Major construction work is due to start on the Lyminster Bypass in West Sussex, which will help ease congestion. Jackson Civil Engineering were the ones who managed to win the £23.8 million contract, due to begin immediately. According to the existing plans, the new road will link up with the
Plans have been submitted for phase two of Queensgate Square, which will see the transformation of the block on Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham. The block will be turned into prestigious residences, set around a communal garden and square, which will be shared with residents of Queensgate House, representing phase one
Addison Hunt, chartered quantity surveyor and project management experts, has officially commenced work on a new homes and office development in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. The mixed-use site will bring nine properties and two commercial offices to the area, which will be marketed by Newtown Living. Working alongside property development and construction
Manchester City Council has announced the regeneration plans to transform Wythenshawe Town Centre. The council has recently completed the acquisition of the town centre from St. Modwen’s and early plans for how the centre could be redeveloped have been drawn up ready for consultation. The plans include the redevelopment of
Sphera, an established environmental innovator shaping the green construction industry, has announced it is rebranding as Low Carbon Materials (LCM), to build on its huge success. Known for its pioneering new building material, the UK company is using its international notoriety and investment to get a step closer to mainstream
VolkerFitzpatrick has been chosen by Hampshire County Council as its design and build contractor to deliver the planned M27 Junction 10 improvement scheme. This marks a key milestone for this significant and complex project which will enable the development of Welborne Garden Village to the north of Fareham. VolkerFitzpatrick and
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson has launched the next phase of apartments at its Brooklands Park development in Stoke Gifford, Bristol. The collection of 23 one and two bedroom homes is ideal for first time buyers and young professionals looking for a semi-rural, well-designed home within commuting distance of Bristol and London.
Story Contracting has commenced improvement work on Hartlepool Station, with the demolition of the disused platform 3 marking the first phase of the redevelopment. The team, on behalf of Network Rail and Tees Valley Combined Authority, have successfully removed the platform over 108 hours; removing 1500T of spent material. With
Willmott Dixon, the UK’s leading independent construction and property services company, has been selected for the construction of 55 affordable homes and two community centres by the London Borough of Brent. With a value of over £30 million, the work will be delivered under two contracts. “We are looking forward
Mace has been appointed the main contractor by Investor Fabrix to deliver the 430,000 sq ft next-gen HQ office building, Roots in the Sky, in Southwark. Erith has been selected as the enabling works contractor. Mace will deliver the main contract for this innovative, net zero reimagining of the former
Major construction work is due to start on the Lyminster Bypass in West Sussex, which will help ease congestion. Jackson Civil Engineering were the ones who managed to win the £23.8 million contract, due to begin immediately. According to the existing plans, the new road will link up with the recently-constructed southern section of the bypass to complete a new, 1.1-mile carriageway running to the east of Lyminster and Wick villages. As far as possible, the new carriageway will be constructed off-line from the existing highway network to minimise disruption for road users. “Initial, enabling works, such as vegetation clearance, had already been completed, but now the main construction phase started on Monday. This is very positive news. Helping to provide a sustainable and prosperous economy is one of the priorities in Our Council Plan and, by providing this new highway infrastructure, we will be supporting the provision of 1,260 new homes and 700 new jobs in the region,” said Joy Dennis, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport. “It’s also hoped that, by providing improved cyclist and pedestrian facilities, more people will be encouraged to make local trips on foot or by bike, helping lower our carbon footprint, another key priority in our Council Plan,” Joy Dennis added. The existing public bridleway will be maintained with a Pegasus Crossing, provided to ensure the safety of equestrians, cyclists and pedestrians. Moreover, a new viaduct will be constructed over Black Ditch with an associated flood plain to ensure that there is no increase in flood risk. The existing culvert will be extended at Brookfield Stream as well. The scheme is being funded by Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund, developer contributions (Section 106 funds), the Department for Transport and the County Council. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Plans have been submitted for phase two of Queensgate Square, which will see the transformation of the block on Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham. The block will be turned into prestigious residences, set around a communal garden and square, which will be shared with residents of Queensgate House, representing phase one of Queensgate Square. These new builds – two blocks, one of 15 storeys and another of 12 – will add 159 new luxury apartments to the Birmingham market. Over a third of the accommodation – 55 in number – will be affordable. Both luxury and affordable apartments will blend seamlessly with the only difference being the level of specification when you walk through the door. Construction on phase one is already underway and it will see an eight-storey 1950s office block transformed into 68 boutique apartments – studio, one, two and three-bedroom – apartments. The accommodation will be available for rent (PRS) by mid-2024. Designed by D5 Architects, the London-based developer behind the Queensgate Square scheme – The Riverlow Group – specialises in upmarket transformations. They recently acquired this, their first site in the Midlands, and submitted planning in early October. “Despite all the recent economic turbulence, the investors we speak with regularly, wherever they are in the world, all know that Birmingham remains rich with investment opportunities. Aspirational apartments are always in high demand, especially for rent. We know we get it right because we know we’d love to live in our developments. That level of comfort is important when your neighbour is the Bond Street of Birmingham,” commented Max Reisner, Spokesman for The Riverlow Group. The super-luxe apartments in the Queensgate development will feature high-spec, designer kitchens and bathrooms, all finessed with a natural pallet of mixed timbers, earthy tones and soft whites. The penthouses will have specifically-designed, live-work spaces. “Queensgate’s situation is particularly special. You’re right in the heart of the city centre, only a few minutes’ walk away from the high street, New Street and the under-construction HS2 rail station. The development will be car-free with ample secure bike storage. Why use a car when you have Michelin-starred restaurants on your doorstep and you can reach most places quicker by train?,” said Max Reisner. “At the forefront of our design thinking has been how we’re all going to live more sustainably in the future. So we will have thick walls with high levels of insulation, which will minimise running costs, as will the large windows which will flood living spaces with all the wellbeing and environmental benefits of natural light. All in all, Queensgate Square will be a place where residents will build many happy memories,” Max concluded. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Addison Hunt, chartered quantity surveyor and project management experts, has officially commenced work on a new homes and office development in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. The mixed-use site will bring nine properties and two commercial offices to the area, which will be marketed by Newtown Living. Working alongside property development and construction company GS Developments, and architects rg+p, Addison Hunt will be providing project management and quantity surveying services for the project. The development, located in Granite Way, will comprise two and 2.5-storey homes with traditional Georgian-style features, such as warm red multi-brick with a detailed light stone appearance and sash windows. “We’re delighted to have been appointed to work on this project. The development of the site will provide a much more positive outlook and sense of arrival as passers-by travel through Mountsorrel. We look forward to work progressing and bringing a new mixed-use development to the area, which has been designed to fit in with the current surroundings,” said Simon Collin, Director of Addison Hunt. The commercial unit has been designed to form a bridge between existing commercial use and residential development nearby. Similar materials to the properties will be used, but with a contemporary look and feel in order to be recognised as an office building. “It’s great to be working alongside Addison Hunt to deliver another fantastic project in the Leicestershire area,” added Mandeep Singh, director of GS Developments. “After a number of years of planning and design work we’re delighted to finally see the build get underway, which will enhance and bring more people to the site to live and work.” Granite Way continues the relationship between the firms, with recent Leicestershire project completions on warehouse development at Parker Drive and affordable housing scheme at Abbey Meadows which won ‘Residential Regeneration Project of the Year’ award at the Insider Media East Midlands Property Awards. “We’re looking forward to the homes being complete and providing residents with new rental properties, given the current demand for high-quality homes in Leicestershire,” concluded Neeley Turrell, Estates Manager at Newtown Living. Since its inception in 2016 Addison Hunt, which is led by company directors Chris Hunt and Simon Collin, has grown to a team of nine professionals delivering multi-million-pound projects across the Midlands. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Manchester City Council has announced the regeneration plans to transform Wythenshawe Town Centre. The council has recently completed the acquisition of the town centre from St. Modwen’s and early plans for how the centre could be redeveloped have been drawn up ready for consultation. The plans include the redevelopment of the current town centre and deliver a new focal point for the community, celebrating Wythenshawe’s roots as a garden city in a new civic square, new planting, trees and a large boulevard-style public realm. On top of that, thousands of new homes will be built on the Council-owned brownfield land next to the Town Centre, many of which will be affordable. The official proposals for the regeneration of Wythenshawe Town Centre include a culture hub with artist studios, performance space and a community cinema in the former Co-op department store, a food hall with a large, flexible events space championing local produce by day and leading a new night-time economy through a food, drink, live music and street food offering by night, as well as a new flexible employment accommodation ranging from co-working spaces through to a new enterprise centre with a focus on local start-up and small and medium-sized businesses and larger floorplate managed office space. A large new focal point will also represent the new heart of the town centre, capable of hosting community events. Improved accessibility and the creation of small naturally-planted ‘sponge parks’, designed to increase biodiversity and help adapt to the impacts of climate change while reducing the risk of flooding. Sustainability is indeed a priority for the regeneration. Sustainable retrofit of existing building will help improve energy performance and reduce carbon emissions plus the installation of solar PV cells on rooftop spaces. “Consultation is incredibly important at the beginning of a major regeneration programme like this. Feedback and input from local people about how their local town centre works for them is invaluable. We have big ambitions to improve the area for this community, but this only works if the result is welcomed by the very people that use it daily,” said Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Development. “Wythenshawe town centre has a huge amount of potential and this investment will help improve the offer for residents and attract people to the centre as well, while also creating new jobs and new homes for the community. We have a real opportunity to create a town centre that benefits generations to come, so I would urge as many people to take part and take time to visit the drop-in. We really want to hear from you.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Sphera, an established environmental innovator shaping the green construction industry, has announced it is rebranding as Low Carbon Materials (LCM), to build on its huge success. Known for its pioneering new building material, the UK company is using its international notoriety and investment to get a step closer to mainstream production. Its science-based, lower carbon, new-age building material proves real promise as a solution for the construction industry in achieving net zero emissions. The company’s flagship product, OSTO, has been technically engineered to utilise waste and by-products in its manufacture which would otherwise be destined for incineration or landfill, further reducing carbon emissions, and creating a ‘win-win’ solution for both industry and the environment twice over. “We’re thrilled to be taking the company forward into its next phase of development, multiplying the amount of waste diverted from incineration, and helping construction companies achieve net zero, all whilst helping our planet. There is nothing more important or rewarding than that for us,” said Dr Natasha Boulding, CEO, and Co-founder of Low Carbon Materials (LCM). “The targets set out by the UK government to achieve net zero can only be achieved with the right solutions and a new way of thinking and working. We’re scientists working with a wide range of industry specialists to realise our product plans, which once on the market, could radically redefine how we build, and significantly reduce environmental damage, particularly as concrete accounts for 8% of carbon emissions. Globally, and working collaboratively, we have the potential to save hundreds of thousands of tonnes of CO2e with this approach. LCM has enjoyed a phenomenal year, but this is only the beginning and we’ve much more on the horizon to announce.” In just a few years since its inception, Sphera, now LCM, has achieved global recognition, business acceleration support, and a string of awards, including an Earthshot Prize nomination, placing it among the 1,000 most impactful and inspiring solutions for environmental issues globally. The rebranding represents the next stage in the company’s development, with its products currently being trialled in the market. Following that, other growth plans are already underway to develop and scale carbon-negative materials for the wider built environment. As part of its expansion plans, LCM is quadrupling the size of its HQ, with a move to Jade Business Park, County Durham. The site will include a state-of-the-art R&D facility and production centre to support the scaling and development of new products. LCM has also tripled its workforce in less than a year with plans to expand it further into 2023 and beyond. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
VolkerFitzpatrick has been chosen by Hampshire County Council as its design and build contractor to deliver the planned M27 Junction 10 improvement scheme. This marks a key milestone for this significant and complex project which will enable the development of Welborne Garden Village to the north of Fareham. VolkerFitzpatrick and lead designer, Ramboll, bring significant expertise and experience to the project team and will work closely with the County Council and National Highways to finalise the design for the scheme, with construction planned to begin in 2023. “We are delighted to have been awarded this prestigious contract by Hampshire County Council. Our regional approach will allow us to deliver our highways expertise in a way that will most benefit the Hampshire community,” commented Paul Lilley, VolkerFitzpatrick’s Operations Director. The upgrade involves the provision of a new motorway underpass to the west of the existing M27 Junction 10, three new slip roads to facilitate an ‘all moves’ arrangement and the construction of a new dual carriageway to link the new slip roads to the existing road network. These highway improvements will make a very significant contribution to the local economy, enabling much needed new housing, amenities and jobs. Hampshire County Council is the delivery body for the Junction 10 project. “I am very pleased with how this project is progressing and I welcome the news that a contractor has been appointed. With the development of the new Garden Village at Welborne, it is important that the necessary road infrastructure is put in place to secure the full benefits for the local economy and communities,” said Councillor Edward Heron, the County Council’s Executive Lead Member for Transport and Environment Strategy. “As the Highway Authority for the local road network, the County Council is very experienced at successfully managing the development and delivery of large transport projects on our own road network. However, the construction of a new motorway underpass on the M27, which is managed by National Highways, is technically complex and requires expert and specialist engineering knowledge. I am confident that Volker Fitzpatrick, supported by Ramboll, will be a very able partner to this end. We are very proud to be leading this important milestone project, but we do not underestimate the magnitude of the task,” he added. In March 2022, Hampshire County Council and Fareham Borough Council welcomed news of an award of £41.25 million of Housing Investment Grant by Homes England towards the upgrade of Junction 10. This will make a substantial contribution to the overall cost of the scheme with the remaining £40 million being provided by the Welborne developers. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson has launched the next phase of apartments at its Brooklands Park development in Stoke Gifford, Bristol. The collection of 23 one and two bedroom homes is ideal for first time buyers and young professionals looking for a semi-rural, well-designed home within commuting distance of Bristol and London. The latest range of apartments at Brooklands Park offer flexible living with open plan kitchen-living-dining areas, providing ample space to for homeowners to work, relax, and entertain in. The homes offer plenty of storage, with the apartments featuring built-in wardrobes to the main bedrooms and additional closet or airing cupboard space. In the two-bedroom properties, the main double bedroom benefits from its own en-suite bathroom, alongside a sizeable guest bathroom. In the face of the cost-of-living crisis, with demand for rental properties outstripping supply and rental prices reaching all-new highs in Bristol, new build properties are an ideal option for those looking to make the most of their money. Not only are new build properties cheaper to run thanks to their energy efficient and low maintenance features but movers can take advantage of the schemes available such as Deposit Unlock. In fact, mortgage repayments in the area are cheaper than rents on similar properties, meaning now is the ideal time to secure your dream new build property at Brooklands Park. “Following the popularity of the apartments during Brooklands Park’s first phase, we’re delighted to be launching the next phase at the development, offering prospective buyers the chance to join this established, thriving community on site. The latest apartments at Brooklands Park will deliver a new offering for those searching for an apartment, with spacious, multifunctional, open-plan layouts designed for those with busy modern lives,” said Clare Brimble, Sales and Marketing Director for Crest Nicholson South West. “With plenty of transport options, the development is also an excellent choice for young professionals who need to commute. Brooklands Park has already proven popular with a range of buyers, from first time buyers and young professionals to those looking to downsize, so I would encourage anyone interested to get in touch with our sales team soon to avoid disappointment.” Spread out across a 65-acre site yet just six miles from the centre of Bristol, the development offers a restful, semi-rural environment with plenty of open green space, including a wildlife corridor to encourage and care for local wildlife. There are plenty of local amenities nearby including retail parks, restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets, as well the Cabot Circus shopping centre and The Mall at Cribbs Causeway for all retail needs. For those looking to enjoy indoor leisure activities, Nuffield Health and DW Fitness gyms and Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre are all close by, whilst local golf, bowling and cricket clubs are available to join for those keen on getting involved in outdoor sports. For residents with children, Bradley Stoke Secondary School and Abbeywood Community School, Baileys Court, Little Stoke and St Michaels primary schools, plus St Michael’s nursery are all also a short drive away. For commuters, the development is just a 12 minute walk to Bristol Parkway railway station, which provides regular services to London Paddington in just over an hour. For those with a car, the M32, M4 and M5 can all be found nearby, linking residents to the wider South West region, while Bristol Airport is just a 40 minute drive away. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Story Contracting has commenced improvement work on Hartlepool Station, with the demolition of the disused platform 3 marking the first phase of the redevelopment. The team, on behalf of Network Rail and Tees Valley Combined Authority, have successfully removed the platform over 108 hours; removing 1500T of spent material. With demolition complete, piling will now begin on site, making way for the construction of a new platform. As part of the works, the existing platform 2 will also be extended by 20 metres to house a new footbridge and lift for improved access. “We’re proud to be supporting Network Rail and TVCA in the delivery of the upgrades at Hartlepool Station. The works to improve the station for local people, will include community benefits such as providing step-free access to the platforms to enhance the journey experience for those with impaired mobility or travelling with children, luggage or bikes,” said Chris Ralph, Scheme Project Manager for Story Contracting. Currently only one platform is used by trains heading both north and south up the coastal line. The works will help provide more capacity to enable future service for routes including those between London and Sunderland operated by Grand Central. The development will also provide a potential boost to Northern services which connect Hartlepool with Middlesbrough, Newcastle and other major towns on the Durham Coast rail line. “I’m delighted crews are now on-site for this long-awaited project to boost connectivity for local people and visitors. It’s sorely needed as we work to improve Hartlepool town centre through our Mayoral Development Corporation and drive jobs, investment and increased tourism with fantastic events like the Tall Ships in 2023,” added Mayor Houchen. “Pre-pandemic, up to 650,000 people were using this station every year and these improvements will make sure this figure can grow as we unlock even more capacity right across our transport network and give local people the services they deserve.” The upgrade is due to be completed in time for the Tall Ships Festival in July 2023. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Willmott Dixon, the UK’s leading independent construction and property services company, has been selected for the construction of 55 affordable homes and two community centres by the London Borough of Brent. With a value of over £30 million, the work will be delivered under two contracts. “We are looking forward to working with Willmott Dixon. Our partnership will help to deliver high quality and affordable homes for Brent residents, creating a fairer and more equal society for everyone,” commented Cllr Knight, Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security. The largest of the two projects is the £17.3 million Brent Indian Centre project, which involves the demolition of an existing building. The building would then be replaced with a new community facility and 29 affordable homes. The current building’s occupants, the Brent Indian Community, will move into the new development, which will include a large multi-purpose hall, commercial kitchen, offices and an IT training room. Meanwhile, the second contract is the £13.6 million Learie Constantine Community Centre project, which will also see a building demolished to make way for the Learie Constantine Centre’s new home, along with 26 new homes made up of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. “We’re delighted to be extending our track-record of building homes in London through our work on both the Brent Indian and Learie Constantine Community Centres for the London Borough of Brent. We’re looking forward to being a part of the community during our time in the borough and once completed, the new centres and homes will provide fantastic facilities for local residents,” said Chris Tredget, Managing Director at Willmott Dixon’s London and East business. Willmott Dixon was procured on both contracts via the SCAPE Construction framework and these schemes are the latest the company is working on in London. Willmott is currently on site at Frank Towell Court, providing 102 new homes in Feltham on behalf of Hounslow Council, while also delivering 112 homes for Westminster City Council at 300 Harrow Road. In east London, Willmott Dixon is building over 500 homes for Be First in Barking and Dagenham. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
Mace has been appointed the main contractor by Investor Fabrix to deliver the 430,000 sq ft next-gen HQ office building, Roots in the Sky, in Southwark. Erith has been selected as the enabling works contractor. Mace will deliver the main contract for this innovative, net zero reimagining of the former Blackfriars Crown Court into an office space. Erith will deliver the basement box and demolition works as part of the two-stage construction process. The start on site date has been set for January 2023. Roots in the Sky will provide over 280,000 sq ft of net lettable area alongside 46,000 sq ft of external terraces, including a fully publicly accessible garden and the UK’s first rooftop urban forest. The appointment is a major milestone in the delivery of this transformational scheme designed to reinvent what a progressive and sustainable HQ office can be. The all-electric building will be net zero carbon in both construction and operation and is targeting BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum and NABERS 5. Designed by Sheppard Robson, the building delivers much-needed highly sustainable, quality office space, with unprecedented access to nature and community, at a time when occupiers are asking for more from their buildings. The design reintroduces original features of the 1950s building through its façade retention, such as opening sash windows, which flood the spacious workspaces and six-storey atrium with light. Generous floor-to-ceiling heights of between 3.5 and 6.8 meters provide all-important volume, essential for the modern office.Natural influences inform the design of the interiors and finishes throughout, in keeping with the 1.4-acre urban forest on the roof of the building. Fabrix is working with RHS Chelsea Gold Medal-winning landscape architect Harris Bugg Studio to introduce 125 trees and 10,000 plants, building a genuinely biodiverse space for occupiers and the wider community to enjoy. Local fauna will be introduced, including stag beetles, to support the establishment of an authentic ecosystem. The highest value part of the building, the section of the rooftop with views of the City of London and the Shard, will be fully open for the community. Local people and the general public will have their own dedicated entrance and be able to enjoy the gardens, get involved in planting with access to potting sheds and seedbanks, and relax over a coffee or host events in the 3,000 sq ft community barn. Circular economy principles have been prioritised in the design of the project. The structural solution incorporates reclaimed steel salvaged from a building being demolished in the City of London. Using reclaimed steel is 80% less carbon intensive than recycled steel. As a pioneer of ‘urban-mining’, Fabrix is the first UK developer ever to purchase second-hand steel for structural reuse. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News
