Travelodge Rotherham Central has created 20 new jobs Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, which operates more than 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, has officially opened Travelodge Rotherham Central the group’s first hotel in Rotherham, and Rotherham’s first branded hotel. To mark the official opening of
Plans for a new retail park on land adjacent to the A420 in Swindon have been unveiled, sparking significant local interest and debate. The site, strategically located opposite Gablecross police station and adjacent to the Sainsbury’s on Oxford Road, has been purchased by the RO Group. This development, close to
Leicestershire based IMA Architects is pleased to announce that it has been appointed by discount supermarket Lidl GB to provide architectural services and advice on the construction of two new Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs) in Gildersome, Leeds and in Belvedere, London. As experts in logistical warehousing architecture, IMA has worked
GTC is continuing to advance domestic heating solutions with the delivery and installation of its innovative Community Heat Hub at The Gateway, the Vistry Bexhill development in Sussex. The transformative replacement for gas meets the requirements of the 2025 Future Homes Standard (FHS) and is set to revolutionise the heating
A primary school and bowls pavilion in a South Wales village have switched to clean, renewable heating, but in an innovative way that cannot be replicated anywhere else in Wales. Ffynnon Taf Primary School and the Pavilion at Taff’s Well Bowling Club in Taff’s Well, Wales, have had a bold
Thermal breaks specialist, Armatherm, was recently selected to play a pivotal role in the recent expansion of the Warren Conference Center at Framingham State University. Tasked with creating an energy-efficient and visually appealing ballroom addition, Lavallee Brensinger Architects turned to Armatherm’s cutting-edge thermal break technology to ensure optimal insulation and
Daniel Paterson, Director of Policy Make UK Modular said: “Make UK Modular warmly welcomes the proposed changes that the Government makes to the National Planning Policy Framework today – they will help deliver more truly affordable homes across the country. The reintroduction and strengthening of housing targets and the firming-up
The government has announced an overhaul of the planning system, proposing local planning authority resources be put on a sustainable footing, local plans for every area, mandatory housing targets for councils, and reviews of green belt land. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said the consultation
Responding to the Deputy Prime Minister’s announcement on reforming the National Planning Policy Framework, London boroughs have reiterated their strong support for housing growth. London faces the most severe housing pressures in the country. London Councils estimates one in 50 Londoners is currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, including
Tim Foreman, Managing Director of Land and New Homes, Leaders Romans Group (LRG): Housing targets I am pleased with the optimism that the government is showing towards the delivery of new homes. The delivery of 1.5 million homes in the current Parliament is unarguably necessary to meet current housing need
Travelodge Rotherham Central has created 20 new jobs Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, which operates more than 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, has officially opened Travelodge Rotherham Central the group’s first hotel in Rotherham, and Rotherham’s first branded hotel. To mark the official opening of the 69-room Travelodge, an opening event was held on Monday, 22 July, attended by Tony O’Brien, Travelodge UK Development Director, and Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. The hotel is part of Forge Island, a major urban regeneration project, in a waterside setting, which also includes a cinema, restaurants and leisure businesses. Travelodge is the only hotel provider in the town, providing a brilliant base for those visiting this brand new destination, Rotherham or the surrounding areas. The opening of Travelodge Rotherham Central has also created 20 new jobs for the area. This hotel has been developed to Travelodge’s new premium design – which is the group’s most significant brand transformation to date. The new design includes a redesigned reception, next-generation rooms, and a number of sustainable building features. Sustainability has been an important factor when designing the hotel, which has a BREEAM Very Good rating and an Energy Performance Certificate rating of B. The hotel also includes a number of sustainable features such as PV cells (a non-mechanical device that converts sunlight directly into electricity) on the roof, aerated shower heads and taps in bathrooms and EV car charging points in the car park. Rotherham Central Travelodge also features an upgraded Bar Cafe, which offers an all day dining service and welcomes both hotel guests and passers-by, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner menus as well as light bites and an extensively stocked bar. Healthy options under 600 kcal, vegan and gluten-free dishes are all available. All of this is offered at great value, including the Unlimited Breakfast offer, where two kids under the age of fifteen eat for free. The Travelodge hotel was delivered by nationwide placemaker, Muse in partnership with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, enabling Travelodge to bring thousands of visitors to the area each year, who will spend hundreds of thousands of pounds in the local shops, bars, restaurants and attractions. Tony O’Brien, UK Development Director, Travelodge, said: “We are delighted to announce that our first hotel in Rotherham has now opened its doors. With its new premium design and great location, I have no doubt that our hotel in Rotherham will be a strong addition to the area. We have a fantastic hotel team in place, and are already receiving very positive feedback from customers. “Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is doing a great job in investing to regenerate the town centre. Its funding support has enabled the delivery of this development, at a time when private sector funding is in very scarce supply. This will be of great benefit to the Rotherham community for many years to come. Forge Island is a great addition to the town centre and will support the existing shops and attractions, such as Rotherham United’s AESSEAL New York stadium, so there is plenty for Travelodge’s business and leisure customers to enjoy.” Cllr Read said: “We are delighted to welcome Travelodge to Rotherham, the first of our tenants to open on Forge Island. The development is the single biggest investment in our town for decades, with our town centre masterplan being a testament to the Council’s dedication to investing in Rotherham’s future. “We are well on track to officially opening Forge Island to visitors in 2024 and to delivering a fantastic town centre development which will not only benefit the economy but which will provide a fantastic leisure destination in the heart of the town. We thank the community for supporting us as we see this development come to fruition and as we continue to move forward with our plans to provide the kind of town centre that people can be proud of once again.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans for a new retail park on land adjacent to the A420 in Swindon have been unveiled, sparking significant local interest and debate. The site, strategically located opposite Gablecross police station and adjacent to the Sainsbury’s on Oxford Road, has been purchased by the RO Group. This development, close to the Amazon warehouse at Symmetry Park, is expected to become a vibrant hub for shopping and leisure in the area. The blueprint for the new retail park is modelled on the RO Group’s Solstice Park in Amesbury, which hosts well-known brands such as McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Asda, and a Holiday Inn. This suggests that the Swindon development could see similar high-profile retailers and eateries moving in, providing a boost to the local economy and offering a range of new shopping options for residents. However, the announcement has sparked mixed reactions among locals. While some see the development as a positive investment, others express concerns about its impact on traffic, local infrastructure, and the struggling town centre. Sarah Bedwell, a local resident, voiced a common concern: “Revamp the town centre and build another hospital. We don’t need more retail parks; we need a hospital that can cope with the number of people in Swindon and a town centre that people are willing to visit and shop in.” Traffic congestion has also been a major point of contention. Martin Campbell highlighted this issue, stating, “Plenty of cars pass that area slowly as it’s poorly planned for the volume of traffic… fix the issues with the area first, or it will fail. No one wants to spend an hour commuting to the shops.” Similarly, Verity Yates remarked, “Yeah, right next to Amazon. Traffic is bad enough trying to get out, now you want more traffic! When’s the new road opening up first?” While some residents suggest alternative developments, such as a shopping mall similar to Cribbs Causeway in Bristol, or leisure facilities like a waterpark or speedway track, others argue that retail parks remain a practical solution. Paul Godfrey noted, “Everyone saying shops are needed in the town centre don’t realise that it’s pointless. There’s nowhere to park, and when you do find somewhere, it’s expensive. That’s why the town centre is dead, along with the lack of decent shops. All the retail parks around Swindon offer free parking for up to three hours.” In contrast, Dean Kershaw-Evans emphasised the enduring appeal of retail parks, stating, “It’s all very well people saying get the town centre sorted first, but these retail parks have been around for years and for me, they are still the way forward. If people want a town centre, then start going now to help rebuild it as a place for everyone to go. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.” As the development moves forward, it is expected to be a topic of discussion at upcoming property networking events in Swindon, where industry professionals will explore potential collaborations and the broader economic impact on the region. The project reflects a growing trend of property investments in Swindon, positioning the area as an increasingly attractive location for retail and commercial enterprises. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leicestershire based IMA Architects is pleased to announce that it has been appointed by discount supermarket Lidl GB to provide architectural services and advice on the construction of two new Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs) in Gildersome, Leeds and in Belvedere, London. As experts in logistical warehousing architecture, IMA has worked with Lidl GB since 2012 and has now been instructed on 10 RDCs for the company. In Belvedere, IMA is working with Lidl to rebuild and expand a 36,825m2 RDC. The company has been hired to deliver the RDC through the construction phase to completion. Anthony Day, Managing Director of IMA Architects comments: “Work is progressing well, and we are excited to be delivering another large-scale project with Lidl GB. The RDC specialises in storing and distributing food at both refrigerated and ambient temperatures and will become another vital part of Lidl’s distribution network in the south east when complete.” In Leeds, IMA, on behalf of Lidl GB, prepared the architectural designs and planning packs for the RDC for submission to Leeds City Council. The plans have now been approved and will see the creation of a 54,000m2 distribution centre on a 34.6-acre site in the southwest of the city, with good transport links to both the M621 and M62 motorways. Once complete, the new RDC in Leeds, will create around 400 jobs for people in the local area. The site is part of the retailer’s multi-million-pound investment plan to support its growing network of stores and foster local economic growth. Anthony Day, Managing Director of IMA Architects adds: “We are proud to be working with Lidl GB on both schemes and bringing forward both projects. IMA is currently active on over 20 logistics and warehousing projects across the UK on behalf of our clients, making new sites for businesses and employment opportunities for local people.” Mario Viduka, Construction Director at Lidl GB, said: “Our ambitious warehouse plans demonstrate our commitment to investing not only in our distribution network but the UK as a whole, and we look forward to working with IMA Architects to increase that capacity further.” IMA is an award-winning firm of architects based in Blaby, Leicestershire. The firm, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, has grown from a two-person team, to now employ over 20 members of staff and work with a range of FTSE 100 companies, such as Marks and Spencer, and global brands such as Lidl. The company is a proud Community Partner of Leicester City Football Club and a sponsorship partner of both Leicester Tigers RFC and Leicestershire County Cricket Club. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GTC is continuing to advance domestic heating solutions with the delivery and installation of its innovative Community Heat Hub at The Gateway, the Vistry Bexhill development in Sussex. The transformative replacement for gas meets the requirements of the 2025 Future Homes Standard (FHS) and is set to revolutionise the heating of new builds across the UK. The Vistry Bexhill development marks the second UK site to deploy GTC’s efficient and sustainable centralised heat network solution, following the successful trial of the Community Heat Hub last year at Taylor Wimpey’s Westfield Heath’s site in Suffolk. When assessed under the FHS, which comes into effect next year, carbon savings of 81% are predicted for the Vistry Bexhill development, when compared with individual gas boilers. Vistry, one of the UK’s largest housebuilders, will use the GTC heat network solution on the Bexhill site to provide heat and hot water from a central source on the development, owned and maintained by a specialist company. Over a two-phase build, this will serve 801 houses, as well as a primary school, sports pavilion, community centre and retail units. While networked heat solutions have long been utilised in urban areas, the Community Heat Hub is the first product of its kind that is commercially viable and practical for low-rise, low-density sites. Building on the proven methods from its sister company, Metropolitan’s, extensive experience in high-density developments, GTC has committed to rolling out the innovative solution to low-density sites. John Marsh, COO at GTC, said: “Homeowners within the new Bexhill development will have a reliable supply of heat and water, all while having the peace of mind that their energy usage is at net zero. We are always looking for innovative solutions to decarbonise domestic heating, and the Community Heat Hub has proved to be incredibly effective in new developments. We look forward to welcoming our new customers to the net zero heat network.” Brendan Evans, managing director at Vistry Kent, said: “The installation of the Community Heat Hub at The Gateway is a significant step not only for residents living at the development but also for the wider goal of achieving net zero. “At Vistry, we are committed to achieving a 75 to 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions in new homes by 2025 compared to 2021. Cutting-edge low-carbon technologies such as this will play a key role in meeting that target. “We are proud to become only the second site in the UK to utilise this energy efficient heat network and look forward to working in partnership with GTC to roll out this technology to more of our new developments across the region.” The Community Heat Hub at Bexhill is estimated to save around 850 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually in comparison to individual gas boilers in homes. If you’re looking for a heat solution that already meets the proposed standards outlined within the FHS and you want to partner with a company with innovation and market-leading expertise at its core, then please contact GTC via https://www.gtc-uk.co.uk/contact-us/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A primary school and bowls pavilion in a South Wales village have switched to clean, renewable heating, but in an innovative way that cannot be replicated anywhere else in Wales. Ffynnon Taf Primary School and the Pavilion at Taff’s Well Bowling Club in Taff’s Well, Wales, have had a bold new heating system installed by Kensa, the UK-based Ground Source Heat Pump specialists, that uses naturally occurring heat from the only thermal spring in Wales – the historic Taff’s Well Spring. This unique water source heat pump system harnesses natural heat from the warm spring water, which emerges from deep beneath the earth at around 21o C, to provide the two council-owned properties with low-carbon heating and hot water. Using the innovative clean heating method instead of gas is expected to cut the school and pavilion’s carbon emissions linked to heating by close to 80%. It also demonstrated a way of using Kensa’s ground source heat pumps without drilling vertical boreholes to access heat energy stored in the ground. The bold idea of using the Taff’s Well thermal spring to heat buildings was initially proposed by the Friends of Taff’s Well community group, who were looking at other ways the historic spring could benefit the local community. This project follows other retrofit renewable heating installations completed in non-domestic buildings by Kensa. Using ground source heat pump technology the UK’s leading manufacturer and solutions provider has futureproofed heating and lowered carbon emissions caused by heat in multiple UK schools and council properties. The unique installation also highlights the versatility of Kensa’s ground source heat pump systems and forms part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Borough Council’s ambitious plans to decarbonise by 2030. How the system works: On Tuesday, 16th July, Kensa’s Dr Stuart Gadsden visited the site, along with representatives from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, to demonstrate to pupils from the Ffynon Taf Primary School’s Eco Committee how their new low-carbon heating and hot water system works. Dr Stuart Gadsden, Kensa Contracting Commercial Director, said: “This is an incredibly unique system and really demonstrates how versatile Kensa’s ground source heat pumps are. It was great to show the pupils how their exciting new heating system works and how it will reduce their carbon footprint. “Kensa has a proven track record of delivering the high efficiencies of ground source heat pump technology for numerous UK schools and local authorities, providing them with a futureproofed low-carbon heating system. “Using the historic Taff’s Well thermal spring as a renewable heat source is a brilliant example of how bold ideas can lead to something that benefits future generations. It’s something the whole community can be proud of, and we were pleased to play our part in making it happen.” Ffynnon Taf Primary School Headteacher, Kathryn Price, said: “We are very excited about how Taff’s Well Thermal Spring has been utilised for the whole school community. Our Eco Committee thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the heat pump system and how this helps to reduce the school’s carbon footprint. We will continue to celebrate the success of the thermal spring installation in our community for many years to come.” Jon Arroyo, Energy and Carbon Reduction Manager at Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, said: “We have an ambition to decarbonise the Council by 2030 and we understand there is no one solution to decarbonise our heating systems, so it is important that we look at what heat resources are around or under us. As a Council we see our role in exploring alternative solutions to help steer our businesses and residents in their journey towards a net zero future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Thermal breaks specialist, Armatherm, was recently selected to play a pivotal role in the recent expansion of the Warren Conference Center at Framingham State University. Tasked with creating an energy-efficient and visually appealing ballroom addition, Lavallee Brensinger Architects turned to Armatherm’s cutting-edge thermal break technology to ensure optimal insulation and energy performance. The project, led by architect Jason Bennett, involved a meticulous design for the 10,800-square-foot addition that prioritized energy efficiency. Bennett’s wall detail included a critical thermal break at the base of the exterior masonry wall to maintain continuous insulation from the footing through to the foundation slab and up to the masonry wall. This innovative approach ensures the integrity of the building’s insulation, significantly reducing thermal bridging. To achieve this, Armatherm 500-200 structural insulation material was specified and installed at the base of the brick wall. Known for its superior load-bearing capacity and thermal performance, the Armatherm 500-200 material provided an uninterrupted thermal barrier without compromising structural integrity. The mason contractor, Marmelo Brothers, praised the product for its ease of use and effectiveness as a starter course for the brickwork. “Armatherm 500-200 material not only supports the weight of the wall but also ensures an uninterrupted thermal barrier, which is crucial for energy efficiency in modern masonry construction,” said Jason Bennett, Project Architect at Lavallee Brensinger Architects. “This feature is becoming a standard in the industry and promises to last the life of the building.” The installation of Armatherm’s thermal break solution will contribute to a warmer interior floor, significant energy savings, and a comfortable environment for the building’s occupants. The new ballroom space is set to be in use by the fall of 2024, marking a significant milestone in the university’s commitment to sustainable building practices. Armatherm continues to lead the industry with innovative thermal break solutions that meet the growing demand for energy-efficient construction. We are honored to have contributed to the success of this project and look forward to future collaborations that prioritize sustainability and performance. For more information about Armatherm and its range of thermal break products, please visit www.armatherm.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Daniel Paterson, Director of Policy Make UK Modular said: “Make UK Modular warmly welcomes the proposed changes that the Government makes to the National Planning Policy Framework today – they will help deliver more truly affordable homes across the country. The reintroduction and strengthening of housing targets and the firming-up of rules around green belt land is both overdue and necessary. “Yet even with the creditable changes being proposed today, the UK will need to use every available tool in its box, including manufactured building techniques, to build sufficient truly affordable homes at the pace our nation so badly needs. We need a growth in manufactured house building if we are to address the growing chasm in available construction skills, reverse the impact of a collapse in the number of SME builders, and ensure that the homes we build today will not need retrofitting tomorrow.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The government has announced an overhaul of the planning system, proposing local planning authority resources be put on a sustainable footing, local plans for every area, mandatory housing targets for councils, and reviews of green belt land. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said the consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which opened today, has the potential to rebuild trust in the planning system. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of RTPI said: “The proposed changes to our planning system outlined today have the potential to rebuild trust in our planning system. We believe that the government’s goals for housing, energy, and transport can be accomplished through collaboration with planners in both the public and private sectors. “It is particularly encouraging to see the government placing a much-needed emphasis on strategic planning, which can help deliver more coherent – not piecemeal – urban expansions by integrating new housing with transportation, energy, and public services. “The RTPI will begin consulting our members widely across England immediately to guide our response to the government on these and other important reforms.”
