Real estate finance specialists SHC Capital has secured funding for a £105 million residential development that will deliver 370 new homes next to Edinburgh’s BioQuarter. The site, which is part of the Edmonstone Estate, has been acquired by responsible property investor Hunter REIM. Planning permission is already in place for
Property developer StudioHIVE has been given the green light to build 434 new homes at the major Silverthorne Lane urban regeneration scheme in Bristol. Bristol City Council has granted consent for The Iron Works (Plots 2 and 3) of the wider Silverthorne Lane project, which will provide a mix of
Rituals has celebrated a major milestone with the opening of its 100th UK store, located in St Albans. The wellbeing brand, known for its luxury home and body products, has steadily grown its retail footprint across the country with stores already trading in key cities including London, Belfast, Swansea, Manchester,
One of the UK’s leading fit-out and joinery specialists, EE Smith Contracts, has been awarded the prestigious 52 Avenue Road contract to deliver the fit-out of 12 super-prime houses near London’s Regent’s Park. Following the completion of the concrete frame and basement by a specialist contractor, EE Smith Contracts will deliver the envelope and full
Leading offsite manufacturer McAvoy has been appointed to the LHC £265m Modular Buildings (MB3) Framework, securing a place on all four workstreams: permanent modular buildings (education, offices and community buildings), healthcare facilities, rental of temporary modular buildings and provision of refurbished buildings. This marks McAvoy’s third consecutive term on the
Leading North West property services company, The Momentum Group, has marked a standout year of progress with the release of its second Annual Momentum Contribute Report. Momentum Contribute underpins The Momentum Group’s business activities, and the report highlights a string of achievements that demonstrate the business’s commitment to people, places,
Redical has announced that Belstaff, the British menswear brand, is to make its city debut in Victoria Leeds, its premium lifestyle destination, this September. Belstaff will open a 2,259 sq ft space in the historic Victoria Quarter, and is an addition that extends the destination’s menswear offer alongside the likes
SEGRO V-Park Grand Union has become the first industrial and logistics building in the world to achieve WiredScore Platinum certification Located in Park Royal, SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a six-storey urban logistics development that has been recognised for its outstanding digital infrastructure. Awarded following a rigorous assessment, the WiredScore
Development and asset manager, Canmoor, is delighted to announce that Westway at Glasgow Airport has been shortlisted for Best Overall Scheme (Logistics Park) at the prestigious Industrial Agents Society (IAS) Awards 2025. The recognition places Westway among the UK’s most outstanding industrial and logistics developments. The IAS Awards, regarded as
Procurement is the beating heart of construction. But for many UK organisations, it still runs on spreadsheets, siloed systems, and countless phone calls. And that inefficiency comes at a price. Research reported by PBC Today shows construction projects in the UK run, on average, 46 percent over budget, with procurement
Real estate finance specialists SHC Capital has secured funding for a £105 million residential development that will deliver 370 new homes next to Edinburgh’s BioQuarter. The site, which is part of the Edmonstone Estate, has been acquired by responsible property investor Hunter REIM. Planning permission is already in place for the creation of a total of 725 mixed-tenure residential units, of which 370 will be single-family, Build to Rent homes. Of these, 129, which is 35% of the total, will be affordable housing. The funding for Hunter REIM’s acquisition came from a private debt fund in a structured transaction brokered by SHC Capital. Tony Tadros, Director at SHC Capital, said it was a pleasure to work with Hunter REIM and that he looks forward to partnering with them on their strategic expansion and the delivery of “hundreds of much-needed, sustainable homes in Edinburgh.” The creation of the homes next to the £1 billion BioQuarter life sciences hub will help meet the surging demand for housing in Edinburgh, which is growing nearly three times faster than the rest of Scotland. The design by Hunter REIM will deliver highly energy-efficient homes and a heat network with an on-site energy centre to provide cost-effective, low-carbon heating and hot water to every home. Andrew Moffat, Managing Director of Hunter REIM, added: “When Hunter REIM was formed in 1999, sustainability was a niche issue. Things have changed, and so have we. Today our focus isn’t on growth alone; it’s about growth plus transparency, social responsibility and environmental impact – and that’s what this exciting scheme will deliver. “SHC Capital’s expertise in understanding the complexities of our site acquisition was invaluable. They helped us execute the transaction swiftly with the support of a private debt fund, enabling us to take a major step forward in our growth and strategic objectives.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Property developer StudioHIVE has been given the green light to build 434 new homes at the major Silverthorne Lane urban regeneration scheme in Bristol. Bristol City Council has granted consent for The Iron Works (Plots 2 and 3) of the wider Silverthorne Lane project, which will provide a mix of studio, one, two and three-bed build to rent homes near Bristol Temple Meads station. The scheme also includes new workspace, plus bars and restaurants sited around a public space, a new water taxi stop for Bristol Ferry Boats and a waterside walkway beside the Feeder Canal. The scheme is expected to be complete in 2029. The Iron Works forms part of the 12-acre Silverthorne Lane mixed use development in the heart of Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone (TQEZ). This comprises new homes, offices and student accommodation plus Oasis Academy Temple Quarter – a new 1,600 place comprehensive secondary school and sixth form – and new academic and office space for the University of Bristol. StudioHIVE is working in partnership with Woh Hup and Atlas Land, who acquired the site in June 2023 as part of the wider Silverthorne Lane masterplan. James Howard, development director at StudioHIVE, said: “Silverthorne Lane represents the biggest regeneration of a brownfield site in Bristol for some time, one which will provide huge social value benefits in a previously neglected part of the city. “At a time of considerable economic uncertainty we’re very proud to be delivering hundreds of much-needed new homes in the city centre, alongside employment and leisure opportunities for the people of Bristol and beyond. “The city council’s decision means we can now press on with this exciting project with a view to delivery in around four years’ time.” Sophie White, head of Lichfields’ Bristol office, which is providing planning consultancy on the project, added: “Lichfields is delighted with the planning committee’s decision on this landmark housing scheme. Securing consent follows close collaboration with Bristol City Council, StudioHIVE and the wider design team. “As one of the first residential projects in Bristol Temple Quarter, it will play a key role in shaping an exciting future for this part of the city.” The StudioHIVE team is based at The Temperance House in Wraxall, North Somerset, a Grade II listed building which was formerly The Battleaxes pub. Plans for a business centre, serviced accommodation, community hub and new homes at the site have also been approved by North Somerset Council with the support of Wraxall & Failand Parish Council. StudioHIVE is also involved in several other high-profile projects in the South West, including the development of the Weston-super-Mare Rugby Football Club site. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Rituals has celebrated a major milestone with the opening of its 100th UK store, located in St Albans. The wellbeing brand, known for its luxury home and body products, has steadily grown its retail footprint across the country with stores already trading in key cities including London, Belfast, Swansea, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Annemarie Forsyth, managing director of Rituals UK & Ireland, said: “We’re excited to continue to thoughtfully expand our presence across the UK and Ireland, two markets which are hugely important to us. Helping us reach more communities while staying rooted in our values remains a focus.” Alongside the new opening, Rituals is preparing to launch its first ‘Mind Oasis’ on Oxford Street in London later this year. The new concept is designed to offer customers a space to recharge and reconnect, strengthening the brand’s positioning in wellbeing-led retail. Further expansion is also planned in Ireland, with two additional stores due to open before the end of the year. By then, Rituals expects to operate 113 UK stores and 18 Irish locations, bringing its combined footprint across the two markets to 137 stores, including travel hubs, in 2025. Recommendation: Use St Albans as a showcase launch to reinforce the brand’s UK growth story.Next step: Position the Mind Oasis concept as a flagship example of Rituals’ evolving customer experience. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
