HM Treasury has approved a £56 million investment from Homes England to jumpstart the regeneration of a vast brownfield site in Liverpool Waters, bringing new life to the city’s historic northern docklands. The funding will support extensive infrastructure developments in the Central Docks neighbourhood, preparing the area to accommodate approximately
Planning approval has been granted for a 60-bed care home at the prominent junction of St John’s Road and Manse Road in Corstorphine, Edinburgh. Proposed by Northcare Scotland in partnership with Unum, this project aims to revitalise a long-vacant site in the heart of the Corstorphine Conservation Area, transforming the
The Urban Splash Residential Fund (USRF), and its Investment Adviser SURE Capital Partners, have entered into a significant new partnership with sustainable developer Citu, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth £200m. The arrangement gives USRF priority access to Citu’s pioneering properties and single family homes across Yorkshire for the
Firethorn Trust, a UK-based real estate investor and developer, has secured an £18 million financing package from Grosvenor to support its acquisition of the Malmaison York hotel. Firethorn, which purchased the luxury 150-room hotel in June 2024, aims to enhance its growing Firethorn Living portfolio with this prominent city-centre property.
Investment in the UK’s data centre sector is facing serious delays due to a shortage of electricity supply, according to David Sleath, CEO of leading property developer Segro. Speaking on Times Radio, Sleath shared his concerns about extensive wait times for grid connections, with delays stretching over several years, which
Labour’s additional investment into the UK’s infrastructure and housing programmes is a good start, but NFRC urges responsible procurement practices if the government is to meet its lofty goals. A marked increase in public procurement opportunities in the Budget is welcome news for the construction sector, but NFRC calls on the government to ensure
Façade specialist Alsecco has been named as a finalist in three categories at the INCA Awards 2024, which recognise excellence in the external wall insulation sector. The company has been shortlisted for its work on the landmark Manchester development Victoria House, Eastbourne Harbour’s The Boardwalk, and Sheffield regeneration project The
Commenting on the retail and leisure sectors, Steve Rodell, Managing Director – Retail & Liesure, said: “While, in today’s Budget, the Government committed to economic growth, it also committed to hikes in taxes for businesses around the country, including Capital Gains Tax and a rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions by
HM Treasury has approved a £56 million investment from Homes England to jumpstart the regeneration of a vast brownfield site in Liverpool Waters, bringing new life to the city’s historic northern docklands. The funding will support extensive infrastructure developments in the Central Docks neighbourhood, preparing the area to accommodate approximately 2,350 new homes and a public park in line with the government’s plan to build 1.5 million homes across the UK over the next five years. Owned by Peel Waters, the Liverpool Waters project spans over 60 hectares along the River Mersey, with Central Docks set to attract over £550 million in private investment. Already under way across the Liverpool Waters district are major projects, including the new Everton Stadium, the Mersey Heat energy network, and the Isle of Man’s £70 million ferry terminal, which was completed in June. The newly approved scheme, covering 10.5 hectares, is expected to be a landmark development for Liverpool’s waterfront. It will introduce essential utilities, new roads, cycle lanes, and pedestrian pathways, creating seamless connections between the city centre, Princes Dock, Central Docks, and the Everton stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. Central to this transformation will be a 2.1-hectare public green space, ‘Central Park’, which will blend coastal and woodland landscapes with play spaces and recreational amenities. Liverpool City Council Leader, Councillor Liam Robinson, expressed his enthusiasm, noting the scheme’s potential to transform disused dockland into a vibrant neighbourhood that will set a high standard for modern, sustainable development across the country. Development Director of Liverpool Waters, Chris Capes, commended the collaborative effort behind the project, emphasising that the infrastructure investment from Homes England will leverage further private funding, paving the way for a new, inclusive community that balances residential, commercial, and public spaces. Scheduled to commence in the spring, initial site preparation and design work will begin immediately, with the broader vision of turning Liverpool’s docklands into a thriving, community-oriented destination for years to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning approval has been granted for a 60-bed care home at the prominent junction of St John’s Road and Manse Road in Corstorphine, Edinburgh. Proposed by Northcare Scotland in partnership with Unum, this project aims to revitalise a long-vacant site in the heart of the Corstorphine Conservation Area, transforming the former Woolworths location into a high-quality care facility that both meets the city’s growing care needs and respects the area’s unique heritage. Carefully designed to reflect the architectural character of Corstorphine, the development will utilise materials that align with the traditional aesthetic of the area, contributing to Edinburgh’s wider urban conservation goals. The project has been crafted in harmony with the Corstorphine Conservation Area Character Appraisal, ensuring the new building enhances the local architectural identity while also addressing the city’s demand for modern care facilities. The planning process brought challenges, including structural concerns raised by neighbouring properties and strict conservation guidelines. However, these factors have helped shape the final design, which blends modern care home functionality with sensitivity to Corstorphine’s historical environment. This project aligns with Edinburgh’s Local Development Plan, emphasising sustainable urban growth that complements the city’s character. This approval underscores Edinburgh’s balanced approach to development in historic areas, marking a positive step in adapting valuable heritage spaces to serve modern needs. By delivering a project that both preserves Corstorphine’s charm and meets essential community requirements, Edinburgh demonstrates its commitment to responsible and adaptive growth in conservation areas. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Urban Splash Residential Fund (USRF), and its Investment Adviser SURE Capital Partners, have entered into a significant new partnership with sustainable developer Citu, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth £200m. The arrangement gives USRF priority access to Citu’s pioneering properties and single family homes across Yorkshire for the next five years, marking a major step forward in the Fund’s expansion. The strategic partnership – USRF’s second, following a similar agreement with Urban Splash – covers 600 homes with opportunity to grow, and includes an initial purchase of 52 Citu homes within the Climate Innovation District in Leeds and Kelham Central, Sheffield. Both developments follow Citu’s placemaking principles creating resilient, green, mixed-use neighbourhoods of low energy homes, and building through placemaking focused on people and communities. The homes further diversify USRF’s portfolio by adding more sustainable single family homes to its current offering across the UK; Akeel Malik, Partner at SURE Capital Partners explained: “This deal connects capital with regeneration, allowing us to play a pivotal role in creating vibrant new neighbourhoods. Leeds and Sheffield are exciting, transformative cities where people want to live, work, and play, and we’re proud to help drive that change. “Our mission is to cultivate a portfolio of design-led homes for renters – an approach that aligns perfectly with Citu. We have found the ideal product in their award-winning homes and communities.” Tom Bloxham MBE, also Partner at SURE added: “SURE has investors ready to commit to design-led homes. It’s a concept that’s been proven with Urban Splash and now with Citu. “I have long been an admirer of the regeneration work undertaken by Chris, Jonathan and the team at Citu and was very pleased to see this deal close. This is another example of how SURE Capital is bringing UK and international institutional capital to work supporting the very best UK SME developers like CITU, Urban Splash and Javelin Block – with whom we completed a deal last year in Birmingham. This deal will both bring good returns to our investors and help fund much needed new sustainable homes and regeneration in UK regions.” Yorkshire-born Citu is renowned for its innovative and eco-conscious developments across the UK, creating homes that work to Passivhaus principles, making them approximately 75% more energy efficient than a traditional home in the UK. Citu’s homes are also manufactured locally in its Yorkshire factory using modern methods of construction (MMC) that substantially lower carbon emissions with an emphasis on quality and assurance. The company is redefining urban living in Yorkshire through innovation and sustainability. With a commitment to creating homes and communities which are designed beautifully, are environmentally responsible and socially vibrant. Diversifying the tenures available in these places and providing a quality rental offering in an exciting next step in Citu’s journey as Jonathan Wilson, Managing Director at Citu, explained: “This partnership marks a significant step forward for Citu, and we are delighted to have found an aligned partner with the right expertise and ambitions to join us on this journey. “Our growth strategy focuses on creating exceptional sustainable places with a variety of tenures, and we’re excited to introduce a rental offering to our developments both now and in the future, with a partner who shares our vision and responsibility. This collaboration enables us to move ahead with confidence, and we look forward to the next steps.” Citu is passionate about building and place sustainability. The deal will help Citu, a growing Yorkshire SME, further expand its reach while giving USRF the opportunity to offer sustainable living solutions to families across the county. Established in 2017, USRF has developed a market-leading experience that actively engages local communities. The Fund offers initiatives including 100% green energy as standard and a community platform called Ark offers a resident app with local business discounts. For further information: https://www.urbansplash.co.uk/us-residential-fund Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Firethorn Trust, a UK-based real estate investor and developer, has secured an £18 million financing package from Grosvenor to support its acquisition of the Malmaison York hotel. Firethorn, which purchased the luxury 150-room hotel in June 2024, aims to enhance its growing Firethorn Living portfolio with this prominent city-centre property. The Malmaison York features a rooftop sky bar with sweeping views over York, state-of-the-art ‘Work + Play’ business facilities, and a spa and gym, making it a standout performer within the Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin group. The financing aligns with Firethorn’s strategy of securing quality assets in prime locations, and it marks Grosvenor’s first foray into investment loans, expanding its existing portfolio. Richard Whitby, Chief Financial Officer of Firethorn Trust, praised Grosvenor’s confidence in the project, emphasising the strength of the hotel’s location and operator. He noted that the partnership supports Firethorn’s continued growth in the UK market, which also includes purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) projects and a conversion scheme in central London. Steph Ball, Investment Director at Grosvenor, highlighted the deal’s alignment with Grosvenor’s strategy to diversify through high-quality assets with strong operators. She added that this first investment loan reflects Grosvenor’s adaptability in an evolving market and anticipates long-term success in collaboration with Firethorn. Firethorn Trust received advisory support from JLL and Maples Teesdale, while Grosvenor was advised by CBRE Lending and Freeths. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Investment in the UK’s data centre sector is facing serious delays due to a shortage of electricity supply, according to David Sleath, CEO of leading property developer Segro. Speaking on Times Radio, Sleath shared his concerns about extensive wait times for grid connections, with delays stretching over several years, which he says has blocked Segro from channelling “hundreds of millions and more” into new data centres. Segro, already operating 35 data centres nationwide, has significant expansion plans that are stymied by what Sleath calls a “bottleneck” in the national grid’s ability to provide power. “The single biggest constraint is access to power,” he remarked, emphasising that this challenge is holding back not only Segro’s growth but also the UK’s progress in digital infrastructure. Data centres are critical to the UK’s digital economy, supporting services from e-commerce and streaming to advanced AI projects. However, their high-energy requirements demand specialised grid connections, and the current queue system for these upgrades is proving a major obstacle. Sleath described the grid connection process as “archaic,” with developers often waiting years to secure the necessary upgrades. Looking ahead, Sleath also voiced concerns over the UK’s long-term energy strategy. While he recognises the importance of wind and solar in reducing carbon emissions, he suggests that additional investment in nuclear power and advancements in battery storage technology will be necessary to meet future energy demands. In a positive step for the industry, the government has recently designated data centres as critical national infrastructure. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle’s classification move aligns with several American companies’ plans to invest £6.3 billion in new UK data centres, underscoring the need for reliable power access to fuel this digital expansion. The National Grid has acknowledged the challenges and committed to improving the grid connection process, pledging collaboration with the National Energy System Operator (Neso), Ofgem, and government bodies to prioritise projects supporting net-zero objectives and economic growth. A government spokesperson confirmed ongoing efforts to streamline connections for data centres and clear project backlogs, aiming to make the UK’s grid infrastructure more accessible. With the demand for data centres rising, the UK stands at a critical juncture, needing strategic grid reforms to support both immediate digital needs and long-term economic ambitions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Labour’s additional investment into the UK’s infrastructure and housing programmes is a good start, but NFRC urges responsible procurement practices if the government is to meet its lofty goals. A marked increase in public procurement opportunities in the Budget is welcome news for the construction sector, but NFRC calls on the government to ensure they engage in responsible procurement for these projects. “For the government to support its ambitions, it needs to be far more circumspect in its procurement in construction,” says NFRC Group CEO James Talman. The consequences of irresponsible procurement were most recently seen with the collapse of construction company ISG. ISG held at least £1.84bn of government contracts when it collapsed. These were awarded despite well-known questions about their financial stability. ISG’s collapse has cost the construction supply chain at least £300 million. It has cost NFRC Members and put some at financial risk. The new Procurement Act 2023, which comes into effect in February 2025, is a perfect opportunity for the government to ensure it gets procurement right, especially on major projects like those announced in this budget. “Overall, NFRC is pleased at the stronger commitment to construction projects,” Talman says. However, the government must fulfil these commitments and maintain the visibility and stability of the workload pipeline; otherwise, the investment into the skills and resources needed to deliver on big goals will not happen. NFRC calls for cross-party agreement on infrastructure policy to prevent projects stalling, changing, and failing. NFRC eagerly awaits the ten-year infrastructure plan in next year’s multi-year spending review. Once it is up and running, NISTA (the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority) must help the government get a grip on infrastructure delays and give the construction sector the confidence to make long-term investments that will bear fruit. NFRC is concerned about the increased pressure on SMEs, who comprise a large portion of our membership and the construction sector at large, caused by the increase in National Insurance for employers. While micro businesses are somewhat insulated by the employment allowance increasing from £5,000 to £10,500, many others will feel a significant strain. There were 4,373 insolvencies across construction in the year to July, up 40% compared to 2015. NFRC is concerned this tax hike will add more pressure before the cash flow from other budget announcements enters the market. This strain restricts businesses’ ability to invest in essential measures to address the skills crisis and increase productivity. Labour’s announcement of an additional £500 million for the Affordable Homes Programme is encouraging for the construction industry. However, this funding must be accompanied by significant reforms in planning if the money is to be used effectively. The £50 million of funding to expedite the planning process is a step in the right direction, but there must be a systemic reform of training infrastructure to ensure there are enough planners in the long-term. 300 new town planners into the public sector by 2026 is not enough when there are over 350 local authorities, many of which are battling massive bottlenecks in planning approvals. More help must be directed towards planning departments, and soon. The government’s consultation on a five-year social housing rent settlement is positive news, but NFRC echoes calls to extend this to ten years. Effective planning and sustainable investment into social housing needs long-term commitments. While new avenues of work in educational and domestic construction are positive news for NFRC Members, the government must engage in a concerted effort to address the skills shortage crisis. Similarly to the planning system, nothing will be built without skilled tradespeople, who are rapidly retiring and not being replaced. The additional £300 million for further education, which includes £40 million to transform the Apprenticeship Levy, is a positive start but more will be needed. NFRC hopes Skills England will meaningfully follow through on intentions to work collaboratively with STEM employers and sector bodies to increase the number of new entrants. As we await more details on Skills England, NFRC is eager to ensure the nuances of each trade are considered. If not already attributed, the above can be attributed to an NFRC spokesperson. NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) is the UK’s largest trade association for the roofing industry with over 1200 Members, representing the entire roofing supply chain from contractors to merchants to manufacturers. If you have any questions please contact press@nfrc.co.uk or call 07714 387452. Please also get in touch if you would like commentary and reaction to other pertinent Budget 2024 matters, including infrastructure, housing, and education funding. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Façade specialist Alsecco has been named as a finalist in three categories at the INCA Awards 2024, which recognise excellence in the external wall insulation sector. The company has been shortlisted for its work on the landmark Manchester development Victoria House, Eastbourne Harbour’s The Boardwalk, and Sheffield regeneration project The Ironworks. Victoria House is in the running for ‘New Build: Residential – High Rise’, with Alsecco recognised alongside Complete Wall Solutions, with The Ironworks also shortlisted in the same category. The Boardwalk is a finalist in the ‘Refurbishment: High Rise’ category. All three projects are also nominated for the ‘Judges Choice: Architectural Design – High Rise’ award. Run by the Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA), the awards celebrate the highest standards in external wall insulation (EWI), with submissions across a variety of categories to highlight excellence in a range of building projects. For Victoria House, Alsecco supplied its Ecomin 400 cladding system with Meldorfer lightweight brick slips to provide external wall insulation and a brick-effect finish to support efficient construction. The colourful exterior on The Boardwalk saw the use of Alsecco’s Ecomin 300 external insulated render system, which met the unique challenges of a marine environment, with extra precautions taken onsite to minimise the risk of water pollution. The Ironworks project featured Alsecco’s Ecomin 400 clay brick slip system to create an aesthetic indistinguishable from a traditional brick skin that provided faster construction, reduced requirement for material storage space, and less complex construction processes. Dean Broughton, Managing Director of Alsecco, said: “The INCA Awards do a fantastic job of shining a spotlight on the excellent work that takes place in the external wall insulation and cladding industry, and we are delighted to have been shortlisted. “Alsecco is committed to working closely with stakeholders to ensure the highest standards as well as to support efficiency in the delivery of construction projects. The projects shortlisted for Alsecco are an excellent demonstration of this. “We’re proud to work closely with INCA and its members to drive innovation and best practices in external wall insulation and wish everyone the best of luck.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Commenting on the retail and leisure sectors, Steve Rodell, Managing Director – Retail & Liesure, said: “While, in today’s Budget, the Government committed to economic growth, it also committed to hikes in taxes for businesses around the country, including Capital Gains Tax and a rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions by a lower £5,000 threshold. There will also be an added burden to businesses from an increase in the National Minimum wage that will somehow need to be paid for. On the plus side, small employers will benefit from an increase in the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. The increase in the National Living Wage is likely, and NI will likely be passed to consumers in a higher process, but measures to increase household income will help retail and leisure consumer spending. The current 75% discount to business rates for retail and leisure businesses is due to expire in April of next year but will remain at a reduced 40% discount with a cap of £110K. It will be interesting to see how this may affect growth plans. It is good news that small business rate relief stays in place and that the multiplier for retail hospitality and leisure will be set at a lower rate from the 2026 revaluation. Fuel duty is frozen for another year and the Government will maintain the current 5p discount to help households. However, it has continued to emphasise the importance of investment in green infrastructure and technologies needed to achieve net zero, as we’ve seen with its introduction of the Vehicle Excise Duty. Car drivers who have been put off electric vehicles recently haven’t seen any incentives to turn their heads in this budget. In the retail and leisure sectors, many deals are moving forward regardless, but at the higher end of the deal value range, some stakeholders have been adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach but we should see these move forward now.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
