of its first direct-let Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) acquisition, following the purchase of the Aqua Portfolio from Global Student Accommodation (GSA). Building on its strong track-record of investing and lending into the sector, this marks the launch of the L&G Student Living Platform. The GSA portfolio consists of two high quality, modern PBSA assets located in Exeter (Clifford House) and Glasgow (Scotway House). Both assets completed in 2019 and have proven historic rental growth, consistent 98%+ occupancy and have established a strong reputation in each of their respective student markets. Clifford House in Exeter consists of 312 bedrooms and Scotway House in Glasgow consists of 399 bedrooms, the assets were purchased for a combined pricing of c.£122m. LGIM has been operating within the student accommodation sector for more than 10 years following its first investment in 2011. It currently manages over £1.2bn in the sector, across equity and debt investments. The new direct-let PBSA strategy will look to target operational, up and built PBSA units no older than five years old. LGIM aims to deploy c.£0.5bn of capital into the sector over the next two years, with the longer-term goal of growing the portfolio to over £1bn and directly managing c.5k beds across the UK. The PBSA strategy complements L&G’s track-record in the investment, development and operation of residential assets – with over £1.1bn1 invested across suburban build to rent, affordable housing as well as later living. Having launched in 2016, LGIM’s build to rent strategy has committed over £3bn2 of institutional capital into the sector and expanded its portfolio to 24 schemes across 13 cities nationwide; cementing its position as a leader in the market. Neil Dovey, Head of Annuity Transactions, LGIM said: “We’re excited to have made our first direct-let acquisition in the student accommodation space. These assets provide high quality PBSA accommodation, situated in locations benefitting from strong academic institutions and demand from students, looking for buildings designed to meet the requirements of modern university life.” Adam Burney, Head of Annuity BTR & PBSA, LGIM commented: “Investing in direct-let PBSA assets forms the next iteration of our Living Sector strategy. The sector has demonstrated its alignment to our strategic requirements, which includes a significant focus on ESG and provides diversification. Following the success and growth of our BTR platform, this strategy further supports the long-term investment goals of LGRI.” Andrew Kail, CEO, Legal & General Retirement Institutional (LGRI) added: “Pension scheme capital is being put to positive use in the real economy – with tangible benefits across generations. These buildings provide students with quality accommodation, while the British economy as a whole should benefit from long-term investing in real assets. We’re proud of how expertise from colleagues has unlocked these benefits for both the new generation as well as the long-term future of those looking to a sustainable pension.” Knight Frank advised LGIM on the acquisition, MTRE advised GSA 1,2 – Legal & General internal data as at April 2024 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ashe Construction has been awarded £14m of contracts to transform Bedford’s North Wing hospital site. The two projects will create a one-stop shop for primary and secondary care to create better access to healthcare and diagnostics, without the need for patients to attend Bedford’s acute hospital site. The first project for Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is valued at £11.8m, and has been procured through the Pagabo Major Works framework. It will transform the existing Gilbert Hitchcock House (GHH) in Kimbolton Road, to provide diagnostic services such as MRI, CT, ultrasound, x-ray and cardiology services for increased demand in the area. Around 400-600 appointments currently take place in the building each day so the project will be delivered in two phases to ensure existing services can be maintained throughout the works. David Carter, Chief Executive of Bedfordshire Hospitals said: “We welcome this major investment at Bedfordshire Hospitals which will bring crucial tests closer to home and help us improve outcomes for patients with serious conditions, by diagnosing health conditions earlier, faster and more accurately. “The new facilities will allow patients to access planned diagnostic care in a more convenient location without the need to attend our hospital sites, taking some pressure off our acute hospitals and allowing us to focus resources on more complex cases and urgent and emergency care.” Ashe will have a team of between 45 and 50 working on the site for the year-long project, with vehicle movements carefully planned and co-ordinated to maintain safety at all times. A new substation and backup generator will provide failsafe power and GHH will benefit from improved energy efficiency with ground and air source heat pumps installed. Ian Robbins, managing director at Ashe said: “We are very experienced at working in live healthcare settings so understand the needs of service users, and healthcare providers, and how to minimise the impact of our works during projects like these. We are really looking forward to delivering these improved services, taking the pressure off the main South Wing Hospital, and increasing much-needed primary and secondary healthcare capacity for patients in North Bedfordshire.” The existing gym at GHH will be converted into consulting rooms, MRI and CT scanners. phlebotomy, retinal screening and therapy services will also be accommodated there. Adjacent to the project at GHH, Ashe will work on a £3m refurbishment project at Bedford Health Village for Assemble Fund Co. Ltd to develop an Enhanced Service Centre (ESC) to provide primary healthcare services in two phases. It will bring together a number of GP practices and community services to the health village, giving patients easy access to potentially life-saving tests for a range of conditions, quickly and easily at neighbouring GHH. The project consists of full refurbishment works over three floors of the building, with phase one due for completion in July and phase two due to complete in October. Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded £24m of national funding to enhance facilities on the site. Ashe has undertaken four projects for Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in recent years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As fast and reliable internet connectivity becomes increasingly crucial, Pulse Fibre is proud to showcase its recent introduction of full-fibre internet in three award-winning Vertus residential developments in London: Newfoundland, 10 George Street, and 8 Water Street. The projects showcase the unparalleled benefits developers can enjoy with Pulse Fibre. The goal was to provide the 1,139 residents of the developments with faster and a more reliable internet service, by introducing Gigabit specification full-fibre. The residents at 8 Water Street had been experiencing connectivity outages for four days from a previous fibre supplier with no resolution in sight. Pulse Fibre recognised the urgency of the situation and were on hand straight away to provide a solution. Pulse Fibre was able to be on site and work to reconnect residents the very next day after being made aware of the residents’ outage frustrations. The partnership then continued with the rapid installation at 10 George Street, before moving on to Newfoundland. Instant activation removed any further downtime or waiting, providing residents with immediate access to the high-speed, reliable internet required. Vertus building managers also benefit from access to Pulse Fibre’s Portal, a digital platform that allows Vertus to efficiently and effectively manage connections for residents. Functions such as providing instant activation for upcoming tenants, and deactivating connections once a resident has moved out, providing building managers with the necessary level of control and oversight to manage properties successfully. Reece Dopson at Pulse Fibre commented on the project: “Vertus is a shining example of what Pulse Fibre can offer customers and developers alike. Robert Buckingham at Pulse Fibre commented on the project: Working closely with the Vertus management team has been a privilege. Together, we achieved more than just meeting the project goals, we exceeded them, and we remain committed to providing reliable and lightning-fast internet.” The developments at Vertus exemplifies Pulse Fibre’s unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional service and it looks forward to continuing to provide reliable, lightning-fast internet solutions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Contractor Clegg Construction has completed an exciting £5.9m renovation scheme to transform Maltby Grammar School near Rotherham into a community resource and education centre. During the course of the project, Clegg invested more than £3m into the local economy by using local labour and materials wherever possible. The company’s commitment to South Yorkshire provided local employment opportunities for those living in the area which also enabled reduced travel-to-work times and distances – helping the environment too. Nine former Maltby Grammar School students, as well as a number of people from the Maltby area, were part of the workforce. Pre-construction director at Clegg Construction Ross Crowcroft said: “We are delighted to have handed over the repurposed and renovated Maltby Grammar School to Maltby Learning Trust. “The building has had a distinguished past and now has a bright future as a superb community resource, providing local services and learning facilities. “Clegg Construction takes pride in supporting local communities wherever we work, which has been aptly demonstrated by our commitment to the local economy in the Maltby and South Yorkshire area and the people who live there. “We wish Maltby Learning Trust all the best as Maltby Grammar School once again comes to life to provide facilities for the local community.” During the course of the renovation, Clegg worked with clock repair and dial restoration specialists, Smith of Derby Ltd, to repair the iconic clock tower at Maltby Grammar School – getting it working again for the first time in ten years. The renovated Maltby Grammar School will accommodate local services, support wellbeing, employment and enterprise, and provide substantial learning opportunities. The building will also extend Maltby Learning Trust’s post-16 specialist facilities and create an incubator space for training, apprenticeships and start-up support in the leisure and hospitality sectors. Maltby Learning Trust CEO, David Sutton, said: “We are thrilled with the work that Clegg Construction has done to renovate and refurbish the former Maltby Grammar School Building. The Trust will now be working to fit out the interior of the multi-purpose building to make it suitable for our sixth form, business, and community audiences. “This project will make a huge difference to the area by offering a space for people to learn, reskill, work, and thrive. We are looking forward to opening the building later in the year with a series of events.” Built in the early 1930s, the school closed in 2012 and had fallen into a state of disrepair after being mothballed. The redevelopment project was part of a winning bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund secured by Rotherham Council, which focused on boosting the leisure and hospitality sectors in the area. The Levelling Up Fund provided £4.5m towards the project. During the renovation, Clegg supported careers events at Maltby Academy, sponsored Maltby Learning Trust’s 2023 annual staff conference and awards, and also delivered 212.5kg of food, nappies and other donated items to Maltby Foodbank for distribution to local families as part of its commitment to the area. Other members of the team involved in the scheme included Self Architects, engineer GCA Ltd and employer’s agent and project manager Cube. Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects. The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialities across a range of different sectors. For more information visit www.cleggconstruction.