Salford City Council have approved plans for a £250m data centre at Peel Waters’ Halo West site, in Salford, Greater Manchester. Peel Waters had previously secured planning permission to redevelop the six-acre industrial site in July 2024, since the planning was granted, they have worked jointly with Digital Land &
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has announced that it is proud to support the government’s reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport in spring 2026 and the exciting tie up with Munich Airport International GmbH (MAI) as part of the £1.7bn South Yorkshire Airport City initiative to boost the
Leading greeting card and gift retailer Cards Direct has announced ambitious expansion plans for 2025, aiming to open more than 20 new stores across the UK. Currently operating over 80 locations, the retailer is actively seeking prime and high-footfall secondary retail spaces, including shopping centres and high streets. Ideal units
The foundations for Britain’s newest high-speed railway station have been completed at Old Oak Common in London, marking a significant step forward for the HS2 project. The 850-metre-long underground station base, which will house six platforms for high-speed trains, has been constructed using 76,000 cubic metres of concrete and 17,000
The London Borough of Redbridge has received a much-needed boost in social housing with the completion of the first 23 of 98 new affordable homes at Barkingside Yard. The remaining homes are set to be delivered by summer, helping to address the capital’s housing crisis. Developed by Peabody in partnership
Today, NBS (powered by Hubexo), a leading specification and product platform for the construction industry, has announced plans to strengthen ties with the product certification division of BSI, a global organisation defining and certifying standards for quality, safety, and efficiency. Both companies are synonymous with excellence in the construction industry. BSI,
Two units of 76,231 and 145,454 sq ft. were developed speculatively within the Stourton Industrial area approximately 3 miles southeast of Leeds City Centre. Glencar, a leading UK based construction company known for delivering high quality projects across various sectors, most notably in Logistics & Industrial, Life Sciences, Data Centres,
Biodiverse Consulting, a leading environmental consultancy, has announced the launch of its new ‘Biodiverse Brokering’ service. The offering connects developers with trusted landowners, helping them meet the biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements mandated by recent legislation. The introduction of the Biodiversity Regulations has left many developers facing the complex challenge
Great Portland Estates (GPE) has appointed William Eccleshare as a non-executive director and chair designate, effective from 1st May. He will take over from Richard Mully, who steps down after more than eight years of service. Extensive Leadership Experience Eccleshare brings a wealth of leadership experience in both executive and
Digital construction experts at Leeds Beckett University (LBU) are teaming up with Leeds-based ARC Building Solutions to create an innovative new ‘digital golden thread’ to proactively address key recommendations for the construction sector – following the Grenfell tragedy – to ensure that fire prevention products are correctly installed by sub-contractors
Salford City Council have approved plans for a £250m data centre at Peel Waters’ Halo West site, in Salford, Greater Manchester. Peel Waters had previously secured planning permission to redevelop the six-acre industrial site in July 2024, since the planning was granted, they have worked jointly with Digital Land & Development on the planning for the much-needed data centre. The site of the approved data centre is located between Eccles and Irlam, off Liverpool Road, just north of Salford Community Stadium and will directly address the digital infrastructure needs of the UK, making the development ‘critical’ for the country’s future. For the UK to maintain its position as a global leader in technology, the country is now in need of significant levels of new data centre capacity. The buildings have been designated as ‘critical national infrastructure’ by the UK government – the same status given to energy and water systems. Data increasingly underpins every element of modern life as the world undergoes a digital transformation. Data centres work as a physical storage space for online information, used for websites, applications, and digital services. The data centre at Halo West will generate the power to support this as well as being a huge boost for technology in the city. The approved data centre feature 12,000 sq. ft of offices, a 56,000 sq. ft data hall, and 63,500 sq. ft of plant. The streetscape views will also be improved for passersby whilst also helping screen the development from adjacent properties, with a significant green buffer being created with new planting along the boundary as well as creating new habitats for wildlife across the site and improving local biodiversity. The data centre development will ensure it is fit for a low carbon future with the use of sustainable materials, application of energy efficient and circular design principles. Reduced water consumption and sustainable drainage as well as the potential to include heat reclaim and export for future district heating have all been designed into the approved scheme. Prioritising sustainable and active means of travel have also been included, with the provision of secure sheltered cycle parking spaces exceeding Local Authority Standards. The £250m investment from Digital Land & Development will act as a significant catalyst within ‘City Gateway’ which includes Port Salford and the Salford Community Stadium and is an area which both Peel Waters and the council have earmarked for further significant regeneration. Peter Linstead, Development Director for Land and Logistics at Peel Waters said: “We’re really pleased that Salford City Council have recognised the need for this development at our Halo West site. Receiving unanimous approval from the planning committee demonstrates clear alignment between the public and private sector to bring forward innovative growth opportunities and deliver much-needed technological infrastructure within the region. We look forward to now the delivery of this development and the significant investment it will bring with it to the area.” Johnny Conway Director at Digital Land & Development added: “Digital Land & Development are excited to be bringing the site forward for a next generation data centre as one of a number of projects across the UK, which given the increasing pace of data processing is driving the necessary requirement for the data centre facilities that house and support this need. We would like to thank Salford City Council for approving this development which will be crucial for the UK to maintain its position as a global leader in technology.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has announced that it is proud to support the government’s reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport in spring 2026 and the exciting tie up with Munich Airport International GmbH (MAI) as part of the £1.7bn South Yorkshire Airport City initiative to boost the region’s logistics and supply chain infrastructure. Panattoni Doncaster 420, located on an 18.4-acre site adjacent to the airport, is now immediately available, offering 418,276 sq ft of grade A industrial and logistics space in one of the UK’s most established distribution locations. The site is the largest single-unit speculative build in South Yorkshire, and its immediate proximity to the airport, the M1, M18, and A1[M], as well as the iPort rail freight terminal, means it is perfectly positioned to enhance connectivity and drive economic growth in the region, providing unrivalled access to global consumer and industrial markets. The facility offers a great opportunity for cargo operators to base themselves next to the airport, which will allow them to have faster delivery times, reduce operational costs and work more efficiently. Dan Burn, Head of Development, North West and Yorkshire at Panattoni, said: “The reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport will provide significant opportunities for businesses across Yorkshire and the wider region to expand their operations and access global markets. “Our adjacent development, Panattoni Doncaster 420 demonstrate our commitment to the region and freight operators a great base with immediate occupation.” Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, said: “Reopening our airport is my number one priority and today’s announcement is an important day for Doncaster having reached another significant milestone. This major announcement that I am making today enables us to press ahead with the necessary airport mobilisation activity to see the airport – which I proudly call the people’s airport – to reopen in Spring 2026.” Panattoni leasing agents on the scheme are CPP, Colliers and Cushman & Wakefield. For more information please visit Panattoni Doncaster 420. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading greeting card and gift retailer Cards Direct has announced ambitious expansion plans for 2025, aiming to open more than 20 new stores across the UK. Currently operating over 80 locations, the retailer is actively seeking prime and high-footfall secondary retail spaces, including shopping centres and high streets. Ideal units will range between 1,200 sq ft and 2,000 sq ft, with a minimum frontage of 18 ft. Following a successful year in 2024—when the company launched 21 new stores—Cards Direct already boasts a presence in major retail destinations such as The Centre in Milton Keynes, Queensgate in Peterborough, and Cabot Circus in Bristol. Target Locations for Expansion The retailer has identified key towns and cities for its next wave of openings, including: Barnsley, Bolton, Bournemouth, Bracknell, Bradford, Brighton, Bromley, Burnley, Bury, Camberley, Cardiff, Epsom, Huddersfield, Kingston, Lincoln, Liverpool, Maidstone, Norwich, Nottingham, Oldham, Oxford, Preston, Reading, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent, Swansea, Uxbridge, Warrington, Watford, Wood Green, Worcester. AS Retail has been appointed to spearhead the search for suitable units as Cards Direct continues its strategic expansion. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The foundations for Britain’s newest high-speed railway station have been completed at Old Oak Common in London, marking a significant step forward for the HS2 project. The 850-metre-long underground station base, which will house six platforms for high-speed trains, has been constructed using 76,000 cubic metres of concrete and 17,000 tonnes of reinforced steel. The base slab covers 45,000 square metres – equivalent to more than six football pitches – and reaches nearly two metres thick at its deepest point. Construction began in April 2023 and required 91 separate concrete pours to complete. The station is being built by Balfour Beatty Vinci SYSTRA joint venture (BBVS). At peak construction, the base slab works employed up to 50 steel fixers and 20 joiners, supported by a team of engineers. The completion of the base slab represents an important milestone in creating this major new transport superhub for London and the UK. When complete, the station will be one of the best connected in the UK, with the six underground platforms allowing high-speed services to reach central London in one direction and the West Midlands in the other, with services running further north via the existing railway. Additionally, eight surface-level platforms are being constructed to provide an interchange to the Great Western Railway, Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express. HS2’s Project Client for Old Oak Common, Peter Gow, said: “Completing the base slab of the underground station box is a key milestone in building HS2’s new super hub station in West London. This is the final stage in completing the foundations for the high-speed station, and will be where HS2 tracks are laid, platforms are constructed and the station building and roof and built above. “At Old Oak Common we are making significant progress in building this state of the art, environmentally friendly, transport hub which will be a key part of the HS2 route.” The excavation of the box was completed in the summer of 2024 with sub-contractor Expanded removing 1.3 million tonnes of London clay. To create the base slab, the team installed blinding, layers of shingle for drainage before a matt could be laid on top. Then a 1.85 metre high reinforcement layer was installed– with the team fixing the steel by hand. Finally, concrete was poured to compete the slab, competing the foundations for the high-speed station area of Old Oak Common. London Concrete, part of the Holcim Group, has supplied the concrete used to complete the base slab from a dedicated batching plant on site. Over 90% of the concrete used for the base slab was manufactured on site, reducing lorry movements and CO2 emissions. In addition, low carbon ECOPact concrete has been used, contributing to the drive to reduce carbon used in construction. Measures such as this, as well as the innovative design, have contributed to the station being recognised as BREAAM outstanding, putting it in the top 1% of environmentally friendly buildings in the UK. Steve O’Sullivan, Project Director for Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA, joint venture said: “With the completion of the base slab, we have achieved another significant milestone at Old Oak Common. In less than two years, we have carried out 91 concrete pours of between 600m3 and 1 000m3 each. Logistically, this has been a huge undertaking, requiring detailed planning and collaboration between HS2, Balfour Beatty VINCI SYSTRA and our supply chain partners. “This latest step will enable us to progress to the next phase of works, with construction of the high-speed platforms already underway”. Work is now underway on the six HS2 service platform with wall frameworks being installed ready for concrete pouring. The high-speed platform slabs are currently being manufactured by Explore in Worksop and installation will begin this spring. The team are also working above the base slab to construct the ground floor level of the station before the superstructure can be built, creating the vibrant station environment. Tunnelling work to connect the station to the HS2 network is being done by HS2’s London tunnels contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG JV. In the eastern section of the box, the team are preparing to launch two giant tunnelling machines towards Euston. In the western side of the box, the team will excavate the tunnel using the sprayed concrete lining method. Old Oak Common station in West London is being built on land previously used for railways depots. The site sits between the Elizabeth Line depot and Great Western Mainline which is being realigned so Elizabeth Line, Great Western Mainline and Heathrow Express trains can call at the station providing unrivalled connectivity. As Britain celebrates 200 years of the Great British railways this year, the progress at Old Oak Common is important part of Britain’s railway future. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The London Borough of Redbridge has received a much-needed boost in social housing with the completion of the first 23 of 98 new affordable homes at Barkingside Yard. The remaining homes are set to be delivered by summer, helping to address the capital’s housing crisis. Developed by Peabody in partnership with Vistry Group and Places for London (Transport for London’s commercial property company), this regeneration project has transformed a former builder’s yard into high-quality, 100% social rent housing. These homes will provide secure, affordable accommodation for those on the council’s waiting list. High-Quality Homes in a Prime Location The development offers a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes, including: Designed by architects Sheppard Robson and ECE Architecture, Barkingside Yard is more than just a housing development—it also improves local infrastructure. Enhancements include new pedestrian crossings, solar lighting, upgraded cycle parking, and reconfigured station car parking to improve accessibility and safety. Sustainability at the Core Barkingside Yard prioritises sustainability with: As part of the planning agreement with Redbridge Council, the development will also contribute to improvements at Fairlop Waters Country Park. Key Stakeholders Celebrate Progress To mark the completion of the first phase, representatives from Peabody, Vistry Group, Places for London, the Greater London Authority (GLA), Redbridge Council, and Turner & Townsend Project Management gathered at Barkingside Yard on 30 January. James McMylor, Regional Managing Director of Development at Peabody, said:“These new homes provide essential affordable housing while also enhancing the local community with sustainable and green spaces. We look forward to welcoming residents later this year and seeing the positive impact of this development.” Rachel Wood, Senior Development Manager at Places for London, added:“We’re proud to bring much-needed affordable homes to Barkingside while prioritising accessibility and sustainability. This project is a step forward in creating well-connected, thriving city communities.” Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing & Residential Development, commented:“This development, supported by the Mayor’s Affordable Homes Programme, delivers vital social housing alongside improved public spaces, solar lighting, and enhanced cycle parking—building a fairer, greener London for all.” With all 98 homes set for completion by summer, Barkingside Yard is a shining example of collaborative urban regeneration, providing quality housing while enriching the local community. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Today, NBS (powered by Hubexo), a leading specification and product platform for the construction industry, has announced plans to strengthen ties with the product certification division of BSI, a global organisation defining and certifying standards for quality, safety, and efficiency. Both companies are synonymous with excellence in the construction industry. BSI, the business standards and improvement company, provides guidelines and frameworks that organisations and professionals in the construction sector can follow to meet industry requirements and regulatory obligations. BSI is also recognised for the Kitemark in the construction sector, a quality mark that indicates that a product, service, or system has been rigorously tested and meets a certain standard of quality or performance. NBS (powered by Hubexo), is a firm driving industry compliance through the adoption of digital processes and trusted data. Building on its collaborative history, NBS users will be given deeper guidance on BSI-accredited products, in a move that will further expand the platform’s compliance offering. Specifiers and construction professionals will also gain further assistance in the decision-making process, with NBS providing consistent third-party assessment details at the point of specification. Dr Stephen Hamil, Innovation Director at Hubexo, said: “Our mission is to use the power of connected data to add value and enable a safe, efficient, high-quality construction sector. We’re always looking to improve the level of information supplied to end-users so that specifiers can be confident in the integrity of crucial product data. “Expanding our partnership with BSI gives specifiers easier access to reliable, verified product data, boosting confidence in their design decisions. Greater collaboration is key to improving standards and compliance. By strengthening our partnership with BSI, we’re enhancing our service to our customers, giving them the tools they need to make the best choices possible.” Rob Hine, Global Head of Market Engagement, BSI Product Certification said: “Enhancing safety, efficiency and quality in the construction sector can help strengthen the sector, improve the lives of those working in it, and ultimately ensure buildings being developed meet society’s needs. “BSI is committed to supporting the construction industry in this way, and we recognise that our impact can be much greater if we work collaboratively with the entire construction market. That’s why we are delighted to partner with NBS, which is driving quality and helping clients mitigate risk throughout the entire construction supply chain.” Further collaboration between the two industry powerhouses will also help reduce the risk of misspecification, delivering clearer, unambiguous product information to the fingertips of architects and designers working on construction projects. New functionality in NBS Source helps specifiers easily identify and select those products and systems that are BSI-certified. Darryl Holloway, Architectural Sales Manager (UK) at manufacturer Q-railing said: “Increasingly we’ve seen specifiers request third-party assessment of the product information and marketing associated with our products. The BSI Kitemark is a mark of trust, and. crucially, having this integrated into specification information via NBS Source makes it even easier for specifiers to find our assessed systems and products and specify them with greater confidence.” To find out more about BSI on NBS Source, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Two units of 76,231 and 145,454 sq ft. were developed speculatively within the Stourton Industrial area approximately 3 miles southeast of Leeds City Centre. Glencar, a leading UK based construction company known for delivering high quality projects across various sectors, most notably in Logistics & Industrial, Life Sciences, Data Centres, Commercial, Film Studios & Leisure, Ports and Civils, has today announced that is has completed construction of two prime industrial & logistics units of 76,231 and 145,454 sq ft. for Baytree, a leading pan-European developer of logistics buildings. The units, completed in 58 weeks, boast an enhanced specification and are built to BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, EPC A, and WELL Ready standards. Unit 1, at 76,231 sq ft. benefits from 12.5M clear internal height, 8 dock level loading doors, 2 level access loading doors, 500 KVA power supply, 10 cycle spaces, 92 car parking spaces, 50 KN floor loading together with 8,105 SF of office accommodation. Unit 3, at 145,454 sq ft. benefits from 15M clear internal height, 15 dock level loading doors, 3 level access loading doors, 37 HGV parking spaces, 20 cycle spaces, 171 car parking spaces, 50KN floor loading, 800 KVA power supply together with 9,698 SF of office accommodation. Both units incorporate a range of advanced technology, ESG, and user health and wellbeing features, including: Designed with flexibility for future change Technology Enabled Health & Wellbeing of building users Clean Air, Water, Soil and Energy Speaking about the development Glencar Managing Director Midlands and North Peter Goodman said: “Baytree Leeds serves as an exemplar Industrial & Logistics development designed to be at the very leading edge of technology, ESG and User Health and Wellbeing enabled features with building usage and user requirements firmly in mind. As the third development we have delivered to date for Baytree we are proud to be a trusted delivery partner and to now include this cutting edge, technology driven sustainable development into our ever expanding I&L project portfolio. Once again I would like to take my hat off to the exceptional team and partners that worked on this project and we look forward to working with Baytree again very soon” Also Commenting Glencar Director of ESG James Scott said: “It has been an honour to contribute to the design and development of Phase 1 of this scheme and to deliver two of the first BREEAM Outstanding warehouses built speculatively in Leeds. It’s also fantastic to see the ‘Baytree Edge – Innovation at work’ concept once again in evidence and the rich array of technology enabled efficiencies, flexibility by design, health and wellbeing and clear air, water, soil and energy features. As leaders in this space, Baytree allows us all to get ahead of regulation and future proof our customers businesses”. Also commenting Casey Ferguson, development manager at Baytree, said “We are proud to announce the practical completion of phase 1 at Baytree Leeds, our latest best-in-class logistics scheme. This development marks a significant milestone as the first BREEAM Outstanding speculative development in the north of England, setting a new benchmark in ESG for the region. The scheme also provides some much-needed speculative development in a prime Leeds location just 1 mile from both the M1 and M621 junctions. Given the location and leading-edge specification, we are confident this will attract a lot of interest from our customers.” Baytree Leeds has a strategic significance due to its proximity to Junction 7 of the M621 motorway, located immediately to the north-west which links into the M62 for destinations north and west, and to the M1 motorway heading south. The A639 trunk road provides a link through to Junction 44 of the M1 motorway approximately half a mile to the east. The M1 motorway (north) provides links through to North Yorkshire and the North East of England. Major occupiers close by include Royal Rail, Sheffield Insulation Group, Tuffnells Express Parcels, ARLA Foods, CEMEX, Kloeckner Metals, Steaper Group and First Direct. The Leeds Rail Freight Terminal lies immediately to the north of the site and a purpose-built Royal Mail depot is immediately to the east. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Biodiverse Consulting, a leading environmental consultancy, has announced the launch of its new ‘Biodiverse Brokering’ service. The offering connects developers with trusted landowners, helping them meet the biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements mandated by recent legislation. The introduction of the Biodiversity Regulations has left many developers facing the complex challenge of securing suitable land to compensate for on-site biodiversity loss. Biodiverse Brokering is designed to ease this burden, ensuring developers can fulfil their obligations by connecting them with reputable landowners who offer off-site units for BNG projects. Founder and managing director at Biodiverse Consulting, Vicki Mordue, explains: “Navigating the new BNG regulations can be time-consuming and complicated for developers. “Our service simplifies this process by matchmaking developers with landowners, ensuring both parties achieve their goals without unnecessary complications. We aim to ensure developers meet their environmental responsibilities while maintaining project timelines and budgets.” Biodiverse Brokering is a discreet process for both developers and landowners, ensuring compliance with BNG requirements while fostering long-term relationships that support nature’s recovery. For more information about Biodiverse Brokering and how it can benefit developers, please visit: https://www.biodiverseconsulting.co.uk/biodiverse-brokering Founded in 2019, Biodiverse Consulting is a leading environmental consultancy with a strong track record of delivering innovative solutions to meet the needs of developers, businesses, and landowners. Clients include Barratt Homes, National Highways, Pegasus, and international retailers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Great Portland Estates (GPE) has appointed William Eccleshare as a non-executive director and chair designate, effective from 1st May. He will take over from Richard Mully, who steps down after more than eight years of service. Extensive Leadership Experience Eccleshare brings a wealth of leadership experience in both executive and non-executive roles. He currently serves as a non-executive director and senior independent director at Centaur Media, as well as Chairman of