Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel brand, which operates over 610 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, has officially commenced construction of a new hotel in Douglas, Isle of Man. The 80-room Travelodge will be the company’s first hotel on the island. Located at Villiers Square on Fort Street
JD Sports opened the doors to its biggest store in the world last Saturday (7 June), as it triples its footprint at Manchester’s Trafford Centre to create a 41,000 sq ft retail flagship. Boasting an impressive 92-metre frontage, the new store represents a major investment in JD’s home city and
Global real estate advisory firm, CBRE, together with Vandermolen Real Estate, are bringing Cotton Quay, a transformative 8-acre virtual freehold development opportunity in the heart of Salford Quays, Greater Manchester, to the market. Sitting within 1km of water frontage, Cotton Quay represents one of the most significant placemaking opportunities in
Wincanton, the UK’s leading supply chain partner, is expanding its partnership with EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C project with a new 314,658 sq ft warehouse in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, opening on 9th June 2025. This marks Wincanton’s sixth site dedicated to the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation
Top 10 UK housebuilder, Keepmoat has committed to investing £59.5 million into the next phase of the Sighthill Transformational Regeneration Area (TRA). The housebuilder is set to create an additional 246 new homes at the multi-million pound NorthBridge development located on Pinkston Road, following the success of the first phase
New report highlights that poor quality building product data is creating across-the-board compliance and financial risk A new report from QFlow (Qualis Flow), a leading carbon and margin-saving ConTech platform, reveals an acute data quality crisis that may be costing UK construction companies far more than expected. The “State of Data Quality
Property Sense, a PropTech partner for BTR operators, leasing agents and developers, has welcomed three new non-executive directors to its board. These strategic appointments mark a significant step in the company’s growth journey, reinforcing its commitment to revolutionising the lease-up experience in the BTR sector. Nigel Rawlings, Tom Lebor, and
Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel brand, which operates over 610 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, has officially commenced construction of a new hotel in Douglas, Isle of Man. The 80-room Travelodge will be the company’s first hotel on the island. Located at Villiers Square on Fort Street in Douglas, 300m from the ferry terminal and just moments from the beach, the shopping district, the CBD (central business district) and local attractions, like the Manx Museum, the new-build hotel is part of a wider mixed-use development led by Tevir Group. The scheme also includes two Grade-A office buildings, designed to support local economic growth. The hotel will feature Travelodge’s new premium design, including a modern reception area, next-generation rooms, and the new stylish 85 Bar Café. Supporting the Isle of Man Government’s tourism strategy to create 500 new hotel bedrooms by 2032, the project is expected to generate 27 new jobs and provide a valuable boost to the local hospitality sector. The hotel is scheduled to open in Spring 2027. Tony O’Brien, UK Development Director, Travelodge said: “Breaking ground on our first hotel in Douglas is a significant milestone for Travelodge. We’ve long wanted to bring our quality, affordable accommodation to the Isle of Man, and this fantastic location at Villiers Square is the ideal setting. “It’s exciting to see construction now underway, marking the beginning of a new chapter for us on the island. We look forward to welcoming both leisure and business guests when the hotel opens its doors.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
JD Sports opened the doors to its biggest store in the world last Saturday (7 June), as it triples its footprint at Manchester’s Trafford Centre to create a 41,000 sq ft retail flagship. Boasting an impressive 92-metre frontage, the new store represents a major investment in JD’s home city and underscores the brand’s ambition to offer world-leading retail experiences. The expanded location will showcase exclusive JD lines and dedicated spaces for major brands including Nike, Adidas, PUMA, and On Running. The move not only reinforces JD’s close ties to Manchester, where it opened its very first store in Bury back in 1981, but also signals a bold step forward in its global retail strategy. Régis Schultz, CEO of JD Sports Fashion, commented: “The opening of our largest store in the world at Trafford Centre is a proud and landmark moment for JD. We see the world through the mindset of our customer, know what they want and set the trends for them. This opening showcases JD’s relentless drive to bring our global customers exceptional retail experiences and differentiated product, backed by our strong brand partnerships. “At the same time, it’s a celebration of our roots – Manchester has been close to the heart of JD’s journey since the beginning. As we continue to expand our footprint across the world, the Trafford Centre store represents the future of JD: bold, forward-thinking, and deeply connected to the communities we serve.” Marcus Briggs, Managing Director at Pradera Lateral, asset manager of Trafford Centre, added: “The anticipation and excitement has been building for this opening of JD’s Trafford Centre flagship store. The respective property, marketing and design teams have worked extremely hard to deliver a store of global significance for our Trafford Centre visitors and we are all delighted with the outcome. We really value our longstanding partnership with JD.” The new store is expected to draw significant footfall and attention, positioning Trafford Centre as a key destination for sports fashion fans and reinforcing JD’s reputation as a global leader in athletic and streetwear retail. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Global real estate advisory firm, CBRE, together with Vandermolen Real Estate, are bringing Cotton Quay, a transformative 8-acre virtual freehold development opportunity in the heart of Salford Quays, Greater Manchester, to the market. Sitting within 1km of water frontage, Cotton Quay represents one of the most significant placemaking opportunities in the UK’s residential sector. The site benefits from an implemented hybrid planning consent for 1,493 residential units, hotel accommodation, commercial space, and a lido. More recently, positive pre-application feedback has been received for an expanded Living development totalling 1.6 million sq ft (GIA) and 2,235 units. The site is income-producing, generating approximately £500,000 in gross annual rental income from short-term leases, and is strategically located adjacent to MediaCityUK and overlooks the upcoming £2 billion redevelopment of Old Trafford. Kieran McLaughlin, Senior Director and Head of Residential Land North at CBRE, commented: “Cotton Quay is a truly exceptional opportunity to deliver a landmark waterfront community in one of the UK’s most dynamic and well-connected urban locations. With its scale, and proximity to major employment and cultural hubs, it offers developers the chance to deliver a new truly iconic development of national significance.” Jonathan Vandermolen, CEO of Vandermolen Real Estate, commented: “Cotton Quay represents an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of waterfront living in the UK. Its scale, prime location, and dynamic vision for mixed-use development makes it one of the most exciting projects on the market today. We look forward to engaging with developers and sharing our expertise to assist with a smooth outcome and maximise the value of this super prime opportunity.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wincanton, the UK’s leading supply chain partner, is expanding its partnership with EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C project with a new 314,658 sq ft warehouse in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, opening on 9th June 2025. This marks Wincanton’s sixth site dedicated to the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation and will create up to 70 new jobs, providing a boost to the local economy and further embedding Wincanton’s presence in the region. Wincanton is the official warehouse and transport service partner for the project. It plays a critical role in managing the vast and intricate supply chain required to mobilise the construction of one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects at pace. Through the new state-of-the-art warehouse, Wincanton will support the growth of the build programme by offering: · Warehousing, incorporating both outsized loads and palletised goods. · Secure storage and process management. · Advanced inventory controls and management. · Solution design and project management. · Supply chain integration and 4PL capabilities. Wincanton’s deployment of a new warehouse management system (WMS) at the site will ensure robust inventory control and regulatory compliance. The opening of the new warehouse further demonstrates the company’s nuclear supply chain management capabilities and its commitment to meeting high levels of regulatory standards. Paul Durkin, Chief Customer and Innovation Officer at Wincanton, commented: “Our long-standing partnership with EDF Energy is built on a foundation of trust and a shared commitment to excellence. We’re incredibly proud to expand our role in the Hinkley Point C project – a landmark undertaking that will power the UK for generations. This new warehouse exemplifies our commitment to delivering innovative, scalable, and resilient supply chain solutions at pace.” Brian Buckingham, Senior Logistics Operations Manager, Hinkley Point C at EDF, added: “Wincanton is a trusted, long-term partner supporting our vast and complex logistics needs. Throughout the construction of Hinkley Point C, Wincanton has proved itself to be a supplier with expertise, experience and the ability to adapt to the changing needs of the project. We look forward to servicing the growth of the build programme through the new warehouse in Weston-Super-Mare.” Once operational, Hinkley Point C nuclear power station will generate low-carbon electricity for approximately 6 million homes over a 60-year period, representing about 7% of the UK’s electricity needs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Top 10 UK housebuilder, Keepmoat has committed to investing £59.5 million into the next phase of the Sighthill Transformational Regeneration Area (TRA). The housebuilder is set to create an additional 246 new homes at the multi-million pound NorthBridge development located on Pinkston Road, following the success of the first phase that created 154 homes. Keepmoat will be delivering another multi-tenure community at the second phase of the development site, with more than 41 of the new homes being made available for local housing association Wheatley Homes Glasgow (WHG). Delivering one of the largest regeneration schemes in the UK across multiple phases, the housebuilder is also working with Glasgow City Council to create enhanced and new transport links, green spaces and walking and cycling routes. Tim Metcalfe, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat, Scotland said: “We’re delighted to launch the next phase of this flagship Scottish development, marking a significant step in our continued journey to transform the Sighthill area, providing much needed housing in Glasgow. “Delivered across multiple phases and in close partnership with the local authority, this project reflects our long-term commitment to the city and our ambition to create exceptional places to live. “Following a strategic re-plan to increase the total homes from 824 to 1,154,, we’re excited to move the latest phases forward, ensuring the team at Keepmoat deliver the right mix of quality homes, open space and connectivity into the city so residents can access amenities and opportunities. “Keepmoat’s focus remains firmly on building sustainable, well-connected communities that stand the test of time. This isn’t just about building houses – it’s about investing in Glasgow’s future.” The development, now named ‘NorthBridge’ in honour of the new footbridge linking the new community with the heart of Glasgow directly across the M8, will create more than 1,150 new homes when complete, replacing 10 tower blocks that were demolished in 2011. Councillor Ruairi Kelly, City Convener for Housing, Development and Land Use at Glasgow City Council, added: “The transformation of Sighthill has been a great success so far with high-quality new homes, a new park and a fantastic environment close to the city centre, and the start of work on the next phase will develop what has already been achieved there as a great place to live.” To find out more about NorthBridge, please visit: www.keepmoat.com/northbridge Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New report highlights that poor quality building product data is creating across-the-board compliance and financial risk A new report from QFlow (Qualis Flow), a leading carbon and margin-saving ConTech platform, reveals an acute data quality crisis that may be costing UK construction companies far more than expected. The “State of Data Quality in Construction” report, based on over six years of data from more than 1 million documented deliveries and waste removals, uncovers a shocking 91% of construction-related documentation continually fails to meet basic quality standards. From safety risks, missed sustainability targets, and financial inefficiencies, the sector is unnecessarily haemorrhaging resources due to bad information management. The data deficit blocking Net Zero Particularly, this problem has a profound negative effect on achieving increasingly strict sustainability goals. The report found that currently, only a third (34%) of material records are accurate enough to support embodied carbon calculations, leaving most emissions reporting across the sector incomplete or unreliable. It comes as little surprise when the data analysed found almost all of product delivery records contain significant data issues (95%), ranging from missing weights and invalid locations to inconsistent supplier IDs. As a result, It’s a concerning figure when the achievement of ‘The Golden Thread’ specifically requires precise, verified data to achieve Net Zero Carbon targets. These deficiencies not only obscure carbon performance but are a huge non-compliance risk. Safety at risk In fact, this data dysfunction also has other real-world consequences. The report draws a direct link between poor documentation and catastrophic outcomes, highlighting the Grenfell Tower fire as a tragic example of how inadequate material data can contribute to the loss of life. Despite a seven-year inquiry and countless calls for improved information, the data deficit continues, potentially putting lives at risk. Indeed, the report found that he most basic, necessary data is often missing. For example, 72% of key material deliveries were missing critical weight or volume information, crucial to understanding the make-up of a building to influence emergency strategies. Contractors will need to sharpen up their act, especially as accurate, complete data is required to successfully pass Gateway 3 of the Building Safety Act. The financial fallout 80% of contractors interviewed for the report also said they don’t have a structured way of tackling delivery data. This highlights the equally concerning issue of data latency. This is problematic as the current average time lag between physical deliveries or disposals and digital record availability routinely exceeds four weeks. During that time, project teams operate without verified figures, risking procurement misalignment, safety non-compliance, and financial misreporting. Given that materials account for more than 40% of total capital expenditure on a typical construction project, and poor materials management alone contributes to 5–11% budget wastage. So, the financial inefficiency tied to these data issues is substantial. Responding to the results, Brittany Harris, CEO and Co-Founder of QFlow, says, “Improving data quality is not just a technical necessity, it is a fundamental requirement for the future success of the construction industry. We need more quality over quantity. You can collect as much data as you want, but if it’s not accurate, it’s useless. We’re seeing project after project burdened by bad data that undermines compliance, inflates costs, and introduces unacceptable levels of risk. It is no longer sufficient for construction firms to collect data passively; we must now move to a system of: curate, verify, and operationalise it to meet the regulatory and societal demands of the next decade.” Read the full State of Data Quality in Construction report here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Property Sense, a PropTech partner for BTR operators, leasing agents and developers, has welcomed three new non-executive directors to its board. These strategic appointments mark a significant step in the company’s growth journey, reinforcing its commitment to revolutionising the lease-up experience in the BTR sector. Nigel Rawlings, Tom Lebor, and Yogesh Jandauria are all joining the board as non-executive directors. Nigel Rawlings, renowned BTR expert and current Chairman of Rise Homes, provides a deep understanding of the industry with his extensive experience within property and construction. Tom Lebor is a respected scale-up business mentor and advisor, known for his expertise in strategy, growth, operations and change for sustainable success. His experience will support Property Sense in navigating the complexities and nuances of scaling a high-performance team across the business. Yogesh Jandauria is a seasoned investor, landlord, and property developer with experience as a trusted advisor for organisations including PwC, Deloitte, Lloyds Bank, and HSBC. With a solid track record in managing a buy-to-let (BTL) portfolio and leading residential development projects, and as a major shareholder in Property Sense, he brings strategic oversight and a commitment to sustainable growth. The newly formed team will work alongside CEO Mike Haywood, to drive Property Sense’s vision and support its rapid growth. In addition to these board appointments, Tim Ng has been appointed Property Sense’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO). With a wealth of experience in scaling high-growth start-ups, Tim specialises in developing strategic tech frameworks that enable businesses to achieve scalable growth, operational efficiency and long-term value. These strategic appointments bring the company’s board to four members, with at least two further appointments on track for this year; reinforcing Property Sense’s leadership as the company embarks on its next phase of growth. The formation of the board follows the success of Property Sense’s ongoing investment raise, well on track to secure £1M of capital to accelerate its expansion and introduce its PropTech solutions to new regions across the UK. Mike Haywood, CEO of Property Sense, said: “Building a world-class leadership team is crucial as we continue to innovate and expand. Each of these appointments brings real-life experiences of the challenges that come with scaling a business, and their invaluable expertise will help us refine our offerings and scale effectively. “With our strengthened board and fresh investment, we are in a prime position to drive real change in the BTR sector. Our software has the capabilities to revolutionise BTR lettings processes, and we’re honoured to have such a strong team to make this a reality.” For more information, please visit www.property-sense.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
