Construction Begins on £4.35m Solar Membrane at London Stadium Work has commenced on a cutting-edge solar membrane that will transform London Stadium, home to West Ham United, into one of the world’s most eco-friendly sports and entertainment venues. The ambitious £4.35 million project has now received planning approval, with construction
A major new student accommodation development has been approved in Coventry, marking a significant step forward for the city’s student housing landscape. Birmingham-based developer and investor, Sama Investment Group, has secured planning permission for a 130-bed Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) project, located on the edge of Coventry city centre. The
Leisure investor Imbiba has struck a deal with Canary Wharf Group (CWG) to open an impressive 65,000 sq ft development at 12 Bank Street. The new venue, set to open in 2025, will feature a 78-bedroom House of Gods hotel, the vibrant Amazing Grace music venue, a rooftop bar with
Kerakoll Group has taken a major step in its UK and Northern European expansion by acquiring a 40,000-square-metre plot of land in Preston, Lancashire, at the APTUS development. The international leader in sustainable building materials plans to construct a 145,000 sq ft production and distribution facility on the site, with
Railpen, manager of the £34bn railways pension scheme, has received approval from Oxford City Council to transform Eastpoint Business Park into a cutting-edge 200,000 sq ft life sciences campus. The redevelopment marks Railpen’s first venture into Oxford’s burgeoning life sciences sector, following its substantial investment in Cambridge’s innovation landscape. After
Down to Earth Developments, a Home Counties-based land reclamation company, has invested in two Cat® D6 XE dozers from Finning, and is believed to be the youngest customer to own the latest electric drive Cat machines in the UK. Ben Maclean, 24, owner at Down to Earth Developments, bought one of
A complete bespoke battery solution from Aggreko has enabled Curo Construction to continue work on a major refurbishment project in central London while work took place on the building’s electricity meter, which removed mains power for five days. The project at 14 St John’s Lane in Farringdon, involves the renovation
Construction Begins on £4.35m Solar Membrane at London Stadium Work has commenced on a cutting-edge solar membrane that will transform London Stadium, home to West Ham United, into one of the world’s most eco-friendly sports and entertainment venues. The ambitious £4.35 million project has now received planning approval, with construction set to begin imminently. The solar scheme, first revealed by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), will see 6,500 square metres of solar panels installed across the roof. The installation is expected to reduce the stadium’s carbon emissions by over 200 tonnes annually, while generating enough energy to power all major events held at the venue. The project has been supported by Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, who contributed £45,000 towards a feasibility study through the mayor’s Green Finance Fund, which also provided a loan for the solar installation. The initiative was granted planning permission on 24th September 2023 and is expected to be completed by summer 2025. The solar membrane is projected to generate around 850,000 kWh of electricity per year – enough to power 20 football matches, four concerts, two Major League Baseball (MLB) games, and one international athletics event. This renewable energy is estimated to save the stadium up to £350,000 annually in energy costs. Given the stadium’s existing lightweight roof structure, the solar membrane is designed to be lightweight while ensuring maximum energy generation and compliance with fire regulations. Once completed, it will start generating electricity immediately. Mete Coban, London’s Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, hailed the project as a “game changer”, saying:“These solar panels will transform the London Stadium into one of the world’s greenest venues, reducing its energy consumption and running costs. The mayor’s Green Finance Fund is a fantastic opportunity for public sector bodies to lower their carbon footprint, and we encourage more organisations to take advantage of this funding.” Graham Gilmore, Chief Executive of LS185, the stadium’s operator, echoed the sentiment:“We are committed to becoming one of the most sustainable live event venues globally. This significant investment will not only cut our energy costs but, more importantly, reduce our carbon footprint. We’re proud to lead the way in tackling climate change, powering our concerts and events with energy generated right here on site.” With the solar membrane set to be completed in 2025, London Stadium is set to be a pioneer in the movement towards greener, more sustainable large-scale venues, paving the way for future innovations across the global sports and entertainment industry. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A major new student accommodation development has been approved in Coventry, marking a significant step forward for the city’s student housing landscape. Birmingham-based developer and investor, Sama Investment Group, has secured planning permission for a 130-bed Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) project, located on the edge of Coventry city centre. The development, known as Charter House, will transform a former industrial site on Charterhouse Road into a modern student living complex, featuring four and six-storey buildings. In addition to high-quality student apartments, the site will offer an array of amenities designed to enhance the student experience. These include dedicated study areas, comfortable lounges, a gym, and a landscaped courtyard with views over the Sherbourne River, ensuring students enjoy both social and natural environments. Designed with sustainability as a priority, Charter House will integrate renewable energy technologies throughout the project. The developers are aiming for an ‘Excellent’ rating under BREEAM, the globally recognised standard for sustainable building design and construction. This underscores the commitment to eco-friendly practices, ensuring the development has minimal environmental impact. Strategically located just a five-minute walk from Coventry University, Charter House is set to meet the rising demand for high-quality student housing in the city. The project will play a crucial role in supporting the university’s growth, while also relieving pressure on local family housing, reducing reliance on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and the private rental sector. Bilal Ahmed, Executive Chairman & Founder of Sama Investments, commented:“We’re thrilled to have received planning approval for Charter House. This brownfield site, so close to Coventry University, provides a fantastic opportunity to create a high-quality student accommodation development that will benefit the city as a whole. Our project will not only meet the growing need for student housing but also help to free up family homes across Coventry. By investing in sustainable design and innovative amenities, we aim to foster student wellbeing and contribute to the city’s ongoing regeneration.” The Charter House development is expected to play a key role in Coventry’s continued urban transformation, creating jobs and driving local economic growth. As part of a wider regeneration plan for the area, the project represents a significant investment in the city’s future. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leisure investor Imbiba has struck a deal with Canary Wharf Group (CWG) to open an impressive 65,000 sq ft development at 12 Bank Street. The new venue, set to open in 2025, will feature a 78-bedroom House of Gods hotel, the vibrant Amazing Grace music venue, a rooftop bar with stunning views over Eden Dock, and a new event space operated by Camm & Hooper. The Eden Dock itself has been designed as a lush urban oasis, offering access to the water and promoting green spaces to enhance biodiversity within the Canary Wharf area. Stuart Fyfe, Managing Director of Retail, Leisure, and Hospitality at CWG, said, “Imbiba will deliver a spectacular new 65,000 sq ft hospitality and leisure venue at Canary Wharf. Their line-up of world-class brands will further enhance evening entertainment, event venues, and bring another hotel to the Wharf. We are continually elevating the offer at Canary Wharf across retail, leisure, and hospitality, curating a thriving seven-day destination for workers, residents, and visitors alike. Visitor numbers are at an all-time high, up 7.5% year-to-date, with 67.2 million visitors in 2023, and we’re seeing strong demand across our retail, leisure, and hospitality spaces with 97% occupancy.” Kieran Sherlock, Partner and Property Director at Imbiba, added, “Imbiba has a long-standing and successful partnership with CWG, and this investment builds on that foundation. Canary Wharf is transforming into a world-class destination for hospitality and leisure, and we’re excited to bring our cutting-edge concepts to this remarkable building in the heart of the area.” Imbiba boasts over 25 years of investment and operational experience, with a portfolio that includes Farmer J, Pizza Pilgrims, F1 Arcade, 1Rebel, Little Houses Group, Clays, and House of Gods. This new venture is set to further cement Canary Wharf as a leading destination for leisure and entertainment in London. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kerakoll Group has taken a major step in its UK and Northern European expansion by acquiring a 40,000-square-metre plot of land in Preston, Lancashire, at the APTUS development. The international leader in sustainable building materials plans to construct a 145,000 sq ft production and distribution facility on the site, with construction set to begin in late 2024. The new facility is expected to be fully operational by spring 2026. This expansion will see Kerakoll double its UK production capacity by 2028, meeting the increasing demand for eco-friendly building solutions in the region. The new facility will not only support the company’s growth in sustainable materials but also lead to a 30% increase in its UK workforce. This will be Kerakoll’s second UK site, complementing its existing production facility in Leyland, and marks the company’s twentieth site globally. Sustainability is central to Kerakoll’s mission, and the Preston facility will showcase the latest in green technologies. These include photovoltaic panels generating 245 kWh per day, and a state-of-the-art rainwater recycling system. The company is also targeting a “Very Good” or higher BREEAM rating, ensuring the facility meets top environmental performance standards. To further strengthen its leadership, Carl Gardner has been appointed General Manager UK and Director for the UK, Nordics, and the Netherlands. With Kerakoll’s UK turnover reaching £40 million in 2023, this new development underlines the company’s commitment to its international growth and continued investment in sustainable building materials. The new Preston facility will play a pivotal role in Kerakoll’s strategic vision for the future, reinforcing its position as a global leader in eco-friendly construction solutions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Railpen, manager of the £34bn railways pension scheme, has received approval from Oxford City Council to transform Eastpoint Business Park into a cutting-edge 200,000 sq ft life sciences campus. The redevelopment marks Railpen’s first venture into Oxford’s burgeoning life sciences sector, following its substantial investment in Cambridge’s innovation landscape. After acquiring Eastpoint in 2023, Railpen aims to create a flagship laboratory and office hub that will cater to the growing demand for life sciences spaces. This project is part of Railpen’s larger strategy to establish an innovation cluster across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, which includes notable developments like Devonshire Gardens and Botanic Place in Cambridge. These projects are designed to foster long-term economic and social benefits in both cities while generating strong returns for the pension scheme’s members. The redevelopment plan, designed by Scott Brownrigg, features three four-story laboratory buildings and a single-story amenity building, offering a mix of 55% CL2 laboratories and 45% office space. This flexible layout will accommodate a variety of tenants, encouraging advanced research and collaboration. The site, located just two miles southeast of Oxford city centre and close to Oxford Business Park and Oxford Science Park, places it in a prime position for life sciences innovation. In addition to providing cutting-edge facilities, the project will enhance the public realm, with an emphasis on pedestrian-friendly design, active ground floors, and high-quality public amenities. Railpen’s vision includes fostering stronger ties with the local community through initiatives such as a “Learning Lab,” where local students can access state-of-the-art facilities and connect with STEM professionals. The campus will also feature a publicly accessible café, social hub, and green space, creating a vibrant communal hub for both workers and residents. With construction set to begin, the Eastpoint redevelopment is poised to become a key centre for life sciences in Oxford, further cementing Railpen’s role in shaping the region’s innovation landscape. Railpen is targeting BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, WELL, Wired and Smart Platinum ratings for the development, as well as Cycle Score Platinum. Additional features will include a ‘Travel and Energy hub’ to promote sustainable travel and pocket parks to enhance user wellbeing. The latest intelligent building technologies, renewable energy, and biodiverse balconies and roofscapes will reduce embodied carbon and enhance biodiversity. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Down to Earth Developments, a Home Counties-based land reclamation company, has invested in two Cat® D6 XE dozers from Finning, and is believed to be the youngest customer to own the latest electric drive Cat machines in the UK. Ben Maclean, 24, owner at Down to Earth Developments, bought one of the electric drive Cat D6 XE dozers earlier this year from Finning UK and Ireland, the world’s largest dealer of Cat equipment, parts and aftermarket services. So impressed was he with the performance of the machine, he subsequently ordered another citing the machine’s sustainability credentials combined with its performance as the reason for the follow-up purchase. Ryan Trafford, Customer Service Manager at Finning UK and Ireland, explained why this deal is key for the industry as a whole: “We’re really pleased to be working with a next generation of machine owners, who really value sustainability when it comes to making decisions. Down to Earth Developments are experts in land reclamation and recovery, working with private clients and government agencies to restore land to its natural state. “Sustainability is quite literally what they do. Customers like Ben are the first generation to have grown up understanding the importance of making responsible decisions, with sustainability being at the heart of that.” The Cat D6 XE, the world’s first high-drive electric drive dozer, offers significant sustainability benefits, delivering up to 35% better fuel efficiency compared to previous models, resulting in a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, this reduction in fuel use directly impacts operating costs, meaning a significant financial saving over the life cycle of the machine. Ben Maclean’s decision to choose these state-of-the-art machines was also influenced by the operational efficiency they offer. He commented: “It’s not just the electric drive using less fuel but the all-round technology package you get with Cat machines that saves costs in quite a few ways. We also have two Cat 323 hydraulic excavators and their grade assist and payload technology help us get the job done that little bit quicker. “The D6 XEs are also fitted with Trimble™ 3D GPS systems supplied by SITECH® UK and Ireland, which means we make the absolute minimum number of passes to get perfect grading. We also ensure we tap into the telematics data that’s available through VisionLink® telematics so we can monitor machine idle time, productivity and fuel use, as well as the general health of each of the assets, so we can ensure timely and preventative maintenance that fits with our work schedules.” As a Contracts Director of Down to Earth Developments Ben ensures that they are using these efficiencies to their advantage, and with plenty of projects in the pipeline, they could be looking to expand the fleet in the near future. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A complete bespoke battery solution from Aggreko has enabled Curo Construction to continue work on a major refurbishment project in central London while work took place on the building’s electricity meter, which removed mains power for five days. The project at 14 St John’s Lane in Farringdon, involves the renovation of a six-storey building, incorporating a single-storey vertical extension for a fifth floor. Because the project has several party walls, as well as residential properties nearby, the management of noise, vibrations, air quality and carbon are vital considerations. Aggreko was called upon to deliver a temporary power solution that would enable work to continue on the project during the disruption to the mains electricity supply. It initially proposed a Stage V generator and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), offering a quiet, low carbon and fuel-efficient solution. However, the tight confines of the site meant there was not sufficient space to accommodate a hybrid set-up. This prompted Aggreko to engineer a bespoke solution of two 45/55 BESS that would be connected and located in the ground floor of the building, offering sufficient power to replace the mains supply for five days. Kirsty McCormick, Sustainability Manager at Curo Construction, said: “14 St John’s Lane is a high-profile project in a logistically challenging location, surrounded by both residential and commercial neighbours. We must also adhere to strict restrictions on both noise and air emissions and our business commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2040. Aggreko’s BESS solution has allowed us to manage these challenges effectively. We have been able to continue work on the site whilst protecting air quality, reducing carbon and avoiding any additional disruption to our neighbours.” Tom Adlington, Construction Sector Lead at Aggreko, added: “The construction industry is increasingly needing to balance challenging commercial pressures against logistical considerations, environmental regulations and restrictions on noise and disturbance. Our engineered BESS solutions, whether standalone or in a hybrid configuration with a Stage V generator, can be tailored to the needs of specific sites to deliver greener energy, while supporting profitability.” A recent Aggreko report, A Perfect Storm for European Construction?, based on a survey of 850 European construction managers, found that reducing noise is one of the leading reasons for using greener technologies on site, with 28% saying it had been a factor in adopting new technologies. Aggreko’s support for the decarbonisation of construction is reflected in its recently launched sustainability framework, Energising Change. The framework allows Aggreko and the organisations it works with to embed low-carbon power and temperature control technologies in their operations. At the heart of Energising Change are investments that give industry better access to cleaner and greener energy sources, such as the expansion of its fleets of small, mid and large-size BESS, which builds on $140m earmarked over the last two years to expand Aggreko’s Greener Upgrades fleet, including new boilers, Stage V generators, batteries and chillers. To find out more about Aggreko’s BESS solutions, visit: https://www.aggreko.com/en-gb/products/energy-storage. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
