Kao Data has unveiled plans for a third state-of-the-art data centre at its Harlow campus in Essex, further strengthening its position as a leader in high-performance computing and AI infrastructure. The new KLON-03 facility will deliver 17.6MW of capacity and operate entirely on renewable energy. It will feature advanced hybrid-cooled,
Construction is now underway on the University of Southampton’s £123 million North East Quadrant (NEQ) development, a state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility set to transform the Highfield Campus. Spanning five floors and 15,000 sqm, the new building will offer cutting-edge academic spaces, including lecture theatres, seminar rooms, and event teaching
Bridges Fund Management and Wrenbridge have acquired a prime 6.5-acre site in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, with plans to develop a cutting-edge 130,000 sq ft logistics scheme. The site, purchased from Tesco and Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation for an undisclosed sum, will be transformed into three state-of-the-art warehouses. Designed to meet
Newmark Group, has appointed Vinnie Kilner, Parin Patel, Alfie Molloy, Ine Roren, Nathan Archer and Alfie Tierney to form its Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Project and Cost Management practice. The sustainability conscious, commercially-minded construction experts will support clients in the UK and Europe, providing specialist project, programme and cost management
Property management and financial platform Lendlord has unveiled a dedicated news hub to help landlords navigate the Renters’ Rights Bill 2025—one of the most significant rental sector reforms in over 30 years. The hub provides structured, up-to-date information on key legislative changes, addressing common concerns and offering expert insights into
The Government’s plan to make it easier to build on green belt is likely to have limited impact on North East housebuilding in the short term. Under changes introduced by Labour shortly after the election, lower quality green belt land will be designated so called ‘grey belt’ and released for
Cast Consultancy, a leader in modernising construction practices, and KOPE, the pioneering platform for modern construction, are excited to announce an expanded strategic partnership aimed at improving the standards of trust and quality in the construction industry. The partnership leverages Cast’s industry expertise and KOPE’s innovative platform to introduce a
A seminar on the benefits of using Europe’s only C2C Certified® reflective insulation along with its sister membranes is one of the highlights of an open day being held at the HQ of a leading timber frame manufacturer next month. Liane Bayliss, South East and South London area sales manager
Valor and QuadReal Secure £79m Financing for Tesco Distribution Hub Acquisition Valor Real Estate Partners and QuadReal Property Group have successfully secured a £79m loan from PGIM Real Estate to support their recent acquisition of a Tesco-let distribution centre in Purfleet, Essex. The 630,000 sq ft facility at Dolphin Park,
MILLER Knight has been appointed to the communities and housing investment consortium (CHIC) fire and building safety framework, reinforcing and solidifying the contractor’s reputation in remedial fire protection and building safety compliance. Awarded by CHIC, a not-for-profit organisation, the framework provides a robust procurement route for fire safety and compliance works
Kao Data has unveiled plans for a third state-of-the-art data centre at its Harlow campus in Essex, further strengthening its position as a leader in high-performance computing and AI infrastructure. The new KLON-03 facility will deliver 17.6MW of capacity and operate entirely on renewable energy. It will feature advanced hybrid-cooled, hot aisle containment (HAC) systems, capable of supporting high-density computing with rack densities of up to 130kW. Since opening in 2018, Kao Data’s 656,600 sq ft Harlow campus has become a key hub for AI, cloud computing, and GPU-powered deployments. Its existing KLON-01 and KLON-02 data centres each provide 10MW of capacity. David Bloom, founder and chairman of Kao Data, reflected on the milestone: “This year marks a decade since our vision for the Harlow campus began, and it’s fantastic to see it firmly established as the UK’s leading destination for advanced computing. KLON-03 will set a new benchmark for our industrial-scale data centre platform, delivering one of the country’s largest footprints of liquid-cooled capacity in line with the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan.” Kao Data chief executive Doug Loewe added: “The era of AI is truly here, and it’s fitting that we continue to innovate on the very campus where Sir Charles Kao pioneered fibre optics. Our technical team has refined the design to push the boundaries of efficiency, and we’re excited to bring our first large-scale, liquid-cooled infrastructure to life.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction is now underway on the University of Southampton’s £123 million North East Quadrant (NEQ) development, a state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility set to transform the Highfield Campus. Spanning five floors and 15,000 sqm, the new building will offer cutting-edge academic spaces, including lecture theatres, seminar rooms, and event teaching areas, alongside independent study zones. Designed to enhance the student experience, it will also feature a café, changing facilities, a nursing room, and a variety of indoor and outdoor social spaces, creating a vibrant hub at the heart of the Quadrant. Positioned at the edge of campus, the NEQ will form part of a striking new entrance to the university. With an impressive façade and double-height windows, the architecture draws inspiration from Southampton’s historic landmarks, such as the Civic Centre, ensuring it blends seamlessly with the city’s character. Kier hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, attended by Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith, faculty members, the estates team, and representatives from the Students’ Union. “We are delighted to get started on our works for the University of Southampton. This marks an important milestone for a project that will deliver world-class learning spaces for students,” said Cheryl Ward, Managing Director of Kier Construction Southern. “Our team has worked closely with the university to bring their vision of a sustainable, state-of-the-art building to life, and we are proud to support this development with the best of our local talent and expertise.” Designed with sustainability at its core, the project aligns with the university’s Sustainability Strategic Plan and aims to achieve BREEAM Excellent standards. A fabric-first approach will reduce operational carbon, with energy-efficient materials helping to cut energy demand by 40%, lowering both costs and environmental impact. The building will also prioritise comfort, with ample natural ventilation creating a bright and airy learning environment. “This space will be a hub of creativity, collaboration and academic excellence, ensuring that the University of Southampton continues to be a sector leader in education,” said Professor Mark E. Smith. Kier’s involvement in this project continues its strong track record of delivering high-profile university developments across the UK, including projects for the University of Derby, the University of Huddersfield, and Warwick University. The NEQ building is set to be completed by summer 2027, ready for the 2027/28 academic year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bridges Fund Management and Wrenbridge have acquired a prime 6.5-acre site in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, with plans to develop a cutting-edge 130,000 sq ft logistics scheme. The site, purchased from Tesco and Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation for an undisclosed sum, will be transformed into three state-of-the-art warehouses. Designed to meet the highest sustainability standards, the development will achieve an EPC ‘A+’ rating and operate at net zero carbon. Harry Gibson, director at Wrenbridge, commented: “This acquisition marks our fifth purchase with Bridges, and we remain on the lookout for further opportunities. We are excited to deliver another high-quality, sustainable industrial scheme that will drive local economic growth and provide best-in-class space for businesses in an undersupplied market.” Graham Fisher, chief executive at Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, welcomed the investment: “A core part of the foundation’s strategy is to attract new investors, unlock regeneration opportunities, and support economic growth. We are pleased that Wrenbridge and Bridges share our vision and are investing in the heart of our industrial area.” The deal saw JLL represent Tesco, while Savills advised Wrenbridge. Kirkby Diamond and Clarke Willmott acted on behalf of Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Newmark Group, has appointed Vinnie Kilner, Parin Patel, Alfie Molloy, Ine Roren, Nathan Archer and Alfie Tierney to form its Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Project and Cost Management practice. The sustainability conscious, commercially-minded construction experts will support clients in the UK and Europe, providing specialist project, programme and cost management expertise across their retail, hospitality and leisure portfolios. Led by Vinnie, these hires bring more than 80 years combined experience managing projects and portfolios from site selection and feasibility, through design and construction. They will work closely with corresponding departments across Building Consultancy, Occupier Agency, Business Rates and Capital Markets, allowing the world’s most successful brands to thrive at every stage of their real estate, backed by Newmark’s extensive and comprehensive knowledge and advisory of the international market. Simon Prichard commented: “The addition of these hires reinforce Newmark commitment to bringing the best talent and services to its clients. With their proven track record of delivering transformative projects for global brands, this practice further strengthens Newmark’s comprehensive service offering and enhances its ability to support clients in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors across the UK and Europe.” The responsibilities, oversight and areas of expertise of each hire are summarized below: Vinnie Kilner brings 17 years’ specialist experience in major projects, advising international brands and occupiers on project delivery strategies, ranging from multiple store rollouts to iconic flagship projects in some of the most exclusive locations. Parin Patel joins as Senior Associate. Parin provides programme management and project delivery expertise, having worked with retailers on large scale international expansions and being responsible for the construction of 100s of stores. Alfie Molloy, Senior Associate, has an experienced background in project and cost management. He joins with a strategic focus on supporting Newmark’s leisure clients. Ine Roren, Associate, will lead multi-territory programmes for high profile brands, having worked on both client and consultancy side of international store and showroom expansions. Nathan Archer joins as Senior Cost Manager. His experience spans luxury retail, food and beverage, leisure and retail offices acquired from both main contractor and consultancy where he has worked with prominent clients in UK and Europe. Alfie Tierney, Senior Project Manager, joins with an impressive track record in the construction of retail, high-end residential and hotel projects where his technical expertise and hands-on delivery approach have been fundamental to the completion of five projects in live environments. Vinnie commented: “These project delivery specialists are aligned with Newmark’s ambitions to be the very best real estate advisor, which is evident from their track record delivering projects for many of the world’s best-known brands. It’s an exciting time to be part of Newmark, and they are perfectly placed amongst Newmark’s industry leading experts.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Property management and financial platform Lendlord has unveiled a dedicated news hub to help landlords navigate the Renters’ Rights Bill 2025—one of the most significant rental sector reforms in over 30 years. The hub provides structured, up-to-date information on key legislative changes, addressing common concerns and offering expert insights into the evolving regulatory landscape. Updated weekly, it ensures landlords stay informed about government announcements, compliance requirements, and the bill’s implementation timeline. Key topics covered include: Lendlord’s research suggests that the UK rental market is expected to stabilise with an 11% growth rate post-reform, with landlords adapting to changes between July and October 2025. While compliance costs may rise, properties meeting the new standards could benefit from higher rental yields and increased tenant demand. Aviram Shahar, Co-founder and CEO of Lendlord, commented:“The private rental sector is undergoing a major transformation, and the Renters’ Rights Bill 2025 brings both opportunities and challenges. Compliance will be crucial to long-term success, and landlords need reliable insights to stay ahead. That’s why we keep our news hub updated in real time—providing expert analysis and the latest data to help landlords make informed decisions.” The Lendlord Renters’ Rights Bill 2025 News Hub is freely accessible to landlords, brokers, and property professionals. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Government’s plan to make it easier to build on green belt is likely to have limited impact on North East housebuilding in the short term. Under changes introduced by Labour shortly after the election, lower quality green belt land will be designated so called ‘grey belt’ and released for construction as the Government seeks to build 1.5 million homes by 2029 to help tackle the chronic housing shortage. A creation of the current Labour Government, grey belt is defined as land which makes a ‘limited contribution’ to green belt objectives. This may include land that contains substantial built development or is enclosed by built form, does little to prevent the coalescence of settlements, is dominated by urban land uses, or does not protect a historic setting. The aim is to deliver more opportunities for development in rural areas and should open the door for residential, commercial and tourism development within the green belt that would otherwise have been prevented. However, the grey belt plan in its current format will have limited impact on housebuilding in the North East in the short term. This is due in part to the fact that most regional councils have a 5-year housing land supply or are already meeting their housing delivery test, which is one of the requirements for grey belt. There are one or two exceptions such as South Tyneside and Gateshead but on the whole the picture is fairly similar region-wide. While it was initially felt that the grey belt policy could make a positive contribution to meeting sustainable housing long term, now that detailed guidance has been published it is not quite as golden as hoped. Planning experts now consider that the subsequent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and other parts of planning policy mean any impact is at best likely to be marginal in the short term. You can argue that the policy is not fit for purpose, with the changes to the NPPF making the concept of grey belt land largely redundant with land more likely be released from the green belt through existing channels instead. Those changes include a new requirement for councils to review green belt boundaries and propose changes if they cannot meet demand for housing or commercial land through other means. Tracking the effectiveness of grey belt policy amid uncertainty about the number of homes that could be built on such land is also difficult – media reports estimate ranges from 50,000 to four million, which suggests that the potential impact of the policy had not been adequately assessed before it was announced. In addition, housing within the grey belt will have to deliver a greater proportion of affordable housing than sites outside the green belt. Originally, one of the ‘golden rules’ linked to grey belt development was that 50% of the housing must be affordable. While this provision has been watered down to be 15% above the local authority’s policy position, and capped at 50% and subject to viability, the combination of more affordable housing and better household incomes will undoubtedly see positive outcomes as we push for growth. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. A properly thought through and executed grey belt policy could deliver more opportunities in rural North East areas, opening the door for residential, commercial and tourism development within the green belt that would otherwise have been prevented. Growth can be unlocked; new opportunities created. With the roll out of new superfast digital services in rural communities, increased flexible working practices with more people working online, and planning approvals in all the right places, the commercial opportunities for development within the grey belt could be highly significant with new jobs strengthening the rural economy and boosting household incomes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cast Consultancy, a leader in modernising construction practices, and KOPE, the pioneering platform for modern construction, are excited to announce an expanded strategic partnership aimed at improving the standards of trust and quality in the construction industry. The partnership leverages Cast’s industry expertise and KOPE’s innovative platform to introduce a verification badge service for suppliers that creates a standardised benchmark for quality assurance. This new feature, called Verified by Cast, enables specifiers to remove the guesswork from their supplier searches and confidently build their supply chains, with the knowledge the companies they’re working with are who they say they are. Key benefits of the partnership: “We are thrilled to partner with KOPE to bring Verified by Cast to the market,” said Jeff Endean, Director at Cast Consultancy. “It aligns with our mission to drive industry change. Verified by Cast is a practical step towards providing more confidence for specifiers, and more visibility for high quality suppliers of proven build systems and product. We think Verified by Cast has a role to play in supporting collaboration and meaningful innovation, responding to the UK’s pressing need for new homes, schools, healthcare facilities, and wider infrastructure.” Charlotte Garrett, Head of Industry Strategy from KOPE added, “Our platform is designed to facilitate easier and more effective connections within the construction industry. The integration of Cast Verification will significantly improve the value we offer to both suppliers and specifiers, making KOPE Market the obvious choice for construction businesses looking for trusted, reliable partners.” The partnership marks a significant step towards improving transparency and trust in construction procurement, aligning with both companies’ commitment to supporting the growth and development of a more efficient, reliable, and sustainable construction industry. For more information about the partnership or to become a Cast Verified supplier, please visit www.cast-consultancy.com/verified. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A seminar on the benefits of using Europe’s only C2C Certified® reflective insulation along with its sister membranes is one of the highlights of an open day being held at the HQ of a leading timber frame manufacturer next month. Liane Bayliss, South East and South London area sales manager for pan-European insulation specialist Actis, is among guest speakers at the event at the Scandia-Hus show centre in East Grinstead on Saturday April 5. She will be talking about how and why Scandia-Hus uses the Actis Hybrid range on all its designs, and providing information on installation and its thermal benefits. She will talk about how it helps developers comply with tighter Part L and Part O regulations and meet the Future Homes Standard. Actis’ zero-waste policy and the 100% recyclability of all its products has enabled its honeycomb structure Hybris insulation to become the only reflective insulation in Europe to earn international Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze Certification. Few raw materials and fewer energy resources used during production means carbon emissions produced manufacturing all five Actis products are very low compared with those produced by other insulation products, at less than 2kg per sq m of CO2. Scandia-Hus has used the Actis Hybrid range in all four of its show homes, with the day marking the official fully-furnished opening of its latest design The Lodge, with the other three homes also being open for viewing. Visitors will be able to discuss their projects and ask advice from the Scandia-Hus team and specialist suppliers whose products and expertise are used in the company’s various designs. Liane’s seminar is at 10.30am, with others on subjects such as plot finding, design, underfloor heating, MVHR, planning and build finance between then and 1.30pm. Find out more information about the open day and book your place at the event and Liane’s seminar here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Valor and QuadReal Secure £79m Financing for Tesco Distribution Hub Acquisition Valor Real Estate Partners and QuadReal Property Group have successfully secured a £79m loan from PGIM Real Estate to support their recent acquisition of a Tesco-let distribution centre in Purfleet, Essex. The 630,000 sq ft facility at Dolphin Park, purchased for £130m in January, plays a crucial role in Tesco’s supply chain, serving approximately 550 stores across London and the South East. The transaction marks the largest single-asset acquisition to date for the Valor and QuadReal joint venture and represents the biggest single-let, last-mile logistics deal in the UK since 2022. The financing, provided through PGIM’s senior debt platform, is the fifth collaboration between the lender and Valor. Demand for UK last-mile logistics assets remains strong, driven by the continued expansion of ecommerce and urbanisation trends. James Mathias, senior portfolio manager for European core debt at PGIM, commented: “The recovery in European real estate is progressing well, creating favourable conditions for income-focused debt investment. We remain optimistic about the London Gateway and the resilience of UK logistics, buoyed by long-term structural drivers such as ecommerce and the rise of green energy industries.” Thomas Blangy, senior vice-president at QuadReal, added: “This investment aligns perfectly with our global strategy of targeting high-growth urban logistics hubs, particularly in key UK markets. Partnering with Valor and PGIM Real Estate to acquire this Tesco-let distribution centre further strengthens our position in this high-performing sector.” Miles Muthu, vice-president at Valor Real Estate Partners, also highlighted the asset’s strategic importance: “Its prime location and integral role in Tesco’s supply chain make this a compelling long-term investment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MILLER Knight has been appointed to the communities and housing investment consortium (CHIC) fire and building safety framework, reinforcing and solidifying the contractor’s reputation in remedial fire protection and building safety compliance. Awarded by CHIC, a not-for-profit organisation, the framework provides a robust procurement route for fire safety and compliance works across the housing sector. Encompassing a wide range of critical fire remediation and building safety services, the framework offers a future-proofed solution to ensure that high-risk residential buildings adhere to the latest regulatory standards, while supporting proactive risk management at all costs. As a multi-discipline principal contractor specialising in fire remediation, refurbishment, and compliance-led construction, Miller Knight is committed to working closely with housing providers to deliver safer, more resilient environments across the UK. The appointment comes at a pivotal time for the industry, as the UK undergoes sweeping reforms following the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022. With a focus on passive fire protection, fire door installations, and compartmentation works, Miller Knight is poised to take the helm fortifying compliance with the highest safety standards. Managing director at Miller Knight, Matthew Flower, said: “We are delighted to be appointed to CHIC’s Fire & Building Safety Framework. This collaboration represents an exciting opportunity for Miller Knight to contribute to the effective delivery of crucial works and services for CHIC’s members. We look forward to delivering exceptional services and developing long lasting partnerships.” Chief executive David Dickson added: “This appointment is a testament to our team’s well-established expertise in fire safety and compliance. As we continue on a path to scale up, our focus remains on providing safe, sustainable, and high-quality solutions that contribute to the long-term resilience of buildings across the region of Midlands and beyond. “We look forward to working in partnership with CHIC and its members to help drive fire safety improvements where they are needed most.” With a proven track record of working across public and private sector projects, Miller Knight has built a reputation for delivering specialist fire remediation works in education, healthcare, blue light services, and residential buildings. Miller Knight’s inclusion on the CHIC framework reinforces its role as a trusted contractor in the sector, committed to advancing building safety, compliance, and sustainable construction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
