Planning permission has been granted for Alpha House, Wythenshawe’s newest residential development, which will deliver 125 affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments for social rent as part of the town centre’s £500 million regeneration. Alpha House is the third residential site to receive approval, following December 2025 applications for a total
Network Rail and South Western Railway will deliver a £6 million upgrade at Berrylands station in south-west London, requiring a full closure from Monday 11 May until the end of September. During this time, South Western Railway services will not call at the station while engineers replace both platforms and
A major new phase of the regeneration of Park Hill in Sheffield will see 24% of homes delivered as affordable housing, following a new agreement between joint venture (JV) partners Urban Splash and Places for People and leading housing association Great Places Housing Group. The deal means that 30 of
Savills has expanded its UK retail property management division with four new appointments, reinforcing its national capability as demand for specialist management expertise continues to grow. The firm has made strategic additions across key regional and central teams, bringing in experienced professionals to support its expanding portfolio of shopping centres
Planning permission has been granted for Alpha House, Wythenshawe’s newest residential development, which will deliver 125 affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments for social rent as part of the town centre’s £500 million regeneration. Alpha House is the third residential site to receive approval, following December 2025 applications for a total of 422 new affordable homes from the developer and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG). Earlier this month, C2 The Birtles and Brotherton House both secured planning consent. Originally built in the 1970s as an office building, Alpha House later accommodated a martial arts school and a solicitor’s practice, but its upper floors have remained vacant for over 15 years. The building has now been demolished to make way for the new apartment scheme, which will include 16 wheelchair-accessible homes. The development will offer high-quality, energy-efficient homes with thoughtfully designed outdoor and communal spaces aimed at supporting health, wellbeing, and community interaction. Joe Stockton, development director, said: “Securing the green light for Alpha House, alongside C2 The Birtles and Brotherton House, marks a major milestone in delivering over 400 affordable homes for Wythenshawe, all of which will be available for social rent. The three new communities are central to the wider vision for Wythenshawe, complementing exciting town centre improvements such as the vibrant new food hall, the Culture Hub, and modern workspaces, which have all been designed to strengthen the town centre and benefit the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Network Rail and South Western Railway will deliver a £6 million upgrade at Berrylands station in south-west London, requiring a full closure from Monday 11 May until the end of September. During this time, South Western Railway services will not call at the station while engineers replace both platforms and carry out safety improvements. The station, which stands on a five-metre embankment and currently has partially timber platforms, will receive new glass‑reinforced plastic platforms designed to extend the station’s life for decades. Passengers will also benefit from upgraded lighting, CCTV, Customer Information Screens and station help points. A rail replacement bus will operate every 30 minutes between New Malden and Surbiton throughout the closure, during which the ticket office, car park and toilets will also be shut. Buses to New Malden will depart from Stop B and buses to Surbiton from Stop A on Surbiton Hill Park, a short walk from the station. Passengers travelling towards London should use New Malden, while those heading towards Woking should travel from Surbiton. Local residents and businesses may experience intermittent footway restrictions on Lower Marsh Lane, parking suspensions on Chiltern Drive and occasional, temporary road closures to facilitate construction access. Network Rail and SWR are working with stakeholders to minimise disruption and will provide advance notice of any traffic changes. Speaking on behalf of Network Rail and South Western Railway, George Murrell, Wessex Route Renewals Director, said: “When Berrylands station reopens later this year, passengers will benefit from a brighter, more welcoming station with modern platforms, improved lighting, CCTV and better customer information. “We know closing the station for several months will be inconvenient, but this £6 million investment will provide our passengers with a much better experience when travelling with us. We’re grateful to the local community for their patience while we carry out these important upgrades.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A major new phase of the regeneration of Park Hill in Sheffield will see 24% of homes delivered as affordable housing, following a new agreement between joint venture (JV) partners Urban Splash and Places for People and leading housing association Great Places Housing Group. The deal means that 30 of the 125 homes planned for Phase 4 at the iconic Grade II*-listed estate will be affordable. It builds on a longstanding partnership, with Great Places having previously delivered 96 homes in the first phase and working alongside Urban Splash for more than 20 years. Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth at Great Places, said: “This is a significant step forward for Park Hill and for Sheffield. We’re proud to be strengthening our long-standing partnership to deliver more high-quality, affordable homes in one of the UK’s most important regeneration projects. This investment will ensure more people can be part of Park Hill’s next chapter, in a community that continues to grow in strength and diversity.” The agreement is supported by funding from Homes England, which has backed Great Places’ acquisition of the homes, alongside its wider £6.4m investment into the development’s fourth phase that was announced by the JV in January. Work is set to begin this month, with the new phase also delivering enhanced public realm, EV charging points, car club facilities, and secure cycle storage. The new homes build on more than a decade of progress at Park Hill, where Urban Splash and Places for People have already delivered 455 homes, accommodation for 356 students, over 50,000 sq ft of commercial space, and extensive public realm improvements. Nilam Buchanan, Regional Managing Director for Central and North Developments at Places for People, added: “Park Hill is one of the UK’s most exciting regeneration stories, and throughout its redevelopment we have prioritised creating homes of mixed tenure – and are proud to bring in more affordable homes here. By working in partnership, we’re delivering a mix of homes and spaces that support a genuinely inclusive and sustainable community – one that reflects the character of Sheffield while looking firmly to the future.” Guy Ackernley is Managing Director of Development and Residential at Urban Splash and added: “Bringing forward more affordable homes at Park Hill is hugely important to us. This partnership ensures that the next phase continues to open up this iconic building to a wider range of residents, while maintaining the quality, design and sense of place that defines Park Hill today.” Urban Splash and Places for People will also deliver a fifth phase. Already consented, it will bring a further 105 homes, including apartments, duplexes, and townhouses, alongside new commercial space for independent businesses, adding to a growing community that includes South Street Kitchen, The Pearl, and Grace Owen Nursery. For further information and to register for details of the new homes visit: https://www.urbansplash.co.uk/regeneration/projects/park-hill Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Savills has expanded its UK retail property management division with four new appointments, reinforcing its national capability as demand for specialist management expertise continues to grow. The firm has made strategic additions across key regional and central teams, bringing in experienced professionals to support its expanding portfolio of shopping centres and retail destinations. Katie Kelly has joined the Manchester office as an associate director, enhancing Savills’ presence across northern England. With more than 15 years’ experience in shopping centre management, she has previously held roles at major retail destinations including Liverpool ONE and Derbion in Derby. In London, Lana Hill has been appointed as an associate director at Savills’ Margaret Street headquarters. She joins from Lambert Smith Hampton, where she spent over nine years, and will focus on the operational and strategic management of the firm’s growing shopping centre portfolio. Philippa Spyvee has also joined as an associate director, bringing experience from Workman LLP, where she worked for more than six years. Her role will centre on supporting Savills’ retail portfolio, including both traditional shopping centres and outlet destinations. Completing the quartet of appointments is Hannah McInnes, who joins as an associate within the Glasgow property management team. She brings a blend of client-side and consultancy experience across the retail and leisure sectors, further strengthening Savills’ capabilities in Scotland. The appointments reflect continued momentum within Savills’ retail and leisure property management business, as the firm responds to an increase in new instructions and the evolving needs of clients. Richard Hulme, head of UK retail and leisure property management at Savills, said the expansion ensures the firm can continue to deliver a high level of service across its portfolio. He noted that the new hires bring valuable regional expertise and will support clients in driving long-term asset performance, underpinned by hands-on management and strong data-led insights. The latest hires highlight Savills’ ongoing investment in its retail platform, as the sector continues to adapt to changing consumer behaviour and operational demands. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals