Midgard has been appointed as the main contractor for a striking new residential development in the heart of Birmingham, as the city continues to attract major investment and architectural ambition. Developers Court Collaboration and Select Property have awarded Midgard a £145 million contract to deliver the much-anticipated Edition Birmingham scheme.
Cambridge City Council has released updated plans for its Civic Quarter project, which aims to transform three of the city centre’s key landmarks, the Cambridge Market, Corn Exchange, and Guildhall, into more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable spaces. The public is now invited to give feedback on the revised proposals ahead
Project will establish Europe’s first advanced uranium fuels production facility to power the next generation of nuclear reactors Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been chosen to design a ground-breaking advanced fuels production facility for Urenco, global suppliers of uranium enrichment services and fuel cycle products for power generation. The
Plans to create a dynamic new commercial hub in Warwickshire – as part of a wider regeneration scheme – will be showcased at a major property forum. Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG), Warwickshire County Council’s arms-length property development company, will show off its vision for Fusiliers Way, located between
Midgard has been appointed as the main contractor for a striking new residential development in the heart of Birmingham, as the city continues to attract major investment and architectural ambition. Developers Court Collaboration and Select Property have awarded Midgard a £145 million contract to deliver the much-anticipated Edition Birmingham scheme. The project will bring 581 new homes to the city centre, with construction expected to break ground in the coming months. Phase one is scheduled for completion in 2027. Located adjacent to Centenary Square and near the landmark £1.2 billion Paradise development, Edition Birmingham will feature one- and two-bedroom apartments split across two distinctive towers: the 46-storey Centenary Tower and the 15-storey Park Residence. The development is already seeing strong demand, having secured £85 million in off-plan sales. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is acting as engineering consultant, while Weedon Architects is leading the interior design. Midgard, a subsidiary of JRL Group, brings proven high-rise expertise to the table, currently completing the 65-storey Consort Place in London’s Canary Wharf and Court Collaboration’s One Eastside in Birmingham. The contractor plans to use modular construction methods to accelerate the delivery of the Edition project, incorporating modern features such as floor-to-ceiling vent screens, mechanical ventilation systems, triple glazing, and air-source heat pumps. “Edition will be a major milestone in the redevelopment of the Birmingham skyline and we are excited to be involved in such a high-quality development,” said Kevin Keegan, Director at Midgard. Alex Neale, Chief Executive at Court Collaboration, added: “Edition Birmingham is visually stunning and will be built to the very highest standards of safety and quality. We’re very pleased to have Midgard on board and look forward to breaking ground and bringing this world-class development to Birmingham.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cambridge City Council has released updated plans for its Civic Quarter project, which aims to transform three of the city centre’s key landmarks, the Cambridge Market, Corn Exchange, and Guildhall, into more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable spaces. The public is now invited to give feedback on the revised proposals ahead of a planning application expected in late 2025. The updates follow a round of community engagement held in summer 2024 and reflect public input on how best to enhance these much-loved heritage sites while ensuring they remain vibrant, functional, and environmentally responsible. Cambridge Market The latest proposals continue to support a thriving seven-day market with a combination of permanent and demountable stalls, the latter to offer flexibility based on trader demand. Demountable stalls will be trialled with traders in the coming weeks. The plans include new covered seating areas to provide shelter and comfort. In response to earlier concerns about anti-social behaviour, the size of the canopy has been reduced, and additional lighting has been proposed to improve safety. An underground bin storage area will help declutter the space, while the square is also set to host small-scale cultural events like outdoor film screenings and themed markets. Importantly, the existing fountain—originally slated for removal—will now be retained and restored, and the wider area will see increased planting to boost biodiversity. Corn Exchange The Corn Exchange is set to benefit from energy-saving upgrades, including insulation and solar panels, as well as full accessibility throughout the venue. Improved sound quality and updated audiovisual systems are part of the plan to meet higher standards for performers and audiences alike. More concessions and bar areas will be introduced to reduce queues and expand food and drink options. Event capacity will also increase to allow for larger audiences and a broader range of events. The Guildhall The Grade II-listed Guildhall will be conserved and upgraded to operate at net zero carbon, following EnerPHit standards. This includes the installation of Air Source Heat Pumps and solar panels. On the ground floor, a new customer service centre and a public café will be introduced, along with a Changing Places toilet to improve accessibility. The Council Chamber, currently hampered by fixed furniture and limited accessibility, will be made more flexible and inclusive. The historic furniture will be retained for use elsewhere in the building, and the reconfigured space will accommodate future needs such as increased councillor numbers and varied community use. Workspaces for council staff, commercial tenants, and bookable public rooms are planned across the other floors. Modern yet sensitive updates will also be made to the large and small halls to enhance their usability. Responding to community concerns, a previously suggested hotel development within the Guildhall has been removed from the latest proposal. The council is inviting residents to view the detailed plans and provide feedback by Sunday 22 June. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Project will establish Europe’s first advanced uranium fuels production facility to power the next generation of nuclear reactors Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been chosen to design a ground-breaking advanced fuels production facility for Urenco, global suppliers of uranium enrichment services and fuel cycle products for power generation. The contract will see Costain’s multi-disciplinary in-house civil nuclear and engineering team carry out the front-end engineering design (FEED) for Europe’s first High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) Advanced Fuels Facility. HALEU is uranium that has been enriched to have between 5% and 20% of the fissile isotope, U-235. It’s needed to fuel the next generation of reactor designs, including Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), to produce clean, cheap and secure nuclear energy for decades to come. The new facility, to be built at Urenco’s Capenhurst site in Cheshire, will produce the specialist fuel to support the development and deployment of the next generation of nuclear reactors at home and abroad and the associated global export opportunities. Costain is expected to complete the FEED in 2027. The FEED will inform Urenco’s plans for its new advanced fuel enrichment technologies and production facility. Earlier this year Urenco selected Costain as programme delivery partner to deliver new and upgraded infrastructure at Urenco Capenhurst over the next three years. Sam White, managing director, natural resources at Costain, commented: “This incredibly exciting project will establish the UK as the first country in Europe to launch a high-tech advanced nuclear fuels programme, confirming its status as a world leader in the civil nuclear energy market. “Ensuring the UK’s supply of advanced nuclear fuel will be critical for powering the next generation of reactors, including AMRs and SMRs. These are nuclear technologies that will play an important role as low-carbon sources of electricity to support a secure, resilient and decarbonised energy system in the UK. “Our expert engineers will work collaboratively with Urenco and the wider supply chain to design a state-of-the-art fuel facility. Constructability will be at the heart of the designs to make this concept a reality.” Costain has extensive experience in delivering FEED studies to solve complex problems, and integrating engineering and constructability across a range of sectors for nuclear and non-nuclear design and build projects. It is currently delivering critical projects across the UK’s nuclear energy ecosystem, providing a range of services and solutions including project delivery, design, build, decommissioning and maintenance of nuclear energy sites. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to create a dynamic new commercial hub in Warwickshire – as part of a wider regeneration scheme – will be showcased at a major property forum. Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG), Warwickshire County Council’s arms-length property development company, will show off its vision for Fusiliers Way, located between Leamington Spa and Warwick, at UKREiiF in Leeds later this month. The Fusiliers Way proposal will be central to WPDG’s promotional activity at UKREiiF, where it will join forces with Warwickshire County Council as one of the authority’s official partners. The scheme would see the development of 16 units across 43,000 sq ft of commercial space to support SMEs and local businesses.Fifteen of the business units would range from 1,000 sq ft to 3,500 sq ft. The application, which has been submitted to Warwick District Council, also features the footprint for a larger 15,000 sq ft building. Fusiliers Way aims to deliver high quality, sustainable and energy efficient units, built to BREEAM Very Good and EPC A standards. Stuart Buckley, Managing Director at WPDG, said: “We’re looking forward to joining our partners at UKREiiF to highlight our recent successes and to showcase what we have coming up. “After the success of our Sucham Park scheme in Southam we are pressing forward with a pipeline of sites that can provide high-quality space to support SMEs to grow and thrive in Warwickshire. “We are expecting to start work this summer on our scheme at Fusiliers Way, which is part of a wider masterplan to create a mixed-use community in the area. “Alongside our successful joint ventures, we are ramping up WPDG-led activity at two residential sites in the region– with two further direct delivery sites set to come through over the coming months. “This means we are in a great position to meet with potential residential development partners and occupiers for our upcoming commercial schemes – and we hope to do this at UKREiiF.” If approved, phase one of Fusiliers Way will provide purpose-built space for expanding businesses and start-ups in the area and help to create in the region of 85 jobs. The second phase would seek to deliver a local centre to support the area’s growing neighbourhood and business community, including a convenience store, children’s day nursery and coffee shop. WPDG is one of eight organisations across the public and private sectors that Invest Warwickshire, Warwickshire County Council’s inward investment team, will partner at UKREiiF, taking place from May 20 to 22. The partnerships will see each organisation involved in panel discussions Invest Warwickshire is hosting at UKREiiF, the UK’s largest real estate event and conference. Mark Ryder, Executive Director for Communities at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Warwickshire is one of the most dynamic economic locations in the Midlands and the UK. The county is a popular destination for both UK and foreign direct investment, and the area is home to some of the most important commercial property developments such as Coventry & Warwick Giga Park, one of the eight UK Investment Zones, MIRA Technology Park South Site and major town centre opportunities like Transforming Nuneaton, Creative Quarter Leamington Spa and Rugby Town Centre. “UKREiiF is a great opportunity for us to promote our partner organisation, Warwickshire Property Development Group and the new homes and SME commercial space being developed by them in the county, and Warwickshire County Council’s Property Infrastructure Fund, which can lend up to £10m to bring forward commercial development projects in support of growth and jobs. “We also look forward to working with a range of partners, including Tritax Big Box, IM Properties and Stoford to promote new development opportunities in the county and local area at the event this year.” WPDG was formed in 2021 and is delivering projects to realise the value and economic impact of Warwickshire County Council assets for the benefit of residents in Warwickshire. Its first commercial development, a 42,200 sq ft industrial scheme in Southam, completed last year and is now 100 per cent let. The Group is also delivering around 2,000 homes through its Develop Warwickshire joint venture with Vistry Group and WCC, and its own direct delivery. WPDG will be in the West Midlands Pavilion at UKREiiF. To arrange a meeting with WPDG, before, during or after UKREiiF, call the main office on 0192 695 6492, email info@wpdg.co.uk or contact Warwickshire Property Development Group’s LinkedIn page. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