One of the UK’s leading fit-out and joinery specialists, EE Smith Contracts, has been awarded the prestigious 52 Avenue Road contract to deliver the fit-out of 12 super-prime houses near London’s Regent’s Park. Following the completion of the concrete frame and basement by a specialist contractor, EE Smith Contracts will deliver the envelope and full fit-out of the 52 Avenue Road project, which is being developed by Domvs London in a joint venture with Select Group Ltd. The contract value is expected to be in excess of £60m. The super-luxury residential scheme comprises three terraces of four five-storey homes, each featuring winter gardens on the roof terraces with private lift access, boasting spectacular views over Regent’s Park and Central London. The development also includes a basement with world-class health and wellness amenities for residents, including a 25m swimming pool, gym, treatment rooms and residents’ lounge. Completion is expected in Q4 2026. Neil Bottrill, Managing Director of EE Smith Contracts, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Domvs on this prestigious scheme. “This gives us the perfect opportunity to showcase our skills at the very top end of the fit-out industry and to develop a long-term, collaborative relationship with our new client. “It also gives further vindication of the investment into the London office which we launched last year in order to provide a base for our Project-based staff and to further support the organic growth of the business over the coming years. “We continue to see many opportunities in the high-end fit out market and we are very well placed to take advantage of that.” Jon O’Brien, Principal and Founder of Domvs, added: “We are delighted to have secured the services of EE Smith following a long tender and evaluation process. “The quality of their team, from top down, and the standard of their final product aligned perfectly with our ‘best in class’ values. We are excited to deliver this scheme with EE Smith.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading offsite manufacturer McAvoy has been appointed to the LHC £265m Modular Buildings (MB3) Framework, securing a place on all four workstreams: permanent modular buildings (education, offices and community buildings), healthcare facilities, rental of temporary modular buildings and provision of refurbished buildings. This marks McAvoy’s third consecutive term on the LHC Modular Buildings (MB3) Framework, which helps public sector clients to access modern methods of construction. McAvoy has successfully delivered several projects under previous iterations of the framework, including Kelmscott School, Lister Community School, and North Birkbeck Family Resilience and High Needs Centre. Stephen Clayton, Preconstruction Director at McAvoy, commented: “Securing a place on all four workstreams across all regions of LHC MB3 is a fantastic achievement and a clear endorsement of our commitment to quality, innovation and customer service. We’re proud to be recognised as a trusted delivery partner for public sector clients—bringing certainty, sustainability and modern methods of construction to the heart of every project.” Public sector clients can now access McAvoy’s full suite of modular services through the LHC MB3 Framework. For more information about McAvoy’s framework partnerships visit: www.mcavoygroup.com/who-we-are/frameworks-collaboration/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading North West property services company, The Momentum Group, has marked a standout year of progress with the release of its second Annual Momentum Contribute Report. Momentum Contribute underpins The Momentum Group’s business activities, and the report highlights a string of achievements that demonstrate the business’s commitment to people, places, the planet and professionalism, including: Chris Bliss, Co-founder and Director of The Momentum Group, commented: “This year, we’ve made significant strides in both social and environmental impact, from becoming a B Corp certified business, to being recognised as one of the best places to work. These achievements are not just milestones, but markers on our path to becoming an even more responsible and sustainable business. Looking ahead, we’re committed to doing more – including launching our Carbon Reduction Plan and the Momentum Group Academy next year.” Health, safety and well-being also remained a cornerstone of Momentum’s approach. Guided by its ‘Safe First’ principle, the Group reported: Chris Renshaw, Co-founder and Director of The Momentum Group, added: “Safe First is not just a motto – it’s embedded in how we operate. These results demonstrate our unwavering commitment to keeping our people and partners safe and continually raising the bar, and underscore The Momentum Group’s growth and dedication to driving positive impact across all areas of the business.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Redical has announced that Belstaff, the British menswear brand, is to make its city debut in Victoria Leeds, its premium lifestyle destination, this September. Belstaff will open a 2,259 sq ft space in the historic Victoria Quarter, and is an addition that extends the destination’s menswear offer alongside the likes of Barbour, Hawes & Curtis, and Ralph Lauren. Inspired by the longstanding tradition of motorcycling, the revered British heritage brand’s Leeds store will feature its tailored range of menswear, which includes high-quality outerwear, essentials, and accessories. The store will also include Belstaff’s womenswear range. Rachel Bradburn, Head of Leasing at Redical, commented: “Belstaff is a very strong addition to our menswear offer at Victoria Leeds, bringing even greater variety and diversity to our guests’ shopping experience. Belfstaff choosing Victoria Leeds for its city debut further cements our reputation as the prime retail destination in the region, and highlights our continued commitment to delivering the best-of-the-best, time and time again.” Kerry Byrne, CEO of Belstaff, added: “The signing at Victoria Leeds marks the next step in our significant expansion strategy, with the historic architecture of Victoria Quarter complementing our timeless and elegant menswear collection. Victoria Leeds stands as one of the north’s most premium retail destinations, and we are proud to add Belstaff to the leading tenant mix.” The signing is another significant milestone in Redical’s ‘transformation through accumulation’ strategy to grow Victoria Leeds’ performance since it bought the asset in 2022, with Belstaff following the luxury activewear brand, Alo Yoga, in joining Victoria Leeds. Reaffirming the destination’s leading position in the UK, Alo Yoga’s new store will stock the brand’s highly coveted collections across women’s and men’s categories that include activewear, outerwear, accessories, and wellness. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SEGRO V-Park Grand Union has become the first industrial and logistics building in the world to achieve WiredScore Platinum certification Located in Park Royal, SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a six-storey urban logistics development that has been recognised for its outstanding digital infrastructure. Awarded following a rigorous assessment, the WiredScore Platinum rating, reflects the building’s high-speed fibre connectivity, strong mobile signal, secure telecoms spaces and future-ready features such as rooftop installation capacity and AV-enabled meeting rooms. It also incorporates sustainability-focused technology like EV charging stations and real-time energy monitoring. The building scored an impressive 91 out of 100, placing it among the best-connected industrial spaces in the UK. Hand in hand with this recognition, SEGRO has achieved Platinum Partner status within the global BCS partner network. This reflects the company’s continued investment in digital expertise and the professionalisation of its Digital function across the organisation. Fewer than 75 organisations worldwide have earned this distinction and SEGRO is the only property company to have reached this level of excellence. Rich Corbridge, Chief Information Officer, at SEGRO, said: “The WiredScore Platinum certification at SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a powerful recognition of the investments we’re making in digital excellence, ensuring our spaces are not only future-ready but also deliver exceptional connectivity for our customers. “Alongside this, we have also become the first commercial property company to be recognised by the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, as a Platinum status partner. These achievements, both ‘platinum firsts’, underline our commitment to digital transformation, sustainability and supporting our colleagues with professional development opportunities that keep SEGRO at the forefront of the industry.” William Newton, CEO, WiredScore said: “Industrial and logistics real estate is undergoing a transformation and at WiredScore, our mission is to accelerate that evolution by setting the global benchmark for digital connectivity and future-readiness. With SEGRO, we’ve found a partner that shares that vision; investing in technology and infrastructure that ensure industrial spaces can meet the demands of modern commerce and urban living. “Achieving WiredScore Platinum at SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is not just a world first for industrial real estate, but a signal of SEGRO’s leadership. The building’s integrated approach to connectivity and sustainability demonstrates what best-in-class looks like.” About SEGRO SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris, and is a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses, industrial property and data centres. It owns or manages 10.8 million square metres of space (116 million square feet) valued at £21.4 billion serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in seven other European countries. For over 100 years SEGRO has been creating the space that enables extraordinary things to happen. From modern big box warehouses, used primarily for regional, national and international distribution hubs, to urban warehousing, located close to major population centres and business districts, it provides high-quality assets that allow its customers to thrive. A commitment to be a force for societal and environmental good is integral to SEGRO’s purpose and strategy. Its Responsible SEGRO framework focuses on three long-term priorities where the company believes it can make the greatest impact: Championing low-carbon growth, Investing in local communities and environments and Nurturing talent. Striving for the highest standards of innovation, sustainable business practices and enabling economic and societal prosperity underpins SEGRO’s ambition to be the best property company. See www.SEGRO.com for further information. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Development and asset manager, Canmoor, is delighted to announce that Westway at Glasgow Airport has been shortlisted for Best Overall Scheme (Logistics Park) at the prestigious Industrial Agents Society (IAS) Awards 2025. The recognition places Westway among the UK’s most outstanding industrial and logistics developments. The IAS Awards, regarded as one of the most respected accolades in the property sector, celebrate excellence in industrial and logistics real estate. Being shortlisted reflects the quality, vision and positive impact that Westway has delivered to both occupiers and the wider community. In particular, the shortlisting recognises Canmoor’s ambitious speculative development programme, which has delivered 300,000 sq ft of high-quality, sustainable industrial space to the Scottish market. This includes the successful completion and pre-letting of two flagship units within the park: Westway 90, now home to sustainable packaging innovator Pulpex, and Westway 200, secured by the UK Government. Designed and built with sustainability at their core, both buildings embody sustainable design, earning BREEAM “Excellent” and EPC “A” ratings. The facilities are all-electric capable and include electric vehicle charging stations, photovoltaic panels, and air source heat pumps. Key amenities include dedicated car parking, HGV parking and extensive yard space, all within Westway’s 24/7 fully secure environment. Gregor King, Scottish Director of Canmoor said: “We are delighted that Westway has been recognised on a national stage. This shortlisting in recognition of Westway 90 and Westway 200 is a testament to our commitment to delivering ‘best in class’, sustainable logistics space on a speculative basis. “Securing Pulpex and the UK Government as occupiers demonstrates both the park’s appeal and the importance of our role in supporting innovation and public sector operations.” The winners of the IAS Awards will be announced at a ceremony in London on Wednesday 24 September. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Procurement is the beating heart of construction. But for many UK organisations, it still runs on spreadsheets, siloed systems, and countless phone calls. And that inefficiency comes at a price. Research reported by PBC Today shows construction projects in the UK run, on average, 46 percent over budget, with procurement and supply chain inefficiencies playing a major role. Meanwhile, a study commissioned by procurement software provider Ivalua found that UK procurement professionals spend nearly a third of their working hours on manual processes. A new wave of AI-powered digital tools, aligned with the principles of Procurement 5.0 (a term suggested by McKinsey), is starting to change this landscape. Intelligent document processing, demand forecasting, smart supplier evaluation, and real-time tracking are already helping teams work faster and with more certainty. One of the most exciting developments is the use of optical character recognition (OCR) and large language models (LLMs) to “read” engineering drawings and blueprints, extracting specifications and pushing them directly into procurement workflows. Add AI agents that can manage orders, chase suppliers, and flag risks instantly, and the result is a smarter, leaner, more resilient supply chain. The future of procurement in UK construction isn’t decades away — it’s happening now. Five Procurement Challenges Construction is Facing Today Before we look at how AI and Procurement 5.0 can transform your organisation, it’s worth taking stock of the obstacles that UK construction leaders are up against. 1. Fragmented supplier visibility. Many firms manage hundreds of suppliers with no single, consistent record of performance, compliance, or pricing. This can lead to duplication, missed opportunities, and a lack of leverage when negotiating. 2. Budget overruns. According to PBC Today, UK construction projects overshoot budgets by an average of 46 percent, with supply chain inefficiencies playing a major role. 3. Slow decision cycles. Procurement decisions can take weeks when project deadlines demand hours, largely because data is scattered across systems or trapped in paper documents. 4. Compliance pressures. New sustainability regulations and modern slavery legislation place additional reporting requirements on procurement teams, increasing admin workloads. 5. Manual processes. The Ivalua study found that procurement professionals spend around 31 percent of their time on repetitive, non-strategic tasks. That’s valuable labour that could be redirected towards supplier innovation and risk management. These challenges are more than operational headaches — they directly affect margins, project delivery, and a company’s ability to compete. Business Benefits of AI-powered Procurement Tools For all the excitement about new technology, most construction leaders ultimately want to know one thing: will it deliver measurable returns? Early adopters of AI-powered procurement tools, in line with Procurement 5.0 thinking, are already seeing results that translate directly to the bottom line. Among them are: Shorter cycle times Research from McKinsey shows AI-enhanced procurement can reduce inventory by 20 to 30 percent, logistics costs by 5 to 20 percent, and procurement spend by 5 to 15 percent, meaning critical materials arrive sooner and projects avoid costly delays. Cost savings According to Accenture, organisations implementing AI in procurement typically reduce direct material costs by 5 to 10 percent, driven by better demand forecasting and supplier competition. Fewer compliance breaches Automated risk checks and document analysis have helped some UK firms cut contract compliance issues by over 25 percent, as reported in Supply Management magazine. Improved staff productivity – The Ivalua study found that automation can reclaim nearly a third of procurement professionals’ time, freeing them to focus on strategic supplier relationships. Efficiency and savings uplift – The Hackett Group finds AI-driven procurement outsourcing delivers a 23 percent average improvement in purchase cost savings and cost avoidance, and an 83 percent overall satisfaction rating for service experience and value. These aren’t abstract benefits. Real companies are already seeing results from their pilots and preparing for wider rollouts. The real question is whether your company will be among the pioneering adopters. 5 Key Steps to Implement AI-powered Procurement in Your Organisation For many business leaders in the construction sector, the main challenge isn’t understanding the value of AI but knowing how to start. The key is to approach AI-powered procurement implementation as a business transformation rather than a tech project. Step 1: Define clear objectives Identify the procurement process pain points you want to address first, such as reducing lead time, improving supplier risk assessment, or speeding up contract reviews. Step 2: Pilot with a valuable use case Start small, for example, by using OCR and LLMs to extract specifications from engineering drawings and feed them into your ordering system.AI consulting experts can help you scope, test, and refine your pilot so it aligns with your business goals. Step 3: Integrate with the existing system Ensure AI tools can be connected with your enterprise resource planning (ERP) or procurement management platforms, avoiding duplicate data entry. Step 4: Upskill your team Provide targeted training so staff can interpret the AI solution output, adjust forecasting, and manage AI agents effectively. Step 5: Measure the success and iterate Set measurable KPIs such as cycle time reduction or supplier performance improvements, track results, and scale the AI use once its value is proven. By treating AI as a business goals driver, rather than an innovative add-on, you create the conditions for sustained efficiency gains and competitive advantage for your organisation. Future Outlook: What’s Next for Construction Procurement? In the next few years we will see construction procurement move from reactive buying to proactive, data-led decision-making. Several trends are already taking shape: Trend 1: AI agents with multi-role capabilities Beyond order management, these systems will handle supplier onboarding, performance tracking, and early risk detection without human prompting. Trend 2: Integration of digital twins Connecting procurement platforms with project digital twins will allow teams to model material needs in real time, adjusting orders dynamically as designs or schedules change. Trend 3: Blockchain for contract transparency Distributed ledgers can record supplier agreements and transactions securely, reducing disputes and enabling faster verification of compliance. Trend 4: Sustainability metrics in procurement Environmental performance data will increasingly be built