GLP Europe, a leading business builder, owner, developer, and operator of logistics real estate, now part of Ares Management Real Estate (“Ares”), announces that it has completed the development of its 50th building at Magna Park Lutterworth. The latest warehouse, MPN 761, offers a total of 761,361 SQ FT of
Popeyes UK is continuing its ambitious expansion across the country, with Manchester Arndale confirmed as the latest destination for the fast-growing fried chicken brand. The popular chain has signed a lease for a 2,816 sq ft unit located within the centre’s bustling food court. It will join an already impressive
A major new chapter in Manchester’s regeneration story is set to begin, as construction firm Graham is appointed to lead the £110 million transformation of the former Boddingtons Brewery site. Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group, has selected Graham as the main contractor to deliver Brewery Gardens –
Masdar, a global clean energy leader, and Iberdrola, one of the world’s largest energy companies, have reached two major milestones with a €5.2 billion co-investment in the UK’s East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm – one of the largest offshore wind transactions of the decade – and the full energization
Travis Perkins, the UK’s leading distributor of building materials, is pleased to share that its parent company, Travis Perkins plc, has been ranked one of the nation’s top apprenticeship employers. The building materials supplier ranked top in sector and 32nd in the prestigious Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, published by
Material Evolution is launching a pilot project of its ultra-low carbon cement, MevoCem, in partnership with leading building materials solutions company CRH and its UK operating company Tarmac. The pilot will demonstrate MevoCem’s performance under the new BSI Code of Practice Flex 350 which allows for the specification of a wider
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has officially approved STARK Group’s climate targets to reach net zero by 2050. The targets include carbon reductions across the entire value chain and are aligned with the 1.5°C pathway and UN’s Paris Agreement. In 2021, STARK Group became the first distributor of building
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, has launched a major new initiative to develop data centres across Europe, the UK, India and the Middle East with the appointment of four senior specialists. Panattoni’s new dedicated data centres team will be led by Richard Wellbrock, who joins as
1Energy to bolster energy security and cut air pollution from buildings by 86%, project receives local support. The country’s leading low-carbon city heat network developer, 1Energy, has pledged £100m of private capital for a city-wide heat network for Derby at a high-profile event for the city’s leaders. This move follows the
Civil engineering, infrastructure and tunnelling specialist Barhale has announced the appointment of James Haddon in a newly created role of Director of Low Carbon Solutions and Joe Solomon as Regional Director (Eastern). Director of Low Carbon Solutions is a new board-level position which reflects both Barhale’s corporate commitment to decarbonisation
GLP Europe, a leading business builder, owner, developer, and operator of logistics real estate, now part of Ares Management Real Estate (“Ares”), announces that it has completed the development of its 50th building at Magna Park Lutterworth. The latest warehouse, MPN 761, offers a total of 761,361 SQ FT of high-quality leasable space, with features including 277 HGV parking spaces, 10 level access doors and a clear height of 18m. Located within Magna Park North, the building is adjacent to two development-ready plots, MPN 6 and MPN 7, which offer a combined total of 1.2M SQ FT. Magna Park Lutterworth is situated within the Midlands’ ‘Golden Triangle’ area, bounded by the M1, M6 and M69 motorways. Already employing close to 10,000 people and home to 30 different companies, the Park is widely regarded as Europe’s premier logistics location. Its state-of-the-art approach fosters long-term partnerships, attracting leading brands like DHL, Iron Mountain, Amazon and ASDA. In line with the Park’s strong environmental and community-focused credentials, MPN 761 has been designed in accordance with BREEAM “Outstanding” certification standards. This makes it the fourth GLP asset in the UK to be awarded the highest possible BREEAM rating and the second in Magna Park Lutterworth, after MPS 9. MPN761 also achieved the highest possible EPC rating of A+ thanks in part to the inclusion of sustainable features such as a 200kWp solar PV array, rainwater harvesting systems, LED lighting, and air source heat pumps. The building sits adjacent to the new Bittesby Country Park, comprising 220 acres of dedicated woodlands and wetlands, now open to the public. Olivia Hinds, Development Director, United Kingdom, commented: “The completion of MPN 761 represents a valuable addition to our portfolio of units at Magna Park North Lutterworth. The significance of the Midlands to the UK logistics market can’t be underestimated, and we look forward to welcoming customers who will benefit from the building’s strategic location as well as its industry-leading specifications.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Popeyes UK is continuing its ambitious expansion across the country, with Manchester Arndale confirmed as the latest destination for the fast-growing fried chicken brand. The popular chain has signed a lease for a 2,816 sq ft unit located within the centre’s bustling food court. It will join an already impressive line-up of quick-service restaurants and casual dining operators, further enhancing the Arndale’s appeal to shoppers and city-centre visitors. Having launched its first UK site in 2021, Popeyes has rapidly scaled its operations. With more than 80 sites now open nationwide, the brand has bold plans to open 45 additional restaurants during 2025. The new Manchester location is expected to attract considerable footfall, reflecting the city’s dynamic food scene and the brand’s growing popularity. The arrival of Popeyes adds to an increasingly diverse food and beverage offering at Manchester Arndale. Recent newcomers to the centre include Sides, a street food concept from YouTube collective The Sidemen, and international juice bar brand Joe & The Juice. These openings sit alongside recent retail additions such as Alo Yoga, Arc’teryx, Sephora, and PureSeoul – evidence of the centre’s broader transformation into a well-rounded lifestyle destination. Scott Linard, portfolio director at M&G Real Estate, commented on the signing: “We are delighted to welcome Popeyes to Manchester Arndale. The brand is an ideal complement to our expanding food and beverage mix. Our goal is to create a dynamic environment that offers more than just shopping – combining fashion, food, and entertainment in one central location.” He added that Manchester Arndale continues to see strong footfall and remains a magnet for both domestic and international brands seeking high-visibility space in the North West. Letting agents for the scheme are Metis Real Estate and Time Retail Partners, who remain focused on attracting a balance of global names and emerging talent to maintain the vibrancy of the Arndale offering. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A major new chapter in Manchester’s regeneration story is set to begin, as construction firm Graham is appointed to lead the £110 million transformation of the former Boddingtons Brewery site. Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group, has selected Graham as the main contractor to deliver Brewery Gardens – a high-density residential scheme located on Great Ducie Street in the heart of the city. The project will bring 505 new homes to a long-disused brownfield plot spanning just 1.25 acres. This prominent scheme is one of the first in the country to secure Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator, a critical milestone under new building safety legislation. It marks the second such success this year for Latimer and Graham, following the Dyecoats development in Leeds. With regulatory hurdles cleared, work in Manchester is scheduled to begin this summer, with completion targeted for autumn 2028. The design reflects the site’s rich industrial past, with proposed buildings featuring a traditional brick exterior, aluminium-framed windows and Juliet balconies to maintain an urban, character-driven appearance. Richard Cook, chief development officer at Clarion Housing Group, said the project signals a major step in the group’s ambitions for central Manchester. He added that Brewery Gardens will play a key role in helping to meet the city’s growing housing demand by delivering well-designed, affordable homes in a sustainable and attractive environment. Stephen Van den Hoek, regional director at Graham, said the Gateway 2 approval highlights the strong collaboration between partners and underlines a shared commitment to delivering homes that meet modern standards of safety, quality and community value. The development is part-funded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and represents a major piece of the wider regeneration strategy for the area. Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig welcomed the scheme as an early catalyst for the long-term redevelopment of the neighbouring Strangeways district. She described Brewery Gardens as a significant moment for the city’s housing landscape – offering affordable living options in a central location, while unlocking the potential of one of Manchester’s most ambitious transformation zones. Once complete, Brewery Gardens will not only reinvigorate a landmark site long associated with the city’s brewing heritage but will also bring new life and purpose to a key gateway into central Manchester. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Masdar, a global clean energy leader, and Iberdrola, one of the world’s largest energy companies, have reached two major milestones with a €5.2 billion co-investment in the UK’s East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm – one of the largest offshore wind transactions of the decade – and the full energization of their 476MW Baltic Eagle project in Germany. These developments mark significant progress in delivering Europe and the UK’s offshore wind targets and advancing the companies’ €15 billion strategic partnership to accelerate clean energy deployment across key markets including the UK, Germany, and the US. Signed in December 2023, the Masdar–Iberdrola partnership is one of the largest bilateral alliances in the global clean energy sector. Together, these projects accelerate Europe’s offshore wind build-out and underscore Masdar and Iberdrola’s commitment to tripling global renewable capacity by 2030. East Anglia THREE co-investment agreement in the UK Masdar and Iberdrola will co-invest in the 1.4GW East Anglia THREE wind farm in the UK, in one of the largest offshore wind transactions of the decade. Under the agreement, each company will have a 50% stake in and co-governance of the asset, which will be pivotal in advancing Europe’s ambitious offshore wind development targets. All the conditions precedent have been achieved and the transaction is expected to close shortly. In addition, on 9 July the project financing for East Anglia Three was signed for approximately £3.5 billion – around €4.1 billion euros – with 24 international banks. Oversubscribed by 40%, the facility is one of the largest ever such transactions. It will cover a substantial part of the total costs of the project, estimated at approximately €5.2 billion, without consolidating debt in any of the partners’ financial statements. Located off the Suffolk coast in the UK, East Anglia THREE will become one of the world’s two largest offshore wind farms when it comes into initial operation in Q4 2026, delivering enough clean energy to power 1.3 million British homes. The project benefits from long-term revenue security through a 15-year CPI-linked Contract for Difference (CfD) awarded in the UK Government’s AR4 and AR6 auctions, as well as a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Amazon signed in 2024. Over 2,300 jobs are expected to be created during construction, with 100 long-term roles supported across its lifetime. Full energization of Baltic Eagle in Germany Masdar and Iberdrola have also celebrated the completion and full energization of the Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea. As the first project completed under the strategic partnership, the 476MW wind farm represents a major step forward in supporting Germany’s clean energy ambitions, reinforcing both companies’ leadership in renewable energy development. It will supply around 475,000 households with renewable energy while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 800,000 tons per year. Baltic Eagle is the second of Iberdrola’s three major wind farm projects in Germany, along with Wikinger (350MW, in operation) and Windanker (315MW, in planning). Collectively, these offshore wind farms form Iberdrola’s Baltic Hub. Baltic Eagle is Masdar’s first project with Iberdrola, its first in Germany and resulted in the company’s largest ever euro-denominated financing. HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar said: “Masdar and Iberdrola are continuing to forge one of the largest and most powerful strategic clean energy partnerships to accelerate capacity growth in Europe and worldwide. Offshore wind will play a crucial role in the global energy transformation, and landmark developments like Baltic Eagle and East Anglia THREE are significant advances towards clean energy targets in major European nations. With demand surging due to exponential AI growth and the rise of emerging markets, projects such as these have never been more critical.” Ignacio Galán, Iberdrola’s Executive Chairman, said: “Today is an important landmark in our global partnership with Masdar. Partnerships such as this one are vital in accelerating energy security and competitiveness and working towards delivering ambitious climate targets. With Masdar, we have a partner who shares our vision and commitment. “Joining forces with Masdar in the East Anglia THREE offshore windfarm will allow Iberdrola to accelerate our strategic focus on the UK, where we are investing £24 billion to 2028 in transmission and distribution networks and in renewable energy, contributing to the delivery of the UK Government’s ambitious electrification plans. The completion of Baltic Eagle represents a new milestone in our partnership, reinforcing Iberdrola’s commitment to electrification and strengthening our presence in the Baltic Sea.” Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: “This landmark partnership underscores our commitment to driving Europe’s energy transformation and advancing global climate goals. Our strategic co-investments with Iberdrola in East Anglia THREE and Baltic Eagle demonstrate how ambitious cross-border partnerships can deliver transformative impact at scale. Together, we are setting a new benchmark for offshore wind collaboration, and we are looking forward to deepening this partnership as Europe accelerates its renewable energy targets. “Through this partnership, Masdar is reaffirming its long-standing commitment to the European energy transformation. From our roots in the UK since 2008 to our growing presence in Germany, we are proud to be part of some of the region’s most iconic renewable energy developments. Our co-investments in East Anglia THREE and Baltic Eagle exemplify how cross-border collaboration can accelerate impact at scale.” Masdar and Iberdrola will continue to jointly invest in future clean energy projects in Europe and in other markets. Work to identify other opportunities is already underway, with the anticipated total value of joint investments in offshore wind and green hydrogen as part of the partnership calculated at €15 billion. As Masdar advances towards its target of 100GW of global clean energy capacity by 2030, its European footprint continues to expand and – following its landmark acquisitions in 2024 of Saeta Yield in Spain and TERNA ENERGY in Greece – is expected to contribute up to 30GW of capacity and support the region’s clean energy goals. In addition to its partnership with Iberdrola, Masdar has invested in wind and solar projects across key
Travis Perkins, the UK’s leading distributor of building materials, is pleased to share that its parent company, Travis Perkins plc, has been ranked one of the nation’s top apprenticeship employers. The building materials supplier ranked top in sector and 32nd in the prestigious Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, published by the Department for Education in partnership with apprenticeship review platform RateMyApprenticeship. Travis Perkins was also named the UK’s third best apprenticeship employer in the Construction, Property & Surveying category. Andy Rayner, the Director of Skills and Apprenticeships at Travis Perkins plc, said: “Being named a top UK apprenticeship employer is a testament to Travis Perkins’ deep commitment to nurturing talent. Our proud track record reflects not only the hard work of our colleagues and apprentices, but also the high-quality, impactful experiences we deliver, ultimately building a skilled and loyal workforce for a thriving industry.” The 2025 Top 100 list recognises organisations for: Travis Perkins currently offers over 40 award-winning apprenticeship programmes, from Level 2 to Level 7, delivered through our inhouse LEAP Apprenticeships & Early Careers programmes and through partnerships with Multiverse, Exeter University, BPP and the Open University. Travis Perkins’ apprenticeship scheme has been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted across all assessment areas, with the builder’s merchant currently working on ambitions to bring 10,000 new people into the construction industry through these programmes by 2030. “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to upskill and help build the workforce for the future,” said Andy Rayner. “They offer people from all backgrounds an opportunity into sustainable and meaningful work, while helping businesses to address the growing skills gap.” A recent CV Genius survey found that three in four UK hiring managers questioned said that this skills gap is causing them to struggle to fill roles. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson praised all companies which made up the 2025 Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, commenting: “Congratulations to all the employers recognised for their outstanding apprenticeship programmes. “They are delivering the skilled workforce we need to deliver our number one mission to grow the economy, and breaking down barriers for young people across the country.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Material Evolution is launching a pilot project of its ultra-low carbon cement, MevoCem, in partnership with leading building materials solutions company CRH and its UK operating company Tarmac. The pilot will demonstrate MevoCem’s performance under the new BSI Code of Practice Flex 350 which allows for the specification of a wider range of lower carbon concretes to help decarbonise construction projects. It may help provide the data necessary for Flex350 to be incorporated into the broader BS8500 concrete standard – which is equivalent to the EU’s EN206 – making it simpler to deliver projects using the latest low carbon innovations. By using proprietary alkali fusion technology to produce MevoCem, Material Evolution has eliminated the need for heat as part of the cement production process, providing an up to 85% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional cement. The project follows the selection of Material Evolution as a winner in the recent Sustainable Materials Accelerator Program, led by CRH Ventures – the venture capital unit of CRH – which identified innovative materials and applications to lower emissions, reduce waste and improve energy use across the construction sector. Liz Gilligan, CEO and co-founder of Material Evolution, said: “This partnership is a major milestone for our team, and we’re excited to deepen our relationship with CRH and Tarmac as we scale MevoCem at a commercial level. CRH’s commitment as an early adopter of our next-generation ultra-low carbon cement products is especially significant – it supports not just our growth, but the continued research required to deliver a true net zero cement alternative. “Decarbonising the construction industry is one of the most urgent environmental challenges we face. It’s only through partnerships, collaboration, and innovation with industry leaders that we can accelerate the adoption of ultra-low carbon cement across the sector.” Eduardo Gomez, head of CRH Ventures, commented: “Through our accelerator programmes CRH is supporting the delivery of market-ready innovation to our customers across the construction value chain. “Winners gain access to CRH’s extensive network and expertise to drive forward the availability of smarter solutions to support a more resilient built environment.” Josh Bennett, national technical manager for Ready-Mix at Tarmac, commented: “We are looking forward to collaborating with the team at Material Evolution to pilot the next-generation of ultra-low carbon cement products currently under development, and continuing to advance progress in the materials science of low carbon products.” As the biggest producer of low-carbon cement in the UK, Material Evolution’s Mevo A1 Production Facility in Wrexham has the capacity to produce 120,000 tonnes of MevoCem annually, making the company the largest producer of ultra-low carbon cement in the UK. To find out more about Material Evolution, visit: https://materialevolution.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has officially approved STARK Group’s climate targets to reach net zero by 2050. The targets include carbon reductions across the entire value chain and are aligned with the 1.5°C pathway and UN’s Paris Agreement. In 2021, STARK Group became the first distributor of building materials and among the first 20 Danish companies to have its 2030 climate plan approved. The company aims to reduce direct carbon emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 45% and indirect value chain emissions (scope 3) by 25% by 2030. Now, STARK Group has received approval for its long-term targets leading up to 2050. The company commits to reducing its total emissions (scope 1, 2, and 3) by at least 90% by 2050, with a particular focus on lowering the climate impact of building materials, which account for the vast majority of the group’s emissions. The targets are based on detailed analyses and a data-driven approach to identifying and reducing climate impact across both STARK Group’s own emissions and the emissions tied to the building materials it sells. This effort is supported by external factors such as stricter emissions requirements in building regulations, suppliers’ own net zero targets, and political initiatives such as the EU Green Deal and the UK Climate Act, under which both the EU and the UK have committed to climate neutrality by 2050. In the UK, STARK UK is fully committed to aligning its sustainability efforts with national climate objectives, including the UK Climate Change Act and the government’s Net Zero Strategy. The business has integrated sustainability into its core strategy, with measurable goals that reflect science-based targets and support the UK’s commitment to reach net zero by 2050. In the company’s financial year 2024, STARK UK achieved a 15.6% reduction in direct carbon emissions (scope 1 and 2), relative to a 2020 baseline. Fuel from logistics saw a reduction of 17% YOY. This has been driven by a nationwide energy reduction programme, targeted branch investments, saving an average of 19 tonnes of CO₂ per site annually, and fleet optimisation. Louise Askær-Hune, Senior Director, Group Sustainability & ESG, says: “Our climate ambition is built on extensive data and rigorous calculations, and we are proud that our ambitious targets have now been scientifically validated. This applies not only to our own operations but also to our efforts to bring the entire value chain along on the journey toward a less climate-impacting construction industry. With this approval, we know we are on the right path.” Sabrina Passley, Head of Sustainability STARK UK adds: “Having our SBTi targets approved is deeply meaningful, it’s a promise to future generations that we’re taking real, science-backed action. To our UK partners and stakeholders, we’re not just ticking boxes, we’re in this together, building a more sustainable future with passion, pride and commitment.” More than 95% of STARK Group’s emissions come from the building materials the company sells (scope 3). Therefore, STARK Group has had to develop new methods and solutions that challenge industry standards. Currently, climate data is typically calculated using average estimates based on the price of a product group, which means that more expensive materials are assigned worse climate scores than cheaper ones. STARK Group is now the first in the industry to collect and digitise climate data from sources such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for over 60% of the products in its assortment. With this new, precise calculation method, building material manufacturers are incentivised to produce more climate-friendly products showing actual emissions. At the same time, customers gain an accurate view of the products’ carbon footprint, enabling them to factor this information into their decision-making. “Only 2% of our total emissions come from our direct operations. Therefore, the biggest task lies in reducing emissions from the building materials and products we make available from manufacturers and suppliers. The approval of our climate targets has been a comprehensive process, requiring significant work in data collection and analysis. We are therefore pleased to have established a tool that makes product-level climate impact transparent, setting a new standard in our industry,” says Louise Askær-Hune. For STARK Group, this initiative not only enhances transparency but also strengthens the company’s strategic decision-making. The detailed insight into product emissions enables the company to target its climate efforts and support its net zero ambition with concrete, data-based actions. STARK Group has already implemented climate monitoring tools in Denmark and Sweden. Later this year, they will also be introduced in Finland, and the company is working to offer the solution across all its markets. In Denmark, the STARK-developed tool KlimaLog received the prestigious Finans Impact Climate Award in 2024. Since 2021, the company has been a signatory to the UN Global Compact, established a European Supplier Programme with a focus on supplier collaboration in areas such as sustainable development, and achieved the EcoVadis Platinum rating for its commitment to sustainable business practices. STARK Group’s Approved Climate Targets for 2030 and 2050: · Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 45% by FY30 from a FY20 base year. · Reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 25% by FY30 from a FY23 base year. · Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 90% by FY50 from a FY20 base year. · Reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 90% by FY50 from a FY23 base year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, has launched a major new initiative to develop data centres across Europe, the UK, India and the Middle East with the appointment of four senior specialists. Panattoni’s new dedicated data centres team will be led by Richard Wellbrock, who joins as Managing Director, Data Centres. He brings more than 25 years of real estate experience, including almost 20 years focused on the development of data centres. Most recently, as Chief Commercial Officer at Colt Data Centre Services (DCS), a leading global data centre operator. Richard played a key role in delivering large-scale, AI-ready data centre campuses across Europe and Asia , driving growth from 100MW to 1GW, including supporting a $1.5 billion joint venture with Mitsui. Joining Richard Wellbrock at Panattoni are; Nick Parker, Head of Capital Deployment, Data Centres, John Belton, Head of Development, Data Centres, and Paul Terry, Infrastructure Director, Data Centres. Nick Parker, who was previously Global Senior Director of Asset Management at Colt DCS, where he led over €5 billion in capital deployment strategies, supported transactions of around 250MW with hyperscale customers and played a central role in structuring international joint ventures and investment strategy across India, Japan and Europe. John Belton, who served as Global Senior Director of Development at Colt DCS, has around 40 years’ experience in engineering and data centre development. He managed Colt DCS’s global development portfolio, creating a pipeline capable of delivering more than 1GW of IT load across multiple countries. Paul Terry, who was Colt DCS’s Global Director of Development Infrastructure, led infrastructure design and delivery from land acquisition through to handover, managing major utility and technology programmes. All four will be based in London and report to Robert Dobrzycki, CEO and co-owner of Panattoni Europe, UK, Middle East and India. Robert Dobrzycki, CEO, said: “This is a significant new chapter for Panattoni. Data centres are essential infrastructure for the modern economy, and we are now building a world-class platform to deliver them. Richard and his team bring exceptional experience and insight”. Richard Wellbrock, Managing Director, Data Centres, said: “Panattoni has an outstanding track record of development at scale and pace. With our team now in place, we’re looking forward to growing the business across Europe, the UK, India and the Middle East, supporting hyperscalers, cloud providers and enterprise customers with high-quality data centre solutions”. Panattoni’s expansion into data centres builds on its longstanding expertise in large-scale industrial and logistics development, which has seen it deliver more than 23 million sq m across Europe. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
1Energy to bolster energy security and cut air pollution from buildings by 86%, project receives local support. The country’s leading low-carbon city heat network developer, 1Energy, has pledged £100m of private capital for a city-wide heat network for Derby at a high-profile event for the city’s leaders. This move follows the company securing £23m of investment into the project from the UK Government. Developed at no cost to the local community or council, the Derby Energy Network will cut city wide gas demand by around 7 per cent. It will supply the city with low-carbon heating via underground hot water pipes, using water source heat pumps to repurpose surplus heat from local businesses.1 1Energy could invest over £140m into the network as it grows.2 1Energy pledged its initial investment to the project at a high-profile event attended by Derby’s leaders, including Baggy Shanker MP, on the site of the world’s first factory late last week. The event saw the public and private sectors come together to further plans to deliver a more secure future for the city – to bolster energy security and innovation, create skilled jobs and apprenticeships, and future-proof essential infrastructure. Major organisations in the city, including Derby City Council, the Royal Derby and Florence Nightingale Hospitals, the University of Derby and Derby College, are working with 1Energy to advance the network, with plans to begin construction in 2026. The Derby Energy Network will enable the city to bolster energy security, cut costs for businesses3 and protect against sudden gas-related energy price hikes,4 with buildings being warmed by low-carbon heat rather than gas boilers. Additionally, some of Britain’s most innovative businesses, such as Rolls-Royce and SmartParc5 could soon be linked up via the project, extending the pioneering city’s leadership in the circular economy.6 Andrew Wettern, CEO of 1Energy, said: “Derby has long led the world in terms of innovation, from water networks to defence. We are delighted to bring long-term investment to the city and build on its rich industrial heritage, enabling leading businesses to play a key role in delivering a new utility model. “Home to world-renowned innovators, Derby is uniquely placed to lead the transition to a more secure energy future. Alongside transforming the city’s energy infrastructure, the Derby Energy Network will give businesses greater choice and long-term price certainty. All while unlocking economic, health and environmental benefits for the city, the region and the country. We are exciting to continue working with Derby’s trailblazers to develop the network.” As well as helping the UK achieve its energy security goals, the network will play a vital role in reducing air pollution, improving public health.7 It is projected to save around 20 tonnes of air pollutants that can cause respiratory problems8 – equivalent to taking 16,000 cars off the road for a year – by cutting pollutants from connected buildings by around 86 per cent. The network also expects to reduce carbon emissions by 19,200 tonnes through slashing emissions from buildings by up to 77 per cent. Baggy Shanker, Member of Parliament for Derby South, said: “The Derby Energy Network represents a huge opportunity for our city to deliver another cutting-edge project, continuing our long-standing leadership on innovation. By combining private capital and public investment, it will bring hundreds of millions of pounds into Derby. I see it playing a key role in boosting economic growth. “It is great to hear the project will also create hundreds of skilled local jobs, including apprenticeships. As a former apprentice myself, I know first-hand how transformative they can be.” Project fit for a ‘city of firsts’ Home to Britain’s first publicly owned water network, water-powered silk mill and planned public park, Derby has led the way in terms of devising innovative solutions to societal issues. However, heat remains one of our biggest challenges. Accounting for half the UK’s natural gas use, it is one of the main reasons our country remains reliant on imported fossil fuels and, as a result, vulnerable to sudden changes in international prices. It is also responsible for over a fifth (21 per cent) of air pollution, and 37 per cent of Britain’s total carbon emissions. Heat networks offer the lowest-cost, simplest, fastest route to addressing all these challenges at once, requiring the fewest retrofit measures.9 The Derby Energy Network provides the extra benefit of adding another element to the city’s leadership on engineering innovation. The project will also create and support hundreds of jobs, apprenticeships and supply chain opportunities locally – a key topic of discussion at last week’s event. Councilor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability at Derby City Council, said: “This is brilliant news for our city. 1Energy’s £100m investment in low-carbon heating will mark a transformative step forward for Derby – not only in our mission to tackle climate change by cutting carbon emissions, but also in fostering healthier, more resilient communities. This initiative will help to keep homes and buildings across Derby warm in a more sustainable way whilst delivering wider benefits, from improving air quality and reducing fuel poverty, to enhancing public health and wellbeing. This initiative will be a game changer for communities across Derby, and I look forward to working closely with 1Energy to deliver lasting benefits for Derby.” Aligned with the City’s pioneering spirit, 1Energy is the first company in the UK to use funding from institutional investors to build city-scale low-carbon heat networks. The company has ambitions to deploy £1bn in the next eight years into new projects across the country, leveraging best practices gleaned from delivering the Derby Energy Network alongside Britain’s most innovative businesses. Through reducing the use of gas, these networks will help bolster energy security, protect against energy price hikes and cut costs, and reduce public health costs.10 Phil Lovell, COO at SmartParc, said: “At SmartParc, we are pleased to be working with 1Energy Group, to jointly explore opportunities to provide low carbon heat to the Derby Energy Network. Collaboration opportunities offer greater scope to harness the work we’re already doing at SmartParc for the benefit of the wider city. “By harnessing innovative technologies and shared values, we’re contributing to a cleaner, greener Derby while supporting
Civil engineering, infrastructure and tunnelling specialist Barhale has announced the appointment of James Haddon in a newly created role of Director of Low Carbon Solutions and Joe Solomon as Regional Director (Eastern). Director of Low Carbon Solutions is a new board-level position which reflects both Barhale’s corporate commitment to decarbonisation and reducing fossil fuel dependency and also its focus on developing innovative low carbon solutions for clients. James Haddon originally joined Barhale in 1988 as a site engineer and rapidly progressed through commercial, project management and regional manager roles. He joined AECOM in 2006 and worked across their European operations for nine years before returning to Barhale in 2015 to take up the position of Regional Director (Eastern). Joe Solomon, who steps into the role of Regional Director (Eastern), started his career with Barhale in 2012 as a Quantity Surveyor after six years at M.A.R.S. Construction. By 2014, he had progressed to Senior QS, working on S101a schemes in Peterborough before moving into commercial management roles within the @one Alliance, Anglian Water’s highly regarded partnership delivering complex capital projects – of which Barhale is a founding partner. In January 2021, Joe was appointed to Head of Commercial for the Eastern region. For Chief Executive Martin Brown, the appointments exemplify how Barhale is promoting succession planning and developing the future leaders of its business from within. “James and Joe are natural choices for these roles,” he said. “Accelerating our carbon solutions offering is a key element of our growth strategy and James’s expertise and wealth of experience provide an ideal combination to lead the drive. “Joe has worked closely with James for many years and he will continue to develop and grow our business within Eastern. He has an excellent relationship with key clients and partners and also brings huge enthusiasm and experience to the role. I look forward to him continuing to building Barhale’s business across the region. “Both appointments are in line with our business strategy and are a great reflection of the business’s agenda to recognise and promote talent from among its existing teams.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
