Studio Egret West and Oval Real Estate have received planning approval for the redevelopment of Albert Bridge House, a landmark project set at the historic junction between Manchester and Salford, where Albert Bridge spans the River Irwell. The approved scheme will transform a car park-dominated site, currently occupied by vacant
Hammerson’s plans to transform an underused city centre car park into a vibrant new mixed-use neighbourhood called the Edgbaston Street Gardens have been approved. This paves the way for a major regeneration project in the heart of Birmingham. The Edgbaston Street Gardens development, located adjacent to the Bullring, has the
GMI Construction Group PLC, a national award-winning UK contractor providing design and build capabilities, has reached a significant construction milestone as the final steel beam was raised into place during a traditional “topping out” ceremony for Avon Street, a £50 million purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Bristol’s Temple Meads Quarter.
Asda is stepping up its convenience store expansion drive with the launch of nine new Asda Express branches this week, seven of which are opening across London. The move underlines the retailer’s ambition to strengthen its footprint in high-footfall city locations, residential areas, and key transport hubs. London shoppers will
Plans for a major new clinical building at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax have been approved, paving the way for construction to begin in summer 2026. Laing O’Rourke’s proposal marks a key milestone in a £200 million programme to upgrade healthcare facilities across the region. The new development will deliver
Studio Egret West and Oval Real Estate have received planning approval for the redevelopment of Albert Bridge House, a landmark project set at the historic junction between Manchester and Salford, where Albert Bridge spans the River Irwell. The approved scheme will transform a car park-dominated site, currently occupied by vacant mid-century office building, including the 18-storey Albert Bridge House, into a vibrant mixed-use quarter that reconnects the area with the river and surrounding neighbourhoods. The new design represents a refined evolution of the previously consented 2023 plans, which proposed a single residential tower and a large commercial block. In response to changing market conditions, the updated scheme now features three distinctive buildings, maintaining the same design ambition while delivering a more balanced urban composition and a striking addition to the Manchester skyline. The development will comprise: The proposals also include 5,780 sqm of new public realm, introducing new pedestrian and cycling routes linking Parsonage Gardens to Trinity Bridge and King Street West to the River Irwell. At its heart, an Urban Arboretum will anchor the central square, preserving mature trees and enhancing biodiversity with additional native and non-native planting. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hammerson’s plans to transform an underused city centre car park into a vibrant new mixed-use neighbourhood called the Edgbaston Street Gardens have been approved. This paves the way for a major regeneration project in the heart of Birmingham. The Edgbaston Street Gardens development, located adjacent to the Bullring, has the potential to deliver up to 745 new apartments or 1,544 student rooms, or a combination of both. Detailed designs will be finalised ahead of demolition work, expected to begin in late 2027, with construction anticipated from 2028 onwards. The scheme forms a key part of Birmingham’s broader city centre regeneration strategy, directly addressing local priorities around housing, sustainability, transport, and urban renewal. Plans include the creation of new green spaces, community amenities, commercial areas, and extensive public realm improvements designed to better connect the Bullring with neighbouring districts such as Digbeth and Smithfield. Hammerson, a long-term investor in Birmingham since the late 1990s, is already well established in the city’s development landscape. The company was responsible for funding and managing the original Bullring redevelopment, and earlier this year became the sole owner of the Bullring and Grand Central for the first time — a move underscoring its continued commitment to Birmingham’s growth. Since 2021, Hammerson has repositioned more than 400,000 sq ft of retail space in the city, introducing new flagship stores and first-to-region brands including Sephora, Pull&Bear, Space NK, and Uniqlo. The Bullring has also diversified its offer with a broader range of food and leisure experiences, now featuring the largest M&S in the Midlands. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GMI Construction Group PLC, a national award-winning UK contractor providing design and build capabilities, has reached a significant construction milestone as the final steel beam was raised into place during a traditional “topping out” ceremony for Avon Street, a £50 million purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Bristol’s Temple Meads Quarter. The landmark development, delivered on behalf of a joint venture between leading PBSA specialist Host and Corebridge Real Estate Investors, will provide 447 high-quality student bedrooms across two apartment blocks and a standalone mixed-use building. The scheme, created in consultation with Bristol City Council, occupies the former Chanson Foods site on Avon Street and was designed by architects Chapman Taylor. Adam Taylor, GMI Construction’s Regional Director in the Midlands, said: “It is a privilege to be delivering such a high-profile development in the heart of Bristol. Demand for well-designed student accommodation in the city has never been greater, and this scheme will play an important role in meeting that need. Avon Street also demonstrates the depth of expertise we have amassed in the PBSA sector, as well as GMI’s ability to expand into new regions while maintaining the same standards of quality and delivery that our clients expect.” Situated 200 metres from Bristol Temple Meads station and overlooking the city’s Floating Harbour, the 12-story project is located directly opposite the new Bristol University Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, and, given the level of unmet demand from students currently unable to access PBSA in the city, will deliver much needed accommodations in the centre of Bristol. In addition, the project’s distinctive architecture references the area’s industrial heritage and neighbouring railway buildings, creating a new landmark for those traveling in and out of the station. John Nesbitt, Tiger Developments, Managing Director, said: “The topping out of Avon Street represents an exciting step forward that will transform the student living experience in Bristol. “The city faces significant pressure on student housing, and this scheme will make a real difference by providing much needed accommodations in a location that is second to none. Working alongside GMI, we are developing a project that combines architectural distinction with the modern facilities students want and need, ensuring it becomes one of the most desirable places to live and study in Bristol.” Kevin Reid, Global Chief Operating Officer and Head of Europe at Corebridge Real Estate Investors, comments: “Having developed or acquired nearly 5,000 beds of PBSA in the UK, we have a good perspective on not only where to invest but how best to do so. We are pleased to partner with Host and GMI on this exciting project.” The topping out ceremony, attended by key stakeholders from across the development team, marks a major achievement on the journey to final completion ahead of the 2026/27 academic year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Asda is stepping up its convenience store expansion drive with the launch of nine new Asda Express branches this week, seven of which are opening across London. The move underlines the retailer’s ambition to strengthen its footprint in high-footfall city locations, residential areas, and key transport hubs. London shoppers will soon find new Asda Express stores at Tower Bridge, Greenwich, Limehouse Station, Harringay, Deptford, Whetstone, and within the former Arsenal FC club shop at Finsbury Park Station. Beyond the capital, Asda will also open sites in Southampton and Stoke, enhancing its reach across southern and central England. Each Asda Express offers a broad range of ambient and chilled groceries, alongside beers, wines and spirits. Customers can also benefit from additional services including Costa Coffee machines, ATMs, Amazon collection and return points, and on-demand delivery through Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo. Joseph Sutton, vice president of Asda Express, foodservice and fuel, said the new stores are an important step in bringing Asda’s value proposition to more communities. “We’re thrilled to be opening nine new Express stores this week, including seven in London – an area where we have traditionally had less of a presence in convenience,” he explained. “These openings are a key part of our strategy to bring Asda’s unbeatable value to more urban areas and residential communities across the UK. We know customers have looked forward to these stores opening for a long time, and we’re delighted to welcome them in and offer outstanding value across their favourite products.” Earlier in October, Asda opened a new Express store in Castleford, marking the start of the latest phase of its rollout. The retailer plans to open a further ten stores before the end of the year and has a strong pipeline of additional sites lined up for 2026, reinforcing its rapid growth in the convenience sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans for a major new clinical building at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax have been approved, paving the way for construction to begin in summer 2026. Laing O’Rourke’s proposal marks a key milestone in a £200 million programme to upgrade healthcare facilities across the region. The new development will deliver a state-of-the-art hospital building featuring separate emergency departments for adults and children, along with eight new wards. Completion is expected in 2029. The scheme received reserved matters approval from Calderdale Council, confirming the design, appearance, layout, and landscaping details. This approval represents one of the final planning hurdles for the long-term redevelopment of the hospital estate. Designed to reflect Halifax’s architectural character, the new building will integrate seamlessly with existing facilities while embracing modern sustainability principles. It is targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating, underpinned by high energy efficiency, low waste, and biodiversity measures. Laing O’Rourke, which was appointed to lead the design and planning in 2024, has placed sustainability and modern construction techniques at the core of its approach. Project leader Christopher Northwood said the firm would use modern methods of construction to minimise carbon impact and accelerate delivery. Preparatory works, including essential upgrades to power and water services, are due to start in the coming months ahead of main construction activity next summer. The project forms part of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust’s wider Foundations for our Future programme, which aims to transform hospital and community healthcare services across the region. Once complete, the redeveloped Calderdale Royal Hospital will offer expanded capacity, improved patient flow, and modern facilities designed to support high-quality, sustainable care. The new building is set to become a landmark within Halifax, blending local architectural heritage with cutting-edge clinical design. It will create improved environments for patients and staff while supporting the Trust’s goal of providing more resilient and sustainable healthcare infrastructure for the future. With planning approval now secured, Laing O’Rourke’s focus will shift towards finalising design and procurement activities, readying the site for construction in mid-2026. The project is expected to provide a significant boost to the local economy, supporting jobs and skills development throughout the build phase and beyond. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals