A multi-million-pound contract to improve social homes across the north east of England will be delivered by a new strategic partnership that has been created to maximise its impact on the region. believe housing will make significant internal and external improvements to around 5,600 of its homes over the next
£31.5M, 37-acre project serves as a pivotal new workplace, logistics and warehouse commercial gateway to Luton and set to elevate the town onto a national platform. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has broken ground with long-term and valued client Wrenbridge
£45m investment and jobs boost for sustainability industry in East of England Assan Panel, a major affiliate of Kibar Holding, a renowned name in Turkey’s industrial sector, has confirmed its plans to locate its first UK manufacturing facility at Gateway 14, part of Freeport East. The firm produces sustainable building
Engineering steel specialist, William Hare Group, has scooped a contract to deliver the design, fabrication and installation of a sustainable steel solution for the latest iconic development at Broadgate in London. 2 Finsbury Avenue will comprise a 21-storey West Tower and a 36-storey East Tower, linked by a 12-storey podium.
A multi-million-pound contract to improve social homes across the north east of England will be delivered by a new strategic partnership that has been created to maximise its impact on the region. believe housing will make significant internal and external improvements to around 5,600 of its homes over the next four years, in a contract worth up to £62.4m (gross). To deliver the works, from April 2024, five North East organisations have established the be:ONE strategic partnership. Led by believe housing, the partnership includes Buston & Maughan Group, RE:GEN Group, Sendrig Construction Limited and Sunter Limited. Thanks to the long-term contract and this new collaborative approach, instead of competing the businesses will work together to improve customer experience, achieve significant savings, and maximise the impact of social value in communities. There is a strong focus on supporting the local economy and employment, with a commitment to create new jobs and apprenticeships and allowing business growth. And they aim to cut carbon emissions, reduce waste, and increase recycling. Ruth Dent, Director of Assets and Compliance at believe housing, said: “We’re passionate about providing healthy homes that are fit for the future and, while this investment will improve the homes of thousands of our customers, we want its impact to go much further. “All too often in the sector, contractors are not given the visibility they need to be able to upskill and invest. We want to change this, and by doing so we can all achieve more. “At believe housing we are proud to have had real successes by taking a more collaborative approach and by being open and transparent with our partners. “This new be:ONE partnership will continue this by bringing contractors together with a common goal. Working as one team we can exchange best practices, streamline operations, drive performance and innovation, and amplify our social value offer. “It will improve outcomes for customers, and help the businesses to support one another’s growth and, ultimately, support the north east housing and construction sector. “We’re desperately keen to make sure the pounds we spend stay local, so the people who live and work in our homes and communities feel the full benefit of believe housing’s investment.” Procurement consultancy Prosper, which specialises in the delivery of bespoke end-to-end procurement solutions, facilitated the unique partnership. Rod Brasington, CEO of Prosper, said: “Our team of procurement experts worked with believe housing to understand their desired objectives and outcomes and then facilitated the formation of the new partnership through our contractor framework – providing them with a compliant, cost-efficient and effective procurement solution. “We were able to bring all three delivery partners to the partnership who, despite offering similar services, have come together to share a common goal and purpose of helping our client to achieve their goals and desired outcomes for their residents.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
£31.5M, 37-acre project serves as a pivotal new workplace, logistics and warehouse commercial gateway to Luton and set to elevate the town onto a national platform. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has broken ground with long-term and valued client Wrenbridge on the development of a new 213,874 sq ft logistics and industrial unit at their new landmark ‘Junction’ gateway development in Luton. To mark the occasion a special ceremony was held on site attended by representatives from Wrenbridge, Glencar and the full project team. The building forms part of a new business and logistics focussed masterplan that features a broader mix of uses, including flexible workplace, research and development, and distribution. Junction is set to create 2,500 jobs and contribute around £160 million every year to Luton’s economy. As part of the appointment Glencar will be carrying out the design and construction of an extensive earthworks package, remodelling the entire 4.46 hectare development plot, which is divided by Newlands Road. The project then involves the design and construction of Unit 1, a new 213,874 sq ft gateway industrial and logistics unit, with a clear height to underside of haunch of 18M. Glencar will also implement Cat A office fit out, new and varied retaining structures, new underground drainage and services, associated external works including external soft landscaping. The scheme also includes new utility connections, and 278 Highways works to facilitate access to the new development from the adjacent M1 Motorway and New Airport Way. Steels are now rising on the development and construction is expected take 63 weeks to complete with PC expected by Mid-February 2025. In commenting on the project Pete Goodman, Glencar Regional Managing Director said: “We are very happy to once again be working with our much valued and repeat customer Wrenbridge on this fantastic new gateway development which is set to be truly transformational for Luton. Glencar are committed to delivering a scheme that draws on the context and history of Luton and can be admired as people travel into the town. Environmental considerations are also central to our approach for this development, in line with this we are aiming to ensure that ‘Junction’ is one of the most sustainable logistics developments in the UK – a reputation for which Glencar is becoming increasingly recognised as a leading contractor in this space. This project serves as the fifth undertaking we have implemented to date with Wrenbridge over the past few years with us also being onsite currently in Basingstoke, building a 209,461 sq ft speculative industrial unit for Wrenbridge just south of the A339. Glencar and Wrenbridge have forged a very close and successful working partnership together and we look forward to working again with the full project team on this job and delivering an outstanding solution” Also commenting Richard Arnold from Wrenbridge Land, said: “We are excited to be onsite delivering this high-quality development that will create over 2,500 new jobs for the town. We are committed to delivering a highly sustainable development that exceeds planning policy requirements. These state-of-the-art business units will contribute positively to the growing local demand for industrial, warehouse and logistics space combined with extensive, ancillary offices.” Junction is situated on the edge of Luton, adjacent to the M1 and A1081. The site has been identified within the Luton Local Plan as a key employment area. The site has been designated as a ‘Category A’ Employment Site, and is allocated for new development and protected for business uses in the local plan. To visit the development website click https://junction-logistics.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
