MAG (Manchester Airports Group) which owns and operates East Midlands Airport (EMA) is pleased to announce Prologis, the leading logistics property owner, developer and investor, as its partner to take forward the development of a new industrial logistics and advanced manufacturing park near EMA. The new park is a designated
Bouygues UK is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in the fourth phase of the Hallsville Quarter regeneration project in Canning Town, London. The project, part of the £3.7 billion Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Programme, recently held a topping out ceremony to mark reaching the highest point of
Specialist land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie, in partnership with Howkins & Harrison, has successfully brokered the sale of a 25-acre site in Bulkington, Warwickshire. Acting as joint agents on the sale, Howkins & Harrison represented the landowners, while Mather Jamie was instructed by Tarmac, the land promoter. The
OPEN NOW: Chicken Fans queued overnight at new East Kilbride drive-thru for the Chicken Sandwich that ‘broke the internet’ On Monday 27th January Popeyes® UK, the home of Famous Louisiana Chicken, opened the doors to its fourth greater Glasgow restaurant at Nerston, East Kilbride, with people queuing for 11 hours
WHSmith has confirmed it is considering strategic options for its high street business, including a potential sale, as the retailer sharpens its focus on its expanding global travel division. The company, which operates around 500 high street stores across the UK, has seen its travel arm grow significantly, now contributing
Finning UK & Ireland, the world’s largest dealer of Cat® power solutions, is supporting Mercia Power Response with over 100 reciprocating gas-powered generators that feed directly into the national grid, enabling the use of renewable electricity by covering fluctuations in its supply. The government’s Net Zero 2050 target is driving a
An award-winning property group is launching a new division to deliver much-needed investment in commercial property infrastructure across the country. The E5 Group says its new E5 Working division will strengthen its position as a pivotal economic developer in the UK and help overcome a chronic shortage of modern commercial
Redevco has named Tandem Property Asset Management as the property manager for its recently acquired portfolio of 16 retail parks. The £518 million acquisition, completed at the end of 2024, adds 2.1 million sq ft of retail space to Redevco’s growing UK holdings, with key locations including Bolton, Chelmsford, Ipswich,
New tool will help drive better social, environmental and economic outcomes for customers and local communities. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, is rolling out a new social value tool designed to help delivery teams consistently measure and improve social impact and outcomes across all of its projects. Costain delivers social
Paul Goossens, operations manager at SafeSite Facilities takes a look at what’s new in 2025 and picks out his top trends for the year ahead. A growing focus on delivering circularity Circularity is becoming a buzzword in the sustainability space and describes sustainable models that focus on re-use and the
MAG (Manchester Airports Group) which owns and operates East Midlands Airport (EMA) is pleased to announce Prologis, the leading logistics property owner, developer and investor, as its partner to take forward the development of a new industrial logistics and advanced manufacturing park near EMA. The new park is a designated East Midlands Freeport tax site which will stimulate economic growth, investment and employment in the region, helping to unlock $1.3bn (£1bn) of investment in and around the airport. It will contribute to a corridor of innovation around MAG’s airports across the North, Midlands and South East England in key growth-driving sectors including life sciences and advanced manufacturing. The development site, south of the airport, will offer operators the option of various tax and customs relief and simplified import / export procedures. A Sustainable Development Supporting Growth A planning application for the new park has been submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council, which, if approved, will bring up to 2,000 new jobs, £132m of economic growth per year (GVA) to the East Midlands, whilst contributing £9m of additional business rates. As part of the partnership, Prologis will also deliver a dedicated centre for logistics job training and education in Leicestershire. The centre will host the Prologis Warehousing and Logistics Training programme – providing local people with the skills and experiences needed to begin and progress their career in logistics. The new park will incorporate industry-leading standards of sustainability in its design, construction, and management. During construction, embodied carbon will be measured, reduced and mitigated aligned with the UKGBC net-zero carbon framework. In operation, the buildings at the park will have a net-zero regulated energy use in line with an EPC A+ rating. Unrivalled Connectivity & Air Cargo Operations EMA’s strategic central location, excellent motorway connectivity and unmatched operational capabilities position it as the UK’s number one airport for express freight. The airport is advancing plans to scale its cargo operations to meet rising demands, with Prologis research forecasting double-digit growth in air cargo volumes by 2025[1] and EMA’s predicted to grow by 54% to 2043[2]. EMA has already demonstrated how airports are catalysts of growth, with its unrivalled cargo operation attracting complementary investment across the East Midlands Freeport area and clusters of advanced manufacturers nearby. It connects key businesses in the region in the aeronautical, automotive, retail, pharmaceutical and logistics sectors to the world’s major cities. MAG is looking to work in partnership with Prologis to establish its three major airports as economic anchors within a growing corridor of innovation across the North, Midlands and South East England. This will stimulate key economic sectors identified in the Government’s Industrial Strategy such as life sciences and advanced manufacturing. Prologis has developed logistic parks at some of the world’s largest international airports including London, Amsterdam and New York. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “Economic growth is the number mission of our Plan for Change to raise living standards in every part of the country. “This investment in East Midlands Freeport is a clear demonstration of the UK’s strength as a hub for innovation, will create thousands of new jobs driving growth in the region and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in advanced manufacturing and logistics. Together we are kick starting our economy, driving growth and getting more money in people’s pockets.” EMA’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths said: “I’m delighted to announce Prologis as our global development partner and excited by the prospect of unlocking significant investments in East Midlands Freeport for the region. This is an exciting step forward for growth in and around the airport, as our unrivalled cargo operation continues to act as a catalyst for investment in our region and we look at ways to build on its success.” Paul Weston, Regional Head, Prologis UK said: “Our partnership with MAG aims to realise the full potential of this strategic hub for international logistics. “Our shared vision is to leverage the Freeport status and central location of EMA to create a high-impact gateway that drives economic growth, innovation and employment opportunities across the Midlands. By bringing our expertise in logistics developments to the table, we are confident that our partnership will unlock significant benefits for both the local community and the broader UK economy.” Tom Newman-Taylor, CEO of East Midlands Freeport said: “We welcome this announcement and Prologis’ commitment to East Midlands Freeport and this unique opportunity to drive transformative growth in the region. This is a positive first step in realising the full potential of the Freeport’s tax sites which, when fully developed, will be transformative for the East Midlands economy. Working collaboratively with all our partners we can realise our ambition of creating 20,000 jobs and unlocking billions of public and private investment into the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bouygues UK is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in the fourth phase of the Hallsville Quarter regeneration project in Canning Town, London. The project, part of the £3.7 billion Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Programme, recently held a topping out ceremony to mark reaching the highest point of the 11-storey development, well ahead of its expected completion in summer 2026. This phase of Hallsville Quarter, developed in a joint venture between Crosstree Real Estate Partners and Bouygues UK’s development arm, is set to become a vibrant home for London students. The purpose-built student accommodation, designed by PRP Architects with interiors by Holloway Li, will feature 375 state-of-the-art student rooms, modern amenities, a roof terrace, and a beautifully landscaped public realm. Bouygues UK, as the developer and main contractor, is committed to a low-carbon, sustainable approach, aiming for BREEAM Excellent certification, and is incorporating features such as fully pre-fabricated bathrooms and self-delivering the building’s concrete frame and internal finishes. Oliver Campbell, Managing Director of Bouygues UK’s development arm, said at the event, “We are proud to have reached this topping out milestone, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. This phase of the Hallsville Quarter regeneration represents a significant step forward in creating a dynamic and sustainable living environment for students. The location of this development, in the thriving new town centre in Canning Town, will offer students a vibrant area to live in with excellent links into the centre of London.” Phillippe Bernard, the newly appointed CEO of Bouygues UK, added, “It’s impressive to see how much has been achieved across the Hallsville Quarter regeneration project. This milestone not only represents significant progress but also highlights our commitment to creating sustainable and thriving communities.” The topping out ceremony marks a major achievement in the penultimate stage of the £600 million Hallsville Quarter Masterplan, which upon completion, will offer over 1,100 private and affordable homes, more than 30,000 square meters of leisure and retail space, and a new hotel. Conveniently located opposite Canning Town underground station, the development will also feature new public spaces, pedestrian links, cyclist provisions, and secure parking facilities. Bouygues UK and Morgan Sindall chair a Construction Working Group for the borough, meeting quarterly to discuss best practices on social value. Bouygues UK works closely with local schools on various initiatives such as CV writing workshops, mock interviews, and volunteering in the local community. The project is offering 10 weeks of work experience opportunities with local schools, two paid placements for UEL engineering master’s students, and provisions for 12 apprenticeships starting this year. Additional initiatives include a half-day course for 20 local people in collaboration with Newham Works. The topping out ceremony is a proud moment in the Hallsville Quarter project, symbolising progress and the promise of an exciting future for Canning Town’s urban landscape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Specialist land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie, in partnership with Howkins & Harrison, has successfully brokered the sale of a 25-acre site in Bulkington, Warwickshire. Acting as joint agents on the sale, Howkins & Harrison represented the landowners, while Mather Jamie was instructed by Tarmac, the land promoter. The development, located on Lancing Road, with access from Nuneaton Road and Bramcote Close has outline planning permission for 230 new homes and was acquired by leading residential developer Taylor Wimpey. Commenting on the sale on behalf of Mather Jamie, Associate Director, Karla Williams said “We’re thrilled to see this project take shape. Bulkington’s prime location near the M69 and M6 offers excellent transport links to Coventry and Leicester, making it a highly attractive option for future homeowners. Jeff Paybody from Howkins & Harrison added “Bulkington is a vibrant village with a community of over 6,000 residents and a range of established amenities. Adding quality housing here will not only enhance the local economy but also make the village an even more appealing destination for new homeowners.” A spokesperson from Taylor Wimpey said “We’re passionate about creating homes that meet real community needs. This project gives us the chance to provide essential housing in this part of Warwickshire. The Reserved Matters application has been submitted and we are looking forward to seeing our plans come to fruition.” Taylor Wimpey plc, one of the UK’s largest homebuilders, constructs over 15,000 high-quality homes across the country each year, committed to providing sustainable, community-focused developments. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
OPEN NOW: Chicken Fans queued overnight at new East Kilbride drive-thru for the Chicken Sandwich that ‘broke the internet’ On Monday 27th January Popeyes® UK, the home of Famous Louisiana Chicken, opened the doors to its fourth greater Glasgow restaurant at Nerston, East Kilbride, with people queuing for 11 hours to get hold of the Chicken Sandwich which ‘broke the internet’. Banishing any January blues, the restaurant officially opened at 11am on Monday 27th January, with people queuing overnight. Tobey Ladds was the first to arrive on foot, while Reiss Blackhall was the first in the drive-thru line, both eager to be the very first to try the legendary Chicken Sandwich. In true Popeyes® UK fashion, the brand brought its signature New Orleans energy and hospitality, treating chicken fans to hundreds of free Chicken Sandwiches and Popeyes® UK merchandise as well as keeping the crowds entertained with lively music. Having tried Popeyes® once before and loving it, Tobey Laddsarrived at 12am with hot water bottles in tow to keep him warm whilst he secured his spot, saying: “I love Popeyes and it was so worth waiting outside for this- I arrived here at 12am last night. I remember the last time I was at the Glasgow store; it was absolutely brilliant!” Tom Crowley, CEO at Popeyes® UK, said: “Opening the fourth restaurant in Greater Glasgow is a special moment for us. The response to our previous site openings in the west of Scotland, including the newly opened Braehead, have showed there’s a real appetite for the authentic Louisiana flavours we bring.” Now the sixth Popeyes® UK in Scotland, the East Kilbride drive-thru will serve the full Popeyes® menu. The line-up includes fan favourites like the iconic Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich, Wings, Tenders and Signature Chicken Wraps. Each piece of Popeyes® famous chicken is marinated for 12 hours in a signature blend of Louisiana herbs and spices, then hand-breaded and battered for that world-famous ‘shatter crunch,’ and complemented by delicious sides like its Southern Biscuits and Cajun Gravy. Popeyes® will also be serving up its breakfast menu from 8am to 11am. Packed with British breakfast classics with a New Orleans twist, the menu features the Big Cajun Roll, Cajun Hash Browns, and indulgent Nutella-topped buttermilk biscuits. The new restaurant will be located in Nerston, East Kilbride and will bring over 80 new jobs to the local area. To find out more about Popeyes® UK East Kilbride, visit the website https://popeyesuk.com/restaurants/east-kilbride or follow the brand on Instagram at @PopeyesUK or TikTok at @popeyesuk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
WHSmith has confirmed it is considering strategic options for its high street business, including a potential sale, as the retailer sharpens its focus on its expanding global travel division. The company, which operates around 500 high street stores across the UK, has seen its travel arm grow significantly, now contributing 85% of its trading profit. In contrast, its high street stores remain centred around books, stationery, and greeting cards. Reports suggest that WHSmith has engaged investment bankers at Greenhill to oversee the sales process, with discussions already underway with potential buyers. A deal could be finalised in the coming months. Last year, WHSmith’s high street business generated an operating profit of £32 million, though the company has been restructuring its portfolio, recently announcing the closure of 17 stores. While a sale is under consideration, WHSmith has stated that no final decision has been made, and further updates will be provided in due course. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Finning UK & Ireland, the world’s largest dealer of Cat® power solutions, is supporting Mercia Power Response with over 100 reciprocating gas-powered generators that feed directly into the national grid, enabling the use of renewable electricity by covering fluctuations in its supply. The government’s Net Zero 2050 target is driving a transition to renewable sources like wind and solar power, but the intermittent nature of renewables creates challenges in ensuring a consistent, reliable supply of electricity. This means that flexible, on-demand energy is essential to the energy transition, and one company delivering these flexible power services is Mercia Power Response. It currently owns or operates 275MW on 42 sites, operating gas-fuel generators and battery storage facilities to ensure continuous power supply to local communities. Daniel Newman-Smith, Customer Account Manager, at Finning UK & Ireland describes the problem Mercia exists to solve: “Mercia is helping to ensure that the UK can move to lower carbon power infrastructure, and that we all still have power when the sun isn’t shining, and the wind isn’t blowing. They need generators that can be called upon as needs change, feeding the required power directly into the local grid and avoiding the need for long warm-up and cool-down times that more traditional methods of balancing the grid require.” The Mercia Power Response electricity generation facility at Mitchells Industrial Park in Barnsley has the capacity to respond quickly to prevent a ‘lights out’ scenario. Following a longstanding relationship which spans over five years, Finning has supplied over 100 generators to the various sites owned by Mercia Power and provides a long-term repair and maintenance package to offer complete peace of mind. Graham White, Managing Director at Mercia Power Response, explains why the Cat generators were chosen and how Finning tailored the solution for the site’s particular needs: “The Cat CG170 range of generators have the reliability, quick response and operational flexibility we needed, and the team at Finning was flexible and adaptable to suit our needs. They adjusted the standard Cat product to run more effectively by reducing the system’s operating power loads, and still maintaining the systems electrical efficiency. “The system can get up to full power in just a couple of minutes, in response to surges in demand or drop-offs in power coming from other sources. This flexible response is essential in managing the transition to a greener grid and it is important that these generators can also run on low carbon alternative fuels including biogas and hydrogen blends.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An award-winning property group is launching a new division to deliver much-needed investment in commercial property infrastructure across the country. The E5 Group says its new E5 Working division will strengthen its position as a pivotal economic developer in the UK and help overcome a chronic shortage of modern commercial space. E5 President Kevin Stevens – who previously built the Lear Group into one of the UK’s largest privately-held industrial landlords with a portfolio of nearly 1,000 units before selling the business in 2012 – said E5 Working would focus on delivering high-quality spaces and SME growth. “There is a huge shortfall of suitable modern commercial accommodation right across this country because of an ongoing lack of investment and our dysfunctional planning system. “There is a particular shortage of smaller units suitable for SMEs which is preventing the growth and innovation we need to drive forward our economy. “My background in commercial property – I started my own surveying practice at 23 – has given me valuable insight into the importance of having the right commercial properties in the right locations to support business growth and community development.” E5 Working is launching with two new developments – one at Banbury in Oxfordshire and the other close to Junction 12 of the M5 in the southwest of the country. Banbury will offer ten modern 1,000 sq ft units suitable for a range of small businesses, while the 289,000sq ft M5 development will include four to five units ranging in size from 40,000 sq ft to 130,000 sq ft, designed to cater for operational needs such as logistics and manufacturing. Both sites will feature energy efficient designs and achieve EPC A ratings. Kevin said: “Our first two sites reflect E5’s strategic emphasis on regional economic development, creating environments that cater specifically to the evolving needs of SMEs, thus driving local business viability and economic strength. “They are in fantastic locations, offer adaptability and flexibility, and will deliver the modern, future-proofed accommodation which has been in such short supply for too long. “Commercial property needs are changing and the rise of internet shopping in the last 20 years has resulted in significant demand for logistics units located in the right place – such as the M5 which has great transport links. “E5 Working is a natural, strategic development for the E5 group adding to E5 Living. There are further plans for the public sector with E5 Care and E5 Minerals, all of which are planned for the future.” E5 won Best Property in the World at the 2022 International Property Awards with a stunning one-off villa in Majorca and is behind new high-quality residential developments in Grimsby and Lincolnshire. To find out more about E5 Working visit e5-holding.com/working.php Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Redevco has named Tandem Property Asset Management as the property manager for its recently acquired portfolio of 16 retail parks. The £518 million acquisition, completed at the end of 2024, adds 2.1 million sq ft of retail space to Redevco’s growing UK holdings, with key locations including Bolton, Chelmsford, Ipswich, Colchester, and Manchester. Tandem will oversee strategic property management and service charge administration while supporting Redevco’s long-term investment and sustainability objectives. Julia Pumphrey, Partner at Tandem Property Asset Management, commented:“We are excited to collaborate with Redevco’s dynamic team and apply our in-depth knowledge of these assets to develop a tailored property and asset management strategy.” Janet Bishopp, Property Manager at Redevco UK, added:“We look forward to working closely with Tandem and leveraging their expertise to help us achieve our investment goals.” This partnership marks an important step in Redevco’s ongoing commitment to enhancing and optimising its retail park portfolio across the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New tool will help drive better social, environmental and economic outcomes for customers and local communities. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, is rolling out a new social value tool designed to help delivery teams consistently measure and improve social impact and outcomes across all of its projects. Costain delivers social value across a range of activities including community engagement, volunteering, skills and knowledge sharing, and STEM advocacy. The tool, which has been successfully piloted on some of Costain’s projects in the water sector, offers the unique feature of standardising data-driven evidence of the positive societal and environmental impacts achieved during a project’s lifecycle. The collected data is then analysed and converted into social, environmental and economic valuations, aligning with the UK Government’s Social Value Model. In addition, the tool can report against bespoke frameworks when required by customers, making it possible to benchmark performance and outcomes against similar infrastructure schemes. It also has built-in forecasting capabilities which allow Costain to predict how much social value a project will deliver before it begins, in turn helping to improve the accuracy of target-setting and providing a better understanding of a project’s expected outcomes. Following its successful trial in Costain’s water sector, the tool will be implemented across all Costain’s sectors including road, rail, integrated transport, energy, and defence and nuclear energy. Catherine Warbrick, chief people and sustainability officer at Costain, commented: “We’re investing in the tools and technology that will help us improve people’s lives, both through the services we provide and in the way we operate. More accurately recording our social, economic and environmental outcomes will give us a better understanding of the impact we’re making, and ensure a positive, lasting legacy for the communities we serve.” Costain’s investment in the new tool comes after the company, celebrating its 160th anniversary in 2025, announced that it was donating a record number of volunteering days to improve people’s lives through better employment prospects and supporting community projects across the UK. Last year, Costain announced its Social Value Plan, which aims to improve the lives of one million people by 2030 through activities such as volunteering and community efforts. Recent social value initiatives have included: Commenting on the partnership with DDP and Costain, Paul Rowe, project manager, The Phoenix Youth Project, said: “Youth work has the power to improve people’s lives and promote positive outcomes for young people, but charities like ours rely on the support of organisations such as Costain to ensure we provide services that make a tangible difference. “Costain has been a supporter of our charity for several years and has enabled us to deliver youth work services to hundreds of young people each year. Both the Frizington and Egremont youth centres have been transformed from buildings that were unfit for use into modern, vibrant centres that the local community is hugely proud of.” Julie Francis, head of people and customer at CMDP, which has been trialling Costain’s social value tool, said: “At CMDP, we place a strong emphasis on social value and recognise the profound benefits of utilising technology and tools that benefit local communities and help our supply chain as we deliver crucial updates for Southern Water. With Costain’s social value tool, we are able to accurately capture key information and measure the impact of how our initiatives are improving people’s lives and helping the planet. The tool also empowers our supply chain partners, ensuring that we continue to work together to drive positive change and create lasting value.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Paul Goossens, operations manager at SafeSite Facilities takes a look at what’s new in 2025 and picks out his top trends for the year ahead. A growing focus on delivering circularity Circularity is becoming a buzzword in the sustainability space and describes sustainable models that focus on re-use and the elimination of waste. For construction businesses and construction sites, the use of products and equipment in the supply chain can be a significant part of their carbon footprint. Extending the lifecycle of products is particularly relevant to construction sites, because when a job is complete the temptation is to simply send unwanted products to landfill. Many sites are now thinking harder about how to re-use those products instead, whether that’s barriers, safety fencing or electronic equipment. Businesses should look out for suppliers which offer an option to hire rather than buy, which reduces Scope 3 emissions associated with manufacturing the product. A good example might be CCTV equipment which is no longer required once the construction project is completed. Another solution is to work with suppliers that offer a buy-back service. Equipment that is bought back is either re-sold, sent to scrap metal experts who can re-use it – or to manufacturers who can melt down the material and use it in the production process. All these methods encourage circularity. Products that are recyclable, or made from recycled material, can also create a circular economy. Working with other businesses that have ISO 14001 certification A growing interest in sustainability and the measurement of carbon in the supply chain is driving changes in procurement. Scope 3 emissions are an important part of any Net Zero plan, and constructors are increasingly asking many more questions about the emissions of businesses they partner with. The first benchmark to look out for is ISO 14001 certification, a global standard created by the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO). The rise of high-tech CCTV solutions There is an increased risk environment for construction sites in 2025 and CCTV is coming to the rescue. Whether the risks are due to increased crime, the threat of community protests, vandalism or extreme weather, CCTV technology is moving fast to help construction sites keep people safe – and to prevent crime. The need for CCTV is clear. Crime tends to rise in an economic downturn, whilst changes to planning laws, encouraging developers to build on green and grey belt land, may lead to community tension in some areas. An estimated 26% (409,000) of all business premises, in England and Wales, were a victim of crime last year, according to figures from the Home Office released in September 2024. The most prevalent offence type experienced was theft (14%), followed by burglary including attempts (8%) and vandalism (8%). In addition, winter storms and summer heat provide health and safety issues on site. New CCTV systems can monitor sites for criminality or trespass (which is often children looking for adventure and failing to understand the risks). But they can also help spot health and safety threats such as fallen fences and loose roof tiles. Highly visible CCTV towers can also provide lighting and built-in alarms – which means they act as a deterrent. New-generationCCTV allows for remote monitoring and 360-degree coverage, as well as a response protocol for service providers and keyholders. In addition, AI technology is enabling CCTV to tell the difference between animals and humans, which means fewer false alarms and fewer callouts, whilst systems are now more effective in the dark than they have ever been, providing clear pictures at night. Supporting and protecting wildlife on a construction site As the government looks to make it easier for constructors to build on green belt land, the issue of how to protect wildlife on site is likely to become a hot topic. A range of specially designed barriers for protected species are available on the market that keep wildlife safe on site, whether that is great crested newts, amphibians or even snakes. For further information please visit: https://www.safesitefacilities.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
