Plans for a striking 50-storey skyscraper in the heart of Cardiff have been granted planning permission, paving the way for what will become the tallest building in Wales. Developer REAP 3, a subsidiary of build-to-rent specialist BlueCastle Capital, has secured approval to replace its previously consented 35-storey project with a
Firethorn has secured Gateway 2 approval for its purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) project in Stratford, East London, marking a key regulatory milestone for the developer. The 284-bed development, which will include 35% affordable student accommodation, is being delivered by McAleer & Rushe and forms part of Firethorn’s growing Living portfolio.
Plans for a major redevelopment of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre have been submitted to the London Borough of Bromley as part of proposals to transform the historic venue into a modern, sustainable and accessible sporting facility. Morgan Sindall Construction has put forward the planning application for the comprehensive
Engineering consultancy Arup has been appointed to carry out early-stage design and engineering work for the UK’s first small modular reactor (SMR), planned for the Wylfa site on Anglesey. Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) confirmed that Arup will provide early-phase foundation engineering and design support as the landmark project
A joint venture between Vistry Group and Kier Property has agreed a deal with global real estate investment firm Kennedy Wilson to deliver 97 new homes for the private rented sector (PRS) across developments in Watford and Wokingham. The agreement marks the first collaboration between the companies, with Kennedy Wilson
PERI UK is making AI-driven custom formwork design and fabrication available to contractors nationwide, following the successful deployment of the technology on an infrastructure scheme in Warwickshire. Powered by dataform.work – the digital construction joint venture co-founded by PERI Group and DataB – the system automates the translation of 3D models
Property consultancy MPW has broadened its services with the launch of a dedicated property and asset management arm, strengthening its ability to support clients from strategic planning through to day-to-day operational delivery. The move reflects increasing demand from property owners and regeneration partners for a more integrated approach that combines
Continuing to drive up levels of customer satisfaction is the main focus for Bellway North East’s new Head of Construction. Ben Singlewood has been appointed to the role with the housebuilder’s North East division on a permanent basis, having held the position in an interim capacity since last May. Based
When global beauty leader L’Oréal set out to develop its new distribution centre in Auckland, New Zealand, the brief extended far beyond operational efficiency. The Dangerous Goods Store within the facility required a robust, compliant lighting solution for a Zone 2 hazardous environment, while also contributing to a sustainability ambition
Nationwide Platforms has supported construction works at one of the world’s most remote research facilities, supplying specialist powered access equipment to BAM UK&I at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica. The work forms part of the British Antarctic Survey’s long-term Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme, a rolling investment programme to futureproof the
Plans for a striking 50-storey skyscraper in the heart of Cardiff have been granted planning permission, paving the way for what will become the tallest building in Wales. Developer REAP 3, a subsidiary of build-to-rent specialist BlueCastle Capital, has secured approval to replace its previously consented 35-storey project with a significantly taller mixed-use tower. The development will rise to 178 metres and be located beside Cardiff Central Station and the Principality Stadium. Once built, the tower will comfortably surpass Swansea’s 107-metre Meridian Tower, which currently holds the title of Wales’ tallest building. The new scheme will deliver 528 build-to-rent apartments, including 344 one-bedroom and 184 two-bedroom homes. Plans also include a two-storey pavilion building providing commercial space for uses such as restaurants. The development site sits between Wood Street and Rose Lane within the city’s Central Square regeneration district. The new skyscraper will dominate the skyline in this part of the city and significantly exceed the height of the existing 29-storey Meridian Tower in Swansea. Designs for the building include two staircases and five lifts to support residents and visitors. According to REAP 3, the development has been carefully designed to accommodate heavy footfall, particularly during major events at the nearby Principality Stadium, when as many as 80,000 people can pass through the area. The project team includes architect 5plus, structural and MEP engineer WSP, cost consultant Gleeds and BREEAM adviser RLB. BlueCastle Capital is currently assembling a pipeline of build-to-rent developments across several UK cities, although the company is still working to move its first wave of schemes into construction. At present, the developer’s pipeline stands at around 2,500 homes across five projects. BlueCastle Capital build-to-rent pipeline Scheme | Location | Scale | Status Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Firethorn has secured Gateway 2 approval for its purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) project in Stratford, East London, marking a key regulatory milestone for the developer. The 284-bed development, which will include 35% affordable student accommodation, is being delivered by McAleer & Rushe and forms part of Firethorn’s growing Living portfolio. Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator confirms that the detailed design and construction control arrangements meet critical safety requirements and provide greater regulatory certainty, as outlined in the Building Safety Act. Full-scale construction can now take place, with works due to complete in time for the 2028/29 academic year. Located on Stratford High Street, the development will feature shared study, social and fitness amenities, alongside a ground-floor community space for public use. The site benefits from close proximity to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and is within walking distance of both UCL East and University of the Arts London. In line with Firethorn’s strong commitment to delivering sustainable, best-in-class assets, the development has a target BREEAM “Excellent” rating, with a focus on high-quality building performance and long-term operational efficiency. Paul Martin, Head of Development at Firethorn, commented: “Securing Gateway 2 approval marks a significant milestone, enabling us to move confidently into the construction phase and continue expanding our PBSA platform in one of London’s most dynamic and well‑connected areas. “Working alongside McAleer & Rushe, we are proud to deliver modern, high‑quality and sustainable accommodation in Stratford — a thriving Higher Education hub with exceptional transport links. This development will help meet the strong and growing demand from East London’s student population.” Mark Diamond, Senior Director at McAleer & Rushe, commented: “We look forward to progressing the scheme following this approval, which reflects the strength of the collaborative approach taken by the Firethorn and McAleer & Rushe project team. Our focus remains on maintaining the highest standards of building safety, quality and sustainability as works commence on-site, delivering safe, modern student accommodation in East London.” The site forms part of Firethorn’s Living portfolio, including PBSA developments in Hackney Wick, Stratford, and The Malt Works at Leith Walk in Edinburgh. For more information, visit www.firethorntrust.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans for a major redevelopment of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre have been submitted to the London Borough of Bromley as part of proposals to transform the historic venue into a modern, sustainable and accessible sporting facility. Morgan Sindall Construction has put forward the planning application for the comprehensive refurbishment of the Grade II*-listed complex, which originally opened in 1964. The project has been procured through the Southern Construction Framework, with Morgan Sindall appointed as the main contractor. The proposals aim to revitalise the 15-hectare site while preserving its heritage features and upgrading facilities to modern standards. Plans include improvements designed to support sporting participation from grassroots to elite levels, enhanced accessibility across the site and sustainability upgrades intended to significantly reduce the venue’s carbon footprint. There are also ambitions to work with partners to revitalise the centre’s well-known athletics stadium. The redevelopment proposals have received backing from more than 15 national sports governing bodies as well as local authority leaders. Community engagement has also been strong, with more than 500 residents attending recent consultation events to discuss the plans. Key elements of the proposed redevelopment include a full refurbishment of the main sports centre building, expanded gym facilities and new spaces for sports clubs. The aquatics hall would be redesigned to include a 50-metre swimming pool and diving facilities alongside shallow water and 25-metre swimming, all located within a single unified space. The project also aims to enhance indoor sports areas to support year-round training for clubs, athletes and the local community. Under a ‘More Courts, More Sports, More Play’ concept, the scheme proposes new facilities including a six-court padel centre, 3×3 basketball courts, five-a-side football pitches and a full-size artificial multi-sports pitch. Further plans involve renovating existing stadium stands and constructing a new North Stand designed in collaboration with athletes to improve the atmosphere at sporting events. Accessibility improvements across the site would include a new step-free route linking the Penge and Crystal Palace sides of the park. Sustainability measures are central to the design, which targets a 97% reduction in carbon emissions. Using the CarboniCa digital carbon calculation tool, the project team plans to achieve this through measures such as rooftop photovoltaic panels and the installation of air source heat pumps. Additional upgrades include separating wet and dry areas with a new glazed screen to reduce noise and humidity and introducing an improved heating strategy expected to reduce energy demand by around 70%. A new community space is also planned, featuring a café, a 200-metre running track, an outdoor gym and a 3×3 basketball court. These facilities would be free to access and open to the public. The sports centre has played a major role in the UK’s sporting history, hosting landmark events such as the first Women’s FA Cup final and record-breaking performances including Steve Backley becoming the first man to throw the modern javelin beyond 90 metres, and Zola Budd setting a world record in the 5,000 metres. The redevelopment will include commemorative and interactive features highlighting these achievements. Alongside the physical improvements, the project will provide training and employment opportunities for young people in South London through Morgan Sindall’s social value initiatives. More than 40 people have already participated in programmes linked to the redevelopment, including the Future Palace Programme, which aims to involve young people in shaping the centre’s transformation. The initiative, led by Beyond the Box CIC and delivered with Morgan Sindall and project partners, has engaged 20 participants aged 15 to 25 from eight London boroughs. Through workshops and collaborative sessions, the programme allows young people to share their perspectives and help influence how the redeveloped centre will serve the community. Key organisations involved in the project include sports masterplan specialists WOO Architects, sustainability and decarbonisation experts Max Fordham, architects Faulkner Brown Architects and engineering and heritage specialists Alan Baxter Associates. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Engineering consultancy Arup has been appointed to carry out early-stage design and engineering work for the UK’s first small modular reactor (SMR), planned for the Wylfa site on Anglesey. Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) confirmed that Arup will provide early-phase foundation engineering and design support as the landmark project begins to take shape. Small modular reactors are designed to accelerate the construction of new nuclear power generation. Their smaller, factory-built components are intended to simplify construction compared with traditional nuclear plants. SMRs are also expected to play a key role in supporting intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, helping to maintain electricity supply during periods of low generation, sometimes referred to as a dunkelflaute or “dark doldrums”. They could also provide direct power connections for major industrial energy users. Plans for the Wylfa scheme were confirmed in November 2025, when GBE-N announced proposals to build three reactors at the site in Ynys Môn, Wales, using technology developed by Rolls-Royce. The project is backed by £2.5bn of UK government funding. Earlier this year, US engineering firm Amentum was selected to lead the delivery programme. It is being supported by a team including Turner & Townsend, Hochtief, Mace Consult and Unipart. Arup’s appointment brings together a group of specialist partners working on the early stages of the project. Landscape architects and master planners LDA Design are involved in shaping the wider site vision, while nuclear safety specialists TÜV SÜD Nuclear Technologies will provide safety expertise. Gleeds has been appointed to focus on cost engineering during the initial phases of site and infrastructure development. Simon Roddy, chief executive of GBE-N, said delivering a safe and integrated design for the UK’s first SMR would require close collaboration between engineering and technology partners. He said the project would rely on strong technical decision-making and innovation, adding that Arup and its partners would play a key role alongside GBE-N and Rolls-Royce SMR. Jeremy Stain, Arup’s nuclear business lead, said the project represented the first step towards a potential fleet of small modular reactors across the UK. He said the development aligned with national energy policy and the drive to reduce carbon emissions while strengthening energy security, with nuclear expected to remain a vital part of the future energy mix. Stain added that Arup was pleased to bring its multidisciplinary engineering expertise and local knowledge to the landmark project. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A joint venture between Vistry Group and Kier Property has agreed a deal with global real estate investment firm Kennedy Wilson to deliver 97 new homes for the private rented sector (PRS) across developments in Watford and Wokingham. The agreement marks the first collaboration between the companies, with Kennedy Wilson forward funding homes at two sites: 47 houses at the Avenues development in Watford, Hertfordshire, and 50 homes at the Holme Meadows scheme in South Wokingham. The Avenues site forms part of the wider Watford Riverwell project, a joint venture between Kier Property and Watford Borough Council. The wider masterplan aims to deliver around 1,100 homes as part of a large-scale regeneration initiative. Located south of Watford General Hospital and Vicarage Road Stadium, the Avenues development will consist entirely of single-family homes designed to help address the shortage of high-quality rental accommodation in the area. The development is positioned close to Watford Junction, offering connections to central London in around 16 minutes, and is within walking distance of Watford town centre amenities. The homes will be built to modern specifications, including the installation of air source heat pumps and other energy-efficient technologies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and lowering energy costs for residents. The project also includes improvements to local infrastructure and public spaces. Planning permission has already been secured, with construction expected to begin in mid-2026. In addition, Kennedy Wilson has secured 50 homes for private rent at the Holme Meadows development in South Wokingham. The site forms part of a 343-home scheme being delivered by the Vistry and Kier partnership in one of Berkshire’s key strategic growth areas. The 50 homes will sit alongside a 35% affordable housing provision within the development, supporting the aim of creating a balanced and sustainable community. Construction at Holme Meadows began in autumn 2025, with the first homes expected to be completed in summer 2026. Kevin Delve said: “Avenues is an exceptional site in an outstanding location and we are delighted to have exchanged contracts on this latest phase alongside our partners at Kier Property. This marks the first partnership between Kier Property and Vistry’s London division, building on a strong national relationship and paving the way for further collaborations in the capital. Alongside the forward funding of 50 high-quality homes at Holme Meadows in South Wokingham, these transactions will deliver 97 much-needed homes for the private rented sector, providing greater housing choice for local communities while supporting the wider regeneration and sustainable growth of both areas.” Leigh Thomas added: “We are thrilled to see the next phases of our master planned communities at Watford Riverwell and South Wokingham coming to fruition. Our relationship with Kennedy Wilson continues to go from strength to strength and these deals demonstrate how effective collaboration can unlock complex sites and deliver much-needed homes and infrastructure. Avenues at Watford, alongside our plans in South Wokingham, will be a fantastic addition to their respective neighbourhoods, building on the work already undertaken to create vibrant, sustainable communities.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
PERI UK is making AI-driven custom formwork design and fabrication available to contractors nationwide, following the successful deployment of the technology on an infrastructure scheme in Warwickshire. Powered by dataform.work – the digital construction joint venture co-founded by PERI Group and DataB – the system automates the translation of 3D models into production-ready components, enabling faster, more precise, and more cost-effective delivery of complex geometries. Bespoke formwork has traditionally required extensive manual detailing, programming, and workshop time, particularly where non-standard shapes are involved. Infrastructure schemes, architecturally ambitious buildings, and high-rise projects frequently demand window and door box-outs, void formers, or freeform formwork units that are challenging to achieve using standard system components. The digital workflow enabled by DataB software significantly reduces that complexity while increasing planning reliability. It means that the process — from concept models to component production — can be carried out in less than half the time. Proven on HS2 The technology was first deployed in the UK on foundations for a footbridge along the High Speed 2 route near Coventry. The foundation design featured 13 different facets and angles, engineered to optimise structural load paths and reduce concrete consumption for a lower embodied carbon footprint. dataform.work’s automated production process enabled the precise manufacture of the complex internal void former quickly and economically, demonstrating the system’s viability for demanding infrastructure applications. The workflow starts with PERI engineers uploading a project’s 3D model into the dataform.work platform. The software automatically generates the cutting data and detailed assembly instructions for the substructure’s geometry. Components are then precision-milled from plywood using advanced 5-axis CNC machinery before being assembled in a PERI production facility and delivered to site ready for installation. The innovative joint design significantly reduces the need for screws and the use of glue altogether. As well as accelerating assembly in the warehouse, the design incorporates integrated striking elements that allow void formers for windows and doors in particular to be removed more efficiently and with reduced risk of damage. This improves the practicality of reuse in the high-rise market and helps contractors maintain programme certainty on complex pours. “Bespoke formwork has often involved significant manual input and a degree of programme uncertainty due to the level of precision that these requirements demand,” says Matt Binder, National Product Manager at PERI UK. “With our enhanced fabrication services through dataform.work, we’re able to mobilise production and respond to customer orders for void formers or multi-faceted box out units much faster. Not only have we simplified the process, but we’ve also reduced the need for remedial work by narrowing the margin for error. It’s a huge step forward for efficiency and project certainty, with production lead times measured in days rather than weeks.” dataform.work, established as a joint venture in 2025, with PERI Group and DataB each holding a 50% stake, forms part of the wider PERI initiative to integrate digitalisation and automated production into custom formwork solutions, supporting greater productivity and commercial certainty across the construction sector. Learn more about PERI and dataform.work bespoke formwork capabilities Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Property consultancy MPW has broadened its services with the launch of a dedicated property and asset management arm, strengthening its ability to support clients from strategic planning through to day-to-day operational delivery. The move reflects increasing demand from property owners and regeneration partners for a more integrated approach that combines consultancy expertise with hands-on management of assets. The new division, MPW Property and Asset Management, will provide active management services for retail and mixed-use destinations. Its offer will include facilities management, financial and car park management, and strategic destination marketing designed to help revitalise town centres and commercial locations. MPW was established in Bangor, North Wales, in 2024 with a focus on delivering bilingual consultancy services and strategic guidance to shopping centre owners, local authorities and third sector organisations. The business has positioned itself as a specialist partner for high street regeneration projects across Wales and the wider UK. Founder and director Medi Parry-Williams said the expansion marks an important step in the company’s evolution, allowing it to translate strategic advice into long-term operational impact. She explained that while the consultancy had been advising clients on the future of their retail and mixed-use assets, the new arm enables MPW to remain directly involved in delivering those strategies and ensuring they continue to create commercial and community value. “We’re thrilled to be expanding the MPW Group so that we’re not only advising asset owners what they should do with their centres, we’re actively delivering and ensuring action is sustained over time,” she said. “Launching MPW Property and Asset Management allows us to bridge the gap, ensuring our strategies are implemented in a way that creates commercially viable assets while genuinely supporting the places and communities around them.” The new division has already secured its first major appointment, signing a two-year asset management agreement with the owners of the 120,000 sq ft Menai Centre in Bangor. The scheme joins a growing client portfolio that includes organisations such as RivingtonHark, Bangor City Council and Menter Môn. MPW said the expansion will allow the business to play a more direct role in shaping the long-term success of retail and mixed-use destinations, particularly as towns and city centres continue to adapt to changing consumer habits and regeneration priorities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Continuing to drive up levels of customer satisfaction is the main focus for Bellway North East’s new Head of Construction. Ben Singlewood has been appointed to the role with the housebuilder’s North East division on a permanent basis, having held the position in an interim capacity since last May. Based in the North East division’s head office in Gateshead, Ben will be responsible for sites across Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and County Durham. He believes that delivering key infrastructure at an earlier stage in the construction process has played an important part in the division improving its customer satisfaction scores – and he is determined to ensure that the buyer experience remains front and centre in his planning and decision making. Ben, 51, from Bishop Auckland, said: “We have a ‘Customer First’ policy that is part of the company ethos. This is massive for the success of the business and for customer feedback. “Ensuring that all roads and other infrastructure are finished to an adoptable standard as a development progresses ensures that customers move into a street that feels complete. Historically this work might have been done towards the end of the project, but we try to do it while we are still on site. That means we control it better and it makes it easier for people who have moved in to get around. We are judged on our scores and surveys, and we find our scores are getting better because we are doing this work as we go.” Decisions around which homes are completed and handed over to customers and when this happens also have a big impact on the customer experience. “Occupation strategies are important because we want to move people into the correct environment, especially as on a large development work may be completed over several phases, over several years, and we are still the neighbours to our customers.” Ben has been with Bellway for 21 years, having joined the company as an assistant site manager in Darlington in 2004. “Bellway is a great company to work for with good employee engagement. It’s a very inclusive and forward-thinking business,” he said. Ben became a site manager in 2011, working in Darlington, Durham and Washington. Between 2014 and 2016 he was Senior Site Manager at Stannington Park – a regeneration project on the former St Mary’s Hospital site in Stannington in Northumberland for which Ben won a prestigious Pride in the Job Quality Award from the National House Building Council (NHBC). In 2016 he became Construction Manager and in 2018 Senior Construction Manager. Major projects on the horizon include Bellway’s DH1 development to the north west of Durham, where the company is building 368 homes all fitted with sustainable air source heat pumps. The role of Head of Construction entails long-term strategic involvement not just in construction on-site but in every part of the process from land acquisition and planning to technical and sales. Ben enjoys the fast pace and problem-solving demands of the role in an industry that is constantly on the move. He said: “The one thing that is constant is change, and that’s a big appeal of the role for me. It’s a very dynamic role and I like the variety.” In some ways his motivation is the same as it was when he was a site manager. He said: “We are creating communities and I get a lot of satisfaction in turning over a good house and a good product.” To find out more about Bellway North East, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/north-east. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
When global beauty leader L’Oréal set out to develop its new distribution centre in Auckland, New Zealand, the brief extended far beyond operational efficiency. The Dangerous Goods Store within the facility required a robust, compliant lighting solution for a Zone 2 hazardous environment, while also contributing to a sustainability ambition that would ultimately make history in New Zealand. Delivered in November 2025, the project brought together a strong collaboration team: developer James Kirkpatrick Group, architect Gravitas Consulting, builder Waide Commercial Construction, and Electrical and Lighting Consultant Electrical Consulting Services. Electrical Consulting Services, in collaboration with Techlight, was entrusted with delivering a lighting solution that would meet stringent safety, performance, and environmental benchmarks. There was only one manufacturer they wanted to partner with, Petrel. Designing for Zone 2: Safety Without Compromise The Dangerous Goods Store was classified as Zone 2, an environment where explosive gas atmospheres are not likely to occur in normal operation, and, if they do occur, will exist only for a short time. In such settings, lighting is not merely functional; it is critical infrastructure. To address this, 73No Petrel ALED4/G/Z2/156E luminaires were installed as high-bay fittings, illuminating aisles and open warehouse areas with powerful, consistent light output. These fixtures are engineered specifically for hazardous locations, providing the necessary ingress protection, durability and compliance for Zone 2 applications. Their robust construction ensures long-term reliability while minimising maintenance requirements, an essential consideration in environments handling dangerous goods. Complementing the general lighting, 12No Petrel 9LED5700/EM units were deployed to provide emergency illumination across aisles and open areas. In any hazardous facility, emergency lighting must operate seamlessly in the event of power failure, ensuring safe evacuation and maintaining visibility during critical incidents. The integration of dedicated emergency luminaires reinforces the project’s uncompromising approach to safety. Supporting a 6-Star Green Star Milestone While safety and compliance were paramount, sustainability remained central to the project vision. The distribution centre has achieved New Zealand’s first-ever 6-Star Green Star Design Certified rating, the highest possible rating awarded by the New Zealand Green Building Council. This world-leading certification represents excellence in sustainable design and places the facility at the forefront of environmentally responsible industrial development in New Zealand. Commenting on the project, Stuart Head, Technical and Certification Manager at Petrel Ltd said “Lighting is central to Green Star performance, influencing energy use, operational carbon and overall environmental quality. By combining high-performance LEDs with precise optical control, the L’Oréal Dangerous Goods Store achieves lower emissions, reduced energy demand and safer working conditions. Petrel is proud to have supported the delivery of this award-winning outcome.” By combining hazardous-area compliance with energy-efficient design, Petrel’s solution demonstrates that performance and sustainability are not mutually exclusive; they are mutually reinforcing. Collaboration Driving Innovation Projects of this calibre depend on close collaboration between stakeholders. Early engagement with the end user, developer, design consultants and construction team ensured that lighting specifications aligned seamlessly with architectural intent, structural constraints, electrical and fire suppression infrastructure. The result is a facility that not only meets stringent hazardous-area standards but also aligns with global best practice in sustainable industrial design. Techlight’s National Sales Manager, Pierre Abrahamse, said: “The L’Oréal Dangerous Goods Store project sets a new benchmark, demonstrating how specialist lighting capability can drive both operational excellence and environmental leadership. Credit goes to the team at Petrel for their skill, commitment and genuine passion for the sector.” In an era where supply chain infrastructure must be safer, smarter and greener, this Auckland facility sets a new global standard. Through thoughtful design, precision engineering and collaborative delivery, it proves that even the most technically demanding environments can achieve world-class sustainability outcomes. To learn more about this story and the products featured, please visit Petrel’s website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Nationwide Platforms has supported construction works at one of the world’s most remote research facilities, supplying specialist powered access equipment to BAM UK&I at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica. The work forms part of the British Antarctic Survey’s long-term Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme, a rolling investment programme to futureproof the UK’s polar research capabilities. At Rothera, BAM UK&I has delivered a series of major upgrades, including the new Discovery Building, runway improvements and redevelopment of the station’s wharf to accommodate the polar research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough. To support internal construction works, Nationwide Platforms supplied four scissor lifts with minimal environmental footprint for installation work within the Discovery Building. Operating in Antarctica presents a unique combination of logistical, environmental and operational challenges. Machinery must function reliably in sub-zero temperatures and high winds, while also meeting strict environmental protection standards and working within limited on-site power capacity. Within the Discovery Building itself, narrow corridors and sensitive early-stage infrastructure require low-emission, compact equipment capable of predictable, controlled operation. Working closely with BAM UK&I, Nationwide Platforms supplied Dingli JCPT0807PA hydraulic-oil free electric scissor lifts. The machines were delivered in standard ISO containers and supported with on-site spares to minimise the need for additional imports or external technical support. Despite the challenges of battery performance in extreme cold, the electric units remained in daily use through careful battery management, while their low power draw helped reduce demand on Rothera’s diesel-generated energy supply. The oil-free configuration also eliminated the risk of hydraulic leaks, supporting compliance with the stringent environmental protocols enforced by the British Antarctic Survey. Matt Parfitt, Head of Market Development at Nationwide Platforms, said, “With proven reliability in a region where margin for error is minimal, the JCPT0807PA has demonstrated the value of compact, oil-free, electric access machinery in enabling safe, low-impact progress at one of the world’s most challenging and extraordinary construction sites.” Johannes Smit, Construction Manager at BAM UK&I, said: “Working in Antarctica demands a level of planning and precision unlike any other environment. Every piece of equipment must justify its place on site, not only in terms of performance, but in sustainability, reliability and ease of maintenance. The compact, oil-free scissor lifts supplied by Nationwide Platforms have been invaluable in supporting safe, efficient progress within the Discovery Building, helping our teams deliver critical works while protecting the unique Antarctic environment.” As the Rothera modernisation programme continues, Nationwide Platforms and BAM UK&I remain in ongoing collaboration to support future phases of construction, including further infrastructure and renewable energy upgrades at the station. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals