Renaker has cleared a major planning hurdle for its next generation of residential towers in Manchester after reaching a Section 106 agreement with Manchester City Council that could deliver up to £114 million towards affordable housing. The agreement enables the developer’s five-tower Great Jackson Street proposals to progress more than
Structural steelwork is rapidly taking shape at Link, Aylesbury, as construction progresses on the 192,000 sq ft industrial and logistics development being delivered by Glencar for Newlands Developments. The latest milestone was marked with a steel signing ceremony on site on 8 September, bringing together representatives from across the project
Bouygues UK has completed Phase 4 of Hallsville Quarter in Canning Town, East London, delivering 375 purpose-built student accommodation rooms ahead of the 2026/27 academic year. The development is delivered through a joint venture between Crosstree Real Estate Partners and Bouygues UK’s Development arm, with Bouygues UK also acting as
Offsite light gauge steel frame took the superstructure of the £100m Stoke-on-Trent scheme from start to finish in 32 weeks NATIONAL tier one contractor Willmott Dixon has completed the new Student Village at the University of Staffordshire, a 1000-bed development in Stoke-on-Trent whose superstructure was delivered in 32 weeks using
Sector and regional bright spots remain despite a softer national demand outlook beginning to feed through to tender prices reveals the latest Construction Market Intelligence Q3 2026 report from leading construction and property management consultant, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK). While RLB is observing sectorial differences in output, there is
Pluto Finance has reached £1 billion of cumulative lending through its flagship institutional lending vehicle, marking a significant milestone for the real estate finance specialist as it continues to support residential development across the UK and Europe. The milestone comes as Pluto provides development finance for a new Build to
From budget hotel chains to luxury resorts and large restaurant groups, hospitality venues face some of the most complex operating environments, regulatory obligations, and maintenance requirements. These properties contain a wide variety of spaces, building systems and assets, from bedrooms and event spaces to commercial kitchens, HVAC and water systems,
Some of the UK’s biggest facilities management and building services contractors have secured positions on a new government framework valued at up to £120 billion, opening the door to a major pipeline of public estate work over the next eight years. The Government Commercial Agency framework, RM6378, is set to
Downing has secured a £249.2 million refinancing package for two major residential towers at its £400 million Square Gardens development in Manchester, marking another significant milestone for one of the city’s largest new living schemes. The financing, provided by Bank of Ireland, covers Acer and The Fernley, the two completed
New research from Oscar Acoustics has revealed a disconnect between industry confidence in meeting people’s acoustic needs and the point at which acoustics are actually considered in the design and construction process. Seven in ten (70.4%) UK architects and construction professionals say they are confident they meet the acoustic requirements
Renaker has cleared a major planning hurdle for its next generation of residential towers in Manchester after reaching a Section 106 agreement with Manchester City Council that could deliver up to £114 million towards affordable housing. The agreement enables the developer’s five-tower Great Jackson Street proposals to progress more than two years after councillors initially backed the development. Designed by Manchester-based SimpsonHaugh Architects, the ambitious programme will deliver 2,388 new apartments across five high-rise buildings. At the centre of the plans is the 71-storey Lighthouse, a 213-metre residential tower that, if completed as proposed, would become Manchester’s tallest building and the tallest in the UK outside London. Around 640 apartments are planned within the slender tower, together with a public restaurant at its upper level. The Lighthouse takes its name from its distinctive glazed crown, which will create a lantern-like feature on the Manchester skyline. SimpsonHaugh’s design incorporates a unitised façade and a chequered architectural treatment beneath the upper glazed floors. Construction expenditure on the tower has been reported at approximately £235 million. The remaining four buildings, known collectively as The Green, will comprise two 47-storey and two 51-storey towers, providing 1,746 homes alongside commercial, leisure, food and drink accommodation at lower levels. Landscaping, public realm, cycle storage and supporting infrastructure also form part of the wider proposals. Construction of these four towers is expected to represent investment of more than £570 million. Affordable housing has been a significant part of negotiations between the developer and the council. Rather than affordable homes being delivered within the five towers, the Section 106 agreement establishes a viability-linked mechanism through which contributions could be secured for affordable housing elsewhere within Manchester. The Lighthouse is subject to a maximum contribution of around £33.2 million, while The Green could contribute up to a further £81 million. Importantly, these figures represent maximum potential contributions rather than guaranteed upfront payments. The eventual sums will depend on future viability assessments and the financial performance of the developments. The agreement brings greater certainty to one of Manchester’s most significant residential development programmes and continues the transformation of Great Jackson Street into a major high-density neighbourhood. Once delivered, the new buildings will help connect Renaker’s established Deansgate Square and Crown Street developments, creating an increasingly continuous cluster of residential towers on the southern edge of Manchester city centre. Alongside SimpsonHaugh Architects, the wider professional team identified for the development includes Deloitte, Curtins, WSP, GIA, Godwins, TPM Landscape, Element Sustainability, FutureServ and DP Squared, among others. Renaker has not yet confirmed a demolition or construction timetable for the five-tower programme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Structural steelwork is rapidly taking shape at Link, Aylesbury, as construction progresses on the 192,000 sq ft industrial and logistics development being delivered by Glencar for Newlands Developments. The latest milestone was marked with a steel signing ceremony on site on 8 September, bringing together representatives from across the project team as the five-unit scheme moves through a key stage of its construction programme. Located at Gatehouse Close within Aylesbury’s established Gatehouse Industrial Area, Link will provide five new Grade A industrial and logistics units, supported by dedicated service yards, car parking, landscaping and associated infrastructure. Glencar began erecting structural steel for Units 1 and 2 in July, before progressing onto Unit 3 during August. Steelwork for the final two buildings, Units 4 and 5, is scheduled to commence later this month. With the frames now rising across the site, the overall scale and layout of the development is becoming increasingly visible. The latest activity represents an important step towards creating a modern logistics destination capable of accommodating a range of industrial and distribution occupiers. Sustainability and operational efficiency are also central to the specification. Link, Aylesbury is targeting BREEAM Excellent certification and EPC A ratings, with energy-efficient design measures incorporated alongside electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The development’s location provides access to two of the area’s principal road connections, the A41 and A418, while Aylesbury town centre is approximately half a mile away. Its position within an established industrial location further strengthens the scheme’s credentials for businesses seeking modern space with connections to the surrounding regional road network. For Newlands Developments, the project will add a significant new tranche of high-quality industrial and logistics floorspace to the local market, while the five-unit configuration provides flexibility for different occupier requirements. Glencar is continuing construction across the site as the development moves towards its next major delivery phases following completion of the structural frames. Link, Aylesbury is currently targeting completion in April 2027, when all five Grade A units and the accompanying external works and infrastructure are expected to be ready for occupation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bouygues UK has completed Phase 4 of Hallsville Quarter in Canning Town, East London, delivering 375 purpose-built student accommodation rooms ahead of the 2026/27 academic year. The development is delivered through a joint venture between Crosstree Real Estate Partners and Bouygues UK’s Development arm, with Bouygues UK also acting as main contractor. The project was designed by community-focused architect PRP with interiors by Holloway Li. Rising 10 storeys, the new development provides a range of en-suite rooms and fully equipped studios. Residents will have access to an extensive suite of amenities, including communal lounges, landscaped roof terraces, dedicated study areas, a fully equipped gym, meeting rooms, and a staffed reception with parcel room. The scheme has been designed to promote student wellbeing, community and social interaction, with well-lit, airy spaces and a combination of formal and informal areas. The landscaped public realm has been developed alongside the architectural and urban design proposals to create a high-quality, accessible, and sustainable setting. Phase 4 is the penultimate phase of the £650 million Hallsville Quarter masterplan, a long-term regeneration programme transforming Canning Town in the London Borough of Newham in partnership with Bouygues UK. The wider development provides more than 1,100 private and affordable homes, over 30,000 sq metres of leisure and retail space, a hotel, and generous public spaces including a playground designed by Landscape Projects. Sustainability was central to the project’s delivery, with Bouygues UK adopting a low-carbon construction approach that helped the scheme achieve BREEAM Excellent certification. Fully prefabricated bathroom pods reduced construction waste and improved efficiency on site, while Bouygues UK’s self-delivery of the concrete frame and selected internal finishes supported stronger quality control, programme efficiency, and a reduced overall carbon footprint. Bouygues UK has also placed significant emphasis on social value throughout the development. Initiatives have included paid roles for University of East London engineering master’s students, apprenticeships and employment-support programmes delivered in partnership with Newham Works, work-experience placements for local schools, CV-writing workshops, mock interviews, and local volunteering and charity activities. The new development will be operated by ARK Living under the trading name ARK Canning Town, marking the brand’s first dedicated student residence. ARK Canning Town forms part of ARK Living’s growing portfolio of co-living and student residences across London. Drawing on ARK’s established community-focused approach to urban living, the development combines thoughtfully designed private and shared spaces with dedicated on-site teams and a year-round events calendar to encourage socialization and community engagement. Oliver Campbell, Managing Director, Bouygues UK’s Development team said “The completion of Phase 4 marks an important milestone for Hallsville Quarter and for the regeneration of Canning Town. We are proud to have worked alongside Crosstree Real Estate Partners, PRP Architects, and the wider project team to deliver high-quality student accommodation that combines excellent facilities, sustainable construction and a strong connection to the surrounding neighbourhood. “As students prepare to move in for the 2026/2027 academic year, this new development will contribute to a vibrant and well-connected town centre, while the wider Hallsville Quarter Masterplan continues to deliver lasting benefits for Newham.” Pascal Lux, Managing Director, Bouygues UK London & South East commented: “Completing Phase 4 ahead of the academic year reflects the strength of our construction team and our commitment to integrated delivery. Self-delivering the frame and selected finishing trades in combination with prefabricated elements allowed us to maintain tight quality control while reducing waste and carbon impact. This proves that programme efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand.” Robert Alam, Managing Director at ARK Living comments “ARK Canning Town marks an exciting milestone for us as our first dedicated student residence and an important step in the continued growth of ARK Living. From the outset, our ambition has been to provide a high-quality student living experience, where great design, wellbeing and community all come together under one roof. ‘The building has been designed around how students live today, balancing private studios with places for study, exercise and socialization. Our extensive community events programme and dedicated on-site team will help students settle into London and meet new people, whilst making the most of university life.’ Bouygues UK’s development team has been active in the sector since 2010, delivering 30 projects with a combined gross development value (GDV) of £2 billion and construction activity totalling £1.6 billion. To date, the team has delivered 9,535 student beds across London and the wider UK, establishing Bouygues UK as one of the sector’s most experienced developers. This track record reflects the company’s growing ambitions in student accommodation, with Bouygues UK recently securing planning permission for Bankside House – a landmark 1,945-bed student residence for the London School of Economics (LSE), in partnership with Equitix, set to become one of the largest purpose-built student accommodation schemes in central London. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Offsite light gauge steel frame took the superstructure of the £100m Stoke-on-Trent scheme from start to finish in 32 weeks NATIONAL tier one contractor Willmott Dixon has completed the new Student Village at the University of Staffordshire, a 1000-bed development in Stoke-on-Trent whose superstructure was delivered in 32 weeks using an offsite light gauge steel frame system. The £100 million scheme has been delivered under a Design, Build, Finance, Operate (DBFO) model by a consortium of Willmott Dixon, HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions UK and Ireland, Plenary and Pinnacle Group, working with the university. Project and industry partners were given a preview of the completed village ahead of the first residents moving in for the new academic year. The modern methods of construction (MMC) strategy centred on a fully integrated light gauge steel frame (LGSF) solution, manufactured offsite and assembled on site across six residential buildings. As well as compressing the superstructure programme to 32 weeks, the approach held manufacturing tolerances to 5mm across the development. At the centre of the site is a £12 million student hub, designed to be net zero carbon in operation. Across four levels it provides individual and group study areas, social and welfare facilities, a landscaped garden lounge and a double-height events hall. A new pedestrian bridge and boardwalk will link the village to the university’s wider Leek Road site, where demolition will make way for accessible parkland targeting a 12% biodiversity net gain. The 1000-bed development also included the refurbishment of 300 rooms at The Swan Building, upgrading the living space and installing low-energy systems to improve the block’s energy performance. The work was programmed over the summer months so that the university retained its accommodation capacity and avoided any loss of room income. The DBFO model allows the university to spread the cost over a 50-year period while retaining flexibility during construction. Early engagement between the consortium and the university meant the scheme was delivered for the same £100 million agreed at the outset, with the entry cost and the exit cost matching. The project has also delivered wider social value for the local area, including 1,000 students engaged through education programmes, 500 weeks of careers support, community volunteering and charity initiatives and mental health awareness campaigns with Lighthouse Charity. Dan Doyle, delivery director at Willmott Dixon, said: “The ambition here was never simply to build more accommodation. It was to create an inclusive student community, with sustainable, future-ready buildings on a campus that attracts and retains students, and to support the university’s long-term plans for sustainability, wellbeing and growth. “Getting the superstructure up in 32 weeks came from taking the offsite decision early and holding to it, and that same early engagement is why the university has paid what it expected to pay. Pace and cost certainty together are what universities are asking of us.” Steve Rimell, chief financial officer at the University of Staffordshire, said: “We are delighted with the outcome of the Student Village project, and as CFO I am particularly pleased that it was delivered on time and on budget. The student hub is going to be extremely impactful for student amenities and wellbeing, and as a way of connecting the accommodation with our main campus. “Our students were involved from the start, helping to shape the design from the early stages, allowing us to create a new space for them that prioritises community, inclusion and wellbeing.” Ian Prescott, managing director (UK) at HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions, said: “The opening of the Student Village is the culmination of a fantastic partnership and a shared ambition to create an outstanding place for students to live. “Together, we’ve delivered a sustainable, modern development that will enhance the student experience for years to come while creating a lasting asset for the University and the wider Stoke-on-Trent community.” Dan Doyle continued: “This scheme is a strong example of what is possible when universities, developers and delivery partners come together with a shared vision and a collaborative approach.” The Student Village adds to Willmott Dixon’s higher and further education portfolio, which includes two major projects for Queen Mary University of London, the £48.8m School of Business and Management and the retrofit and extension of its Information Teaching Laboratory, the £19.3m first phase of Coleg Gwent’s Crosskeys Campus redevelopment in Newport, and Bridgend College’s net zero in operation town centre campus. The student village will welcome its first residents in time for the new student intake in September 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sector and regional bright spots remain despite a softer national demand outlook beginning to feed through to tender prices reveals the latest Construction Market Intelligence Q3 2026 report from leading construction and property management consultant, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK). While RLB is observing sectorial differences in output, there is a backdrop of persistent global and domestic uncertainties influencing sentiment and forward expectations. This has led to RLB’s weighted average Tender Price Index forecast uplift for 2026 shifting from 3.98% in Q2 to 3.54% for Q3. While the supply chain may be absorbing some of the input cost increases, analysis by RLB experts found that it is not at any cost, with contractors acutely aware of the risk profiles of the work that they are taking on. Demand and opportunity are primed Construction output stabilised in Q2 to 0.3%, driven by repair and maintenance and infrastructure spending. Sector recovery remains mixed with advanced tech and data centres continuing at pace and capital to deploy in sectors such as residential but pivoted away from development. Longer term pipelines in many regions including Wales, the North West and Yorkshire remain strong with many developments primed pending improved viability. Supply Chain adapting and absorbing While the Middle East conflict continues to affect input costs, the supply chain has adapted with many absorbing costs and early engagement recommended. Paul Beeston, RLB’s Head of Service Industry and Service Insight comments, “While global challenges are more broadly leading to secondary impacts on pipelines, sectors and regions each have bright spots carrying construction momentum. In many sectors cost absorption into 2027 will be a feature of the market and pipelines are primed for activity when viability allows. Tender price levels indicate it is a good time to engage the market, but clients should be cognisant that it is risk profile and client governance that are key determinants of both pricing levels and appetite to bid.” Click here to read RLB’s full Construction Market Intelligence Q3 report. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Pluto Finance has reached £1 billion of cumulative lending through its flagship institutional lending vehicle, marking a significant milestone for the real estate finance specialist as it continues to support residential development across the UK and Europe. The milestone comes as Pluto provides development finance for a new Build to Rent scheme in the Midlands, further strengthening its exposure to the living sector at a time when institutional capital continues to play an important role in delivering new rental housing. Pluto Finance specialises in real estate private credit, providing development, bridging and investment finance across residential and commercial property. Since its formation in 2011, the business has deployed more than £4 billion across over 350 loans and has helped finance the delivery of more than 15,000 new homes. Its flagship lending strategy has increasingly focused on areas where housing supply remains constrained, providing capital to developers and supporting projects ranging from conventional residential development to purpose-built rental accommodation. The £1 billion milestone also reflects Pluto’s expansion beyond the UK. The lender now operates across markets including Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal, as it develops a broader European real estate finance platform. Institutional backing has played an important role in that growth. Universities Superannuation Scheme, one of the UK’s largest pension schemes, holds a substantial minority stake in Pluto, while the lender established a strategic partnership with Blackstone in 2025 focused on originating and executing larger mid-market real estate loans across Europe. For the BTR market, the latest Midlands financing demonstrates the continued role of alternative lenders in unlocking development at a time when construction costs, viability pressures and changing traditional bank lending appetite remain important considerations for developers. Sustainability is also increasingly embedded within Pluto’s lending strategy. Its Low Carbon Lending Programme provides incentives for developments achieving defined reductions in embodied and operational carbon, while much of its development lending has historically supported brownfield sites and urban regeneration. The latest BTR development loan therefore forms part of a much wider residential investment strategy, combining institutional capital with development finance to support the delivery of new homes. With its flagship vehicle now passing £1 billion of cumulative lending and its European operations expanding, Pluto Finance’s latest milestone highlights the growing importance of private credit to the UK’s BTR and wider residential development markets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
From budget hotel chains to luxury resorts and large restaurant groups, hospitality venues face some of the most complex operating environments, regulatory obligations, and maintenance requirements. These properties contain a wide variety of spaces, building systems and assets, from bedrooms and event spaces to commercial kitchens, HVAC and water systems, lifts and leisure facilities. Maintenance is therefore critical not only to compliance and long-term asset value but also to guest satisfaction and brand reputation, meaning there is little room for disruption or error, especially during periods of peak occupancy. Matt Voyle, Senior Account Executive at SFG20, the industry standard for hotel facilities management, has shared the key challenges facing hotels and hospitality venues today and why a structured approach to planned maintenance is essential for FM teams operating across the sector. A significant water-safety risk in hotels and hospitality venues is Legionella. When guest rooms, outlets, or sections of a water system are used infrequently, water can stagnate and create conditions favourable to bacterial growth. Seasonal properties and temporarily closed wings therefore require particular attention. Control should be based on a suitable risk assessment and managed by someone with the appropriate knowledge and