Newcastle City Council leader Cllr Karen Kilgour has outlined a decade-long programme to deliver up to 15,000 homes across the city, aimed at fostering stronger, more cohesive neighbourhoods as well as meeting growing housing demand. Cllr Kilgour first pledged in July last year to confront Newcastle’s housing pressures by accelerating
Railpen, manager of the £34bn Railways Pension Scheme in the UK, has achieved a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ design-stage score for Botanic Place, its 325,000 sq ft landmark development in the heart of Cambridge. Botanic Place attained an unprecedented 100.54% credits, although the score is capped at 100%. This milestone achievement officially
Gloucestershire County Council has secured an additional £71.5 million from the UK Government to deliver the transformative M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme. The funding will enable the council to press ahead with key transport upgrades designed to unlock homes, jobs and investment across the county. On completion, the scheme is
Construction has been completed on HS2’s longest tunnel, marking a significant milestone for one of the UK’s most complex civil engineering projects. Civil engineering works have now concluded on the 10-mile twin-bore Chiltern tunnels, following the completion of the final vent shafts at Chesham Road and Little Missenden. The achievement
Leading structural and civil engineering consultancy completes comprehensive remediation and fire safety upgrade of South Shields residential development. Wednesday 21st January – Perega has completed a comprehensive fire safety upgrade at Sinclair Meadows in South Shields. Originally built in 2012 as one of the UK’s first carbon-negative residential schemes, the 12-flat
With winter in full effect, Finning are seeing more customers utilising VisionLinkTM telematics to help improve safety and security on site. Building on more than a decade of condition monitoring insight, the latest iteration of VisionLink, launched in August 2023, is helping Finning customers tackle the short days and hazardous winter
Newcastle City Council leader Cllr Karen Kilgour has outlined a decade-long programme to deliver up to 15,000 homes across the city, aimed at fostering stronger, more cohesive neighbourhoods as well as meeting growing housing demand. Cllr Kilgour first pledged in July last year to confront Newcastle’s housing pressures by accelerating the delivery of new social homes. She has since pressed the Government for additional funding to back an ambitious vision for the city’s housing future. Officials have been developing proposals and lobbying ministers in the months since, with a comprehensive strategy now set to be published that maps out how thousands of homes will be built and communities renewed over the next 10 years. Central to the plans is the creation of 1,500 new council homes for Geordies currently on the housing register. These properties will prioritise larger family homes and adapted accommodation for disabled residents, reflecting a commitment to inclusion and meeting diverse needs. Cllr Kilgour has also asked officers to curb the number of Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) and bring empty homes back into use, to nurture balanced neighbourhoods and reduce transient living patterns. She said the scale of development isn’t just about building homes, it’s about shaping new communities that can deliver real improvements for residents. The West Fenham councillor said: “We know how vital it is for people to have access to safe, affordable, and high-quality homes, and this programme will deliver exactly that. “But it isn’t only about bricks and mortar, it’s also about shaping new communities with neighbourhoods that work better for residents, which may involve some selective demolition and rebuilding. “By investing in council housing, developing more robust infrastructure and working with partners, we will build a Newcastle that works for everyone.” Council homes will be developed right across the city, with advanced plans already in train for sites in Walker, Elswick, Blakelaw, Forth Yards and a series of smaller plots. Funding from the North East Combined Authority will help speed up delivery, with construction on some schemes expected to get underway later this year. Alongside the council’s programme, private developers and registered providers are expected to bring forward around 13,500 additional homes, many of which will include affordable housing secured through planning agreements. The combined pipeline is intended to help more residents onto the property ladder or into high-quality rented accommodation, ensuring a balanced mix of tenure and types across Newcastle’s neighbourhoods. Tackling HMOs and empty properties is a key strand of the plan, aimed at creating stable, sustainable communities that support local schools, businesses and social networks. The council noted that the private rented sector already serves over 28,000 households. It also aims to see an additional almost 2,000 high-quality homes built for social, affordable or private rent, broadening choice and flexibility for residents. Cllr Kilgour continued: “Everyone deserves a safe, secure and affordable place to call home. We’re committed to delivering the homes our city and region vitally need – homes that are safe, genuinely affordable, well-designed, and that help tackle the housing crisis head-on, and this programme will deliver exactly that. But it isn’t just about bricks and mortar – it’s about creating places where people can build their lives, connect with neighbours, and feel part of something bigger. “We need to shape the housing market to better respond to pressures and meet the needs of our growing population. That means the right homes in the right communities, with a mix of tenure for all.” Further details of the strategy are due to be presented to the Council’s Cabinet in February. Image: Aerial CGI of Forth Yards Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Railpen, manager of the £34bn Railways Pension Scheme in the UK, has achieved a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ design-stage score for Botanic Place, its 325,000 sq ft landmark development in the heart of Cambridge. Botanic Place attained an unprecedented 100.54% credits, although the score is capped at 100%. This milestone achievement officially makes Botanic Place the first office building in the UK to achieve 100% at Design stage[1]. Railpen’s ambition for Botanic Place is to create global-standard headquarters offices for companies operating predominantly in the AI, tech, innovation, and pharmaceutical sectors seeking a significant presence in the UK’s Golden Triangle. Currently under construction and due for completion in Q1 2028, Botanic Place comprises two buildings: 1 Botanic Place (175,000 sq ft) and 2 Botanic Place (150,000 sq ft). BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is the global gold standard for sustainability in the built environment. While a score of 85% is required to reach the ‘Outstanding’ threshold, Botanic Place has exceeded this by a significant margin. The record-breaking score was made possible through a suite of pioneering environmental features integrated via intelligent design. Each represents market-leading thinking and innovation by Railpen, working closely with its development manager, Socius, and wider team. Many of Botanic Place’s innovations also respond to specific contextual factors, such as the well-documented pressures on water supply in Cambridge. Examples include: Maria Averkina, Senior Asset and Development Manager at Railpen, commented: “Achieving the first 100% BREEAM score for an office development at design stage in the UK is a testament to Railpen’s commitment to understanding not only what occupiers want and need but as importantly, what the surrounding context requires. Botanic Place is a global blueprint for the future of the office, and one that also makes a significant positive contribution environmentally and socially to Cambridge. By using intelligent design to push the boundaries of what is possible in sustainable development, we are providing our future occupiers with a space that prioritises environmental integrity and human wellbeing, supporting productivity and talent retention. The recognition is also testament to the innovation and shared commitment among our professional team and development manager, Socius.” Dan Asquith, BREEAM Business Development Team Leader at BRE, added: “BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ represents the top 1% of UK non-domestic buildings, but Botanic Place has created a category of its own. By integrating pioneering technologies, from the night purge ventilation mode to the dynamic façade design, this project has pushed the boundaries of our assessment criteria. A score of 100.54% is a testament to a rigorous, holistic approach to sustainability that balances carbon reduction with biodiversity and occupant wellbeing. We are delighted to see such a high level of technical excellence being delivered by Railpen in the heart of Cambridge.” Located adjacent to the Cambridge University Botanic Garden and minutes from Cambridge station, Botanic Place will offer private and common roof terraces of 40,000 sq ft providing outstanding 360 degree views of the city, including Botanic Garden from multiple levels, as well as market-defining public spaces, landscaped gardens, internal amenties, events spaces, and food and beverage areas. These will be complemented by 1,300 cycling spaces and exceptional end-of-journey facilities. Railpen has assembled a world-class team to deliver Botanic Place, including development manager Socius, architect Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), contractor Skanska, and construction consultants, Real PM, with sustainability and MEP consultancy provided by Hoare Lea. Railpen’s office leasing agents for Botanic Place are JLL, Knight Frank, and Savills. In addition to Botanic Place, Railpen’s unique Mill Yard campus-style mixed-use development is under construction and due for completion in Q1 2027. It has also achieved BREEAM Outstanding, placing it within the top 0.5% of sustainable buildings globally. Both developments form part of Railpen’s Cambridge Innovation Cluster, which comprises 11 assets totalling 1.9m sq ft of high-quality space, including the recently consented 1m sq ft Beehive innovation hub. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Gloucestershire County Council has secured an additional £71.5 million from the UK Government to deliver the transformative M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme. The funding will enable the council to press ahead with key transport upgrades designed to unlock homes, jobs and investment across the county. On completion, the scheme is expected to support the delivery of more than 20,000 new homes — including over 7,000 that are affordable — underpin the Golden Valley development and the National Cyber Innovation Centre and technology cluster with around 12,000 skilled jobs, and build on the successful delivery of the £33 million Arle Court Transport Hub. Development consent for the project was granted by the Secretary of State for Transport in June 2025, marking a major milestone and confirming its strategic importance for Gloucestershire’s transport network and economy. Cllr Julian Tooke, Cabinet Member for Business, Economic Development, Planning and Infrastructure, said: “Securing this additional Government funding is a turning point for Gloucestershire. The delivery of the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme is a catalyst for transformational growth and opportunity in the region, driving future investment and prosperity. I’m grateful to Homes England and our partners for their support and confidence in this essential infrastructure.” The newly confirmed £71.5m is from the UK Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, administered by Homes England, and will close the remaining funding gap to deliver the full set of improvements. Funding already secured includes contributions from the Housing Infrastructure Fund, district council Community Infrastructure Levy receipts, Gloucestershire County Council, and Section 106 developer contributions from sites that will directly benefit from the scheme. Gloucestershire County Council is leading delivery of the scheme in collaboration with National Highways and other partners. Weather-dependent preparatory works began in autumn 2025 to avoid rising costs and keep the project on track, with appointed contractor Galliford Try undertaking early site activities. With the extra funding now in place, the council and partners will finalise delivery arrangements and continue preparation ahead of the main construction phase starting in autumn 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction has been completed on HS2’s longest tunnel, marking a significant milestone for one of the UK’s most complex civil engineering projects. Civil engineering works have now concluded on the 10-mile twin-bore Chiltern tunnels, following the completion of the final vent shafts at Chesham Road and Little Missenden. The achievement brings to a close nearly five years of intensive construction activity through the Chiltern Hills and clears the way for the next phase of fit-out works. With the structural works finished, the tunnels are now ready to be equipped with track, overhead power systems and mechanical and electrical installations. Enabling works for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems are expected to begin later this year, with rail systems to follow once that stage is complete. Main construction of the tunnels was carried out by Align JV, a joint venture between Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and Volker Fitzpatrick. Works began in May 2021 with the staggered launch of two 2,000-tonne tunnel boring machines from a site near the M25 at Maple Cross in Hertfordshire. Ahead of tunnelling, five deep ventilation and access shafts were constructed along the route, reaching depths of up to 78 metres. Each shaft headhouse was designed by Grimshaw Architects to sit sensitively within the Chilterns landscape. The tunnel boring machines advanced north at an average rate of 16 metres per day before completing their drives near Great Missenden in early 2024. Since then, teams have focused on constructing the porous tunnel extensions at the north and south portals, installing internal walkways and completing 40 cross passages linking the twin bores. HS2 Ltd’s head of civil engineering for the Chiltern tunnel, Mark Clapp, described the project as a rare opportunity for engineers to work on a scheme of such scale and complexity. He praised the collaboration between HS2 Ltd, Align JV and its supply chain, highlighting the quality and commitment shown throughout delivery. Align JV project director Adrien Baudard said completing the civil works was a point of pride for the entire team, noting advances in safety, sustainability and technical performance achieved during the programme. He added that the project’s approach to carbon reduction, safety innovation and skills development would influence tunnelling best practice for years to come. The Chiltern tunnel is the second of HS2’s five twin-bore tunnels to reach structural completion, following the one-mile Long Itchington Wood tunnel in Warwickshire, completed last year. Despite progress on individual elements, the wider HS2 programme remains behind schedule and over budget. HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Wild continues to work on a reset plan aimed at delivering the remaining London to Birmingham route more efficiently and at the lowest reasonable cost. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading structural and civil engineering consultancy completes comprehensive remediation and fire safety upgrade of South Shields residential development. Wednesday 21st January – Perega has completed a comprehensive fire safety upgrade at Sinclair Meadows in South Shields. Originally built in 2012 as one of the UK’s first carbon-negative residential schemes, the 12-flat block has been remediated following a fire in February 2024 caused by a fault in the solar PV array. While the fire destroyed a quarter of the roof and caused extensive water damage to three flats, Perega’s initial surveys identified broader risks. The original larch cladding, timber shingles, and compromised fire-break strategies necessitated a full safety overhaul. Working to a 26-week programme, Perega project-managed the replacement of the combustible roof with a non-combustible Metrotile system and installation of compliant fire breaks in all roof voids and external walls. The remediation included stripping the fire-damaged flats back to the timber frame to restore fire compartmentation and installing new mechanical and electrical systems, including heat-recovery units. The project successfully modernised the building’s safety profile while maintaining its functionality and original timber-frame structure. Darren Parkin, Senior Technician at Perega, said: “The Sinclair Meadows project presented a unique opportunity to not only repair the fire damage, but fundamentally improve the building’s safety. Our assessment revealed risks beyond the immediate damage, and we worked closely with Bernicia to implement solutions that meet current standards. Delivering this transformation within 26 weeks required careful coordination, and I’m proud of the team’s achievement.” The completed works provide residents with a safe, modern living environment that addresses original construction vulnerabilities. For more information on Perega, please visit: perega.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With winter in full effect, Finning are seeing more customers utilising VisionLinkTM telematics to help improve safety and security on site. Building on more than a decade of condition monitoring insight, the latest iteration of VisionLink, launched in August 2023, is helping Finning customers tackle the short days and hazardous winter weather conditions that impact operational safety and efficiency during this time of year. With shorter, darker days, and wet and freezing weather conditions, a staple of UK construction conditions in the winter, VisionLink data ensures operators are aware of fault codes before they become serious safety issues, greatly reducing the risk of costly downtime. VisionLink has been developed by Caterpillar® to provide machine and fleet owners with key insights and pre-empt operational faults, highlighting key factors including machine health and operator performance as well as converting data into training assets that help managers improve safety on site. VisionLink has unique geofencing capabilities which supports both lease and inventory management, allowing owner-operators to track their machines movements. Additionally, automatic alerts signal any movement outside of the predetermined fence or permitted zone, which helps enhance the safety and security of both people and machines on site. Becky Wallis, at Finning UK & Ireland, explained: “During the colder weather it’s essential to carry out extra checks to ensure that heavy machinery continues to operate efficiently and VisionLink plays a critical role in reducing operational risk during the winter season. Its capability to support operators with consistent, reliable data helps with avoiding sudden machine failures, improving uptime, and giving supervisors greater awareness of machine status and use.” VisionLink insights provide a centralised view of the entire fleet in a unified safety dashboard, supporting safety by streamlining risk assessments. The data can be used to identify training opportunities to help enhance efficiency, productivity or compliance, and can mitigate hazards by highlighting user patterns or habits that could compromise safety. “Access to telematic data is vital, particularly given the challenges of the winter months. The ability to proactively resolve any issues greatly reduces risk of unplanned breakdowns or safety incidents that could occur as a result of freezing weather conditions or reduced sightlines due to darker days.” VisionLink is available for owners with one machine, or large companies with an entire fleet, and is available as a mobile app to provide ease of access to daily insights and data. Continuous developments in VisionLink technology mean customers will continue to benefit from its insights, with the backing from the experts at Finning who monitor the system to provide proactive service and customer support. To learn more about VisionLink or to arrange a demonstration, visit: https://www.finning.com/en_GB/performance/manage-your-equipment/track-your-equipment/visionlink.html Find out more about VisionLink here: https://www.finning.com/en_GB/performance/manage-your-equipment/track-your-equipment/visionlink.html Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals