April 23, 2026
Hill and Pinnacle to 1,900 new London homes

Hill and Pinnacle to 1,900 new London homes

The Hill Group and Pinnacle Investments have exchanged contracts to deliver 1,934 new homes across two landmark developments in the Borough of Brent in London. The joint venture, Dollis Hill Wembley LLP, completed the acquisition of the sites from United Colleges Group (UCG), marking a critical milestone for a project

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Issue 340 : May 2026

April 23, 2026

Hill and Pinnacle to 1,900 new London homes

Hill and Pinnacle to 1,900 new London homes

The Hill Group and Pinnacle Investments have exchanged contracts to deliver 1,934 new homes across two landmark developments in the Borough of Brent in London. The joint venture, Dollis Hill Wembley LLP, completed the acquisition of the sites from United Colleges Group (UCG), marking a critical milestone for a project that will provide 84% of Brent’s annual housing requirement under the London Plan. The developments are set to transform former educational sites into high-quality residential communities supported by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Sovereign Network Group (SNG). A total of 154 social rent homes will be integrated across the schemes, funded in part by the GLA’s Homes for Londoners Fund. Beyond housing, the project facilitates the creation of a new state-of-the-art educational campus for UCG on Olympic Way, Wembley. Construction on the first phase of the regeneration is scheduled to begin in spring 2026. The Wembley development will replace the former College of North West London building at the foot of Olympic Way. The project features linked 18-storey and 30-storey towers, providing 307 apartments. Every home will include a private balcony or terrace, with 85 units dedicated to social rent. The scheme also includes ground-floor commercial space, a concierge service, and secure cycle storage. In Dollis Hill, the Dudden Hill Lane site will be reimagined as a vibrant neighbourhood of 1,627 homes across buildings ranging from four to 28 storeys. The sale of these sites enables United Colleges Group to consolidate its operations into a purpose-built campus on Olympic Way. This new facility will focus on green skills, engineering, and the built environment, ensuring the college’s 130-year legacy in Brent continues in a modern, future-facing environment. Andy Hill OBE, Founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, said: “At a time when housebuilding has substantially stalled in London, we are working tirelessly with our partners to bring forward new developments, such as these two sites in Wembley and Dollis Hill. Together, we are unlocking the potential of these sites to deliver much-needed homes in the capital, while transforming the area to provide essential community amenities that enable sustainable and thriving new neighbourhoods.” Christopher Turnbull, Managing Director at Pinnacle Investments, added: “Exchanging contracts marks an important step for our joint venture with Hill and reinforces our commitment to investing in high-quality housing of all tenures where it is most needed. These developments will play a key role in meeting Brent’s housing needs while also enabling vital investment in education and skills.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Smarter Skip Hire in Britain - How to Choose the Right Skip for Fast, Affordable Waste Removal

Smarter Skip Hire in Britain – How to Choose the Right Skip for Fast, Affordable Waste Removal

When people start searching for the right waste solution, they often want a practical guide to hiring skips near you that makes sense of size, cost, timing and local service standards without the jargon. In the UK, skip hire is not simply about dropping a container on a driveway and filling it up; it is about choosing a reliable service that matches the scale of your job, avoids delays, keeps a site tidy, and helps householders, tradespeople and site managers stay in control of waste from the first clear-out to the final collection. Whether you are renovating a kitchen, stripping out an office, clearing a garden, or managing ongoing construction debris, the right skip can save time, reduce stress and make the whole waste removal process far more efficient. Why the Right Skip Hire Choice Matters More Than Most People Think In the skip hire industry, the biggest mistakes usually come from choosing too little capacity, booking too late, or focusing only on the headline price. Many customers begin with searches such as cheap skip hire near me, assuming the lowest quote will naturally be the best value. Still, experienced operators know that true value comes from a balance of price, availability, local knowledge, legal compliance and dependable collection times. A skip that arrives late, is too small for the volume of waste, or cannot legally be placed where you need it, can end up costing more in labour, inconvenience, and repeat collections than a better-planned booking would have in the first place. For readers of bdcmagazine.com, this matters because waste management sits at the heart of efficient property, construction and improvement work. Even on smaller domestic jobs, poor waste planning can slow progress, create hazards and make an otherwise straightforward project feel chaotic. On larger sites, it can affect housekeeping standards, workflow and customer satisfaction. Good skip hire is therefore not an afterthought; it is part of a well-run job. The best approach is to see skip hire as a practical support service that keeps work moving, helps separate waste streams where needed, and gives people confidence that rubbish, rubble and unwanted materials are being handled straightforwardly and responsibly. Understanding Which Skip Size Works Best for Your Job One of the most common questions in the trade is whether a customer should opt for a small skip hire or move up to a larger one. In practice, the answer depends as much on the type of waste as on its volume. Heavy materials such as soil, hardcore, concrete, and bricks quickly reach fill weight limits. In contrast, lighter waste from packaging, mixed household clutter, timber or old fittings may need more space before weight becomes an issue. This is why experienced skip providers will often ask what kind of project you are doing rather than simply asking how much rubbish you have. A small skip is often ideal for bathroom upgrades, modest garden clearances, garage tidies, and small trade jobs where the waste is predictable, and space on site is limited. It is especially useful in tighter urban settings where access is restricted, and customers want a neat, manageable solution that does not dominate the property. For many domestic jobs, small skip hire offers the sweet spot between affordability and practicality. It keeps the project organised without encouraging overfilling, which is of leading cause of collection delays and safety concerns. Typical situations where a smaller skip makes sense include: That said, underestimating waste is very common. If the job involves bulky items, repeated clear-outs, or multiple rooms, stepping up one size can often be the more economical choice. A slightly larger skip can prevent the need for a second order and give teams or householders room to work without constantly compressing loads or worrying about running out of space halfway through the job. What People Really Mean When They Search for Cheap Skip Hire Near Me The phrase cheap skip hire near me reflects a perfectly reasonable concern: people want waste removal that is affordable and convenient. Yet the most experienced view in the industry is that “cheap” should never mean careless. A good quote should include delivery and collection, a realistic hire period, and clarity on what can and cannot be loaded into the skip. Hidden extras, rushed service and vague terms are often the reasons a seemingly low-cost booking becomes frustrating. When comparing options, people should look beyond price alone and consider the following: This is where local skip hire often stands out. A local operator usually knows the area, typical access constraints, council permit realities and the day-to-day pressures customers face. That local knowledge can make the booking smoother and more accurate, especially where roads are narrow, parking is tight, or projects are moving quickly. In other words, affordable skip hire is not only about shaving pounds off a quote; it is about getting dependable service that prevents hold-ups and keeps waste under control from start to finish. Why Local Skip Hire Still Gives Customers an Edge There is a reason local skip hire remains a strong search term across the UK. People want a provider that feels accessible, practical and accountable. Local service matters because waste jobs are often time-sensitive. A house clearance may need to happen before a sale completes, a building team may need a fast turnaround to keep the site clear, or a shopfit may require out-of-hours coordination to avoid disruption. In each case, having a nearby operator who understands the area can make a noticeable difference. Local service also tends to work well for communication. Customers usually value straightforward advice over hard selling. They want someone to tell them whether they really need a permit, whether the skip will fit on the drive, what should be kept out, and whether a small or larger size is the better option. The strongest local firms make this simple. They do not overcomplicate the process; they solve problems before they grow. Practical habits that lead to a smoother skip hire experience The most

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