Wates has started refurbishment works at Ada’s new London Victoria campus, transforming a former secondary school into a National College for Digital Skills. Established in Tottenham in 2016 to address the talent shortage and lack of diversity in the digital industries by creating a diverse pipeline of talent, Ada is
A ribbon-cutting ceremony has marked the opening of a brand-new show home in the historic market town of Holsworthy. The Raglan show home is part of the final phase at Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes’ Market Place development of 19 three and four-bedroom family homes. Paul Furner, Director of Sales and Marketing, performed the ribbon-cutting welcoming homebuyers
Magnox is set to commence a major decommissioning project to clean-up and demolish four ‘blower house’ superstructures that surround Berkeley site’s two reactor buildings. Ross McAllister, Magnox programme delivery director said: “This is one of the largest decommissioning projects that Berkeley site has seen for several years. It was originally
Leading commercial property consultant Whybrow has unveiled a new brand identity, as part of its ambitious growth plans, to further enhance and better reflect its position within the industry. The refreshed branding features a new logo and updated colour scheme, as well as a website refresh for the Colchester-based firm,
Plans have been submitted for the second phase of Manor Road Quarter in the London Borough of Newham. The proposals were put forward by the English Cities Fund (ECF) to create a community in Canning Town. ECF is a joint venture between nationwide placemaker, Muse, Homes England, and Legal &
Autodesk, Inc. has unveiled the first set of capabilities of Autodesk Forma, an industry cloud that will unify workflows across the teams that design, build and operate the built environment. Forma’s initial capabilities target the early-stage planning and design process with automations and AI-powered insights that simplify exploration of design
National homebuilder Keepmoat has marked the start on site for its 300 new homes development, Stirling Fields, at Northstowe, Cambridgeshire’s newest town. Following completion of a Building Lease with Homes England, construction is starting at Stirling Fields, with the housing stock consisting of one and two-bedroom apartments, alongside a selection
Macfarlane Place, the affordable housing development at Television Centre, tops out today, with Peabody set to launch the new homes available through Shared Ownership in Autumn 2023. Remaining works are on track for a scheduled final completion in Q1 2024, following commencement of works in March 2023 by Kier, of
Top 10 UK housebuilder Keepmoat, has announced the appointment of Amanda Bishop as Regional Managing Director for the West Midlands. Amanda’s role as Regional Managing Director focuses on implementing new strategies for the West Midlands region, supporting the land acquisition strategy and driving growth in key areas. With previous roles
Build-To-Rent (BTR) provider Placefirst is set to invest in the delivery of 220 homes in Sunderland. Placefirst has been appointed as Preferred Development Partner by Sunderland City Council to deliver 140 new homes at Farringdon Row, the second residential neighbourhood within the transformative Riverside Sunderland masterplan. The sustainable new community
Wates has started refurbishment works at Ada’s new London Victoria campus, transforming a former secondary school into a National College for Digital Skills. Established in Tottenham in 2016 to address the talent shortage and lack of diversity in the digital industries by creating a diverse pipeline of talent, Ada is a pioneering college and charity for young people aged 16-24, with 97% of its alumni working in tech or studying advanced degrees. The project, carried out for the Department of Education (DfE), involves upgrading the building with the latest digital technology education facilities. The Wates project will ready for teaching to start at Ada’s new campus for the Autumn 2023 term. Workshops will be converted into IT suites for the college’s core computing qualifications and lecture theatres will replace traditional classrooms. Plans also include a cafe, sports hall, gym and roof terrace with views over London. Ada is working to remove the glass ceiling for women and encourage individuals from low-income and ethnic minority backgrounds into the tech industry. Students benefit from a diverse curriculum, opening doors into a variety of careers in fields such as cybersecurity, animation and data analytics. Ada has reached its capacity due to the number of students wanting to enrol and take their first step towards an exciting career in the tech sector. The new Victoria location not only offers more in terms of facilities, it also provides a wider geographical reach for future learners and employer partners. The new building will also allow Ada to double their learner numbers in the coming years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A ribbon-cutting ceremony has marked the opening of a brand-new show home in the historic market town of Holsworthy. The Raglan show home is part of the final phase at Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes’ Market Place development of 19 three and four-bedroom family homes. Paul Furner, Director of Sales and Marketing, performed the ribbon-cutting welcoming homebuyers into the show home. He said: “Cavanna Homes is celebrating 100 years of ‘Building Brilliance’ across the Westcountry, and what better way to start the year than with a brand-new show home opening! “Market Place is a fantastic place to live with all our new homes enjoying stunning rural views across the valley, plus the town centre is within walking distance and a primary and secondary school is close by. “We’ve had a great response to our new homes, and we encourage anyone looking to move to the area to come and step inside our beautiful show home to get a taste of what it’s like to live in this fantastic North Devon town.” The energy-efficient homes are adjacent to Cavanna Homes’ Market Quarter community on the site of Holsworthy’s old cattle market. The design and building materials will complement the town’s traditional architecture. The four-bedroom Raglan, which has been expertly dressed by interior stylists, Abode, showcases Cavanna Homes’ high specification of fixtures and fittings. The show home has an open plan kitchen / dining area with modern, energy-efficient fitted appliances, a convenient utility room, and a master bedroom with an en-suite. There is a range of three and four-bedroom homes available at Market Place, all with a garage and driveway parking. Sales Advisor, Teresa Arden said: “We’re excited to have officially opened the doors to our gorgeous show home at Market Place, which offers our new homeowners a delightful blend of town and country.” Market Place is close to rolling hills and wooded valleys, perfect for walking, cycling and horse riding. Residents also benefit from the town centre being within walking distance where there are shops, tea rooms, a library, post office, leisure centre and weekly farmers’ market. There is also a play area and open green space in the development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Magnox is set to commence a major decommissioning project to clean-up and demolish four ‘blower house’ superstructures that surround Berkeley site’s two reactor buildings. Ross McAllister, Magnox programme delivery director said: “This is one of the largest decommissioning projects that Berkeley site has seen for several years. It was originally planned for the 2070’s so it is fantastic to bring that forward by five decades in our aim to deliver our mission better, faster and even safer. “The blower houses circulated gas through the reactors to transfer heat into 310 tonne boilers to create steam to turn the turbines and generate electricity. The last of the 15 gigantic metal boilers was transported to Sweden for cleaning, smelting and recycling in 2013. “The buildings will be emptied of the residual metallic low-level waste and undergo a full asbestos clean before being demolished. The work is expected to take eight years to complete and will be another major step forwards in sustainably decommissioning Berkeley site with our supply chain partners.” Following extensive procurement exercises, Altrad have been awarded a £30.8m contract for the design, asbestos removal, deplant, demolition and construction works in and around the blower houses and will be supported by other Celadon alliance companies including: • Veolia KDC Decommissioning Services • NSG Environmental • OBR Construction • Mammoet • Cavendish Nuclear Kevin Williamson, Altrad’s General Manager for Magnox, said: “We are delighted to have secured this major decommissioning contract at Berkeley which encompasses the retrieval and cleaning of the primary circuit ductwork and miscellaneous steelwork from the blower houses, prior to their demolition – including the processing of the spring hangers from the lubrication pits, which need to be de-energised and made safe before they can be cleaned.” Nuclear Decommissioning Authority operating company, Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) were awarded a £13.7m contract to manage 2,400 tonnes of metallic waste. Carly Sutton, WMS Consultant and Magnox Relationship Manager, NWS commented: “Through our metallic waste treatment service and working with our supply chain partner Augean we will establish a waste handling compound at Berkeley to provide a safe and secure undercover area where the metallic waste can be processed before it leaves the site for treatment. “Removal of legacy metals from the Berkeley blower houses is significant not only in terms of achieving hazard reduction, but also good for environmental performance – as the high-quality steel removed will be treated, recycled and returned to the metal market for reuse.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading commercial property consultant Whybrow has unveiled a new brand identity, as part of its ambitious growth plans, to further enhance and better reflect its position within the industry. The refreshed branding features a new logo and updated colour scheme, as well as a website refresh for the Colchester-based firm, which better aligns with its core values, innovation and forward-thinking approach. The launch forms part of the company’s wider strategy plans to strengthen its position in the industry, expand its services and presence across key sectors such as commercial, industrial and retail. Since its acquisition last year, which now sees Whybrow operating under the Beresfords property group umbrella, the company has undergone significant growth having expanded its client base, receiving numerous new potential instructions from within the branch network and via the group’s senior director team. The firm also recently expanded its branches, with the addition of Brentwood, Hornchurch and Chelmsford, and plans to expand its clients and network further as it grows its commercial business within the areas. Whybrow has also built up an impressive project portfolio, having been appointed on the Colchester Northern Gateway Leisure Park development at the end of 2022. Its dedicated team will be advising its client Turnstone Estate with the commercial need throughout the construction of the 200,000 sq. ft site. Ewan Dodds, chief executive officer of Whybrow, said: “Our new brand identity has been designed to reflect our evolution as a company and will better represent who we are, helping to differentiate ourselves within the industry. “We love being part of a larger group, with all the support it brings. We could not have been welcomed into the group fold with more open arms, we truly feel we’re a part of the Beresfords ‘family’. “We are developing stronger and stronger relationships, both professionally and socially, with the team and being introduced to a far greater network of Berefords’ established clients and professional contacts. We’re excited to see what the future brings for Whybrow, as we look to further establish ourselves and develop our relationships as time goes on.” Established in 1985, Whybrow has been dedicated to providing property consultancy to local, regional and national companies – particularly those with a presence in the South East and London – for nearly 40 years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been submitted for the second phase of Manor Road Quarter in the London Borough of Newham. The proposals were put forward by the English Cities Fund (ECF) to create a community in Canning Town. ECF is a joint venture between nationwide placemaker, Muse, Homes England, and Legal & General, one of the UK’s leading financial services groups and major global investor. The next stage of the landmark project will create 290 homes across four new buildings, along with new leisure and amenity space. Should the second phase receive consent in June, ECF will be working towards a start on site in 2024. Work on the first part of Manor Road Quarter started in September 2021 and has just passed the half-way point of the build. It features a landmark 32-storey tower and 335 new homes, alongside ground-floor retail units and beautifully-curated public spaces for the community to enjoy. Subject to planning approval, the second and third phases will see Manor Road Quarter bring forward a further 449 homes, making for a total of 804 new homes in Canning Town, of which 50% will be affordable. The completed neighbourhood will also include a new 2.5-acre park, providing a stunning space to dwell and spend time in for both residents and the wider community. The green space will also help promote active travel through new walking and cycle routes – creating a vibrant, inclusive, and connected community space. Duncan Cumberland, residential director at ECF, said: “We’ve been investing in Canning Town for a long time and feel Manor Road Quarter, which follows on from the new homes we created next door at Rathbone Market, is a key catalyst in revitalising the area. Aside from the new places we are creating, phase one has already delivered so many valuable benefits in terms of jobs, apprenticeships, training opportunities for the community, along with bringing investment into the local economy. We hope to continue that through phase two and beyond.” The design for phase two of Manor Road Quarter consists of a quartet of new buildings, designated D, E, F and G. Block D is the lowest of the buildings at 8-storey and is located on the western side of the scheme. It has ground floor commercial space and 55 residential homes on the upper floors. Block E is a standalone 12-storey building located to the northern end of the site and comprises 90 homes, also with commercial space on the ground floor. Blocks F and G are located on the eastern side of the site and include ground floor commercial, a residents’ lounge and amenity, storage and cycle parking and upper floors designated as residential, creating 145 homes in total. In each building, a proportion of the new homes will have three bedrooms. Manor Road Quarter will feature large cycle storage, in line with Greater London Authority guidelines. Given its very close proximity to London Underground, DLR and bus routes, only 24 car parking bays will be provided to encourage the use of sustainable and more active modes of transport. External features such as green areas, a skate park and an outdoor gym will also help improve the health and wellbeing levels of those living and working in the area. The new neighbourhood at Manor Road is being delivered by ECF in partnership with the Greater London Authority’s Homes for Londoners’ team, London Borough of Newham and Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association (MTVH), one of the UK’s largest housing associations. The 177 affordable homes built in phase one will be owned, managed and administered by MTVH. Manor Road Quarter follows on from ECF’s successful completion of the Rathbone Market in Canning Town. This scheme saw the creation of a £160 million mixed-use development that features 652 homes, 32,000 sq. ft of retail space, a library, Neighbourhood Centre, and two new public spaces including the permanent home of the newly revitalised Rathbone Market. Manor Road Quarter has been designed by EPR Architects, with Gardiner and Theobald as the quantity surveyor, Gleeds operating as the client project manager, and Longboard Consulting as the planning consultant. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Autodesk, Inc. has unveiled the first set of capabilities of Autodesk Forma, an industry cloud that will unify workflows across the teams that design, build and operate the built environment. Forma’s initial capabilities target the early-stage planning and design process with automations and AI-powered insights that simplify exploration of design concepts, offload repetitive tasks, and help evaluate environmental qualities surrounding a building site, giving architects time to focus on creative solutions. The release marks the first step for the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations industry cloud, as new features and capabilities will be added to Forma on a continual basis. “Forma gives architecture professionals the agility to work iteratively rather than sequentially between planning and detailed design, supercharging what they can accomplish,” said Amy Bunszel, Executive Vice President of Architecture, Engineering and Construction Design Solutions at Autodesk. “From rapidly evaluating a large set of factors–from sun and wind to noise and operational energy– to offloading computational tasks to the cloud and connecting with Revit, Forma unlocks great value for our customers.” Forma will help users to rapidly evaluate dozens of design options and improve upon the desired qualities of a design. Productivity gains will be realized from quick project setup; users can unlock advanced capabilities without requiring deep technical expertise; and data can be used to tell a convincing story about the design vision to secure buy-in and bring stakeholders along. These outcomes will help architecture firms to better meet client demands and achieve higher-quality deliverables, thereby winning more bids and driving business growth. Included in Autodesk Forma’s initial capabilities: CUBE 3, an architecture, interiors and planning firm, is migrating its work to digital, cloud-based solutions to future-proof its business. “We pride ourselves on creative, intelligent designs that take our clients’ needs, budgets and the environment into consideration,” said Tony Fiorillo, Chief Information Officer at CUBE 3. “When we evaluate software solutions, we’re looking for ways to improve communication with our clients, increase speed to market, allow our team to work with flexibility in a hybrid environment, and help us adapt quickly to change. Solutions like Autodesk Construction Cloud and Forma are a huge value-add–giving us unprecedented access to data, which allows us to work smarter and go where our clients need us.” With Forma, Autodesk now offers a full end-to-end solution for building design–from early-stage planning through to design in Revit with its vast ecosystem of connected products including Autodesk Construction Cloud. For existing subscribers, Forma is now included in the Autodesk AEC Collection. “This is just the beginning,” said Bunszel. “I’m excited for the future as we continue to build out Forma, reimagining BIM to focus on achieving outcomes instead of modelling, and connecting data, teams, and workflows across the entire project lifecycle.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
National homebuilder Keepmoat has marked the start on site for its 300 new homes development, Stirling Fields, at Northstowe, Cambridgeshire’s newest town. Following completion of a Building Lease with Homes England, construction is starting at Stirling Fields, with the housing stock consisting of one and two-bedroom apartments, alongside a selection of two, three and four bedroom homes. A full range of tenures are available on the 300 homes, 60 percent of which are affordable homes including Affordable Rent, Discounted Market Sale, and traditional Market Sale, to provide a balanced community. Adam Knight, Regional Managing Director, commented: “Following the exchange of contracts on the project, we’re absolutely delighted that planning permission has been secured and we can begin construction on Stirling Fields. It’s an honour to have the opportunity to contribute to one of England’s newest towns, particularly as it aligns so closely with our values in terms of sustainability, integrating modern methods of construction, and providing affordable homes to the people that really need them.” Keepmoat was selected by Homes England as the development partner to deliver part of the second phase of the new town which is located on former RAF military land. Graham Hyslop, Regional Director for Homes England said: “This is another step forward for Northstowe as more homes are started across Homes England’s land on this flagship development. This current milestone contributes towards building the community of Northstowe which in total will see more than 10,000 homes, eight schools, a new town centre with multiple facilities and open spaces provided. We are looking forward to seeing the community grow further and more people calling Northstowe home.” The sustainable development supports a low carbon community lifestyle and Keepmoat is building the homes using closed panel timber frame construction, while the apartments will be constructed traditionally in a brick and block cavity walling. All housing stock has been designed to the Nationally Described Space Standard using sustainable and modern construction methods. South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr John Batchelor, said: “We’re pleased to have been selected as the provider of the affordable homes within this part of Northstowe. We’re looking forwards to finalising the arrangements with Keepmoat Homes, including the purchase of a commercial unit which will provide almost 200 metres of business space below some of the affordable homes. It’s also hugely positive how ourselves, Keepmoat Homes and Homes England have worked in partnership to deliver a unique product in the form of Northstowe discount market homes, which not only provide affordable housing but will also help us as a Council invest in more affordable homes in the future.” Residents of the town will have access to a town centre, sports pavilions, community spaces, and a heritage building to showcase the area’s vast history and archaeological works. Smart metres, solar panels, cycle lanes and electric vehicle charging stations are also available to ensure sustainable living is at the heart of Northstowe. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Macfarlane Place, the affordable housing development at Television Centre, tops out today, with Peabody set to launch the new homes available through Shared Ownership in Autumn 2023. Remaining works are on track for a scheduled final completion in Q1 2024, following commencement of works in March 2023 by Kier, of a collection of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, including wheelchair-adaptable homes, with new public realm and retail space retained by the Joint Venture of Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan UK fronting Wood Lane. The development also benefits from a landscaped communal podium garden and communal terrace. “The development of Macfarlane Place is on track for completion early 2024 to provide Hammersmith & Fulham with much needed affordable housing. We are proud to be working alongside Kier and Peabody to complete these new homes as part of the redevelopment of Television Centre,” said Jonathan Trout, Property and Commercial Director at Stanhope. The development benefits from excellent transport links, an abundance of retail access and world-class education facilities in White City. Situated on the iconic Television Centre site, the development is situated in a rich social and cultural community with an established employment hub. This latest residential development at Television Centre from Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan UK and designed by architects Maccreanor Lavington will provide 142 new affordable homes, out of a total 950 homes, on the site of the former BBC multi-story car park opposite Westfield. The new buildings will provide 71 London Affordable Rent, 34 London Living Rent and 37 homes for Shared Ownership. “We are looking forward to the launch of Macfarlane Place at Television Centre later this year, a significant addition to the local residential community. The timely delivery of the development is a successful milestone in the regeneration of White City,” added Tomoo Nakamura, Chief Executive at Mitsui Fudosan UK. With energy-efficient heating systems, climate control and excellent insulation, all apartments will be rated as a B or above for energy performance. Photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roofs of both buildings will generate electricity for shared areas and services, while the thoughtful planting of outdoor areas will provide residents with green spaces and encourage wildlife to flourish. “Marking this important project milestone alongside Mitsui, Stanhope and Kier is an exciting moment for us. Macfarlane Place is a fantastic example of our commitment to provide affordable homes, whilst creating diverse, thriving communities in the heart of London. The 142 affordable homes will include our first homes for London Living Rent, alongside homes for Shared Ownership and London Affordable Rent. The excellent design by architects Maccreanor Lavington and the impressive green credentials developed in close collaboration with our partners will create high quality new homes, which will help residents to live lower-carbon lives at this iconic development,” concluded Simon Barry, Regional Managing Director at Peabody. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Top 10 UK housebuilder Keepmoat, has announced the appointment of Amanda Bishop as Regional Managing Director for the West Midlands. Amanda’s role as Regional Managing Director focuses on implementing new strategies for the West Midlands region, supporting the land acquisition strategy and driving growth in key areas. With previous roles at a number of national homebuilders including Crest Nicholson, Amanda brings over 30 years’ experience in the new homes industry to the role. Commenting on her appointment, Amanda said: “Over the past few years the West Midlands has seen significant successes and has grown to become one of Keepmoat’s flagship regions. I am looking forward to bringing my expertise from my time as Keepmoat’s Group Sales Director to the role, and supporting the region with further growth and new opportunities.” Keepmoat West Midlands has seven live developments operating from Staffordshire down to the South West. Flagship partnerships are ongoing with Homes England, Citizen, and Walsall Housing Group. Amanda continues: “These key partnerships have improved access to the property market for families on lower incomes and we’re particularly proud that we have the ability to build and sell new homes utilising the strength of these partnerships and relationships built locally.” The region has secured 1,350 plots over 90 acres of new land to support future developments that drive investment across the region. The West Midlands is active in the land market and is looking to acquire sites for a further 1,000 plots to feed the immediate pipeline. Tim Beale, Group CEO at Keepmoat, added: “I’m delighted that Amanda has been promoted to the role of Regional Managing Director for our West Midlands business, having joined Keepmoat as Sales Director in 2019 and playing a pivotal role in helping to deliver our growth in the region to date. As we look to further expand our presence in the West Midlands, I am confident that Amanda will continue to build on this success, working closely with our public and private sector partners to actively source new opportunities.” Keepmoat is a top 10 UK partnership housebuilder with a track-record of delivering quality homes in regions across the UK. To date, Keepmoat has built over 35,000 homes, transforming brownfield sites into thriving new communities. With around 70% of Keepmoat’s homes being affordable, the housebuilder is working to deliver high-quality, multi-tenure, new homes nationally. Keepmoat has achieved five star builder status in the National Home Builders Federation Award, receiving a rating of at least 90% in the National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professional
Build-To-Rent (BTR) provider Placefirst is set to invest in the delivery of 220 homes in Sunderland. Placefirst has been appointed as Preferred Development Partner by Sunderland City Council to deliver 140 new homes at Farringdon Row, the second residential neighbourhood within the transformative Riverside Sunderland masterplan. The sustainable new community will benefit from views across the Wear and the regenerated Riverside Park and support the diversification of the housing offer and repopulation of the city centre. Placefirst will deliver an exemplar BTR neighbourhood of high-quality energy efficient homes specially designed for long term rent. It will also feature a network of communal and public open spaces that will enhance connectivity throughout the new Riverside Sunderland community. The project team will include locally based architects IDP, development consultants Identity Consult and landscape architects Southern Green. A planning application is anticipated later in the year, with development planned to start in spring 2024. “We are excited to be working in partnership with Sunderland City Council on these projects and building on our existing track record of creating high-quality neighbourhoods in this region. The Riverside Sunderland masterplan is one of the most ambitious residential regeneration projects in the UK and Farringdon Row and Nile Villiers will play a big part in setting the standard for BTR developments throughout the North East. We look forward to progressing with the plans and bringing both these schemes to life, bringing much needed quality new rental homes to the area,” said David Mawson, chief executive officer at Placefirst. Placefirst manage every aspect of their neighbourhoods, from the first rental enquiry through to fully maintaining each home with an on-site presence once complete. Residents at Farringdon Row would benefit from skilled, friendly in-house teams, and dedicated resident services managers. Placefirst will also support Sunderland City Council and its partners in the funding and delivery of up to 80 homes at Nile and Villiers in Sunniside, which Placefirst will then own and manage. The scheme forms part of the Council’s City Centre Housing Ecosystem which received support from Round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
