M&G Real Estate, in partnership with Wates Group, the UK’s leading family-owned development and construction company, celebrated the structural completion of ‘The Ribbon’, M&G’s state-of-the-art retail and commercial development on Oxford Street, London, with a ‘topping out’ ceremony. This time-honoured tradition marks the achievement of reaching the highest point of
Construction work on a new low-carbon industrial park at the site of former council offices on Blackbird Road in Leicester is almost complete. Leicester City Council is developing the Blackbird Industrial Park on the location of a previous housing depot, situated near the city centre. It features four buildings that
Bellway Kent has made significant progress on a new housing scheme within Kings Hill in Kent. The company is building a total of 542 new homes across five developments at Aviation Park, part of the Kings Hill regeneration scheme that has been transforming the former RAF West Malling site over
A project in the centre of Sunderland has reached another key milestone. Plans for the re-development of the former Sunderland Civic Centre building were revealed in March 2021, as part of the council’s move to new premises on the former Vaux site, just north of the city centre, in November
Developer Weston Homes has finalised the acquisition of the historic Sergeants’ Mess in Deepcut, Surrey. This Edwardian building, rich in military history, is set to be transformed into a £32.5 million development featuring 70 homes. The project will include a blend of converted spaces and new builds, offering both market
A significant milestone has been reached in the development of Orchard House, a new £16m special high school which is due to open in Miles Platting, Manchester next September. A special beam-signing ceremony has been held at the school to celebrate the completion of the building’s steel frame, with employees
McLaren Construction has commenced works to deliver Phase 2 of the industrial and distribution hub, Horizon 29, in Bolsover, Derbyshire, have commenced. Horizon 29 is a new landmark distribution development located one mile from Junction 29A of the M1. Once fully complete, it will span 1,150,256 sq. ft and have
Esh Construction has completed two key active travel projects in Rotherham designed to make it safer and more convenient for pedestrians and cyclists to travel into and around the town centre. Known as Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor and delivered on behalf of Rotherham Council, the scheme will
Metis Homes is to commence construction work at the former Warsash Maritime Academy campus. Situated in the coastal village of Warsash and close to the River Hamble, 117 characterful new homes will be delivered across the historic 7.4-acre (3Ha) brownfield site in collaboration with Juno Developments and McCarthy Stone. Located
One of North London’s waterside neighbourhoods has reached practical completion in Tottenham Hale, bringing 505 new homes to the area. Hale Wharf is situated off Ferry Lane, close to Tottenham Hale rail and underground stations. The completed project has made a valuable contribution to the Mayor of London and the
M&G Real Estate, in partnership with Wates Group, the UK’s leading family-owned development and construction company, celebrated the structural completion of ‘The Ribbon’, M&G’s state-of-the-art retail and commercial development on Oxford Street, London, with a ‘topping out’ ceremony. This time-honoured tradition marks the achievement of reaching the highest point of the building. Speeches at the ceremony were given by Jonny Wates – Director of Wates Group, Aaron Pope – Head of UK Offices Asset Management at M&G, Steve Holbrook – Regional Director at Wates Construction and Chris John – Head of Development Management at CBRE. Attendees of the event included members of the local council and senior executives from the organisations involved in the project. The Ribbon is due to be completed next year. Once finished, it will comprise 70,000 sq ft of Grade A office space and 21,000 sq ft of flagship retail space on the capital’s iconic Oxford Street. Designed by ORMS with CBRE as Development Managers, the office space benefits from generous floor to ceiling heights, luxury end-of-trip facilities, a client business lounge, smart enabled features and a wellness studio. The ninth floor includes a communal pavilion and a landscaped terrace with views across the London skyline. Jonny Wates, fourth generation family owner, Wates Group board director, and chair of the board sustainability committee said: “At Wates, we are passionately committed to ensuring sustainability across all our projects. We place a high value on the chance to work with clients and supply chain who share our beliefs and priorities We are proud that The Ribbon features a passive design, allowing the building to maximise the use of natural sources of heating, cooling, and ventilation to create optimal conditions inside without the need for polluting appliances – ultimately allowing the building to be net zero carbon in operation.” The building will also be built to exemplary environmental and wellbeing standards, targeting NABERs 5*, BREEAM Outstanding, Wiredscore Platinum, WELL Platinum, Smart Enabled, RESET Air (shell and core certification), and EPC Rating A. This project also demonstrates Wates commitment to social value in all the communities it serves. Through this project so far, Wates has supported 237 students through education programmes, employed 6 local people, and offered 7 work experience placements to equip individuals with the skills and confidence for future success in the construction sector. Through this project, Wates have spent £13k with social enterprises and have contributed over 80 hours of volunteering with causes in Westminster. Wates have also partnered with local charity, the Children’s Book Project, who provide free books to children who need them most. Over the last five years at sites across the country, Wates has donated nearly 50,000 books and The Ribbon is the latest donation point to be installed, with books being donated to local foodbanks, community groups, nurseries and women’s refuges. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction work on a new low-carbon industrial park at the site of former council offices on Blackbird Road in Leicester is almost complete. Leicester City Council is developing the Blackbird Industrial Park on the location of a previous housing depot, situated near the city centre. It features four buildings that will provide more than 30,000sqft of light industrial workspace across 21 separate units aimed at local start-ups and growing businesses. All the buildings incorporate a range of low carbon, energy efficiency measures. These include roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, super insulation, and low-energy smart lighting. Chargers will be provided for electric vehicles in a new parking area, along with safe storage for bicycles. The 21 new units are due to be available for lease from winter 2024. They range in size from the smallest at 750sqft to the largest at between 2,050 to 2,500sqft. Annual rents will vary from £11,250 to £30,000, and at full occupancy the new industrial park could bring in over £400,000 in rental income. The £6.25 million development on Blackbird Road has been backed with government cash following the city council’s successful bid for new investment from the Levelling Up Fund, in 2021. City Mayor Peter Soulsby, said: “This new and much-needed industrial park will breathe new life into a vacant council site and help meet the demand for commercial and industrial workspaces for start-up and growing businesses in Leicester. “Along with supporting local employers and the creation of new jobs, this development also demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investing in cleaner, greener and low carbon infrastructure to support the future prosperity of our growing city.” Leicester City Council appointed locally-based Brackley Property Developments Ltd as its development partner for Blackbird Industrial Park following a competitive tendering process. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bellway Kent has made significant progress on a new housing scheme within Kings Hill in Kent. The company is building a total of 542 new homes across five developments at Aviation Park, part of the Kings Hill regeneration scheme that has been transforming the former RAF West Malling site over the last three decades. The drone image shows how work is moving apace on the huge site where the housebuilder is set to deliver a total of 402 properties for the private market and 140 affordable homes available for local people through low-cost rent or shared ownership. To the right of the photo, the completed new homes within Liberty Quarter, off Park Drive, can be seen. Just seven of the 52 properties built here remain for sale. Meanwhile, the progress of construction within Blenheim Green can be seen around the linear park in the centre of the image. To date, 14 of the 140 homes planned within this development have been completed, with a further 18 reserved. Work also started this year at DeHavilland Place, off Jubilee Way, with the southern tip of this development visible in the top right-hand corner of the aerial image. Bellway is delivering 210 new homes here – comprising 126 homes for private sale and 84 affordable homes – with five reservations already made and the first residents due to move into their new homes in December. In addition, Bellway is building 70 apartments at Westland Place, off Abbey Wood Road, and 70 apartments at Gloster Chase, off Kings Hill Avenue, with 84 of these pre-sold for private rent and 56 being delivered as affordable housing. Mark Harrop, Sales Director at Bellway Kent, said: “This drone photograph illustrates perfectly the sheer scale of the project we are undertaking at Kings Hill and the good progress we have made so far. “Our building programme at Aviation Park involves the creation of vibrant new communities by constructing more than 500 new homes on a brownfield site. The mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and two to five-bedroom houses has been specifically designed to meet the needs of local people. “We are very proud to be playing a major role in this ambitious scheme and are thrilled to have won an award for our part in the Kings Hill regeneration project, winning the Best Regeneration Project category at the Evening Standard New Homes Awards in September 2023.” Aviation Park is part of the wider Kings Hill project, where more than 3,000 homes have been built or planned since work began in 1990, along with new commercial floor space, schools and shops. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A project in the centre of Sunderland has reached another key milestone. Plans for the re-development of the former Sunderland Civic Centre building were revealed in March 2021, as part of the council’s move to new premises on the former Vaux site, just north of the city centre, in November that year. Permission was granted to Vistry North East, part of the Vistry Group, to replace the old 1960’s buildings with a vibrant city centre community of 265 homes in April 2022. Demolition started in October and was completed in February of this year, with the construction of the new West Park Quarter moving forward at pace. Now, the first of the high-quality new properties have been released for sale under the Linden Homes brand. They include a selection of three and four bedroom homes offering choice for both first time buyers or those looking for a larger, family home close to the city centre and with access to scenic and accessible open green spaces. Sean Egan, Managing Director with Vistry North East, said: “This is a flagship project for our business and we are delighted to now be in a position to release the first properties for sale. We expect the first customers will be moving in later this year and at the start of 2025. “A complex scheme, working in close partnership with Sunderland City Council, we’ve been able to support the move to Riverside Sunderland’s City Hall and unlock the potential of the old civic site in a way that will re-energise this part of the city centre. “West Park Quarter is delivering homes for sale, private rent and affordable rent and our mixed tenure approach has enabled us to deliver the new homes at pace. The properties will be set around public, open green spaces and will offer excellent links to both the high street and to local transport infrastructure. By improving the choice and standard of new homes in the centre of Sunderland, we aim to create a vibrant community for people to live in and enjoy.” Part of the project will see works to recreate Saint George’s Square – bomb damaged during the Second World War and lost to redevelopment in the 60s – with the Grade II listed Saint George’s House as the focal point. The architecture and streetscapes being constructed have been planned to be sensitive to existing structures, the park side location and the Ashbrooke Conservation Area. The development is also incorporating plenty of cycling and pedestrian links, improving public access to and from the city centre. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Developer Weston Homes has finalised the acquisition of the historic Sergeants’ Mess in Deepcut, Surrey. This Edwardian building, rich in military history, is set to be transformed into a £32.5 million development featuring 70 homes. The project will include a blend of converted spaces and new builds, offering both market sale and shared ownership options. Situated on Bellew Road at the former Princess Royal Barracks, the Sergeants’ Mess sits on a 4.25-acre plot within a 6.23-acre site. The three-story building, designed by architect W.A. Ross and completed in 1938, boasts a brick façade, classical Portland stone entrance portico, dormer roof, and prominent brick chimneys. Weston Homes plans to convert and develop the site to provide 70 converted and newly built homes, comprising 65 market sale and 5 shared ownership homes. The main Sergeants’ Mess building will be converted into 33 apartments, whilst in the extensive grounds Weston Homes will build a premium collection of new two, three, four and five-bedroom homes, each with private gardens. Princess Royal Barracks, which comprises 114 hectares, was used for military training since the late 19th century. It is now being transformed into a new neighbourhood, Mindenhurst, providing housing, a primary school, amenities, and extensive outside space. Skanska is leading the masterplan development. The village of Deepcut is named for the deep excavations dug for the construction of the Basingstoke Canal during the 18th century. There are direct trains from nearby Frimley station to London Waterloo in 1 hour 20 minutes and nearby Farnborough station to London Waterloo in 35 minutes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A significant milestone has been reached in the development of Orchard House, a new £16m special high school which is due to open in Miles Platting, Manchester next September. A special beam-signing ceremony has been held at the school to celebrate the completion of the building’s steel frame, with employees from main contractor ISG and the North West Construction Hub joining members of the city council and the Prospere Learning Trust on site to mark the event. Once completed, Orchard House will cater for boys and girls with an Education, Health and Care Plan for significant additional needs, with space for 150 pupils aged between 11 and 19 years old. The Prospere Learning Trust has been chosen to run the school and has worked with the project team as part of a collaborative design process to ensure teaching methodologies and aspirations are met through the building and its facilities provision. The single-storey building, designed by JM Architects and Ridge and Partners, additionally functions as a key community hub, and outside of school hours its double-height main hall space and external games areas will be available for use by a wide range of local groups and clubs. The new school’s classrooms will have direct access to dedicated outdoor teaching areas, with external spaces subdivided to create both secure and safe spaces for pupils. Each classroom will also have its own group room, to facilitate additional one-to-one teaching support, and specialist teaching spaces have been designed in consultation with the Trust to create areas that are tailored for the individual needs of pupils. With modern facilities and a high-quality environment, the new school will enable more Manchester children to meet their full potential and benefit from the city’s growth. The scheme is also fully aligned with Manchester’s Low Carbon Strategy and designed to meet the stretching BREEAM ‘Excellent’ environmental target, creating an educational asset with long term operational and environmental performance. Linda Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Prospere Learning Trust, said: “We’re really excited at the difference Orchard House is going to make, both to pupils and the community in Miles Platting. We’re looking forward to welcoming our first pupils next year and helping them succeed and achieve in what promises to be a fantastic new building, firmly rooted within the local community.” Funded by the city council the school is scheduled for completion in summer 2025. It joins a family of special schools in Manchester that currently includes five primary schools, two all-through primary to secondary schools, and seven high schools. The construction of the new school by main contractor ISG was procured by the city council through the North West Construction Hub. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaren Construction has commenced works to deliver Phase 2 of the industrial and distribution hub, Horizon 29, in Bolsover, Derbyshire, have commenced. Horizon 29 is a new landmark distribution development located one mile from Junction 29A of the M1. Once fully complete, it will span 1,150,256 sq. ft and have a total of eight warehouses, delivered over three phases by our McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) division, on behalf of clients BGO Wire PropCo Ltd and Equation Properties. Phase 2 is the construction of two single-storey base build distribution warehouses. Units 7 and 8 will be 249,995 sq. ft and 249,866 sq. ft respectively, and each will include a two-storey office, with associated mechanical and electrical installations, 23 loading docks and a transport office. The team will deliver earthworks, CMC and VSC piling, concrete foundations, steel framing and cladding, lift shaft and stair installations. All external works are also being undertaken by McLaren (Midlands and North) and include general hard standings, car-parking, landscaping, mains services and drainage. There will be cycle racks for 60 cycles per warehouse and a gate house. Sustainable features will include solar PVs, air source heat pumps, enhanced cladding, responsibly sourced sustainable materials, LED lighting, electric vehicle charging points, and bird and bat boxes. The units will be constructed to a BREEAM Rating of ‘Excellent,’ with an EPC ‘A’ Rating. Phase 2 has a 49-week build programme. Gary Cramp, managing director of McLaren Construction (Midlands and North), said: “Horizon 29 is going to be a premier distribution centre for Derbyshire and the wider East Midlands. It provides an ideal opportunity for tenants looking for direct and easy access to the M1 north and south. “Progressing on to Phase 2, we are building two more units at the site – and as with earlier phases – they will be highly energy efficient buildings, with the potential for the whole of the roofs to be used to gather energy from PV to not only power the units, but to put energy back into the National Grid. “We were pleased to be working alongside BentallGreenOak and Equation Properties for the next phase of this landmark scheme.” Phase 1A and 1B of Horizon 29 completed in February of this year, which comprised four warehouse units (units 1, 2, 4 and 5). Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Esh Construction has completed two key active travel projects in Rotherham designed to make it safer and more convenient for pedestrians and cyclists to travel into and around the town centre. Known as Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor and delivered on behalf of Rotherham Council, the scheme will provide Rotherham’s residents with more opportunities to undertake journeys by bus, walking and cycling in line with the active travel initiative. The Sheffield Road Cycleways project has delivered over 2km of new cycle routes on the A6178 Sheffield Road and Westgate between the town centre and the borough boundary at Tinsley. The route will provide a near seamless connection for cycling from beyond Meadowhall through to the Broom area. Maltby Bus Corridor has seen the installation of 2.8km of new bus lanes and new signalised junctions with pedestrian crossings along the 8-mile route from Rotherham to Maltby. The bus corridor will bypass areas of congestion on the A631 route into the town centre and enable faster and more reliable services, particularly those linking Maltby to Rotherham and onwards to Sheffield city centre, Magna and Meadowhall. As part of its Constructing Local strategy, Esh re-invested £1.3 million in the South Yorkshire region through responsible procurement on the Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor project. Esh Construction also provided 479 hours of school engagement through its partnership with Better Learners Better Workers and RNN Academy for the Rotherham project. A total of 97 apprentice weeks were delivered and seven local residents were employed to work directly on the scheme. Funding for the Sheffield Road Cycleways project and the Maltby Bus Corridor was secured via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority with monies