£45m investment and jobs boost for sustainability industry in East of England Assan Panel, a major affiliate of Kibar Holding, a renowned name in Turkey’s industrial sector, has confirmed its plans to locate its first UK manufacturing facility at Gateway 14, part of Freeport East. The firm produces sustainable building materials and is one of the world’s market leaders in this sector. The move to Gateway 14 will create around 100 highly skilled jobs in Stowmarket and bring an investment of up to £45m. The announcement comes at a time when the UK and Turkey are discussing an enhanced Free Trade Agreement. Both Freeport East and Assan Panel are keen to ensure the investment acts as a positive signal to other companies looking to strengthen trade connections between the two countries. Contingent upon securing required approvals, İhsan Tolga Akar, Managing Director of Assan Panel, mentioned that the goal is to have the new plant operational by Autumn 2025. As part of its investment, Assan Panel, which exports to 85 countries from Turkey, is planning to establish a new office in Ipswich to cater the UK market. A skilled workforce will be required at the new multi-million-pound facility, which will manufacture sandwich panels filled with Polyisocyanurate (PIR), mineral wool, or polyurethane – critical components in constructing sustainable and eco-friendly buildings. Steve Beel, Chief Executive of Freeport East, comments: “This announcement represents a real milestone in strengthening the presence of green industry in and around the Stowmarket and wider Freeport East area. As well as direct job creation, the investment will provide opportunities to build strong local R&D relationships with universities and drive the development of the skills and innovation cluster at Gateway 14. “With close proximity to the Port of Felixstowe and the flexibility of the freeport customs model, locating in Freeport East provides Assan Panel with the ideal base from which to serve both UK and European markets. We are confident this is a model that will encourage other international manufacturers to consider Freeport East as a future strategic location.” Haluk Kayabaşı, CEO of Kibar Holding, made a statement regarding the new facility investment: “Kibar Holding, one of the leading groups of the Turkish industry, under which Assan Panel operates, is taking firm steps forward on its globalization journey with its unabated investment moves. We aim to further strengthen our presence in the European market with the new facility investment of Assan Panel in the UK, which has previously increased its presence abroad with the investments it has realized in Jordan and Azerbaijan. By making a difference with the innovative, pioneering, sustainable, energy-efficient products we offer, we serve for the transition in European sandwich panel market for sustainable solutions, and now with more concentration in the UK.” Minister for Investment in the Department for Business and Trade, Lord Dominic Johnson, said: “Assan Panel’s investment underscores Freeport East’s outstanding offer to businesses operating in green industries, and will create new, skilled jobs in the region. UK Freeports are perfect places for businesses to innovate, collaborate and grow. This news highlights Freeport East’s exceptional opportunities which underpin their vision of a global hub for trade and investment into advanced manufacturing and green energy.” The Minister for Levelling Up, Jacob Young, said: “This significant commitment by Assan Panel, made possible by the government’s Freeports programme, not only brings high-skilled jobs and investment to the east of England but also strengthens the UK’s important trading relationship with Turkey.” Councillor Richard Smith MVO, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Skills, Transport Strategy and Waste, said: “It is excellent news that Assan Panel will manufacture its panels here in Suffolk. This is a substantial investment which will create many new local jobs and be a significant boost for Suffolk’s manufacturing sector, and I would like to commend the joint inward investment and Freeport East teams for their important role in securing it.” Gateway 14, led by Mid Suffolk District Council-owned Gateway 14 Ltd with development partner, Jaynic, is next to the A14 at Stowmarket. It is East Anglia’s largest business park, providing 2.36 million sq. ft. of accommodation and as part of Freeport East, the site offers tax reliefs and simplified customs arrangements and is fast becoming a hub for manufacturing, logistics, and R&D firms. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Engineering steel specialist, William Hare Group, has scooped a contract to deliver the design, fabrication and installation of a sustainable steel solution for the latest iconic development at Broadgate in London. 2 Finsbury Avenue will comprise a 21-storey West Tower and a 36-storey East Tower, linked by a 12-storey podium. A solid and glazed sawtooth-shaped façade, characterised by triangular patterns, will be facilitated by a steelwork support system. The new building will be the largest on the Broadgate campus, providing 750,000 sq ft of new offices, as well as green, leisure and publicly accessible spaces. The building will create a new benchmark for highly sustainable workspace in central London with BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum, EPC A and NABERS 5-star ratings. It will be all-electric, and a smart-enabled development ensuring leading carbon and energy efficiency in operation. William Hare Group has designed its steel solution to align with the project’s overall sustainability goals, including using LEAN design principles with the supply chain. Having successfully delivered nearby 100 Liverpool Street and 1 Broadgate, William Hare’s partnership on 2 Finsbury Avenue – working with Sir Robert McAlpine – will further extend its longstanding association with the Broadgate joint venture, between British Land and GIC. Matthew Nesbit, Group Board Director at William Hare Group, commented: “We are delighted to have been appointed at 2 Finsbury Avenue, as an extension of the work we have already delivered on the Broadgate development. “Being able to bring our design, fabrication and delivery capability to life on schemes like this is testament to our market-leading position as a global steel specialist.” Completion is expected in 2027, with global hedge fund firm, Citadel, and Citadel Securities pre-letting over a third of the development’s office space. William Hare Group is expected to have completed its works by summer 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