Responding to the Deputy Prime Minister’s announcement on reforming the National Planning Policy Framework, London boroughs have reiterated their strong support for housing growth. London faces the most severe housing pressures in the country. London Councils estimates one in 50 Londoners is currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, including at least one homeless child in every London classroom. More than 320,000 households are on waiting lists for social housing in the capital. Boroughs have long sought to turbocharge housebuilding to encourage economic growth and address the homelessness crisis. London Councils points to the pipeline of 286,000 homes that have already been granted planning permission in London but are waiting to be built, while reiterating concerns about serious challenges to housing delivery. The cross-party group welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister’s declaration that councils will have more freedom over how they use the money raised from Right to Buy council house sales. Boroughs have called for fewer restrictions on the use of these sales receipts, arguing that they undermine boroughs’ ability to invest locally in replacement homes and that too much funding is redirected to the Treasury. Cllr Peter Mason, London Councils’ Executive Member for Planning & Skills, said: “There is no doubt that more homes are urgently needed in London and indeed around the country. Boroughs are strongly pro-housing growth and welcome the government’s focus on boosting housebuilding – including affordable homes and social housing. “New flexibilities over how we use Right to Buy sales receipts are a big step in the right direction. Reducing restrictions will help ensure more money raised from council house sales is better invested locally in building replacement homes. “London boroughs have a good record in granting planning permission, but construction of new homes has seriously stalled in the capital and we’re keen to work with the government in addressing this. As well as improving the planning system, we also need action on the other major factors undermining housebuilding – including the lack of local infrastructure, construction skills shortages, and insufficient long-term funding for affordable homes.”
Tim Foreman, Managing Director of Land and New Homes, Leaders Romans Group (LRG): Housing targets I am pleased with the optimism that the government is showing towards the delivery of new homes. The delivery of 1.5 million homes in the current Parliament is unarguably necessary to meet current housing need and compensate for years of under-delivery. But it is ambitious, not only in the figures but in the implementation too. Affordable housing targets From my clients’ point of view, the key point is the 50% affordable / social housing requirement for certain developments. While developers fully understand the need for more affordable housing, the issue is in the deliverability. With high labour and build costs an increasing raft of ‘planning gain’ requirements – biodiversity net gain, CIL and increasingly SANG too, viability is a growing issue. There are circumstances in which a development of 1,000 homes with 30% affordable housing is viable but 50% affordable housing is not. And yet surely 1,000 homes of which 300 are affordable housing, as compared to none at all, is preferable? The government needs to fully understand the pressures that the industry faces and the fact that profits are all too often minimal. Increasing co-operation with developers – for example, in allowing more car parking spaces to benefit marketability – would be a step the right direction. Similarly, where affordable housing requirements are increased, there should a balance whereby other requirements, such as funding for transport, is reduced. Timing Another aspect in which today’s Statement is possibly over-ambitious is timing. Clearly the government has made housing delivery a priority – as is demonstrated in the fact that the NPPF will be in place by September. But planning is notoriously slow. The government is set to deliver 1.5 million homes in five years, by 2029 – but due to the speed of planning and development, the first home is unlikely to be occupied until 2027. The number of homes to be delivered between 2027-9 will be unprecedented. To address this, my suggestion would be a Planning & Development Taskforce – a government agency with the sole objective of speeding up planning applications. Its first priority would be enforcing local plan production and implementation, by ensuring that local authorities are singing from the same hymn sheet as the government. It would also need to put in place special delivery vehicles for delivering new towns because there is no way in which the ambitious housing targets can be met without new towns – but the creation of an entirely new community a long and complex process. The government’s intention to reinvigorate the call in-process is a positive one. But it doesn’t speed up individual planning applications so much as reduce the likelihood of refusal – again, the process takes considerable time. Local Plan Furthermore, while it’s encouraging that the Secretary of State has said that every local authority must have up to date local plan, this was the case until recently and it didn’t result in universal delivery. Even with penalties applies, some local authorities rebelled, to the point that a large proportion are now without an up-to-date local plan. I do not have faith in local plan production being significantly increased until I can be convinced that the mechanisms have been put in place to achieve this.