training. Depending on the systems and the findings of the assessment, measures may include temperature control, regular flushing of infrequently used outlets, inspection, cleaning and descaling, and documented checks. FM teams can strengthen control by maintaining reliable information about their water systems and implementing a risk-assessment-led maintenance regime. Appropriate monitoring technology may support this approach, but it does not replace the required assessment, controls, and documented checks. Unlike offices or retail environments, where lower-occupancy periods allow planned maintenance to take place with minimal disruption, hotel and hospitality venues have to accommodate guests day and night. Hotels, as well as cafes and restaurants, have very small downtime windows, giving little time for anything other than routine checks. This means small issues can go unnoticed, potentially developing into larger problems further down the line. Maintenance planning must therefore avoid a one-size-fits-all approach and instead be precise and structured around the operational realities of each property rather than being generically applied across the estate. The condition and performance of hotel and hospitality buildings is highly visible to guests, meaning there’s zero room for failure. Issues with HVAC, hot water, lifts, lighting, plumbing or other facilities can quickly lead to complaints, negative reviews and lost return business. Common issues include water temperature problems, noise complaints, humidity, kitchen extract failures, false fire alarms and out-of-service lifts, which can all impact accessibility and guest satisfaction. For hotel management companies overseeing maintenance across multiple properties, consistent FM performance is essential for meeting brand standards, supporting owner and operator reporting and protecting the long-term value of assets. Large hotel and hospitality operators often manage estates spanning properties of different ages, formats, historic importance and building types, each with their own asset profiles and maintenance histories. This creates additional complexity for FM teams, particularly when managing heritage properties that may be subject to planning or conservation constraints alongside independently branded and franchised sites with different standards and owner expectations. Without a common maintenance baseline, standards can vary and compliance gaps can emerge, while inconsistencies become increasingly costly to resolve as portfolios grow. Holiday parks and resorts present a particularly complex FM environment, combining different accommodation types such as lodges, holiday homes, cottages, and apartments with commercial kitchens, dining areas, pools, gyms, entertainment facilities, and outdoor amenities. The diversity of these building types, as well as asset ages and infrastructure, combined with seasonal demand, makes it difficult for FM teams to apply a generic maintenance approach. This becomes even more complex when it comes to all-inclusive resorts, where guests have limited alternatives to facilities on site. Matt Voyle adds: “With maintenance varying from property to property, having a trusted framework for planned maintenance, organisations and venues can create a more consistent and structured approach. For hotels and hospitality organisations, that means identifying applicable maintenance tasks and recommended frequencies, distinguishing statutory requirements from industry best practice, and documenting where site-specific tailoring is needed. Hospitality estates vary widely. A strong approach combines a consistent baseline with controlled, evidence-based tailoring, creating a maintenance regime that is practical, auditable and commercially workable Download SFG20’s free e-guide, How Hotels and Hospitality FM Teams Can Improve Compliance, Control Costs and Run More Efficiently, for practical guidance on reviewing and strengthening your maintenance approach.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Some of the UK’s biggest facilities management and building services contractors have secured positions on a new government framework valued at up to £120 billion, opening the door to a major pipeline of public estate work over the next eight years. The Government Commercial Agency framework, RM6378, is set to become a recommended procurement route for facilities management services across central government. It will also be available to local authorities, NHS organisations, police forces, fire and rescue services, education bodies and devolved administrations. Competition for the largest Total Facilities Management contracts has attracted many of the sector’s leading names. Eighteen businesses have been appointed to the highest-value lot, covering individual contracts worth more than £15 million annually. The successful firms include Amey, CBRE, Compass, Dalkia, Equans, G4S Facilities Management, ISS, JLL, Kier, Mitie, OCS, Robertson Facilities Management, Serco, Skanska, Sodexo, Vinci Facilities, Vivo Defence Services and Wates. For the construction and built environment industry, the framework also represents a substantial opportunity for contractors delivering hard FM, engineering, maintenance and asset management services across the public estate. Forty businesses have secured positions on the major Hard FM lot for contracts valued above £2 million per year. Among those appointed are Amey, BAM FM, CBRE, Dalkia, Equans, Galliford Try, Graham Asset Management, Kier, Mears, Mitie, NG Bailey, OCS, Robertson, Serco, Skanska, Vinci Facilities, Vivo and Wates. The framework has been structured to accommodate public sector estates and contracts of significantly different scales. Total FM is divided into three bands covering contracts worth up to £2 million annually, between £2 million and £15 million, and more than £15 million. Hard FM is split between contracts below and above £2 million a year. A core group of contractors has achieved particularly strong coverage across the framework. Fifteen firms secured places across all five Total FM and Hard FM lots: Amey, CBRE, Equans, ISS, JLL, Kier, Mitie, OCS, Robertson, Serco, Skanska, Sodexo, Vinci Facilities, Vivo Defence Services and Wates Property Services. A further group, including BAM FM, Dalkia Facilities, Galliford Try Facilities Management, Graham Asset Management and Mears FM, secured positions across four lots. The scale and duration of the framework make it an important development for the management and maintenance of the UK’s public buildings and infrastructure. Alongside day-to-day FM provision, major hard services contracts can encompass the engineering, maintenance and long-term performance of complex property portfolios. With public bodies continuing to face pressure to improve building efficiency, modernise ageing estates and manage assets more effectively, the framework provides a long-term procurement platform through which significant programmes of FM and building services work can be commissioned. The agreement is scheduled to operate for eight years, running through to August 2034, giving successful contractors access to what could become one of the most significant public sector facilities management pipelines in the UK. Main Total FM and Hard FM winners Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Downing has secured a £249.2 million refinancing package for two major residential towers at its £400 million Square Gardens development in Manchester, marking another significant milestone for one of the city’s largest new living schemes. The financing, provided by Bank of Ireland, covers Acer and The Fernley, the two completed co-living buildings within the wider Square Gardens development in Manchester’s First Street district. Together, the buildings provide a major concentration of new rental accommodation, with the 25-storey Acer and 45-storey Fernley forming the first two phases of the development. Both buildings are now operational, demonstrating the scale of demand for professionally managed, amenity-led rental accommodation in Manchester. Designed by Manchester-based SimpsonHaugh Architects, Square Gardens represents a substantial addition to the city’s evolving residential landscape. The wider £400 million development has been conceived as a new urban neighbourhood combining high-density living with extensive shared amenities, landscaped spaces and public realm. Residents have access to facilities including a gym and wellness centre, co-working and meeting areas, social lounges, private dining spaces and extensive landscaped gardens and terraces. Sustainability has also formed an important part of the development, with measures including air source heat pumps, while the scheme has targeted BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings. The refinancing represents an important financial milestone following the completion and occupation of the two buildings. Savills Capital Advisors advised Downing on the transaction. Bay Downing, joint chief executive of Downing, described the deal as a landmark transaction for the business, highlighting the strength of the company’s portfolio and growing opportunities across the living sector. The deal is also significant for the wider UK residential market. Large-scale co-living and Build to Rent developments are becoming an increasingly established component of regeneration in major regional cities, combining new housing supply with extensive shared facilities and professionally managed environments. Square Gardens has been created using Downing’s vertically integrated approach, with development, construction and ongoing management delivered by the business. This has enabled the company to take the scheme from construction through to operation within the wider group. With Acer and The Fernley now completed and backed by £249.2 million of refinancing, Square Gardens is moving firmly from major construction project to established residential destination, reinforcing Manchester’s position as one of the UK’s leading markets for large-scale rental and co-living development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New research from Oscar Acoustics has revealed a disconnect between industry confidence in meeting people’s acoustic needs and the point at which acoustics are actually considered in the design and construction process. Seven in ten (70.4%) UK architects and construction professionals say they are confident they meet the acoustic requirements of everyone who uses a building, including neurodivergent people and those with hearing challenges. Yet the research suggests acoustics are often not given proper consideration until key decisions affecting how a space will sound have already been made. Acoustics comes too late in the process The research, commissioned by Oscar Acoustics and conducted among 500 UK construction professionals and 250 UK architects, shows how late acoustics can enter the process. Among architects, nearly six in ten (57.2%) say acoustics do not get proper attention until RIBA Stage 4, Technical Design, or Stage 5, Construction.By this point, decisions around layout and materials are largely settled, limiting the opportunity to design for sound from the outset and making problems harder to address later. Construction professionals describe a similar pattern. Fewer than one in 25 (3.6%) say acoustics is considered at the initial client briefing stage, when there is still an opportunity to shape the fundamentals of a scheme. Meanwhile, around a third (33.8%) leave it until construction or fit-out, once the building’s shell is already up. The consequences of getting acoustics wrong Poor acoustic environments are estimated to cost UK businesses more than £40 billion a year* through lost productivity, staff turnover and customer dissatisfaction. The impact is also felt by the people using these spaces. When acoustics are addressed late in the process, the needs and experiences of occupants risk being considered after many of the critical decisions affecting their environment have already been made. Designing for people, not averages Gillian Burgis Smith, founder of inclusive design consultancy Strawberry Leopard Limited and co-creator of the “Joyful Journey” methodology, has experienced this disconnect first hand. Following two strokes and a brain tumour diagnosis in 2019, her own experience of the built environment changed profoundly, highlighting why environments must be shaped by lived and living experience, not assumptions about an “average” user. She said: “The disconnect comes from confidence being mistaken for competence at implementation and that is where the gap opens up.” “The profession is becoming more confident about the language of neuro-inclusive and sensory design, but less consistent in the systems needed to deliver it. You have to bring in people with lived and living experience, and design must adapt to the needs of the user, not the other way around. “In practice, that means testing designs with diverse users early and often, then iterating so spaces work for real people, not averages. A building is a dynamic ecosystem for a dynamic ecosystem of people.” Where confidence and practice diverge Ben Hancock, Managing Director of Oscar Acoustics, said: “While architects and construction professionals feel confident about meeting people’s acoustic needs, our research suggests there is a gap between that confidence and the point at which acoustics are considered in practice.” “When acoustic design is considered as a late-stage addition, rather than a core element of the building strategy, it can have a severe impact on the people who use a space. “This is particularly the case for the 60% of UK adults who are noise-sensitive, including neurodivergent individuals and those with hearing challenges. “But poor acoustics also cost businesses directly, through lower productivity, higher staff turnover and reduced office attendance. The industry is taking a risk not only with people’s wellbeing but also with its own clients’ bottom line.” Calls for greater industry support The findings also suggest architects and construction professionals want more formal support around acoustic design. Around one in six (15.8%) construction professionals and one in five (19.2%) architects back a recognised certification for acoustically inclusive buildings. Meanwhile, around one in five (19.4%) construction professionals and more than one in five (22.0%) architects want mandatory acoustic standards written into building regulations. A framework for acoustic inclusion Sownd Certification, developed by Sownd Affects, with independent testing carried out by the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research at the University of Southampton, is the world’s first framework recognising spaces with proven acoustic performance as audio-inclusive. It assesses spaces across three tiers, from Bronze foundations through to Silver and Gold, based on measures including reverberation time, background noise and speech clarity. Oscar Acoustics’ Innovation Centre in Halling, Kent, is the world’s first Sownd Certified building, providing architects and specifiers with a working example of acoustically inclusive design in practice. To find out more about Sownd Certification or to arrange a visit to Oscar Acoustics’ Innovation Centre in Halling, Kent, visit https://www.oscar-acoustics.com/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals