Benniman has been appointed to deliver the final phase of development at Indurent Park Longbridge West, completing the long-running transformation of the former MG Rover car plant in Birmingham into a major industrial and logistics hub. The final construction package will see the delivery of approximately 380,000 sq ft of
IKEA has chosen The Boulevard outlet shopping centre in Banbridge as the location for its first-ever outlet store in Northern Ireland, marking a significant milestone in the continued evolution of the retail-led scheme. The new 2,691 sq ft store forms part of a revised, smaller-format concept for the Swedish furniture
The Liverpool City Region has unveiled ambitious plans to accelerate the delivery of more than 63,000 new homes through a £2bn housing pipeline designed to unlock stalled sites and drive large-scale regeneration across the region. Led by metro mayor Steve Rotheram, the initiative brings together local authorities, housing associations and
Benniman has been appointed to deliver the final phase of development at Indurent Park Longbridge West, completing the long-running transformation of the former MG Rover car plant in Birmingham into a major industrial and logistics hub. The final construction package will see the delivery of approximately 380,000 sq ft of new industrial and logistics accommodation, arranged across 13 units ranging in size from 12,000 sq ft to 115,000 sq ft. The scheme is designed to appeal to a broad range of occupiers, including advanced manufacturing, logistics and distribution businesses, strengthening Longbridge’s position as a key employment location in the West Midlands. The project represents a significant milestone in the regeneration of the historic brownfield site, which has been redeveloped in phases following the closure of the MG Rover plant. Benniman’s appointment reflects its growing reputation for delivering complex industrial schemes and its established working relationship with developer Indurent. Sustainability is a central focus of the development, with all buildings designed to meet high environmental performance standards. The units are targeting BREEAM Excellent certification alongside EPC ratings of A and A+, aligning with occupier demand for energy-efficient, future-ready facilities and supporting wider decarbonisation goals across the industrial sector. Paul Barfoot, director at Benniman, said the company was pleased to be delivering the final phase of the Longbridge scheme and building on a strong partnership with Indurent. He highlighted the shared commitment to quality and long-term value, adding that the development would provide modern, sustainable space capable of supporting regional growth for many years to come. The appointment further strengthens Benniman’s pipeline of work with Indurent, following its involvement at Indurent Park Gloucester and phase one of Indurent Park Lichfield in Staffordshire. Across the three developments, Benniman will have delivered more than one million sq ft of new industrial and logistics space. As demand for high-quality industrial accommodation continues to rise, Benniman’s latest contract underlines its role in supporting large-scale regeneration projects and delivering modern logistics infrastructure across the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
IKEA has chosen The Boulevard outlet shopping centre in Banbridge as the location for its first-ever outlet store in Northern Ireland, marking a significant milestone in the continued evolution of the retail-led scheme. The new 2,691 sq ft store forms part of a revised, smaller-format concept for the Swedish furniture retailer and will operate as a pop-up until spring 2026. The unit has been delivered as a flexible fit-out, offering planning services, a curated home furnishings range and a hub for online order collections, aligning with changing customer behaviour and omnichannel retail strategies. The opening follows a standout year for The Boulevard, which recorded double-digit growth in both sales and footfall. The performance underlines the strength of the scheme as a destination and highlights the importance of well-located, experience-led retail environments in the current market. Owned by Lotus Property, The Boulevard has benefited from ongoing investment in tenant mix, infrastructure and placemaking. Its strategic position close to the A1 corridor, linking Belfast and Dublin, has been a key factor in attracting national and international brands looking to test new store formats outside traditional city centres. Alastair Coulson, managing director at Lotus Property, said the scheme’s combination of strong footfall, accessibility and on-site management expertise made it an ideal environment for retailers trialling new concepts. The centre’s ability to deliver adaptable retail space quickly has also proved attractive, particularly for brands seeking lower-risk entry into new markets. The Boulevard, which opened in 2006, continues to build momentum through a mix of new lettings and phased enhancements. Recent arrivals include Northern Irish cosmetics brand BPerfect, alongside fashion names such as Vila and French Connection, both of which selected the scheme for market-first locations. The centre is also home to the only standalone Northern Irish stores for several global brands, reinforcing its regional importance. Beyond retail, the scheme is expanding its leisure and food and beverage offer as part of a broader strategy to create an all-day destination. A new Hollywood Bowl is due to open later this year, introducing a bowling alley, restaurant and family entertainment space, and supporting the growth of a night-time economy at the site. With a critical mass of retail, leisure and adjacent big-box operators already in place, The Boulevard is positioning itself as a long-term investment location capable of adapting to evolving occupier requirements. IKEA’s outlet debut is the latest endorsement of that strategy, signalling confidence in the scheme’s future as one of Northern Ireland’s most dynamic retail destinations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Liverpool City Region has unveiled ambitious plans to accelerate the delivery of more than 63,000 new homes through a £2bn housing pipeline designed to unlock stalled sites and drive large-scale regeneration across the region. Led by metro mayor Steve Rotheram, the initiative brings together local authorities, housing associations and delivery partners to identify over 300 development sites capable of supporting new housing. Nearly half of the proposed homes, around 31,000 units, would be delivered within the city of Liverpool itself. The Liverpool City Region Housing Pipeline sets out a coordinated approach to housing delivery, aligning land preparation, infrastructure investment and funding support to speed up development. It follows a recent commitment of £700m for new social and affordable housing across the region, representing the largest investment of its kind locally. The combined authority is being asked to formally approve the work completed to date and endorse the pipeline as a priority framework for directing development funding. Approval would allow detailed preparation of sites to move forward, coordinated alongside wider investment in transport infrastructure, economic development and place-based regeneration. Working jointly with Homes England, the combined authority is already investing £1.3m to bring forward 309 priority sites across Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. This work forms part of a strategic place partnership aimed at tackling viability challenges and accelerating delivery. Members will also be asked to endorse the creation of a new Housing Investment Fund to unlock difficult sites and support early-stage development. Analysis suggests around £1bn of public support will be required to deliver 139 of the identified schemes, with the full pipeline potentially needing up to £2bn in total investment. Rising construction costs, higher borrowing rates and increasingly stringent building standards have created significant viability gaps, particularly on complex urban brownfield sites. To further accelerate delivery, the combined authority is exploring the establishment of a mayoral development corporation, initially focused on a North Docks development area, with the potential to extend the model to other priority regeneration zones. The next phase will involve active engagement with the wider housing market. A meeting scheduled for early February will bring together developers, contractors, investors, housing associations and local authorities, marking the launch of a new Liverpool City Region Developer Forum aimed at building market confidence and supporting delivery. If delivered in full, the pipeline would represent one of the most significant housing and regeneration programmes in the region’s history, reshaping communities and supporting long-term economic growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals