A landmark office deal in the City of London has been finalised, with Helical and Orion Capital Managers completing the £333 million forward sale of 100 New Bridge Street to an undisclosed owner-occupier. The buyer, confirmed by several sources familiar with the matter, is understood to be a major US-based
Sir Robert McAlpine has been appointed as the main contractor by Northumbria University to deliver the new North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST), a landmark £30 million development at the university’s city campus in Newcastle. The contract follows a successful pre-construction services agreement (PCSA) and will involve the
The UK’s first all-electric prison has officially opened in York, marking a significant milestone in the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) drive to create modern, sustainable facilities that support prisoner rehabilitation. HMP Millsike, a Category C resettlement prison with a capacity for 1,500 prisoners, forms part of the MoJ’s New Prisons Programme
The Government Property Agency (GPA) has appointed Wates Smartspace to deliver the Category B (Cat B) fit-out of its flagship First Street Hub in Manchester city centre, marking a major step toward the completion of one of the UK’s most significant regional government office projects. The appointment follows a competitive
VIVID, the fifth largest housebuilder among housing associations in England and a leading provider of affordable homes, is excited to announce the completion of 18 new affordable homes at the former Odeon cinema on Laburnum Grove in North End, Portsmouth. This redevelopment project, completed in partnership with Imperial Homes, transforms
Hollywood Bowl has commenced fit-out works for its latest venue at Hammerson’s The Oracle in Reading, with an official opening slated for this summer. The £4.5 million investment will deliver a state-of-the-art entertainment hub featuring 24 bowling lanes, an extensive amusement arcade, and a vibrant themed bar and diner. The
Oldham Council is set to begin construction on the exciting new Visitor Centre and Forestry Skills Centre at Northern Roots, a key part of the project to transform 160 acres of green space in the heart of Oldham into the UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park. The Northern Roots project
Affordable housing provider SO Resi (part of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing) has launched its third Rent to Buy and second London Living Rent scheme in two years, SO Flexi Southall. The development will be available through its dedicated ‘SO Flexi’ brand, which offers a host of affordable rental schemes and
RSK has successfully supported Heidelberg Materials UK in achieving planning permission for the company’s Padeswood carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in North Wales – the first carbon capture enabled cement works in the UK – representing a groundbreaking project for the cement industry. Planning permission was received from the
The UK construction industry is set to benefit from a significant pipeline of work, as the government pushes forward with a £2.3 billion prison expansion programme aimed at creating 14,000 new prison places by 2031. According to industry analysts Glenigan, the Ministry of Justice’s Prison Capacity Strategy offers substantial secured
A landmark office deal in the City of London has been finalised, with Helical and Orion Capital Managers completing the £333 million forward sale of 100 New Bridge Street to an undisclosed owner-occupier. The buyer, confirmed by several sources familiar with the matter, is understood to be a major US-based financial institution, marking one of the largest transactions in London’s office market in recent years. The sale sets the stage for a significant corporate relocation, as the purchaser prepares to vacate its current headquarters in Canary Wharf. This move underscores a growing trend of major tenants shifting away from Docklands in favour of more centrally located, premium office space in the City. Other high-profile firms making similar moves include HSBC and Clifford Chance, with Deutsche Bank also reportedly reassessing its presence in the area. Vacancy rates in the Docklands core market around Canary Wharf reached a record high of 19 per cent in the first quarter, according to data firm CoStar. 100 New Bridge Street is currently undergoing a comprehensive redevelopment, led by Helical and Orion, which is due for completion in April 2026. Once finished, the 10-storey building will provide 195,000 sq ft of office space designed to the highest standards of sustainability, wellbeing, and technology. The refurbishment includes a complete strip back to the frame, recladding, the addition of two new floors, and the creation of a rooftop terrace offering views of St Paul’s Cathedral and central London. The asset has been sold at a capital value of £1,712 per sq ft, reflecting a yield of 5% before transaction costs and rent-free allowances. The building, held on a 999-year virtual freehold lease from Network Rail Infrastructure, is part of a wider joint venture between Helical and a vehicle managed by Orion Capital Managers. Helical had previously sold a 50% interest in the development to Orion for £55 million. The transaction reflects a broader strategy among corporate occupiers to secure long-term control over prime office assets, rather than remaining in leased space. This has been particularly evident post-pandemic, as businesses seek to optimise their workplaces and attract employees back to physical offices through central, high-quality environments. In a statement, Matthew Bonning-Snook, Chief Executive of Helical, said:“This transaction is a true reflection of the quality of 100 New Bridge Street as a London headquarters destination. The very strong interest we received in the scheme over a year ahead of completion is testament not only to its best-in-class characteristics, but also the acute shortage of prime office space within the submarkets Helical has targeted as part of its significant development programme.” Aref Lahham, Founding Partner and Managing Director of Orion Capital Managers, added:“The sale of 100 New Bridge Street, following the leasing success of Panorama St Paul’s, represents a further vindication of Orion’s strategy to gain exposure to leasing risk in new best-in-class offices in the most in-demand locations across gateway cities in Europe.” The purchaser’s current headquarters at 20 Churchill Place in Canary Wharf is expected to be vacated before its lease expires in 2028. The departure follows a wave of corporate exits from Docklands. While some firms—including Barclays and Morgan Stanley—have opted to stay, the shift towards central London locations continues to reshape the capital’s office market landscape. The deal at 100 New Bridge Street highlights ongoing investor interest in high-quality office developments in core City locations, despite broader market uncertainty around office valuations and demand in the post-Covid environment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sir Robert McAlpine has been appointed as the main contractor by Northumbria University to deliver the new North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST), a landmark £30 million development at the university’s city campus in Newcastle. The contract follows a successful pre-construction services agreement (PCSA) and will involve the full demolition, new build, and extension of the existing Wynne Jones building. The transformation will see the creation of a cutting-edge facility with a new ground floor and six upper levels, covering approximately 900m². Once complete, NESST will house satellite manufacturing clean rooms, advanced prototyping labs, teaching laboratories, a Mission Operations Centre, and collaborative spaces designed to support partnerships with companies in the growing space manufacturing supply chain. Construction is already well underway with steelwork now rising on site. The new centre is set to become a hub for collaboration between academia and industry, enabling internationally significant research and development in space technology. Over the next three decades, NESST is projected to support the creation of more than 350 jobs and contribute over £260 million to the North East economy. The project is backed by substantial investment from the UK Space Agency and Lockheed Martin UK Space. Mark Gardham, Sector Director at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “We look forward to continuing our long-standing, successful relationship with Northumbria University and delivering this state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Newcastle. “Our team of experts bring the engineering excellence necessary to work in such close proximity to vital transport infrastructure, collaborating closely with our supply chain partners and local stakeholders to deliver the project safely and efficiently, and make a positive impact on the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK’s first all-electric prison has officially opened in York, marking a significant milestone in the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) drive to create modern, sustainable facilities that support prisoner rehabilitation. HMP Millsike, a Category C resettlement prison with a capacity for 1,500 prisoners, forms part of the MoJ’s New Prisons Programme (NPP), one of several programmes which make up the 20,000 prison place programmes which aims to deliver 20,000 new prison places across the country. Designed with rehabilitation at its core, HMP Millsike will provide prisoners with the skills and training needed to secure employment upon release, supporting the government’s wider efforts to cut reoffending and improve public safety. Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard acted as the lead designer on the project, working closely with the MoJ and Kier to deliver an efficient, safe, and secure facility. The consultancy has a long-standing partnership with the MoJ, spanning over two decades, and has been instrumental in shaping the design of multiple prisons, including HMP Five Wells, HMP Fosse Way, and HMP Oakwood. Jenny Curtlin, director at Pick Everard, said: “HMP Millsike sets a new standard for sustainable prison design, incorporating biophilic principles and energy-efficient solutions to create a facility that prioritises rehabilitation. Our work on the New Prisons Programme included developing the reference design—a blueprint that has been successfully used across multiple new prisons. This latest project builds on that foundation, with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation.” The prison will operate on 70 percent less energy than traditional prison facilities, thanks to air-source heat pumps, solar panels, and energy-efficient lighting systems, generating over 8,500kWh of renewable energy on-site. HMP Millsike has been designed to provide a safe, secure, and rehabilitative environment, featuring six accommodation blocks, a central services hub, an entrance resource hub, workshops, kitchens, a support building, and a care and separation unit (CASU). The facility’s innovative approach to prison design reflects the MoJ’s commitment to creating environments that support rehabilitation while reducing the carbon footprint of the justice system. Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood, said: “This Government is fixing the broken prison system we inherited, delivering the cells needed to take the most dangerous criminals off our streets. “HMP Millsike sets the standard for the jails of the future, with cutting crime built into its very fabric. It is a huge step in our plan to add 14,000 extra prison places by 2031. “But building jails only takes us so far in ending this crisis, which is why we’re also reviewing sentencing so we can always lock up dangerous offenders and make our streets safer.” With the successful completion of HMP Millsike, the MoJ and Pick Everard continue to drive forward sustainable and rehabilitative prison design, shaping the future of the UK’s custodial estate. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Government Property Agency (GPA) has appointed Wates Smartspace to deliver the Category B (Cat B) fit-out of its flagship First Street Hub in Manchester city centre, marking a major step toward the completion of one of the UK’s most significant regional government office projects. The appointment follows a competitive tender process and will see Wates Smartspace take on responsibility for the full internal fit-out of the nine-storey building, transforming it into a fully functional office space for around 2,600 civil servants. The new hub is part of the GPA’s wider Government Hubs Programme and will house teams from several key departments, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), and the Department for Education (DfE). Completion of the project is expected in Autumn 2026. With the recent completion of the Category A (Cat A) fit-out and lease commencement, the Cat B contract marks the final major hurdle ahead of the building’s full operational readiness. Once complete, the First Street Hub will be one of the largest cross-departmental government facilities outside London and is set to become a key anchor for civil service operations in the North. In addition to its scale, the hub is notable for its strong focus on sustainability, targeting an impressive NABERS 5.5* rating. “We are proud of the progress we continue to make as we work to provide high-quality and sustainable workplaces for civil servants across the UK,” said Georgina Dunn, Interim Director of Capital Projects at the GPA. The £105 million development has been forward-funded by the Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), and supports the Government Hubs Programme’s mission to rationalise the public estate, promote flexible working, and drive economic growth across the UK’s towns and cities. Photo credit: Jon Matthews Architects Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
VIVID, the fifth largest housebuilder among housing associations in England and a leading provider of affordable homes, is excited to announce the completion of 18 new affordable homes at the former Odeon cinema on Laburnum Grove in North End, Portsmouth. This redevelopment project, completed in partnership with Imperial Homes, transforms a notable local site into much-needed housing. The scheme comprises 12 houses and 6 apartments, with 15 homes available for social rent and 3 for shared ownership. This project not only provides affordable housing but also repurposes the old, well-known local cinema site to benefit the community. The site includes road names such as Picture House Mews and a flat block named Mather Court, after the cinema’s architect Andrew Mather, honouring its cinematic history. Tristan Samuels, Group Development & New Business Director at VIVID, stated: “We’re committed to providing as many people as possible with the opportunity to have a place to call home. It’s been great to repurpose such a well-known space to provide homes to people who need them. I look forward to our customers moving in and enjoying their new homes.” Ben Olds, Land Director at Imperial Homes, said: “Imperial Homes have once again successfully worked in partnership with VIVID on the regeneration of the iconic Odeon Cinema on London Road Portsmouth. The scheme supports 18 new dwellings (a mixture of houses and apartments) following the demolition of the derelict and fire damaged cinema.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hollywood Bowl has commenced fit-out works for its latest venue at Hammerson’s The Oracle in Reading, with an official opening slated for this summer. The £4.5 million investment will deliver a state-of-the-art entertainment hub featuring 24 bowling lanes, an extensive amusement arcade, and a vibrant themed bar and diner. The new Hollywood Bowl will complement the existing leisure and food & beverage offering at The Oracle, joining a dynamic mix of restaurants, bars, cafés, and a cinema. This opening forms part of Hammerson’s broader strategy to reposition The Oracle, which includes transforming a former department store into modern, mixed-use space. In total, approximately 40% of the centre—around 320,000 square feet—is undergoing redevelopment, marking it as Hammerson’s most ambitious transformation project to date. Rita-Rose Gagné, CEO of Hammerson, commented:“We are proud to be partnering with Hollywood Bowl and are thrilled by their commitment and scale of investment. It’s a significant endorsement of The Oracle’s strength, its catchment, and the demand we’ve cultivated over the years. The venue will further establish The Oracle as a vibrant, all-day destination.” Stephen Burns, CEO of Hollywood Bowl Group, added:“We’re excited to announce the opening of our newest centre at The Oracle in Reading—a significant milestone in our strategic UK expansion. This venue underlines our commitment to delivering high-quality entertainment experiences, catering to families, friends, and corporate groups alike in the heart of Reading.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Oldham Council is set to begin construction on the exciting new Visitor Centre and Forestry Skills Centre at Northern Roots, a key part of the project to transform 160 acres of green space in the heart of Oldham into the UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park. The Northern Roots project is part of the council’s ‘Green and Growing’ priority. The council has secured £12.9 million from the national government’s Town Deal and Levelling Up Fund Round 2 to deliver this transformative next phase. The work marks the next stage of the council project, which has been developed in close partnership with the Northern Roots charity and has already gained regional and national recognition. Set in the woodland at the northern end of the site, the Visitor Centre will feature a café, shop, production kitchen, exhibition and performance space, as well as learning and meeting facilities. Meanwhile, the Forestry Skills Centre, will provide residents with vocational learning opportunities linked to a range of technical and land-based skills and qualifications. In 2023 Northern Roots established the first phase of the Urban Farm. Over the last two years, the current site has created 80 volunteering opportunities, delivered activities for more than 600 children and young people, and engaged around 6,000 local residents through cultural and environmental activities. And to date, there have been 2,000 trees planted, six ponds created to support local wildlife, and the establishment of a community garden and wildflower meadow. The Visitor Centre marks a significant step forward for the project, which also includes car parking, access improvements, an outdoor amphitheatre, and landscaping. Looking ahead, future plans for the site include a solar array, play areas, wild play and mountain biking facilities, and additional community growing spaces. Leader of Oldham Council, Cllr Arooj Shah, said: “Northern Roots is a ground-breaking project that will benefit our communities for generations to come – a place where nature, learning, and opportunity come together. “Oldham Council is proud to be driving this project in partnership with Northern Roots, creating a thriving space for education, recreation, and enterprise, showcasing Oldham as a leader in green innovation. “The Visitor Centre will provide our residents with skills, support opportunities for businesses, and enhance the local environment. It’s a win-win for our borough.” The Northern Roots project demonstrates Oldham Council’s commitment to regeneration, sustainability, and community enrichment. With the construction underway, residents will soon see this Council initiative take shape. Northern Roots CEO, Anna da Silva, added: “This is a really exciting moment in the development of Northern Roots and a key step in unlocking the potential of the site. We are incredibly grateful to all the partners who have supported the vision for Northern Roots and helped bring the project to this stage, particularly Oldham Council, our local communities, and our funders. “Northern Roots is pioneering a new, sustainable approach to harnessing and nurturing urban greenspace that we hope will become a model for future generations.” Construction is being carried out by Willmott Dixon, with the Visitor Centre set to open in summer 2026. Willmott Dixon’s team are now on site. Once the compound is set up, the first stage of works will be preparing the site to allow main works to start. Michael Poole-Sutherland, director for the North West at Willmott Dixon, said: “As an Oldham-based business we are really excited to be playing our part in shaping this invaluable community space, working in partnership with Oldham Council once again. “In partnership with our proud local supply chain partners, we are committed to creating four new employment opportunities directly on the project. Through our bespoke ‘Building Lives Academy’ pre-employability programme, we will support 10 previously unemployed Oldham residents with qualifications, skills and work experience. “We will continue to work with local schools and colleges through site visits, industry workshops and employability sessions. To date, our project team have also volunteered more than 115 hours supporting Oldham people, including with The Salvation Army and the Northern Roots charity.” While the work takes place, the Northern Roots site remains open to visitors all year round. To find out more about the regeneration work taking place in Oldham, visit www.oldham.gov.uk/regen Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Affordable housing provider SO Resi (part of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing) has launched its third Rent to Buy and second London Living Rent scheme in two years, SO Flexi Southall. The development will be available through its dedicated ‘SO Flexi’ brand, which offers a host of affordable rental schemes and operates as an offshoot of SO Resi, which acts as MTVH’s existing Shared Ownership arm. SO Flexi Southall is a collection of one and two-bedroom apartments nestled in the established residential area of Beaconsfield Road and within a five-minute walk of Southall railway station. All brand-new apartments at SO Flexi Southall will be available through the London Living Rent scheme for those who live and work in the London Borough of Ealing. Residents will have access to landscaped communal outdoor space, their own private balconies or terraces and a car club membership for three years. According to Yahoo Finance!, average rents in London are predicted to be 2.4% higher than in 2024, with a record monthly high of £2,695 per month, compared with the UK average of £1,341[1]. SO Flexi Southall offers rents at a discount of approximately one third of the local median household income on a three-year contract, with rents starting at £956 per month for a one-bedroom apartment and £1,062 for a two-bedroom apartment. Tenants will be encouraged to use the savings from the discounted rent to save up