Britain’s warehouse and logistics sector is facing a decade-defining challenge, as new analysis warns that defence spending will create unprecedented demand for additional storage and distribution capacity across the country. According to research from Savills, the UK will require up to three million sq m of new warehouse space by
Mango is preparing to launch a new flagship store at Festival Place, Basingstoke, later this year, marking another key step in its UK growth strategy. The international fashion brand will occupy a 7,104 sq ft unit at the heart of the scheme, designed around Mango’s contemporary ‘New Med’ concept. The
London Councils has urged the government to reconsider key elements of plans to reform council funding in its response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, which closed recently (Friday 15 August). In particular, the cross-party group highlighted the need to accurately measure the capital’s high levels of deprivation, with
CBRE completes 24,360 sq ft deal at Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has agreed a three-year deal on 24,360 sq ft of Grade A office space at City Square, which will become temporary accommodation for teaching staff and students during the major transformation of the University’s
Laing O’Rourke has commenced main construction on two major prison expansion projects, marking a significant step forward in the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) drive to increase capacity across the estate. The contractor has been appointed under the MoJ’s Small Secure Houseblocks (SSHB) alliance to deliver new accommodation at HMP Humber
As the offshore wind industry accelerates to meet global energy and climate goals, researchers at Robert Gordon University (RGU) have published a groundbreaking study aimed at supporting safety, wellbeing, and performance for wind technicians working in high-risk environments. Dr Ruby Roberts and Professor Rhona Flin from Aberdeen Business School have
STRABAG are pleased to announce that they have achieved financial close and have been awarded the contract to deliver the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme, otherwise known as HARP, for United Utilities. HARP is a major scheme to maintain drinking water supplies across Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester for future generations.
A specialist HS2 engineering team has moved a 112m long, 1,631 tonne steel structure over a section of Lawley Middleway – part of Birmingham’s ring road, four days ahead of schedule. The operation was successfully delivered by HS2’s main works contractor in the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) and
Britain’s multi-billion-pound construction pipeline is under threat, as new data reveals the industry must recruit 61,000 new workers annually* – putting the Government’s five-year investment plan in jeopardy – including Labour’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes by 2030. According to CV-Library, the UK’s leading job for construction roles*, demand
United Living Group has reported record financial results for the year ending 31 March 2025, underlining the company’s strengthened position as a key provider of solutions for the UK’s critical infrastructure. The Group, which received backing from Apollo-managed funds in August 2023, has continued to scale its operations and broaden
Britain’s warehouse and logistics sector is facing a decade-defining challenge, as new analysis warns that defence spending will create unprecedented demand for additional storage and distribution capacity across the country. According to research from Savills, the UK will require up to three million sq m of new warehouse space by 2032 to support the expansion of the nation’s defence manufacturing base. The figure, equivalent to more than 400 football pitches, highlights the scale of demand expected as government investment flows into the sector. The forecast follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment to increase the UK’s annual defence budget by £40 billion by 2035. Major contractors such as BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce are preparing to expand operations to deliver on both domestic and allied commitments, creating a ripple effect through the wider warehouse and logistics market. To meet demand, the UK would need to deliver an average of 429,000 sq m of additional warehouse space every year until 2032. This comes on top of the long-term annual average of 650,000 sq m, placing the sector under significant pressure at a time when development is already constrained by high construction costs, expensive financing, and limited land availability. Prime warehouse rents are already on the rise, particularly in the South East. Around the M25, rents have nearly doubled since 2019, climbing from £215 per sq m to £398 per sq m in 2025. Analysts warn that defence sector expansion, combined with sustained e-commerce growth and reshoring strategies, could push rents higher still, placing further strain on occupiers across multiple industries. Andrew Blennerhassett, associate director in Savills’ industrial and logistics research team, commented: “Defence investment has the potential to reshape the UK warehouse market in a very short period of time. Policymakers must ensure land supply and planning approvals keep pace with demand. Otherwise, capacity constraints will quickly become a brake on both industrial output and national resilience.” The UK warehouse market has already seen major structural shifts since the pandemic, as manufacturers, retailers and distributors moved to secure greater domestic capacity. Defence now represents an additional layer of demand, with contractors and their supply chains expected to require new-build facilities, large-scale storage hubs, and modernised logistics parks. Developers and investors are responding. Sirius Real Estate, which holds more than £2 billion of warehouse assets in the UK and Germany, has brought in a former British Army major general as a strategic adviser to help capture opportunities created by the expansion of the defence sector. Andrew Coombs, chief executive of Sirius and a former Grenadier Guards officer, said: “Defence has the potential to become one of the most important drivers of demand for warehouse and logistics space over the next decade. These requirements will not only focus on capacity but also on quality, with an emphasis on resilience, efficiency and futureproofing. For landlords, the fact that much of this demand is ultimately government-backed adds a unique level of stability.” The scale of investment expected from defence contractors is likely to reshape warehouse development patterns across the UK. Regions with established defence and aerospace industries, including the North West, South West and Midlands, are forecast to see the strongest uplift in demand, with ripple effects across national distribution networks. However, analysts caution that unless the UK overcomes persistent barriers around planning and land availability, the challenge of creating sufficient warehouse capacity could become acute. With occupier expectations increasingly centred on ESG standards, energy efficiency and connectivity, there is also pressure on developers to deliver facilities that meet the sustainability benchmarks now standard in other sectors. For warehouse and logistics operators, the convergence of defence spending, e-commerce demand and reshoring strategies is set to drive sustained competition for prime space. As the market prepares for what could be a transformative decade, the role of the warehouse sector in underpinning both economic growth and national security is likely to become more visible than ever before. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mango is preparing to launch a new flagship store at Festival Place, Basingstoke, later this year, marking another key step in its UK growth strategy. The international fashion brand will occupy a 7,104 sq ft unit at the heart of the scheme, designed around Mango’s contemporary ‘New Med’ concept. The store will stock both womenswear and menswear, providing a fresh fashion destination for local shoppers. Festival Place, home to more than 180 retailers, secured the letting as its first major signing since MDSR Investment acquired the centre in April for £99.1 million. Mango’s arrival is expected to enhance the scheme’s retail line-up and cement its role as a leading regional shopping destination. The move is part of Mango’s wider global expansion plan, which sets out to reach 500 stores by the end of next year. The UK plays a central role in this roadmap, with 20 new openings planned nationwide during 2025. Ross Campbell, director and head of asset management at Festival Place, commented:“The key focus of our asset management strategy since MDSR’s purchase of Festival Place has been to strengthen the fashion offer at the centre. Mango’s arrival marks a strong start to this programme. Being part of the brand’s growth ambitions is exciting, as it strengthens its UK presence this year with 20 new store openings, reflecting strong shopper demand for its offer.” Neil Hockin, Joint Managing Director and Head of Leasing at Lunson Mitchenall, added:“It’s a significant milestone that Mango has chosen Festival Place for its flagship store – its offer aligns seamlessly with the customer demographic, and it fills a clear gap in the local market with the nearest store more than 27km away. Across the high street fashion sector, we are seeing rising demand for prominent international brands, and Basingstoke reflects this trend strongly. This letting marks a key phase in our strategic asset management partnership with GCW and Estama to reinforce Festival Place’s standing as one of the UK’s premier retail and leisure destinations.” Lunson Mitchenall and GCW acted as joint agents on the deal. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
London Councils has urged the government to reconsider key elements of plans to reform council funding in its response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, which closed recently (Friday 15 August). In particular, the cross-party group highlighted the need to accurately measure the capital’s high levels of deprivation, with the impact of housing costs properly factored in. Boroughs argue ‘flawed’ deprivation measures risk undermining the government’s aim of ensuring funding follows need. For example, the deprivation measure currently proposed gives ‘road distance to a post office’ equal weighting to levels of homelessness – suggesting these factors have the same level of impact on deprivation in a community [1]. London Councils has also raised concerns about: The government’s reforms, which set out a new approach to distributing funding between local authorities in England, are due to be implemented from 2026/27 and will have a major long-term impact on council finances. While London Councils welcomes the government’s commitment to target areas of high deprivation when allocating funding, the cross-party group says the proposed deprivation measures do not sufficiently factor in housing poverty – with potentially devastating consequences for London boroughs’ future budgets. Housing costs take up the largest portion of most household spending. How much someone pays for housing has a significant impact on their disposable income, and the wider impact of housing availability and homelessness is a significant driver of deprivation. However, the government plans to use the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) to measure deprivation, which fails to account for these impacts as it does not adequately reflect housing poverty. Housing poverty is a particular concern for the capital, where one in 50 Londoners is currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, and one in four London households is living in poverty when housing costs are taken into account. Cllr Claire Holland, Chair of London Councils, said: “We have long called for reform to local government funding to ensure money is distributed fairly on the basis of need. However, the current proposals risk failing to achieve this. After more than a decade of structural underfunding, rising demand and skyrocketing costs, the impact on London could be severe. “It is right to focus resources on areas with the highest levels of deprivation, but we can’t ignore deprivation in the capital – London has the highest rate of poverty in the country once housing costs are factored in. It is difficult to explain how proximity to a post office affects someone’s life as much as homelessness, yet these factors are given equal weighting under the current proposals. “As the government considers the responses to the consultation, we will continue working with them to ensure we create a funding regime that genuinely matches resources to need and helps restore financial stability to the sector. This is critical to us delivering on our shared priorities, including building homes, creating jobs and driving economic growth.” London Councils is urging the government to amend its proposals so that the new funding formula is robust and accurately measures levels of need for local services. Councils in London already have the widest funding gap of any region in the country. Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) previously found an estimated 17% gap between funding need and the actual levels of local government funding across the whole of London. Recent analysis by the IFS found that “regionally London is the biggest loser” under the current funding reform proposals. Boroughs are facing a funding shortfall of at least £500m this year and nearly one in four (seven) currently rely on emergency borrowing measures through the government’s Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) scheme – the highest rate of any region in the country. London Councils’ modelling of proposed funding reforms suggests a majority of the London boroughs currently reliant on EFS will actually see their funding shares decrease under the current proposals. Without sufficient funding to meet the demand and cost of delivering services in the capital, the cross-party group warns that more councils risk needing EFS. London Councils’ briefing on the Fair Funding Review 2.0 proposals can be found here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CBRE completes 24,360 sq ft deal at Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has agreed a three-year deal on 24,360 sq ft of Grade A office space at City Square, which will become temporary accommodation for teaching staff and students during the major transformation of the University’s Henry Cotton Building. Global real estate advisor CBRE acted for LJMU on the deal, the largest to complete in the city this year. The fourth-floor office accommodation, on Tithebarn Street in Liverpool’s core business district, will be remodelled over the summer to meet the University’s needs, providing high-quality teaching and student space from next month. LJMU has taken the final available floor in the building. LJMU’s £12.5m project to redevelop the Henry Cotton Building starts in October this year, and is earmarked for completion by July 2027. The works will decarbonise the building, provide flexible, modern new facilities for students and staff and create a new look. It will support the University’s commitment to sustainability and its ambition to reach net zero carbon. The City Square building, which sits in a major artery with access to the city centre, is spread over six floors and provides occupiers with a wealth of on-site amenities and facilities, including private roof terrace, cycle storage, flexible layouts and more. Alongside the City Square deal, CBRE also acted for LJMU in a deal to sell the Jo Makin drama building to the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) for an undisclosed sum. The 13,551 sq ft building on Hope Place in Liverpool was ancillary space. Andy Byrne, Director, CBRE’s Office Agency team in Liverpool said: “It has been a privilege to work with the team at LJMU to secure accommodation at City Square, a significant deal in terms of significance and scale. The additional sale of the Jo Makin building forms part of the ongoing, wider LJMU property strategy and is an excellent new home for the LIPA.” Mark Askem, Director of Estate Development at LJMU, said: “We are pleased to have secured space in City Square to provide high-quality temporary accommodation while we redevelop Henry Cotton Building. City Square is in an ideal location within our City Campus, making it easily accessible for our students, staff and visitors. Our contractors are currently remodelling our leased space in City Square to meet our specific requirements and enable us to deliver high quality teaching, learning and research from September 2025.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Laing O’Rourke has commenced main construction on two major prison expansion projects, marking a significant step forward in the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) drive to increase capacity across the estate. The contractor has been appointed under the MoJ’s Small Secure Houseblocks (SSHB) alliance to deliver new accommodation at HMP Humber in Humberside and HMP Ranby in Nottinghamshire. Together, the schemes will provide 240 additional prison places, each designed to modern standards that prioritise security, rehabilitation and long-term operational efficiency. At HMP Humber, the works will deliver a new houseblock comprising 120 places, supported by an upgraded kitchen facility to enhance the site’s catering provision. HMP Ranby will also benefit from a new 120-place houseblock, alongside the construction of a modern workshop within the existing prison grounds, aimed at creating additional training and employment opportunities for inmates. Both sites are Category C men’s prisons. The SSHB alliance, which also includes Kier and Wates, is structured to enable the sharing of knowledge and best practice between contractors. This collaborative approach is central to the MoJ’s strategy of delivering high-quality, future-ready facilities at pace, while maximising value for the public purse. Although Laing O’Rourke has not disclosed the financial value of the Humber and Ranby contracts, industry benchmarks suggest the schemes are likely worth in the region of £130 million. This estimate is based on the recent £100 million expansion of HMP Onley in Warwickshire, awarded to Wates, which is set to add 180 new places. Laing O’Rourke delivery director Martin Staehr commented: “Moving into the main works is a key milestone for these projects and one we are proud to reach. Each programme will run for around 18 months and will make extensive use of modern methods of construction. By harnessing our offsite manufacturing capability, we can provide greater certainty of delivery while ensuring consistent quality.” The projects are part of the government’s wider commitment to create 20,000 new prison places across England and Wales by the mid-2020s. This expansion strategy combines the construction of entirely new prisons with significant capacity increases at existing establishments. Fiona Parker, deputy director for the SSHB programme at His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), said: “The expansions at HMP Humber and HMP Ranby are a vital step in delivering secure, modern and rehabilitative prison facilities. The additional capacity will not only help to address pressure on the estate but will also support our ambition to reduce reoffending by providing prisoners with opportunities to learn new skills that aid their reintegration into society.” Both schemes are scheduled for completion in 2027, with HMP Humber due to finish in early 2027 and HMP Ranby following in the spring. Once operational, they will form part of a new generation of prison facilities, designed to meet evolving demands on the justice system while supporting safer and more sustainable operations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As the offshore wind industry accelerates to meet global energy and climate goals, researchers at Robert Gordon University (RGU) have published a groundbreaking study aimed at supporting safety, wellbeing, and performance for wind technicians working in high-risk environments. Dr Ruby Roberts and Professor Rhona Flin from Aberdeen Business School have published a paper entitled Human Factors in Onshore and Offshore Wind: A Scoping Review, which has identified 16 key human factors (HF), ranging from psychological and environmental to organisational, that impact technician safety and performance during operations and maintenance. Subsequent work drawing on focus group workshops with those working in the industry, highlights a growing recognition of HF as a vital component of health and safety management. It also calls for the development of a positive safety culture within the wind industry, where safety is a key priority and technicians can speak up without fear of reprisal. Dr Roberts said: “A safe and competent workforce is essential to the long-term success of the wind industry. Our findings offer a more comprehensive understanding of the human challenges faced by onshore and offshore wind technicians, providing a foundation for future safety interventions.” “It’s really about understanding the factors that influence technicians’ ability to do their job well – their skills and competencies, how they work in a team, whether they trust each other, and how their organisation supports them.” Professor Flin added: “By taking a psychological approach, we’re not just looking at equipment and design, we’re examining how people interact with complex systems in their everyday work.This is key to preventing incidents and supporting workforce wellbeing.” A human factors survey launched this week in collaboration with GWO aims to create a unique snapshot of what it is like to work in the wind sector. Asking wind workers about the human factors that they perceive to impact on their health, safety and productivity. Wind workers are invited to share their views here. For more information or to access the full study, visit RGU’s research repository. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
STRABAG are pleased to announce that they have achieved financial close and have been awarded the contract to deliver the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme, otherwise known as HARP, for United Utilities. HARP is a major scheme to maintain drinking water supplies across Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester for future generations. The Haweswater Aqueduct is a 110km pipeline which runs from the Lake District, through Lancashire and into Greater Manchester. Originally constructed between 1933 and 1955, the pipeline needs essential upgrade work and will see the replacement of the existing tunnels sections. The overall estimated project construction costs will be in the region of £3bn. The complex construction and maintenance programme is the first in the UK water sector approved by Ofwat to be delivered through a Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) model. The infrastructure project will bring a range of economic benefits to the region and will create local jobs and apprenticeship opportunities. STRABAG, alongside its partners Equitix and GLIL Infrastructure, have formed Cascade Infrastructure Ltd, the project company responsible for the project agreement with the client, United Utilities. The contract includes finance, design, build and maintenance of six tunnel sections of the pipeline. STRABAG UK Limited will deliver the full design and construction scope of the project. The build phase is planned to run over nine years followed by a further 25 years of maintenance. STRABAG CEO, Stefan Kratochwill said: “Expanding our presence in the UK and investing in critical water infrastructure is a clear step in delivering on our Strategy 2030. With HARP, we are not only contributing to the long-term resilience of critical infrastructure, but also strengthening our market position in the UK”. STRABAG UK Ltd Managing Director, Simon Wild, added: “The award of the HARP design and construction contract to STRABAG UK Limited recognises the capability and depth of competence we have built up over the past years. We will deliver this critical national infrastructure focussing always on best value, working closely with local communities and creating high quality opportunities for skills development and long-term employment in the North of England. We are immensely proud of the way our teams have collaborated to achieve financial close and look forward to continuing this partnership for years to come on such a significant project.” Louise Beardmore, Chief Executive at United Utilities, said: “Making the North West stronger, greener and healthier is at the heart of everything we do. Today marks a significant step to ensure we have the right infrastructure to provide a resilient water supply to communities right across the region for decades to come and, at the same time, creating hundreds of great quality jobs and delivering on the commitments and promises we have set out.” Additional Information In PR19, Ofwat developed the Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) approach, building on the success of Thames Tideway Tunnel. DPC involves a water or wastewater company competitively tendering for services in relation to the delivery of certain major infrastructure projects, resulting in the selection of a third-party competitively appointed provider or ‘CAP’ who will design, build, finance, and in some circumstances operate and/or maintain the relevant infrastructure. DPC will result in water companies competitively procuring more aspects of an infrastructure project, including financing for the project. The original 110km pipeline was constructed between 1933 and 1955 by the Manchester Corporation – the then local authority. The renewal programme will see the six tunnel sections replaced. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A specialist HS2 engineering team has moved a 112m long, 1,631 tonne steel structure over a section of Lawley Middleway – part of Birmingham’s ring road, four days ahead of schedule. The operation was successfully delivered by HS2’s main works contractor in the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) and their bridge move contractor Mammoet. To minimise disruption to road users, the huge span was moved during night-time road closures – moving between 18 and 24 metres every night using a special skidding system – ensuring that the road has remained open during the day. From the first day of the move on 15 August, the team – helped by favourable weather conditions, were able to get ahead of programme, meaning the road will be back to normal from 6am on Friday 22 August instead of the planned full reopening on Monday 25 August. HS2’s Head of Delivery for the Curzon Approaches, Greg Sugden said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the team, and the culmination of two years’ work including detailed design, planning, construction and delivery of this highly technical launch operation. “It is the first steel structure to be put in place for the one mile stretch of viaducts on the approach to Birmingham Curzon Street Station – a pivotal part of the high-speed railway now starting to take shape.” Georgios Markakis, Project Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “This is a proud moment for my team, who have worked hard to deliver this impressive feat of engineering. Through careful planning and expert support from our supply chain, we were able to deliver the operation much quicker than planned. “Not only have we successfully delivered a milestone feat of engineering on the HS2 project, we’ve also been able to get the road back to normal early – which is good news for everyone.” Rather than building the bridge in situ, disruption to road users was drastically reduced by constructing the steel span on land next to Digbeth Canal over the last two years. On 15 August 2025, heavy lifting engineering experts Mammoet rotated the bridge 90 degrees using two self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs). Over the following four nights, a skidding system – with a jacking push/pull mechanism, was used alongside the SPMTs to move the structure into place across Lawley Middleway. This combination of techniques is rarely used and is a first for BBV on the HS2 project. Lawley Middleway bridge forms part of the railway’s approach to Birmingham, with high-speed trains travelling out of the west portal of the 3.5 mile Bromford Tunnel at Washwood Heath and onto a one mile stretch of five connected viaducts – Duddeston Junction, Curzon 1, Curzon 2, Lawley Middleway and Curzon 3 which links onto the platforms of Birmingham Curzon Street Station. Now at peak productivity, work will progress on this section of the railway with the second Bromford Tunnel breakthrough, Curzon 2 viaduct move, first Duddeston Junction Viaduct move, reopening of Aston Church Road, demolition of the old Aston Church Road bridge and start of construction of the new Saltley Viaduct – all set to happen over the next 12 months. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Britain’s multi-billion-pound construction pipeline is under threat, as new data reveals the industry must recruit 61,000 new workers annually* – putting the Government’s five-year investment plan in jeopardy – including Labour’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes by 2030. According to CV-Library, the UK’s leading job for construction roles*, demand continues to grow, with job vacancies surging by 7.9% between January and July 2025, based on market wide data analysis. That being said, with a 14% decline in the workforce over the past five years, 15% of workers now over 60 (CITB data), growing concern as to “who will build Britain” exacerbates. To understand construction professionals’ sentiment of the industry, CV-Library conducted a survey of 625 workers that paints a stark picture of the workforce: Lee Biggins, Founder and CEO of CV-Library explains what the skills shortage could mean for Labour’s 1.5 million homes pledge: “Urgent action is needed to ensure the talent is there to build Britain. Labour’s pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2030 won’t be possible without the workforce to build it. Without confronting the growing construction talent gap head on, these ‘homes of the future’ won’t be built. The industry is under significant pressure and there needs to be urgent investment in skills if the Government is serious about delivering the UK’s major infrastructure goals. More needs to be done to retain existing workers and attract in new workers through apprenticeships and career changes. For those seeking a career change, the construction industry is one of the few sectors with big investment and a jobs boom. There are a wide range of roles in demand, with many of them being largely AI-proof, offering more job security.” Despite the challenges, CV-Library analysed job market data which shows a strong interest and demand in construction roles in 2025, especially in regions like the West Midlands and North West, where application volumes remain high. The 10 most in-demand job vacancies across construction include: Methodology Nationwide market data used to analyse CV-Library’s status as the UK’s leading job board for construction roles. Job trends: CV-Library analysed market-wide job posting data, comparing vacancy rates from January to July 2025 compared to the previous six months. Referenced Data: Labour demand forecasts were sourced from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). Survey: CV-Library conducted a survey of 625 construction workers in March 2025 to gather insights on workforce sentiment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
United Living Group has reported record financial results for the year ending 31 March 2025, underlining the company’s strengthened position as a key provider of solutions for the UK’s critical infrastructure. The Group, which received backing from Apollo-managed funds in August 2023, has continued to scale its operations and broaden its capabilities, reporting a 14.5 per cent increase in revenues to £718 million, up from £627.2 million in 2024. Adjusted EBITDA rose by 33.4 per cent to £68.5 million, while cash profit before tax climbed to £38.5 million. United Living ended the year with gross cash reserves of £70.2 million, alongside a secured order book worth £3.2 billion. The company also signed new contracts worth £920 million during the year. Notably, this included a £250 million project to deliver a CO₂ pipeline for Liverpool Bay Carbon Capture and Storage, a key element of the UK’s net zero ambitions that will bring significant investment to communities across the North West and North Wales. Other contract wins included a £150 million ten-year framework with United Utilities, appointment to the Southern Water AMP8 Capital Infrastructure Framework, a £40 million repairs and maintenance agreement with the London Borough of Harrow, and a £36 million responsive repairs and voids contract with Sovereign Network Group across London and the South of England. In addition to strong organic performance, United Living accelerated its growth strategy through a series of acquisitions across critical markets. These included the purchase of AFECO, PiLON, GTEC Training, Thormer Solutions, Jones, Peter Duffy Ltd, and most recently a majority stake in Glenelly Infrastructure Solutions. The acquisitions have expanded the Group’s capabilities across power distribution, water infrastructure, property services, digital solutions for energy efficiency, and specialist engineering services. Neil Armstrong, Chairman and CEO of United Living Group (pictured), said the results demonstrated both resilience and growth potential. “We are pleased to announce another record financial result for United Living Group, ending the year with a robust cash position and a significant forward order book that reflects sustained growth across our business.“Our sectors continue to benefit from powerful long-term drivers from critical infrastructure investment linked to decarbonisation, resilience, digital connectivity and demand for safe, sustainable living environments. These trends are creating increasing demand for the services United Living is well placed to deliver.“Since the Apollo Impact’s investment in August 2023, we have accelerated our strategy by making six strategic acquisitions, with two post-period-end, that strengthen our expertise and broaden our capabilities across critical markets, including power distribution, water infrastructure, engineering services, and digital solutions for net zero.“United Living’s diverse and resilient platform means the Group is well positioned to drive continued organic growth and deliver further value through targeted acquisitions, supporting the UK’s essential critical infrastructure.” The Group’s performance highlights its ability to align with national priorities around sustainability, digitalisation, and resilience, while securing new opportunities to support both public and private sector clients. Looking ahead, United Living is expected to continue leveraging its strong order book, financial position, and expanded expertise to reinforce its role as a key partner in the delivery of the UK’s most vital infrastructure programmes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
