Leeds United Football Club has confirmed that planning permission has been approved for the long-awaited expansion of Elland Road Stadium, marking a historic milestone for the club, its supporters, and the city of Leeds. The decision, made by Leeds City Council’s Plans Panel at The Civic Hall, allows the stadium’s
Bradford College is celebrating after its new Junction Mills building earned platinum certification from Morgan Sindall Construction for outstanding carbon savings, the only project in Yorkshire to achieve the status in 2025. The £19.3 million, four-storey development on Thornton Road has saved 473 tonnes of carbon over its design and
Persimmon Homes Wessex has received detailed planning approval to build 180 new homes in Midsomer Norton, following outline consent for the site in February 2025. The development, which will be known as Wellow Brook, is located in the south of the town, to the east of the Fosseway. Construction is
Sefton Council is accelerating delivery of its nature-led programme for the Ainsdale Gateway, with initial works planned to begin as early as the spring. Since the Vision was published in the autumn, the Council has moved forward with an agreement to redevelop The Sands, advanced proposals to demolish Toad Hall
Clegg Construction has secured Gateway 2 approval for a £46 million, 12-storey apartments in Sheffield, clearing the way for work to begin early next year. The contractor achieved the approval on behalf of its client, Liverpool-based developer Brickland, for the 267-apartment build-to-rent development on Nursery Street. Authorisation from the Building
Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has secured planning permission to build 42 new homes on Oak Hill Road, at the edge of the village of Stapleford Abbotts in Essex. The site, located in Epping Forest on the border with Havering, will provide a mix of high-quality homes designed to blend
Whitbread PLC, the owner of Premier Inn, has unveiled plans for an 82-bedroom hotel in Chichester, fulfilling its long-held ambition to add a second site in the cathedral city. The freehold site on Bognor Road, acquired from Hanbury Properties, sits next to the main A27/A259 junction, providing strong access for
Bellway has submitted a planning application for a 176-home residential development on a 19-acre site at Jacksons Lane in Hazel Grove, Stockport, which would also deliver new publicly accessible green space. The proposals include a commitment that 50 per cent of the homes would be affordable housing, alongside the creation
Housebuilder Keepmoat has announced plans to deliver 199 new homes as part of a £44.5 million investment into the next phase of development at Sandymoor. Following the recent completion of a land sale off Windmill Hill Avenue with Homes England, construction has now begun on the site, which will be
Persimmon Homes West Wales and Pembrokeshire County Council have exchanged contracts for 21 new homes at the Ger y Môr development in Saundersfoot, which will be handed to the authority for social rent on completion to help ease local housing pressures. Located on Sandy Hill Road, the 21 properties will
Leeds United Football Club has confirmed that planning permission has been approved for the long-awaited expansion of Elland Road Stadium, marking a historic milestone for the club, its supporters, and the city of Leeds. The decision, made by Leeds City Council’s Plans Panel at The Civic Hall, allows the stadium’s capacity to increase to up to 53,000 through the enlargement of the West and North Stands, along with targeted alterations to the South Stand. The approved plans will elevate Elland Road to a UEFA Category 4 stadium, positioning it among Europe’s elite venues. The expansion also opens opportunities for Leeds United and civic partners to host major international tournaments and showcase events, generating cultural and economic benefits for the Leeds City Region. The development has been designed to enhance the matchday experience while preserving the stadium’s historic character. Fans can expect: For players, the upgraded stadium will provide a world-class platform, supporting the club’s ambitions to compete at the highest level and attract top talent. Leeds United Chairman Paraag Marathe said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for the expansion of Elland Road Stadium. This is a historic day for Leeds United Football Club. As custodians of this great club, we are committed to its long-term success, and today’s decision supports our ambition to establish Leeds in the Premier League and continue progressing over the years to come. I would like to thank everyone involved in the project to date, for helping us reach this point.” Leeds United Chief Business Officer Morrie Eisenberg added: “From setting out our initial ambitions for Elland Road in late September 2024 to receiving planning approval today, the progress we have made is something we are immensely proud of. This has been a truly collective effort, with Leeds City Council, our local communities in Holbeck and Beeston, National Highways, our expert advisers and, most importantly, our supporters all pulling together to reach this milestone. “The overwhelming level of support, with 98% of respondents backing the proposals, demonstrates how deeply this club and stadium matter to the city. Without our fans, this moment would not be possible. The expansion will allow us to welcome thousands more supporters through the gates, reduce the 26,000-strong Season Ticket Waiting List, and create a better matchday experience for everyone. “The stadium expansion project is also the first step towards the wider regeneration of the Elland Road neighbourhood. Alongside our partners, we are committed to ensuring this development delivers lasting social and economic benefits, from job creation to increased investment, while continuing to grow our community impact through the Leeds United Foundation and organisations such as Holbeck Together.” Enabling works will begin immediately, with major construction set to start after the current season. Elland Road will remain open throughout the project, allowing Leeds United to continue playing at its historic home. Further updates will be shared with supporters as the development progresses. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bradford College is celebrating after its new Junction Mills building earned platinum certification from Morgan Sindall Construction for outstanding carbon savings, the only project in Yorkshire to achieve the status in 2025. The £19.3 million, four-storey development on Thornton Road has saved 473 tonnes of carbon over its design and construction phases—equivalent to the annual heating of 175 UK homes. The building is scheduled to open later this year and will provide students with skills in modern automotive and digital engineering, electric and hybrid vehicles, and advanced manufacturing, supporting low-carbon and technology-focused skills in West Yorkshire. Morgan Sindall achieved the milestone through its Intelligent Solutions approach, which included the use of CarboniCa, a tool that measures whole-life carbon emissions across a building’s design, construction and lifecycle. Pamela Sheldon, Head of Projects at Bradford College, said: “Sustainability has been embedded into every stage of this project. For example, precast elements such as lift shafts and stairs have been manufactured off-site using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to improve efficiency, quality, and sustainability in the building’s construction. “This new facility represents a significant leap in how we equip young people with the skills needed for a low-carbon economy, so it is fitting that a building dedicated to low-carbon skills should be constructed with sustainability at its core.” Design and material optimisations contributed significantly to carbon reductions, including: Morgan Sindall awarded the project platinum certification in recognition of both the volume of carbon saved and the number of case studies documenting the work. Bradford College also received £5,000 from Morgan Sindall to support a sustainability initiative. Junction Mills additionally achieved a full score in the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s Care for the Environment category, highlighting efforts to minimise environmental impact and enhance natural surroundings. Ben Hall, Morgan Sindall’s Yorkshire area director, said: “Achieving platinum certification on the Junction Mills development demonstrates what is possible when sustainability is embedded from the outset of a project. By applying our Intelligent Solutions approach and working collaboratively with Bradford College, we’ve delivered significant whole-life carbon savings while creating a highly functional, future-focused learning environment. “Junction Mills will leave a lasting legacy for students, the College, and the wider West Yorkshire region and it’s a project we’re immensely proud to be part of.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Persimmon Homes Wessex has received detailed planning approval to build 180 new homes in Midsomer Norton, following outline consent for the site in February 2025. The development, which will be known as Wellow Brook, is located in the south of the town, to the east of the Fosseway. Construction is expected to begin in the coming months, with first residents anticipated to move in by the end of 2026. The scheme has been carefully designed to include substantial areas of green space, including a Central Square with a children’s play area and a Southern Spur featuring a community orchard, walking routes and extensive new tree planting, creating a strong sense of place on site. A total of 54 homes will be allocated to a local housing association to help address Somerset’s significant housing waiting list. The development will also feature new pedestrian and cycle links throughout the site. Commenting on the approval, Persimmon Homes Wessex Managing Director Seb Spiller said: “We at Persimmon are very pleased to have been granted detailed planning as we seek to bring high-quality housing solutions for local people in the Somer Valley area. “Having secured detailed planning approval, we are very excited to deliver on our vision and making our plans a reality, leaving a positive and lasting legacy in the process. “Wellow Brook will have a strong sense of place at the heart of its design, with new green open spaces, ecological enhancements and carefully designed new homes that incorporate local character features. “Persimmon looks forward to continuing our work with local stakeholders as we seek to deliver quality new homes, jobs, and infrastructure for the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sefton Council is accelerating delivery of its nature-led programme for the Ainsdale Gateway, with initial works planned to begin as early as the spring. Since the Vision was published in the autumn, the Council has moved forward with an agreement to redevelop The Sands, advanced proposals to demolish Toad Hall to allow temporary surface parking, and set out how the Pontins site will be addressed in a way that supports its EcoVision and the investment required to create a world-class, nature-aligned destination. Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Skills and Employment, said: “We know how important it is to the local communities to do something with these sites, which is why we are looking to make progress at pace now the vision is in place. “Ainsdale Gateway has enormous potential, and we are determined to move forward in a way that supports the local economy and experience for visitors but also protects and enhances its unique natural character. “These early steps show real momentum while laying the groundwork for long-term, nature-led investment.” Over the coming months, activity will include an ecology survey ahead of Toad Hall’s demolition — expected to start in the spring while planning permission is sought for the car park — completion of a lease with a new purchaser for The Sands pub site, anticipated early this year, and market engagement on the former Pontins site as part of a wider transformation of the Ainsdale Gateway, alongside ongoing discussions with the current leaseholder about their intentions. “It’s really exciting to see work starting to happen,” said Cllr Lappin. “We’re all fed up of looking at the derelict, fenced-off sites, and while we get on with what we can we’ll continue to put pressure on Britannia to tell the local community what they would propose for the future of the site. “In the interim we’ll do some market testing to see what ideas potential investors may have for the site alongside the wider coastal gateway if the current leaseholders aren’t interested in doing something of benefit for the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Clegg Construction has secured Gateway 2 approval for a £46 million, 12-storey apartments in Sheffield, clearing the way for work to begin early next year. The contractor achieved the approval on behalf of its client, Liverpool-based developer Brickland, for the 267-apartment build-to-rent development on Nursery Street. Authorisation from the Building Safety Regulator means enabling works can start on site in January 2026. Gateway 2 was introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022 to improve standards and oversight, particularly for high-rise residential buildings. Michael Sims, managing director at Clegg Construction, said: “Securing Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) confirms that this development in Sheffield meets the most stringent of safety requirements. “This approval means that we can now proceed to the next stage, with enabling work starting on site to deliver this 12-storey concrete-frame apartment project.” Clegg Construction has been appointed by Brickland Ltd to deliver the scheme, with the wider project team including architect Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson, built environment consultancy Ridge, MEP services consultant Futurserv, project manager and quantity surveyor Egan Lucocq Ltd, and Design Fire Services. The Sheffield development follows a series of recent residential projects completed by Clegg Construction, such as The Ironworks in Sheffield, a 12-storey block comprising 229 apartments, 185 apartments at Spinners Yard in Leeds, and Gilders Yard in Birmingham, which delivered 158 new homes. The contractor is also currently on site in Sheffield working on a new Faculty of Health building at the University of Sheffield. Based in The Lace Market in Nottingham, Clegg Construction operates across the Midlands, East Anglia and Yorkshire, specialising in the delivery of public and private sector construction projects. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has secured planning permission to build 42 new homes on Oak Hill Road, at the edge of the village of Stapleford Abbotts in Essex. The site, located in Epping Forest on the border with Havering, will provide a mix of high-quality homes designed to blend seamlessly with the village while addressing local housing needs. The development updates a previous planning consent for the site, incorporating improved designs and layouts shaped by local consultations. Forty percent of the homes will be affordable, delivered in partnership with B3Living, including 13 homes for affordable rent and four shared ownership properties, all two- and three-bedroom houses for local residents. Private sale homes will range from three to five bedrooms and include private gardens, parking, and cycle storage, catering to first-time buyers, growing families, downsizers, and older residents. All properties will meet The Hill Group’s sustainability standards, featuring air-source heat pumps, electric vehicle charging points, and other energy-efficient measures to help households reduce energy costs. The development has been designed with biodiversity and green space in mind. Plans include a 10% biodiversity net gain, bird and bat boxes, an attenuation pond, a children’s playground, and landscaping that complements the village’s rural character. The site benefits from close proximity to local amenities, including the village shop, pub, and the local primary school, rated Good by Ofsted. It is also allocated for residential development in the Epping Forest Local Plan to help meet long-term housing demand. Andy Hill OBE, Founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, said: “We are delighted to receive planning permission for our new development in Stapleford Abbots. This thoughtfully designed neighbourhood will provide much-needed high-quality homes, including a significant proportion of affordable housing for the local community. Our updated plans reflect extensive consultation and respond sensitively to the village’s character, delivering sustainable homes and generous green spaces that future residents can enjoy for generations.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Whitbread PLC, the owner of Premier Inn, has unveiled plans for an 82-bedroom hotel in Chichester, fulfilling its long-held ambition to add a second site in the cathedral city. The freehold site on Bognor Road, acquired from Hanbury Properties, sits next to the main A27/A259 junction, providing strong access for business and leisure travellers visiting the historic centre. The new hotel will complement the existing Premier Inn at Gate Leisure Park to the south-west of the city centre, taking the total number of Premier Inn rooms in the Chichester catchment to 165 and completing Whitbread’s network plan for the area. Whitbread Acquisitions Manager Louise Woodruff said: “From Roman ruins to the racing circuit at Goodwood, Chichester’s diverse cultural offer and successful business economy is fuelling year-round demand for high-quality, affordable hotel bedrooms from our customers. “This consistent demand has underpinned our search for a suitable second Premier Inn location in Chichester which we are pleased to have acquired from Hanbury Properties, who have provided us with a fully serviced site, ready for development in the Spring. “Purchasing the site freehold shows how flexible we can be to bring high-quality locations like this one into our pipeline, and our in-house development team is itching to get started and begin constructing our newest hotel in southern England later this year.” James Belbin, Director of Hanbury Properties, said: “We’re delighted to complete the sale of this site to Premier Inn and look forward to seeing their plans come to life. It’s an excellent location for a new hotel and will help to underpin the next phase of development at Cathedral Business Park. “The site was a former WWII fuel depot that required significant investment, including full remediation, a new slip lane and traffic light junction off the A259, bus stop, a 220m estate road, and services under the A27 to facilitate development – so it’s not been the most straightforward site to deliver. “This sale represents the culmination of all that hard work. It’s been a pleasure working with all the acquisition team at Premier Inn to bring this site forward, and it’s great to know that this hotel will create valuable jobs and help contribute positively to the local community in the years to come.” Whitbread said the acquisition reflects continued investment across Sussex and the wider south coast, where it sees strong potential to expand Premier Inn. Later this year, the company expects to grow its trading network across West and East Sussex to 23 locations, with a Bognor Regis Seafront hotel due to open in April. Construction of the first Premier Inn in Littlehampton town centre is scheduled to begin in February following the demolition of a former supermarket on the site, and Whitbread is also searching for a new location in Rye. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bellway has submitted a planning application for a 176-home residential development on a 19-acre site at Jacksons Lane in Hazel Grove, Stockport, which would also deliver new publicly accessible green space. The proposals include a commitment that 50 per cent of the homes would be affordable housing, alongside the creation of new open areas for the local community. The scheme has been brought forward by Bellway’s Strategic Land team and its Manchester division following the site’s inclusion in the draft allocation of land for residential development in the emerging Stockport Local Plan. The land lies to the south of Jacksons Lane on the southern edge of Hazel Grove. Sebastian Burrow, Bellway Strategic Land Director for the North West, said: “We have worked closely with the landowners and Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council to develop proposals which make effective use of this site and respond positively to local planning policy, helping to deliver much-needed new homes in the borough. “The project would include 50 per cent affordable housing, with a mix of rented and shared ownership properties, contributing towards meeting identified local housing needs and supporting the delivery of mixed, balanced communities in Stockport. “This is a highly sustainable location for new homes, with shops, schools and bus stops all within walking distance. The development has been designed to promote walking and cycling, with new pedestrian and cycle links proposed as part of the site layout to ensure the development connects with surrounding footpaths. “The proposals also provide significant areas of public green open space and a children’s play area, alongside a range of measures to protect and enhance biodiversity, including new planting and the creation of wildlife habitats. These will deliver environmental benefits as part of a high-quality, sustainable development.” The development would comprise a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes for private sale, alongside two and three-bedroom affordable houses in a range of terraced, semi-detached and detached styles. Plans also set out measures to enhance the site’s landscape features, including the retention of existing hedgerows, mature trees, the tree-lined corridor along the southern and south-western boundaries, and two ponds. New planting using native species is proposed to boost biodiversity, together with the installation of wildlife habitats such as bat and bird boxes. Bellway is also expected to make financial contributions through the planning process to support local infrastructure improvements, potentially including schools, healthcare services, and open space, sports and recreational facilities. Sebastian added: “As well as providing new housing and open space for people in the area, this project will enhance the vitality, viability and accessibility of Hazel Grove, bringing jobs and inward investment into the local economy.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder Keepmoat has announced plans to deliver 199 new homes as part of a £44.5 million investment into the next phase of development at Sandymoor. Following the recent completion of a land sale off Windmill Hill Avenue with Homes England, construction has now begun on the site, which will be known as Meadow Brook. The scheme has been designed in accordance with the national Building for a Healthy Life (BfHL) code, placing people, nature, sustainability and strong connections to public transport, walking and cycling routes at the heart of the development. As part of the build, 71 of the homes will use Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) timber frames, improving energy efficiency and overall build quality. Katie Dean, Land and Partnerships Director at Keepmoat, North West, said: “We’re proud to bring forward this exciting new community at Sandymoor in partnership with Homes England. Meadow Brook will provide a bespoke and wide range of high-quality, energy-efficient homes surrounded by abundant green open spaces and waterside walks. “The evolution of the site has been designed to meet the highest Building for a Healthy Life principles, which seek to embed quality placemaking and healthier lifestyles bolstering our commitment to well designed quality homes, excellent design, connectivity and integration with nature. “Our proposals have been developed with DK Architects, and Planit-I.E creating a blueprint that puts people and nature at the centre of the design process.” Homes England selected Keepmoat as its preferred development partner in 2023 to deliver a mix of one to four-bedroom homes for private sale alongside a number of affordable properties. Simon Herring, Development Director at Homes England, added: “As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, our aim is to create high-quality homes in well-designed places, helping to create jobs and drive local economic growth. “This is an important milestone we have reached with Keepmoat and local partners at Sandymoor, where we are enabling a high quality, landscape-led development of 199 new homes, including 40 affordable homes, unlocked by essential infrastructure as part of the wider masterplan. “We look forward to seeing these plans develop into much needed homes in a new, thriving community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Persimmon Homes West Wales and Pembrokeshire County Council have exchanged contracts for 21 new homes at the Ger y Môr development in Saundersfoot, which will be handed to the authority for social rent on completion to help ease local housing pressures. Located on Sandy Hill Road, the 21 properties will be supplemented by a further four homes reserved for local people, taking the number prioritised for the community to 25. The deal was marked on site by Persimmon representatives alongside the Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Michelle Bateman, and local county councillor, Cllr Chris Williams. The 72-home scheme will feature an equipped play area at its centre and a dedicated active travel link connecting the neighbourhood back to Sandy Hill Road. The design also includes sustainable drainage with bio-retention areas and rain gardens, green technologies such as solar panels and electric vehicle charging points, and ecological measures to mitigate impacts on dormouse habitats while preserving existing trees and hedgerows. The five-star accredited housebuilder currently has three, four and five-bedroom homes for sale at Ger y Môr from £310,000, with two-bedroom properties due to be released soon. Through its Community Champions programme, Persimmon donates £48,000 annually to good causes across Wales; recent local beneficiaries include Saundersfoot Cricket Club, Saundersfoot Rotary Club and the village’s New Year’s Day Swim. Stuart Phillips, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes West Wales, said: “Persimmon is determined to leave a positive community legacy where we build, and an integral element of our offering is the transfer of quality new homes to local housing association partners. “We are delighted to have exchanged contracts on this initial tranche of houses at our forthcoming Pembrokeshire site, Ger y Môr, and we hope this significant community contribution will help alleviate pressure on the local housing list. “We are pleased to partner with Pembrokeshire Council to deliver this increase in provision for local people as we make progress to bring this site to fruition.” Cllr Michelle Bateman, Pembrokeshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, added: “We’re delighted to be going into partnership with Persimmon, taking on 21 new homes here at Ger y Môr, helping deliver secure homes for local people in Pembrokeshire. “The purchase of these properties as social housing is one of a range of affordable housing options we are offering to support families and individuals with diverse housing needs. “The purchases at Ger y Môr reflects the Council’s commitment to providing local affordable homes and revitalising our local communities.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals