Practical completion reached at The Crescent Centre as fit out company appointed On behalf of investment and development company CEG, Kier has completed the redevelopment of Crescent at Temple Quay in Bristol. The building has been transformed to include a new two-storey feature façade, a rooftop extension and the addition
Marks & Spencer has announced a £90 million investment to expand and upgrade its store portfolio across London, with six brand new food halls and 11 enhanced stores set to open or relaunch in the coming years. The retail giant will add around 70,000 sq ft of new space through
Caddick Construction has broken ground on a major urban logistics development in Leeds, after being appointed by developer Chancerygate as main contractor for its £46.5 million T45 scheme. Situated just off junction 45 of the M1 motorway, the 11.1-acre site will deliver 23 high-specification commercial units ranging in size from
A new chapter in later living has been approved for Brent Cross Town, as Barnet Council grants planning permission for a major retirement living development by Audley Group and Senior Living Investment Partners. The approved plans will see the delivery of a 10-storey building comprising 148 high-quality apartments designed specifically
Great progress is being made at Yorkshire Housing’s latest affordable housing development in Beverley, thanks to a partnership with Strata and Summers-Inman. The first homes at the much sought after Anthem development have been made watertight, marking a significant milestone for the project. With demand for affordable housing higher than
Pivot is pleased to announce the completion of a £4.1 million development exit facility to Torsion Care, supporting the stabilisation and sale of a completed retirement living scheme in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire. The loan is secured against 29 self-contained one- and two-bedroom apartments at Royles Lodge, a purpose-built retirement development for
Ian Rippin, CEO at MCS, comments on the latest MCS data: “The latest data from the MCS Data Dashboard shows that March was the best month of 2025 so far, totaling more than 31,000 certified installations – up 49% from March 2024. “Heat pump uptake continues to rise, with 5,604
Two Tyneham 290HT 27kW air source heat pumps from Hamworthy Heating – a trusted British manufacturer and supplier of commercial heating and hot water products – have been installed in cascade for underfloor heating in a new extension at a primary school in Cambridge. To accurately meet the heating requirements
Matalan is pressing ahead with ambitious expansion plans following a £25 million injection of new funding from its investors. The family-focused fashion and homeware retailer is set to open ten new stores this year, while also revitalising a number of its existing locations. With more than 220 sites already operating
Practical completion reached at The Crescent Centre as fit out company appointed On behalf of investment and development company CEG, Kier has completed the redevelopment of Crescent at Temple Quay in Bristol. The building has been transformed to include a new two-storey feature façade, a rooftop extension and the addition of three private roof terraces, the most prominent of which offers unrivalled views over Temple Gardens from the fifth floor. The first letting has already been secured with OVO relocating its UK headquarters to 22,894 sq. ft of space, which includes the entire fifth floor and a fourth-floor suite. Crescent offers 100,000 sq ft of office space and has the largest private garden in the city centre as an added benefit for its occupiers. There is also a secure weatherproof cycle park for 164 bikes and a repair docking facility, wellbeing and fitness studio with leisure club changing facilities. As well as targeting BREEAM Excellent and EPC A, the building is targeting Net Zero Carbon in operation. Reuse of the existing structure provides a 45% reduction in upfront embodied carbon over new build, allied with best-in-class energy efficient heating and cooling, makes Crescent a compelling sustainability option. CEG has now appointed Bath-based fit out specialist, Interaction, to deliver break out workspace and beautiful fitted office suites. The fitted office suites will provide occupiers with the option of taking tailor made space ready for immediate occupation or taking traditional office suites where they can deliver their own fit out. Interaction’s Business Director, Hannah Eardley said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with CEG on such a transformative project. The design balances sustainability with a deep respect for the building’s heritage, incorporating nods to Bristol’s rich manufacturing history such as the original fabric racks and pottery. By reimagining communal areas with thoughtful, flexible design, we’re creating a space that really works for its occupiers, offering something for everyone. This collaboration is a fantastic opportunity to deliver not just a workplace, but a destination where community and sustainability are at the heart of the experience.” Paul Richardson, Investment Manager at CEG, said; “Crescent sits in a prime location on Temple Back. This is a first-class redevelopment and Interaction’s interior design will deliver a contemporary and healthy place to work, supported by amenities including a ribbon business lounge, Temple Grind café, well-being and fitness studio.” The development will offer floor plates of 18,000 sq ft. It also benefits from the ability to accommodate a range of requirements from 1,600 sq ft upwards. Carter Jonas and Savills have been appointed to launch the development to market. Harry Allen, Director of Office Agency South-West at Savills, said: “Crescent offers exceptional space for small and growing businesses, from 16 desks to 180, it will create a vibrant and thriving business community. The building’s flexibility and market leading tenant amenities, from a private garden to a café and gym, will appeal to Bristol businesses seeking best in class working environments for their staff with Net Zero commitments.” This £30 million investment is the latest in significant investments into the CEG Group’s portfolio in Bristol which, to date, stands at £234 million. The team is managing a 250,000 sq ft Bristol portfolio, has refurbished the Quorum, delivered the award-winning EQ at 111 Victoria Street and 1000 Aztec West. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Marks & Spencer has announced a £90 million investment to expand and upgrade its store portfolio across London, with six brand new food halls and 11 enhanced stores set to open or relaunch in the coming years. The retail giant will add around 70,000 sq ft of new space through the launch of food halls in Covent Garden, Leytonstone, Clapham Common, Putney, New Malden, and Fulham Broadway—subject to planning permission. These additions are part of a wider strategy to strengthen M&S’s presence in the capital by catering to growing customer demand for high-quality, convenient food offerings. In addition to the new openings, 11 existing stores are undergoing significant upgrades. Among them is the Clapham South food hall, which has already reopened featuring a refreshed produce section, expanded frozen and ambient food areas, a larger in-store bakery, and improved fixtures including new flooring, refrigeration, and checkouts. Further refurbishments are under way at stores in Brooklands, Islington, Brent Cross, Whetstone, Wimbledon, and Chiswick. Meanwhile, revamped M&S food outlets have recently reopened in key London transport hubs including Euston, St Pancras, and Charing Cross stations. One of the most high-profile projects is the phased renewal of M&S’s flagship Pantheon store on Oxford Street. The renovation will begin with a complete overhaul of the basement food hall in April, which will stay open throughout the works. A temporary food offering will be in place while construction progresses. Once completed, the updated food hall will include a fresh pizza counter, hot chicken options, and an all-new coffee shop concept. This investment in the capital follows the company’s announcement of a separate £50 million plan for the North West, aimed at increasing store space and modernising outlets in the region. Sacha Berendji, Operations Director at M&S, said:“London has always held a special place in the M&S story—from our early days with penny bazaars to the modern Foodhalls we operate today, like the one we reopened in Brixton last year. We serve thousands of customers each day across the capital, from large full-line stores to grab-and-go outlets in train stations. This new wave of store investment is our commitment to bringing the best of M&S to every corner of London—from Brixton to Barnet—for many years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caddick Construction has broken ground on a major urban logistics development in Leeds, after being appointed by developer Chancerygate as main contractor for its £46.5 million T45 scheme. Situated just off junction 45 of the M1 motorway, the 11.1-acre site will deliver 23 high-specification commercial units ranging in size from 4,450 sq ft to 34,000 sq ft. In total, the development will add 223,000 sq ft of new logistics and industrial space to the region, with completion expected in early 2026. The project marks the fourth collaboration between Chancerygate and Caddick, following successful developments in Carlisle, Aintree, and Knutsford. With sustained demand for logistics and manufacturing space across the UK, Caddick has significantly expanded its regional footprint. The company is also delivering a £42 million manufacturing facility for Schneider Electric in North Yorkshire, while nearing completion of a £28 million site in Howden for Yara International — soon to be home to the UK’s largest specialist fertiliser plant. T45 is expected to attract a broad range of occupiers and contribute to the ongoing regeneration and economic development of the Leeds area. Its strategic location, just minutes from the national motorway network, makes it an ideal site for logistics and light industrial businesses. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new chapter in later living has been approved for Brent Cross Town, as Barnet Council grants planning permission for a major retirement living development by Audley Group and Senior Living Investment Partners. The approved plans will see the delivery of a 10-storey building comprising 148 high-quality apartments designed specifically for residents over 60. This will mark the first retirement community within the 180-acre Brent Cross Town regeneration — one of Europe’s most ambitious urban renewal projects, being delivered by Related Argent in partnership with Barnet Council. The development, valued at £8 billion, is already reshaping this area of north-west London, with thousands of new homes, expansive office space, schools, parks, and a vibrant high street in the pipeline. With two residential buildings already completed and occupied, the community is beginning to take shape. Audley’s new scheme will operate under its Mayfield Villages brand, known for its contemporary, wellness-focused approach to retirement living. It will also be the brand’s first location in the capital and only the second in its portfolio. Residents will benefit from 17,000 sq ft of shared amenities, including a health and wellbeing centre, landscaped gardens, a village hall, and a café-bistro that will be open to the public, encouraging community interaction. The project is being delivered in partnership with Senior Living Investment Partners, a £200 million joint venture between Octopus Real Estate and Pension Insurance Corporation. Nick Sanderson, chief executive of Audley Group, commented: “Planning approval for the new Mayfield Village at Brent Cross Town is a fantastic step forward. The demand for specialist retirement living properties isn’t slowing down and it’s important we give more people more choice over how and where they live as they get older. Mayfield Brent Cross will become an important part of the vibrant intergenerational community being created in this area of London.” Tom Goodall, chief executive of Related Argent, added: “We are delighted that the first retirement living homes at Brent Cross Town have been given the go-ahead. This builds on the continued inward investment secured over the last 12 months and accelerates our bold vision to create an intergenerational community with diverse housing options. We look forward to bringing this vibrant new project to life with industry leaders Audley Group.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Great progress is being made at Yorkshire Housing’s latest affordable housing development in Beverley, thanks to a partnership with Strata and Summers-Inman. The first homes at the much sought after Anthem development have been made watertight, marking a significant milestone for the project. With demand for affordable housing higher than ever, the development, which is situated off Minster Way, will see a total of 136 homes built across a mixture of tenures, including social rent, shared ownership and rent-to-buy. It’s hoped the first homes will be ready to move into this summer. Part-funded by Homes England, the development is part of Strata’s Anthem project, with Summers-Inman providing cost consultancy and employer’s agent support. Summers-Inman has a strong track record with Yorkshire Housing, having worked on a number of previous developments. The company is also involved in several other much needed affordable housing projects across the North of England, supporting developments of all sizes. Commenting on progress at the Beverley site, Summers-Inman director and specialist housing lead, David Blakey, said: “We were delighted to win this latest project which will make a substantial contribution to easing the affordable housing shortage in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and at the same time creating communities with a real sense of belonging. “We have been able to develop a highly effective working relationship with Yorkshire Housing over many years on schemes throughout the region. Clients appreciate the innovation and expertise we can bring to projects which we have gained on a variety of housing projects working in the capacity of employer’s agent, quantity surveyor, project manager and principal designer, all of which are all familiar territory for us. We hope we will be able to provide our expertise on many more Yorkshire Housing schemes in the future.” Yorkshire Housing has ambitious plans to build homes in the coming years. So far, almost 3,500 have already been completed, with another 1,200 in the pipeline. Their focus is on providing high-quality, affordable and sustainable developments to make sure more people have a place they’re proud to call home. Sian Webster, executive director of growth and assets at Yorkshire Housing, said: “We’re excited to see our Beverley development come to life and to be working with Strata with support from Summers-Inman to deliver much-needed affordable homes in the area. Demand for high-quality, energy-efficient housing is high, and this project is a great example of what strong partnerships can achieve. “At Yorkshire Housing, we’re committed to building homes that are both affordable and sustainable. We’re looking forward to welcoming the first residents in summer and continuing to work with our partners to tackle the housing crisis in Yorkshire.” Rob Larkin, pre-construction director at Strata, added: “It’s great to be working on another contract with Yorkshire Housing, a valued partner of Strata, to deliver much needed affordable housing to the Beverley area. We believe modern, energy efficient homes should be accessible to anyone, regardless of tenure and this partnership is another important step towards this for the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Pivot is pleased to announce the completion of a £4.1 million development exit facility to Torsion Care, supporting the stabilisation and sale of a completed retirement living scheme in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire. The loan is secured against 29 self-contained one- and two-bedroom apartments at Royles Lodge, a purpose-built retirement development for residents aged 55 and over. The modern development sits within the wider Marsh Mill Village, a picturesque and well-established leisure and residential destination close to the Fylde Coast. The development reached practical completion in 2023 and offers high-specification, age-exclusive accommodation. The funding enables Torsion Care to refinance its original development facility while allowing time to execute a dual-track strategy of unit sales and long-term lettings. Twelve units have already been sold to date, with a dedicated on-site sales team now in place and marketing across multiple platforms. The transaction showcases Pivot’s commitment to working with experienced developers on complex transitional assets, where income stabilisation and a structured repayment strategy are key. It also reflects Pivot’s dedication to supporting schemes that positively impact local communities and provide high-quality housing. By backing developers like Torsion Care, Pivot plays an active role in delivering well-designed homes that enable independent living and contribute to long-term community wellbeing. Martin Hutson of Torsion Care, commented: “We’re delighted to partner with Pivot on this transaction. Their understanding of the retirement living sector and ability to tailor a structure around both sales and lettings gives us the flexibility to maximise value at Royles Lodge. We’re also pleased to deliver another high-quality scheme that meets growing demand for independent living options for over-55s.” Andreas Yianni, Commercial Director at Pivot, added: “It’s a pleasure to support Torsion Care, a highly capable operator with a growing track record in the care and retirement living sector. This deal reflects our appetite to fund completed, high-quality schemes and committed sponsor. We’re proud to play a role in bringing more housing to the market that is tailored to supportive living.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ian Rippin, CEO at MCS, comments on the latest MCS data: “The latest data from the MCS Data Dashboard shows that March was the best month of 2025 so far, totaling more than 31,000 certified installations – up 49% from March 2024. “Heat pump uptake continues to rise, with 5,604 certified installations – a 22% increase on March of last year – as more homeowners transition to low-carbon heating, driven by initiatives such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). “Solar PV also had a strong month, with a total of 22,599 installations in March. This was a 49% increase on March 2024 and an 18% increase on last month. This means that there are now over 1.7 million MCS certified solar PV installations. “March was another record-breaking month for battery storage, with almost 3,000 certified installations, beating the previous record set in February and a 147% increase on March 2024. This brings the total battery storage installations to over 33,000. “It’s great to see that the number of people adopting low-carbon alternatives is continuing to grow month on month, a positive step towards helping the UK achieve its net zero targets. With this growth, it is crucial to focus on ‘delivered quality’ to ensure consumers have growing confidence when investing in home-grown energy. This is what the redeveloped MCS will achieve, putting consumer protection at the heart of what we do.” MCS holds the most comprehensive repository of data on the uptake of small-scale renewable technologies across the UK on The MCS Data Dashboard. For near-real-time updates on renewable installations, you can sign up for free to The MCS Data Dashboard here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Two Tyneham 290HT 27kW air source heat pumps from Hamworthy Heating – a trusted British manufacturer and supplier of commercial heating and hot water products – have been installed in cascade for underfloor heating in a new extension at a primary school in Cambridge. To accurately meet the heating requirements of the new school extension and ensure an even distribution of heat, the new system from Hamworthy Heating includes two 290HT 27kW Tyneham heat pumps with natural refrigerant, configured in a hydraulic cascade set up. The heat pumps are connected to a 500L buffer cylinder, which also features an electrical heating element, controlled by a BMS. The buffer connections, Exogel anti-freeze valves and degassers were also supplied by Hamworthy Heating. This cascade arrangement allows for the heat capacity to be equally distributed according to the specific heating demands of the new school building. Rather than rely on a larger single heat pump that could run inefficiently at partial load, the new cascade set up enables the units, which have inverter controlled compressors, to adjust their capacities as needed which will enable the school to achieve a more accurate match to its actual heating demand and optimise performance. Additionally, as the new system can adjust to keep the heat pumps operating at their most efficient state, cycling of heat pumps and unnecessary energy consumption is avoided. The two new Tyneham 290 HT installation also provides the school with increased protection against breakdowns. Unlike a single heat pump installation, which can result in complete downtime, the new system now supplies the new building with uninterrupted heating. Furthermore, as the workload is shared across two Tyneham heat pumps, stress and wear on individual components is significantly reduced. Following a previously successful collaboration with Hamworthy Heating on the schools existing heating system, Sotham Engineering were keen to stick with a brand they could trust on the second phase of its project. Ricky Harris, Sotham Engineering Services Ltd comments, “We choose Tyneham heat pumps due to their overall performance and efficiency. Having collaborated with Hamworthy during the first stage of the project, we found them easy to work with and always available to provide support and assistance”. Building on the success of its popular Tyneham heat pump range, the new 290HT heat pump utilising natural refrigerant offers a co-efficiency of performance (COP) of up to 4.94 for optimum efficiency. Quiet in operation, with noise levels as low as 64db(A), the latest 290HT heat pump range is available in five outputs from 15kW through to 50kW and can be cascaded to achieve higher outputs and can be combined with alternative Hamworthy Heating products to achieve a low-carbon hybrid heating system. Following a successful installation, the new extension now benefits from a reliable and efficient heat pump system that will help the school to reduce its carbon footprint and lower operational costs. For more information on the Tyneham 290HT commercial heat pump range, please visit www.hamworthy-heating.com/ or call 01202 662 552. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Matalan is pressing ahead with ambitious expansion plans following a £25 million injection of new funding from its investors. The family-focused fashion and homeware retailer is set to open ten new stores this year, while also revitalising a number of its existing locations. With more than 220 sites already operating nationwide, Matalan is now on the hunt for additional premises in key retail hotspots. The retailer is specifically targeting Use Class E units in retail parks, town centres, and shopping centres, ideally ranging in size from 10,000 to 35,000 sq ft. For smaller sites, between 10,000 and 20,000 sq ft, mezzanine space will be a requirement to accommodate its full offer. While leasehold sites are preferred, the retailer is open to considering freehold opportunities where appropriate. To support its expansion drive, Matalan has appointed property consultants across different regions: Savills is focusing on Scotland and Northern Ireland, Stockford Anderson is covering Wales and the North of England, and Smart 4 has been tasked with identifying locations in the South of England and London. In parallel with its new store openings, Matalan is rolling out an extensive refurbishment programme aimed at enhancing the shopping experience for customers. Thirty existing stores are set to be refreshed this year, with work already completed at Linwood, near Glasgow, and Croydon. Upgrades to stores in Dumfries and Bristol Filton are also expected to wrap up in the coming weeks. This dual focus on expansion and enhancement reflects Matalan’s confidence in the UK retail landscape and its ongoing commitment to offering customers value-led fashion and homeware in accessible, well-designed spaces. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
