Mace has been appointed by Pegasi Management Company to lead the extensive refurbishment of 3 Lower Thames Street in the City of London. The project will see Fresh Wharf – a prominent 120,000 sq ft office building constructed in the 1980s and located adjacent to London Bridge – undergo a
IKEA is set to open its first new-format retail park store at Harlow Retail Park in Essex, marking a significant step in the homeware giant’s evolving UK strategy. The Harlow site will debut IKEA’s innovative ‘small store’ concept – a streamlined format designed to be quicker and more cost-efficient to
Enabling work kicks off for flagship 693-bedroom hub by Premier Inn on The Strand Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel business and owner of Premier Inn, has started construction enabling works on its flagship hub by Premier Inn hotel development at 5 Strand, a prime site just off Trafalgar Square
A transformative project to deliver more than 200 modern apartments has been completed within the regenerated Civic Campus in Hammersmith. The exciting joint venture by housing association A2Dominion and Hammersmith & Fulham Council forms part of a renewal project on King Street, providing hundreds of new homes, commercial units and
Fresh off the back of an action-packed Formula 1 weekend at Silverstone, Pivot has completed two commercial bridging loans at the Escapade Silverstone development, an exclusive 60-unit residential scheme situated on the edge of the legendary racing circuit. The units were secured through two separate facilities, are part of a
Mace has been appointed by Pegasi Management Company to lead the extensive refurbishment of 3 Lower Thames Street in the City of London. The project will see Fresh Wharf – a prominent 120,000 sq ft office building constructed in the 1980s and located adjacent to London Bridge – undergo a major transformation to meet contemporary sustainability and performance standards. Originally designed by renowned architect Richard Seifert, the 11-storey building is being reimagined with ambitious environmental targets, including BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum, NABERS 4.5 Stars, and WiredScore Platinum certifications. The refurbishment, led by architectural practice Buckley Gray Yeoman, exemplifies a growing shift towards retrofitting existing structures to enhance their environmental performance and market appeal. Sustainability is central to the project. Around 50% of the building’s raised access flooring panels will be retained and reused. In newly refurbished areas, low-carbon panels made from 86% recycled content will be installed, each supported by an Environmental Product Declaration and a material passport to ensure traceability and future reuse. In the early stages of the retrofit, 30 tonnes of glazing from the original structure have already been removed and sent for recycling via Saint-Gobain’s closed-loop glass system. Upon completion in 2026, the rebranded Fresh Wharf – formerly known as St Magnus House – will offer 25,150 sq ft of outdoor space, alongside a new riverside café and restaurant, creating a vibrant destination for occupiers and visitors alike. Stewart Ward, Managing Director for Fit Out & Retrofit at Mace Construct, commented: “This project is about more than refurbishment; it’s about redefining what’s possible with existing buildings. At Fresh Wharf, we’re proving that a 1980s structure can be transformed into a workplace that meets today’s highest sustainability standards, while delivering on design, modern occupier demands and creating long-term value.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
IKEA is set to open its first new-format retail park store at Harlow Retail Park in Essex, marking a significant step in the homeware giant’s evolving UK strategy. The Harlow site will debut IKEA’s innovative ‘small store’ concept – a streamlined format designed to be quicker and more cost-efficient to launch than the traditional large-scale outlets. By repurposing the existing structure at the retail park, IKEA has been able to fast-track the store’s development, with doors set to open just over 100 days after securing the lease. Designed with convenience in mind, the store will feature a compact, easy-to-navigate layout. Customers can expect a curated showroom and market hall experience, access to the full IKEA range online, and a dedicated food offering. The Harlow opening forms part of a broader UK expansion, with two additional small-format stores planned for Norwich and Chester in the coming months. IKEA also intends to open new ‘Plan and Order’ points in Dundee and York, alongside a new city centre store in Brighton, scheduled for 2025. Peter Jelkeby, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer of IKEA UK & Ireland, commented: “The opening of the IKEA Harlow small store is a landmark moment for us as we continue to evolve our retail offer and explore new ways to serve more people in more places. We look forward to joining this thriving town as part of the local community when we open our doors later this month.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Enabling work kicks off for flagship 693-bedroom hub by Premier Inn on The Strand Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel business and owner of Premier Inn, has started construction enabling works on its flagship hub by Premier Inn hotel development at 5 Strand, a prime site just off Trafalgar Square in central London. The 693-bedroom hotel, which will be one of the largest budget hotels in London when it opens, is on a highly prominent and complex site metres from Charing Cross station and Nelson’s Column. Whitbread acquired the development site in August 2022 as part of its strategy to grow its presence in the popular London market. The £200m development, including land and construction costs, will comprise a 13-storey, 16,000 sq metre budget hotel, which is targeted to open in autumn 2028. John F Hunt Ltd. has been appointed for the construction enabling works which is now underway and expected to complete early next year. These works involve demolishing the remaining sections of the former office which once occupied the site, rebuilding to ground level, and constructing the hotel’s 14-storey core using slipform concrete construction. Whitbread is aiming to place the main construction contract this summer. Hester King, Project and Programme Manager for Whitbread, said: “Breaking ground at 5 Strand is a major milestone for Whitbread and a defining moment in the evolution of our hub by Premier Inn brand, which began its journey a decade ago at St Martins Lane in Covent Garden. “This flagship development – just metres from Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross Station – demonstrates our ability to secure, design, and deliver high-quality hotels in London’s most complex and sought-after locations. It reflects the breadth of our in-house expertise and Whitbread’s long-term commitment to growing its affordable hotel brands in the capital where branded budget hotels are in short supply. “Personally, leading the construction of such a prominent project is a career highlight and I’m very proud to be part of a team delivering a standout addition to our London network when the 693-bedroom hotel opens in 2028.” Whitbread secured planning permission for the development from Westminster City Council in October 2024. On opening the company expects around 150 team will work at the hotel, with recruitment focused within the City of Westminster and adjacent inner London boroughs. In line with the company’s sustainability programme, Force for Good, the hub by Premier Inn at 5 Strand is being designed to run solely on electricity generated from renewable sources. Whitbread is targeting to reduce the carbon emissions from its direct operations (Scope 1 and 2 emissions) to zero by 2040. hub by Premier Inn hotels offer compact hotel bedrooms – approximately half the size of a ‘standard’ Premier Inn room – with a contemporary design style, a focus on technology and a relaxed ‘Lounge’ style food and beverage offering. Whitbread currently operates nine Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn hotels in the borough of Westminster and the company is a long-standing signatory of Westminster City Council’s Sustainable City Charter initiative. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A transformative project to deliver more than 200 modern apartments has been completed within the regenerated Civic Campus in Hammersmith. The exciting joint venture by housing association A2Dominion and Hammersmith & Fulham Council forms part of a renewal project on King Street, providing hundreds of new homes, commercial units and public spaces for the local community centered around Civic Campus, the regenerated Grade-II listed Town Hall. The ambitious scheme built by Ardmore Construction Group comprises of 204 apartments, with more than 50 percent of the homes classed as genuinely affordable for local residents. The scheme provides a mix of housing types to accommodate a range of living styles, from single occupants, to couples, and families. The one-to-three-bedroom apartments were designed by Rogers, Stirk, Harbour & Partners and delivered by PRC Architects, focusing on open-plan layouts. Low energy appliances, solar panels and a ground source heat pump substantially reduces on-site energy demand and helps to improve the sustainability of the scheme. Each apartment also has its own outside space, including private balconies overlooking the new civic square, and there is also a residents’ roof terrace providing stunning views of the River Thames and Hammersmith Bridge. Chris Ives, Managing Director of Development & Regeneration at A2Dominion, said: “We are delighted to complete the latest phase of homes in this iconic neighbourhood with our partners at Hammersmith & Fulham Council. “The high-quality apartments bring much-needed affordable housing to this area of the capital and we look forward to delivering more homes and community spaces for the people in Hammersmith to enjoy.” The transformative renewal project is centred around the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Hammersmith Town Hall. The vibrant mixed-use Civic Campus incorporates a public plaza, rooftop bar and restaurants, a new four screen cinema, as well as community art and event spaces to celebrate the area’s heritage as an arts and culture hub. The residential offering comprises of 69 affordable rented units managed by A2Dominion Homes Limited, 36 shared ownership units and 99 private units sold by FABRICA by A2Dominion. Silver DCC were appointed as A2Dominion’s Employers’ Agent. For more information on Civic Campus, please visit https://www.civiccampus.london/ For more information about the homes available for sale, please visit http://artisi.london/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fresh off the back of an action-packed Formula 1 weekend at Silverstone, Pivot has completed two commercial bridging loans at the Escapade Silverstone development, an exclusive 60-unit residential scheme situated on the edge of the legendary racing circuit. The units were secured through two separate facilities, are part of a high-end development comprising luxurious trackside homes and a private clubhouse. These residences have attracted significant attention globally and reflect the strong demand among investors and motorsport enthusiasts alike. Both loans were structured to support the acquisition of newly constructed units. This allowed the borrowers to proceed with the purchases, begin generating rental income, and cover associated costs without delay. With the rise in popularity of global motorsport event, Escapade Silverstone has emerged as a premium investment opportunity with strong capital growth and rental potential. These completions reflect Pivot’s ability to deliver timely, bespoke funding solutions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
