Affordable housing consortium Habiko has taken a major step forward in its ambition to deliver thousands of affordable homes across England after securing planning approval for its first residential development in Warrington town centre. The partnership between Muse, Homes England and Pension Insurance Corporation has received the green light from
A major new chapter is underway for one of the UK’s most iconic film and television production sites after McLaren Construction was appointed lead contractor for the redevelopment of the former BBC Elstree Centre, now rebranded as Fairbanks Studios. The landmark project, led by BNP Paribas Asset Management through its
Advanced automation proves integral to daily operations for iconic London landmark Genetec Inc. (“Genetec”), the global leader in enterprise physical security software, today announced 40 Leadenhall has deployed Genetec™ Security Center and Genetec Mission Control™ to create a seamless modern experience for visitors and tenants. Located in the capital’s insurance
The latest insight from property management specialist, Rushbrook & Rathbone, has found that utilities, cleaning and gardening are the most common block management requirements, accounting for almost two thirds of all call-outs and maintenance tasks carried out in 2025. Rushbrook & Rathbone’s internal data shines a light on what most frequently
Completion delays on new-build properties are more common than most buyers expect. Developers push back handover dates for all kinds of reasons, weather, supply chain problems, subcontractor issues, and it rarely comes with much notice. If you’ve already left your previous home, that leaves you in an awkward position: your
Affordable housing consortium Habiko has taken a major step forward in its ambition to deliver thousands of affordable homes across England after securing planning approval for its first residential development in Warrington town centre. The partnership between Muse, Homes England and Pension Insurance Corporation has received the green light from Warrington Borough Council for the Academy Way project, marking the first approved scheme within Habiko’s long-term national housing pipeline. Located on the former DW Sports site close to the town’s Time Square district, the 1.5-acre development will deliver 240 affordable apartments across two six-storey residential blocks. The scheme will comprise 162 one-bedroom and 78 two-bedroom homes, designed to provide high-quality rental accommodation within easy reach of the town centre and transport connections. The approval represents an important milestone for Habiko, which launched in late 2024 with a commitment to deliver 3,000 affordable rental homes across England over the next 12 years. Warrington is the first scheme within the consortium’s wider strategy to secure planning consent, with additional developments currently progressing in Solihull, Chester and Liverpool. According to Habiko, the homes will be offered at rents capped at least 20% below local market rates or within Local Housing Allowance thresholds, helping address growing affordability pressures facing renters across many parts of the country. The development has been designed by AHR Architects and will centre around a landscaped communal courtyard intended to create a stronger sense of community and wellbeing for residents. Sustainability and low-carbon living have also played a key role in the scheme’s design, with the homes expected to help reduce tenants’ energy costs through improved efficiency and modern building standards. Sarah Chicken, senior development manager at Muse, said the project reflects the partnership’s ambition to deliver affordable homes that combine quality, sustainability and accessibility while supporting local regeneration. The Academy Way scheme also forms part of the wider regeneration momentum taking place within Warrington town centre, particularly around the Time Square area, where significant investment has been focused on residential, leisure and mixed-use development in recent years. While construction timings for the project have not yet been confirmed, the planning approval signals the beginning of Habiko’s broader affordable housing delivery programme and underlines the increasing role of public-private partnerships in addressing the UK’s housing shortage. As pressure continues to grow on local authorities and developers to deliver affordable and energy-efficient homes at scale, schemes such as Academy Way are expected to become increasingly important in supporting both housing demand and wider urban regeneration ambitions across the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A major new chapter is underway for one of the UK’s most iconic film and television production sites after McLaren Construction was appointed lead contractor for the redevelopment of the former BBC Elstree Centre, now rebranded as Fairbanks Studios. The landmark project, led by BNP Paribas Asset Management through its alternatives platform BNPP AM Alts, will transform part of the historic Elstree campus into a state-of-the-art production hub aimed at supporting the rapidly growing demand for high-end television and independent film production space across the UK. Planning consent for the redevelopment was secured in December 2025, with enabling and demolition works now completed. Main construction works officially commenced in April 2026, marking the beginning of a significant brownfield regeneration scheme with completion targeted for late 2027. Located on a 16-acre site, approximately half of the former BBC Elstree campus will be redeveloped into a 266,000 sq ft production complex designed specifically for the modern media industry. The remaining part of the site continues to be occupied by the BBC under a long-term lease and remains home to the filming of EastEnders, one of the UK’s longest-running and most recognisable television dramas. The wider redevelopment aims to ensure the historic studio complex remains commercially competitive within an increasingly global production market. Originally opened as a film studio in 1914, the Elstree site has played a central role in British television and film production for more than a century. The new Fairbanks Studios development will significantly expand the campus’ production capabilities, more than quadrupling the existing stage space to around 100,000 sq ft across five new sound stages. These stages will range between 16,000 sq ft and 21,000 sq ft, providing flexible, large-scale facilities capable of supporting major television and film productions. Alongside the new stages, the development will also include workshops, production offices, a café and a dedicated 58,000 sq ft Media Hub. The hub will provide office and amenity space specifically aimed at media-related businesses and companies directly connected to studio operations, helping create a broader creative production ecosystem on site. Paul Serkis, director of studios projects at McLaren Construction, said the scheme reflects the growing strength and international appeal of the UK’s film and television industry. He noted that demand for high-quality production space continues to rise rapidly as the UK strengthens its reputation as a leading global destination for film and high-end television projects. He added that delivering approved studio schemes quickly and efficiently will be essential if the sector is to fully capitalise on future growth opportunities. McLaren Construction will work alongside a specialist supply chain team on the project, including Harrington Builders delivering groundworks, Aarsleff managing piling works, SCWS overseeing steelwork operations, Halsall handling mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and Northern Cladding responsible for cladding installation. The redevelopment comes amid continued investment across the UK studio sector, driven by growing international demand for premium production facilities, the expansion of streaming platforms and increasing levels of inward investment into British film and television production. As competition intensifies globally for production projects and creative investment, the transformation of the former BBC Elstree Centre into Fairbanks Studios is expected to strengthen the UK’s position as a world-leading hub for film and television production while breathing new life into one of the country’s most historic studio campuses. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Advanced automation proves integral to daily operations for iconic London landmark Genetec Inc. (“Genetec”), the global leader in enterprise physical security software, today announced 40 Leadenhall has deployed Genetec™ Security Center and Genetec Mission Control™ to create a seamless modern experience for visitors and tenants. Located in the capital’s insurance district, 40 Leadenhall is one of the biggest City of London developments ever to receive planning permission. It spans over 900,000 square feet of commercial office, amenities, and retail space, serving up to 10,000 occupants. A unified security platform formed part of the original performance specification, with Genetec Security Center ultimately selected to give 40 Leadenhall the flexibility to integrate best‑of‑breed hardware and software, support informed decision‑making, and tailor the interface to a wide range of user needs and access privileges. “Genetec is proud to be safeguarding a growing portfolio of flagship buildings across the City of London – including some of its newest and largest developments,” said Viet Tang, Account Executive at Genetec Inc. “40 Leadenhall is a standout example of how forward‑thinking property owners are embracing unified, intelligent security to deliver safer, more efficient and more intuitive environments.” The smart building solution incorporates over 200 cameras, more than 250 doors, and 2,600 data points, all managed through Genetec Security Center and hosted on Genetec Streamvault™ servers and archives. Genetec Mission Control™ further enhances operations by standardising incident response with advanced automation. By integrating with other building systems, it can automatically trigger workflows for events such as power loss, water leaks, or high winds thus enabling teams to respond proactively with timely notifications and targeted actions that help ensure occupant safety. Access control and visitor experience technologies from partners including HID Global, Mercury Communications, and STid help enable seamless navigation throughout the facility. Occupiers can use mobile wallet credentials for frictionless entry, while visitors receive QR‑code passes that remove the need for temporary plastic cards. Integrated cameras from Axis Communications enhance situational awareness across the site. Genetec workstations located throughout the building provide role‑based access for operators. Reception staff can enrol visitors, while control-room security teams can run reports, investigate events, and monitor live video on either dedicated workstations or tablets. “The Genetec security system is easy to use and enables us to deliver a world class service to our occupiers and guests, ensuring occupant wellbeing and building security,” says Stewart Maynard, Smart Systems Manager at 40 Leadenhall. “Collaboration between delivery, systems and service partner teams has helped make 40 Leadenhall a truly smart building.” By uploading interactive floor plans into Security Center, operators can quickly identify devices, investigate activity, or access live video with a single click, significantly reducing training times. The building’s digital experience is further enhanced through integration with the 40 Leadenhall app, powered by VTS Activate. Occupiers can issue virtual visitor passes, receive arrival notifications, and seamlessly access amenities including wellness spaces, cycle facilities and the Peloton studio. “We believe Genetec provides the ideal platform to support 40 Leadenhall’s future growth and technology goals,” concludes Maynard. “The investment in leading technology, supported by strong partnerships, positions 40 Leadenhall at the forefront of innovation.” To read the full customer story, visit: https://www.genetec.com/customer-stories/40-leadenhall Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The latest insight from property management specialist, Rushbrook & Rathbone, has found that utilities, cleaning and gardening are the most common block management requirements, accounting for almost two thirds of all call-outs and maintenance tasks carried out in 2025. Rushbrook & Rathbone’s internal data shines a light on what most frequently drives costs when it comes to block management, analysing both the volume of works carried out and the share of expenditure attributed to each category during 2025. The data shows that utilities were the single most common block management requirement in 2025, accounting for 30.6% of all call-outs and works undertaken. Cleaning and window cleaning ranked second, accounting for 22.1%, whilst gardening made up a further 12.7%. Together, these three categories accounted for 65.4% of all block management activity across the year. General maintenance ranked fourth, accounting for 6.3% of activity, followed closely by fire risk assessment and health and safety requirements at 6.2%. Electrical services also accounted for 5.0% of all work undertaken. However, the categories that occurred most often were not necessarily those that accounted for the largest share of total expenditure. Gardening accounted for the largest share of block management spend in 2025 at 14.9%, followed by insurance at 14.5%, largely driven by increasing premiums across the market, particularly for older buildings or those with higher risk profiles. Management fees also ranked highly at 14.2%, driven by financial administration, compliance with evolving legislation, contractor management, and resident communication, along with cleaning and window cleaning at 14.1%. Despite accounting for 30.6% of all activity, utilities represented just 7.4% of total expenditure, reflecting the fact that whilst they are by far the most frequent requirement, they are generally lower cost on an individual basis. Susan Feasey, Associate Director – Block Management at Rushbrook & Rathbone, commented: “Many people assume that the biggest costs in block management come from major repairs or emergency works, but in reality it is often the more routine and recurring requirements that have the greatest impact. Utilities, cleaning and gardening may not sound particularly significant in isolation, but because they are required so frequently they account for a huge proportion of both the time and cost involved in managing a building. At the same time, there are categories such as insurance and management fees that occur far less frequently, but still make up a significant proportion of overall expenditure. What this really highlights is the complexity of block management. It is not simply about reacting when something goes wrong, but about coordinating a wide range of ongoing requirements in order to keep a building running safely, smoothly and cost effectively.” Data tables and sources Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Completion delays on new-build properties are more common than most buyers expect. Developers push back handover dates for all kinds of reasons, weather, supply chain problems, subcontractor issues, and it rarely comes with much notice. If you’ve already left your previous home, that leaves you in an awkward position: your furniture is packed up, your new place isn’t ready, and you need somewhere to put everything in the meantime. Why Delays Hit Harder When You’ve Already Moved Out When a resale chain falls through, buyers often have a safety net of sorts. With new builds, the situation can be more brutal. You may have set a removal date, handed back keys to a rental, or completed a sale on your existing home, all lined up around a developer’s promised handover date. When that date slips by weeks or months, you’re left without a base. The stress isn’t just emotional. You’re potentially paying for temporary accommodation while also covering removal and storage costs you hadn’t budgeted for. Getting a plan in place early, even before a delay is confirmed, puts you in a much better position. Two Storage Options Worth Considering Mobile Storage For buyers in and around the capital, mobile storage in London is one of the most practical options. Instead of hiring a van and driving your belongings to a storage facility yourself, a team collects everything from your home, loads it into secure containers and takes it away. When your new build is finally ready, your items are delivered directly to your new address. This works especially well for new-build delays because the timescale is so unpredictable. You don’t have to commit to a fixed end date, you just give notice when you’re ready for redelivery. For someone caught in a limbo period of weeks or even months, that flexibility matters. Traditional Self-Storage Units Self-storage facilities are another option, but they put more of the legwork on you. You’ll need to transport your belongings there and back yourself, or arrange a removals company to do it. That can mean two sets of removal costs instead of one. It can work well if you only need to store a few items and have the means to move them, but for a full household, the logistics add up quickly. What to Do While You Wait for Handover There are a few things worth doing while your completion date is in flux: How to Keep Costs Under Control Temporary accommodation and storage fees can stack up fast. If you’re staying with family or in short-term rental accommodation, try to negotiate monthly rates instead of weekly ones, they’re almost always cheaper per night. The same logic applies to storage: commit to a reasonable minimum period rather than paying a premium for open-ended flexibility. It’s also worth being realistic about what actually needs storing. Large furniture and appliances obviously need to go somewhere, but personal items, seasonal clothing and documents can often go into a smaller unit or even a friend’s spare room. Reducing the volume you’re storing directly reduces the monthly cost. The Bottom Line A completion delay on a new build is frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be chaotic. The buyers who come through it most smoothly are usually the ones who sorted their storage and accommodation options before they needed them, not after. If you’re approaching handover on a new-build and there’s any sign of slippage, it’s worth making a few calls now instead of scrambling when the developer finally calls to say the date has moved again.