for a deposit and purchase the property using Shared Ownership at the end of the rental term, with the view that all homes will be sold in ten years. To qualify for SO Flexi Southall and London Living Rent, residents must live and work in the London Borough of Ealing, have a formal rental tenancy in place, or live in an informal arrangement with family or friends as a result of struggling with housing costs, not own a home or be able to buy a home on the open market, and have a household income below £67,000. Kevin Sims, Director of SO Resi, comments: “London will always hold an attraction for people and at SO Resi, we don’t believe that anyone should miss out in living in their dream location due to affordability issues or soaring private rental costs. Our third SO Flexi development reinforces that London Living Rent and Rent to Buy remains a core part of SO Resi, and as such we are investing heavily in this scheme and rolling out homes in key locations across the capital. “Ealing Borough Council has confirmed that they will need almost 28,000 affordable new homes over the next 15 years, and 70% of these should be available at social or affordable rent[2]. Last year, we also delivered 52 apartments at SO Flexi Acton in the borough and so far at SO Flexi Southall, we have seen unprecedented demand with over 540 enquiries to date. This demand signifies the need for affordable rent in the capital and the SO Flexi scheme offers a solution for people unable to save alongside costly rental prices.” Southall offers a host of amenities for a range of buyers including young professionals and families. From a plethora of cafés and restaurants to Hanwell Zoo, Southall offers an endless list of South Asian restaurants, a vibrant market selling food and handmade jewellery and a range of green open spaces. SO Flexi Southall is also within a five minute walk from Southall railway station offering services along the Elizabeth Line with access to Paddington in 20 minutes and Heathrow Airport in nine minutes. By road, Southall offers quick access to the M4 for journeys to the west of the UK. Currently available at SO Flexi Southall is a collection of one and two-bedroom apartments, available from just £956 per month. All applicants to SO Flexi Southall must live and work in the London Borough of Ealing, have a formal rental tenancy in place, or live in an informal arrangement with family or friends as a result of struggling with housing costs, not own a home or be able to buy a home on the open market, and have a household income below £67,000. To find out more, visit www.soflexi.co.uk call 020 8607 0550. [1] https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/uk-rent-prices-average-london-rightmove-060001786.html [2] https://www.ealing.gov.uk/news/article/2224/new_plans_for_tackling_housing_shortage Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
RSK has successfully supported Heidelberg Materials UK in achieving planning permission for the company’s Padeswood carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in North Wales – the first carbon capture enabled cement works in the UK – representing a groundbreaking project for the cement industry. Planning permission was received from the Welsh Government on 4 April 2025 – five months ahead of schedule. Padeswood carbon capture and storage project, which will connect to the HyNet North West project, aims to be the first net zero cement facility in the UK and a global exemplar for the deployment of carbon capture technology at an existing cement works site. Once operational, it will capture and store approximately 800,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum, capturing up to 95% of CO2 emissions from the existing Padeswood cement kiln. RSK Environment Principal Environmental Consultant Harry Cross said the project is the furthest advanced carbon capture project at an operational cement works in the UK by some distance. He said: “We are proud to have achieved planning permission for this important and rewarding project that demonstrates the UK leading the way on deploying CCS in the cement industry. “Our work here saw RSK Environment acting as environment, consents and permitting lead, including coordinating the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and project managing the development of national significance (DNS) application. We were also able to draw on the skills and experience of 12 additional RSK Group businesses, including Joanna Berlyn from Stephenson Halliday as planning lead and Copper Consultancy as communications lead for the programme of community engagement and consultation.” It is estimated that the project will create up to 500 additional jobs during the construction phase and will also create around 50 direct, long-term operational employment opportunities. The project also proposes the creation of four new ponds, nine hibernacula and 17 refugia (places where amphibians can rest during the day and escape from predators and the sun and, in winter, where they will hibernate). It is envisaged that the planting of mixed deciduous woodland and the enhancement of grassland will cover an area of around 10.13 ha and will improve its value for great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) foraging and offer wider biodiversity benefits for other protected species. Harry said the project is an impressive example of how RSK can draw on its broad range of multidisciplinary skills to achieve a major infrastructure planning application. The combined RSK team compiled and submitted more than 100 documents as part of its contribution to the planning submission. The 13 businesses involved in the DNS application were: He said that throughout the programme, RSK Environment worked closely with the project front end engineering design (FEED) team, advising on design requirements for planning. Harry said that RSK Environment collaborated with other RSK Group businesses to prepare and submit the EIA scoping report in late 2022. A scoping direction from Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) was received in April 2023. He said: “Our collaboration continued as the EIA evolved and work on the environmental statement began in 2023 through to 2024. Nine environmental factor assessments were undertaken, including landscape and visual, biodiversity, climate and noise and vibration, to understand the impact of the project on the environment and propose mitigation and enhancements to offset the impacts. Findings were reported in the environmental statement. “Alongside this, Copper Consultancy coordinated a programme of community engagement and consultation and organised two pre-consultation events in 2022, a further three online and six non-statutory and statutory pre-application consultation events at local venues in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The planning application was submitted on 27 September 2024.” Heidelberg Materials UK Chief Executive Officer Simon Willis said: “This is fantastic news and a brings our plans to create the UK’s first net zero cement works a step closer. “Cement is essential to the UK’s transition to net zero. It is fundamental to the development of everything from new offshore wind farms to nuclear power stations, to low carbon infrastructure, and the thousands of green jobs these projects will create. “Our Padeswood CCS project will bring significant inward investment and opportunity to the region, boosting the North Wales economy and securing the future of hundreds of skilled jobs. “Once operational, it will also provide net zero building materials for major projects across the country and will act as an exemplar for sustainable cement production in the UK and across the globe.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK construction industry is set to benefit from a significant pipeline of work, as the government pushes forward with a £2.3 billion prison expansion programme aimed at creating 14,000 new prison places by 2031. According to industry analysts Glenigan, the Ministry of Justice’s Prison Capacity Strategy offers substantial secured opportunities for contractors across the country. The ambitious strategy will see four new prisons constructed over the next seven years, delivering 6,500 new places for offenders. In addition to the new builds, a further 6,400 places will be created via new blocks within existing prison estates. An extra 1,000 places are planned through the installation of rapid deployment cells, while over 1,000 existing cells will undergo refurbishment. To support the long-term functionality of the prison system, the government has also allocated an additional £500 million for maintenance across the prison and probation estates. Fast-Tracking Delivery In a move to avoid the planning delays that have previously hindered prison developments, the government will reclassify prisons as ‘sites of national importance’. This change is designed to accelerate the planning process. Additional land acquisitions are also planned to accommodate future expansion. Sector Growth Backed by Data Recent data highlights a notable surge in prison-related construction activity. Glenigan reports that the value of prison project starts rose to £164 million in the three months to January 2024—almost fourteen times the value recorded a year prior. These projects represented approximately 38% of all construction activity within the communities and amenities sector during that period. A major driver of this increase was the £101.5 million refurbishment of a detention centre in Gosport, alongside several other Ministry of Justice projects currently at various stages of development. Key Projects Across the UK Among the most prominent schemes is a £116 million development at HMP Lancaster Farms, due to begin this summer. The project includes new houseblocks, workshops, and storage facilities over nearly 5,000 sq m, with Kier Construction appointed as the main contractor for the 17-month build. Elsewhere in the North West, HMP Hindley near Wigan is undergoing a £93 million expansion. The 40-month project, led by Wates Smartspace, involves constructing two accommodation blocks and support facilities totalling nearly 25,000 sq m. Work is scheduled to commence this spring. In the South of England, a substantial £300 million new-build prison is planned at HMP Grendon Springhill near Aylesbury, spanning up to 67,000 sq m. Further south, a £75 million development is planned at HM Ford Open Prison in West Sussex. The scheme will include seven three-storey houseblocks and various supporting facilities over 17,000 sq m, with work expected to begin later this year, though a main contractor has yet to be appointed. Additional developments in the south include projects at HMP Leyhill in Gloucestershire and HMP Standford Hill in Kent, both currently in the pre-tender phase. Opportunities in Smaller Schemes The expansion programme also includes a range of smaller projects. For example, at HMP Foston Hall in Derbyshire, a £3.52 million scheme involving two two-storey houseblocks and associated facilities has received detailed planning approval. Construction is due to start this spring and run for 12 months. Looking ahead, one of the most significant projects in the pipeline is the £236.4 million HMP Wymott 2 development in Chorley, Lancashire. Outline planning permission has been granted and tenders submitted. The project will deliver nearly 75,000 sq m of new facilities adjacent to two existing prisons, with construction set to begin next summer and span two years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