Team ITG, a digital media company. Additionally, he chairs the Design Council, a Royal Charter charity and the UK government’s strategic advisor on design. His previous non-executive roles include serving as senior independent director at Britvic, deputy chair of Clear Media Limited, and a board member at Hays. In the executive sphere, he spent 13 years at Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, where he was chief executive from 2012 to 2021, leading the company’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2019. His career also includes senior leadership roles at BBDO Europe, Young & Rubicam EMEA, McKinsey & Co, WPP, and Interpublic Group. Looking Ahead Outgoing chair Richard Mully expressed confidence in his successor, stating: “I am delighted that William has been selected to succeed me as chair. His extensive experience in marketing, business transformation, and growth will be invaluable to GPE’s board. I know he will provide strong leadership and support to Toby Courtauld and our management team. It has been an honour to serve on the board for over eight years, and I look forward to working closely with William to ensure a smooth transition.” Eccleshare added: “I am excited to be joining the GPE Board as its future chair. With GPE’s strong market position and high-quality portfolio, I look forward to leading the board and working with the management team to drive the company’s strategy and capitalise on new opportunities. I am also grateful for Richard’s guidance during the transition period.” With Eccleshare’s appointment, GPE is set to continue its trajectory of growth and innovation, leveraging his expertise to strengthen its strategic direction in the years ahead. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Digital construction experts at Leeds Beckett University (LBU) are teaming up with Leeds-based ARC Building Solutions to create an innovative new ‘digital golden thread’ to proactively address key recommendations for the construction sector – following the Grenfell tragedy – to ensure that fire prevention products are correctly installed by sub-contractors and developers on building sites. The project is a 33-month Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded by UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) through Innovate UK. LBU experts will support ARC in creating the bespoke quality and installation monitoring product – which will use AI predictive models and data monitoring to ensure the highest quality of building product installation and automate the identification of incorrect or faulty installations. ARC is the UK’s leading manufacturer of cavity fire barriers and cavity closers, supplying many of the UK’s leading contractors and developers who install their products within housing developments. The KTP is led by Saheed Ajayi, Professor of Digital Construction and Project Management in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing at LBU. Professor Ajayi said: “Using the unique expertise of our Construction Informatics and Digital Enterprise Laboratory (CIDEL) at LBU, we will support ARC in creating the ARC Remote Quality Monitoring (ARQM), which will provide an interactive two-way feedback loop and build a database of key information about building products and installation. This KTP supports a significant step towards addressing the need in the construction sector for a digital golden thread, whilst enabling ARC to position themselves ahead in the sector.” George Danzey-Smith, Director of Commercial and Technical at ARC, said: “We have identified that monitoring installation with certifiable compliance is likely to become a ‘must’ in the construction sector. Building the ARQM supports our strategic ambition to be the first in our sector to proactively address and meet key recommendations within the Hackitt Report – the independent review of building regulations, particularly their impact on fire safety following the Grenfell tragedy. The innovative new solution will support our ambition to achieve more regulated assurance that our fire prevention products are correctly installed by sub-contractors and developers.” The Hackitt Report includes recommendations that “A ‘golden thread’ of information is needed where accurate records are initiated during design and construction… to demonstrate building safety”. The project is the second KTP between LBU and ARC. In the first project, completed last December, LBU supported ARC to implement a New Product Development department and to create, develop and bring to market two new building insulation and fire safety products. The KTP was graded ‘Outstanding’ by independent assessors at Innovate UK – the highest possible rating awarded to projects. Dr Alex Boote, the KTP Associate recruited by LBU to manage the first KTP, is now employed in the permanent position of Product and Innovation Manager at ARC, and will manage the KTP Associate recruited to the new project. The new Associate role – Machine Learning Engineer – will be a full-time member of the ARC team, with full support of the LBU academics. For more information and to apply, please visit leedsbeckett.ac.uk/jobs/ The closing date for applications is 3 March 2025. Dr Boote continues to have strong links with LBU – collaborating regularly with academics and presenting guest lectures to students. The LBU KTP team is completed by Dr Jamiu Dauda, Senior Lecturer, and Dr Kate Morland, Research Fellow, both in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing at LBU. Leeds Beckett University is currently ranked eighth in the UK for its number of active KTPs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