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Maidstone housing association Golding Homes has entered into contract with Skillcrown as the development partner for phase one of its regeneration of Cambridge Crescent in Shepway. Skillcrown has over 30 years’ experience and will deliver 119 new homes, made up of 91 one- and two-bedroom flats and 28 two- and three-bedroom houses, and four commercial units in the first phase of the regeneration. Homes England, the government’s housing agency, is providing grant funding for the first phase of the project, which is expected to be completed by early 2026. Over three phases, the regeneration will see 114 existing homes and shops replaced with 236 new, energy-efficient affordable homes and a modern shopping area, improved landscaping and community facilities. Tom Casey, Executive Director of Development and Strategic Asset Management at Golding Homes, said: “We’re very happy to have Skillcrown on board to deliver the first phase of 119 affordable new homes and commercial units. “Over recent years we’ve worked closely with the local community and stakeholders in Shepway and are now looking forward to getting started on site and delivering our shared vision for the area. “This significant investment project, supported by Homes England funding, will provide a range of new affordable homes, shops and facilities for the local community.” Salik Osman, Skillcrown’s Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Golding Homes to deliver these much-needed affordable homes to help kick start the regeneration of the area. “We look forward to working with the local community to bring forward a development that everyone can be proud of.” Work to prepare the site is now underway, with the demolition phase due to commence in the next two weeks. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
COWI, a leading international engineering consulting group, has been awarded a design contract by Network Rail for a section of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) scheme between Stalybridge and Huddersfield. The project forms part of the TRU scheme, a major programme of railway improvements across the Pennines, better connecting passengers between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. Working collaboratively within a major delivery organisation, consisting of specialist consultants and contractors, COWI’s role is to develop engineering solutions for the route with the objective of minimising impacts on adjacent communities, reducing construction duration and costs, all with sustainability and safety oversight. Bringing specialised expertise in dealing with historic tunnels and construction methods, COWI will be responsible for the tunnelling works for three Victorian era tunnels; Stalybridge tunnel, Scout tunnel and Standedge tunnel. Works include accommodation for W12 gauge clearance and electrification, including 1.7km of track slab installation to facilitate track lowering. This will enable larger freight trains to pass through, allowing for greener transportation of cargo which would typically be moved by lorry. As part of the W2BC project, COWI will also be delivering off track drainage and geotechnical work. Providing specialist teams, the geotechnical work will focus on retaining walls and earthwork stability while the off-track drainage enhancements will increase flood resilience. Andy Sloan, Managing Director, COWI in the UK, comments: “We are looking forward to collaborating closely with TRU and its supply chain through its new hub and spoke model. The work presents unique challenges due to the age of the infrastructure, requiring a balance between modern engineering solutions and the preservation of historical integrity. Our teams have been working on the TRU project for over seven years so we are delighted to continue our involvement on this additional section of the programme.” The upgrades aim to bring greener, more frequent and faster journeys with improved reliability for passengers between Manchester and York. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING regional procurement specialist EN:Procure, part of Efficiency North Holdings consortium of social housing providers, has continued its support of communities in Yorkshire through its Social Value Credits scheme for members. Efficiency North members who use EN:Procure’s frameworks can accrue the credits to be used for local community investment or creating new jobs and apprenticeships. The scheme’s latest £1,500 total was accumulated by 54North Homes, a member that builds and manages more than 3,000 affordable homes across Yorkshire. It decided to share the proceeds equally between walking buddy project Move Mates and Leeds-based community service The Pantry. Lee Parkinson, chief executive of Efficiency North, said: “Social value is the beating heart of Efficiency North and the foundation stone of our vision, values and mission. The Social Value Credits model was created as a response to our members wanting a more flexible way of delivering real impacts to the communities they serve, and that is evidenced by these donations made by 54North Homes. “Whether the money is going towards apprenticeships, jobs in the community or great causes, it’s all about building resilient communities for the north of England.” Since launching the scheme in 2019, Efficiency North has delivered £564k in Social Value Credits to its membership for them to target support in the communities they serve. Move Mates, based in North Yorkshire, helps make getting out for a walk a reality for people who have difficulty leaving their homes, training volunteers to offer one-to-one support to members of the community. Becci Blues, Move Mates CEO, said: “The donation from Efficiency North and 54North Homes has been a huge help in supporting our projects to continue to run throughout North Yorkshire, allowing us to continue to offer our services from volunteer walking buddies to help get people active, improve their wellbeing and reduce isolation. “On average it costs us £75 to recruit and train a new volunteer, so this donation will mean we can recruit ten new volunteers and support ten new beneficiaries from our waiting list. Thank you to Efficiency North and 54North Homes for their support and generosity.” The Pantry at Kirkstall Valley Development Trust provides residents in the Kirkstall area with access to groceries and fresh produce at an affordable price, reducing their shopping bills. The trust’s CEO, Adele Rae, said: “Without the support of organisations such as Efficiency North and 54North Homes, the pantry would not be sustainable, so this generous donation is greatly appreciated. “The funds have gone directly towards food for the pantry, which supports between 30 and 40 households each week that may be struggling financially, or with their physical or mental health. “It’s a lifeline for many people in the community so this donation will help us serve even more.” To find out more about Efficiency North, please visit https://www.efficiencynorth.org Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