from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Metis Homes is to commence construction work at the former Warsash Maritime Academy campus. Situated in the coastal village of Warsash and close to the River Hamble, 117 characterful new homes will be delivered across the historic 7.4-acre (3Ha) brownfield site in collaboration with Juno Developments and McCarthy Stone. Located on the western side of Newtown Road, the site and buildings had previously been used by Southampton Solent University’s Warsash Maritime Academy, and will see two listed buildings retained and converted by Juno into 35 apartments. The lower part of the development will remain home to the University’s Warsash Maritime School Safety Training Centre. The regeneration of the waterside site will also consist of 38 new build houses and apartments delivered by Metis, including 18 three-, four- and five-bed houses, and 20 one and two-bed apartments, some with sea views. In addition to the 38 private newbuild Metis homes and Juno’s listed buildings’ conversion, 44 retirement apartments for the over 60s will be delivered by McCarthy Stone. The waterside development will see hundreds of jobs created for the surrounding area, with construction and completion of the development expected to take 20 months. JTP Architects – a nationally renowned London-based practice – has sensitively designed the project, ensuring the newly built homes effectively respond to the existing listed buildings on site and wider coastal surroundings. Adam O’Brien, Managing Director of Metis Homes, said: “We are delighted to get going with this development, which received unanimous approval from Fareham Borough Council’s members. This stunning waterside development will see the creation of a variety of new homes, suitable for a diverse range of buyers and located in a beautiful coastal setting. All the homes will have sustainable technologies and energy-saving features.” A new large public open space is being created as a focal point for future residents and the local community. Some of the upper floor newbuild apartments will enjoy views of the River Hamble and Southampton Water. Steeped in history, the two Grade II listed buildings which will be restored and converted into homes by Juno Developments include the Shackleton building, which was originally opened in 1960 as a cadets’ residence, and the Moyana refectory block, named after the college’s first training vessel. Some of the new Metis houses are designed in a contemporary mews-style townhouse arrangement, with more traditionally designed 2-storey detached homes on the frontage, knitting nicely into the existing character along Newton Road. The new Metis apartment building features a modern design, to complement and enhance the listed buildings. Parking will be provided for both residents and visitors. Close to the sought-after riverside village of Warsash, the new development is just two miles from the M27, which provides access to the wider motorway network and convenient connectivity across the south of England. The closest train station, Swanwick, has frequent services to both Southampton and Portsmouth city centres, with onward travel to London. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
One of North London’s waterside neighbourhoods has reached practical completion in Tottenham Hale, bringing 505 new homes to the area. Hale Wharf is situated off Ferry Lane, close to Tottenham Hale rail and underground stations. The completed project has made a valuable contribution to the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority’s aspiration for 2,000 new homes in the borough and features local retail space, canal-side public realm and infrastructure which has transformed this part of North London. Delivered by Waterside Places, a partnership between Canal & River Trust and Muse, the first phase of development saw 249 homes delivered in 2018, with 108 for rent through leading landlord, Grainger plc. The second and final phase has added a further 256 homes to Hale Wharf with 191 affordable homes for LB Haringey and Grainger plc acquiring 65 build-to-rent homes, expanding its ownership within the overall project. One of the key elements that has helped breathe life into Hale Wharf is a new major pedestrian bridge across the River Lea Navigation. This links the new and surrounding community to a 10-acre area of green space, the Paddock Community Nature Park, opening new public spaces and walking routes for all and wider access to the Lee Valley Regional Park. As with all Waterside Places developments, the water’s edge has also been regenerated thanks to upgrades of access routes for commercial barges as well as canal wall repairs and the addition of floating reed beds. Waterside Places has delivered this project alongside McLaren Construction and architect Allies and Morrison, with Stace acting as Project Manager. On behalf of Waterside Places, Chris Coxall, Project Director at Muse, said: “Everyone working in regeneration wants to make a positive and lasting difference in the community. That’s what we feel we have achieved at Hale Wharf. Our scheme has transformed a forgotten waterside area by the River Lee Navigation and created a great place to live with access to green space. The project team recognised the importance of looking beyond the red lines and have found ways to connect the community to a diverse environment of woodland, scrub, meadow and ponds – which makes a huge difference in a densely populated city.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
