Plans have been submitted for a landmark office development at Newcastle’s £70 million One Founders Place regeneration scheme, marking the next major phase in the transformation of one of the city’s most historic industrial sites. Submitted by Founders Place LLP, a joint venture between igloo and Newcastle City Council, the
A major regeneration programme that could transform the heart of Portsmouth has taken a significant step forward after Portsmouth City Council selected ECF as its preferred development partner for the next phase of the ambitious City Centre North masterplan. The proposed regeneration has the potential to deliver up to 2,300
Intecho has successfully integrated intelligent smart building solutions as part of the landmark transformation of Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere. As part of the project, Intecho integrated an intelligent Guest Room Management System (GRMS), bespoke Room Control Panels (RCPs) for every guest room and a range of state-of-the-art smart building solutions
Confidence is continuing to return to the UK’s retail property market, with new research from Savills revealing a £1.4 billion pipeline of shopping centre investments that is expected to drive a strong second half of 2026. According to the real estate adviser, 17 shopping centre transactions with a combined value
Clancy Consulting has announced a restructure that will see the business focus exclusively on its long-established Civil and Structural Engineering consultancy, creating a simpler, stronger business for the future. The change marks a return to the discipline on which Clancy has built its reputation for more than 54 years. By
Leading commercial real estate firm, CBRE, has successfully completed the sale of 115,000 sq ft industrial site in a multi-million pound deal on behalf of the seller, Noble Foods. Previously used as an egg-packing facility, the self-contained site features all the necessary facilities for a manufacturing operation including two office buildings,
Mears has strengthened its position as one of the UK’s leading housing maintenance providers after securing more than £1.4 billion of new work during the first half of the year, driving its order book to a record £4.2 billion. The public sector housing specialist continues to expand its long-term maintenance
Housing association believe housing has achieved its best ever customer satisfaction results, with feedback helping to shape services and lessons from complaints driving further improvements. The not-for-profit landlord, which owns and manages more than 18,000 homes across the northeast of England, has recorded its highest Tenant Satisfaction Measures results. Overall
By Amman Boughan, CEO at Pagabo Group. Members of the new Labour cabinet are busy making their arrival known, with announcements coming thick and fast. Procurement has been a frequent talking point for prime minister Andy Burnham since his resurgence and rise to the top of government. However, talking is
Peel Group has launched a £582 million cash bid to acquire Harworth Group, offering shareholders 172.5p per share in a move that could reshape the future of one of the UK’s leading brownfield regeneration and strategic land developers. The offer values the listed developer at approximately £582 million and comes
Plans have been submitted for a landmark office development at Newcastle’s £70 million One Founders Place regeneration scheme, marking the next major phase in the transformation of one of the city’s most historic industrial sites. Submitted by Founders Place LLP, a joint venture between igloo and Newcastle City Council, the proposals centre on a striking 12-storey, 185,000 sq ft Grade A office building designed by acclaimed architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM). The development is intended to deliver high-quality, sustainable workspace while creating a vibrant mixed-use destination that blends modern commercial accommodation with new public realm and heritage-led regeneration. A key feature of the proposals is Founders Square, one of Newcastle’s most significant new civic spaces. The landscaped public square will transform an area currently lacking a major public gathering place, helping to create a welcoming environment for workers, residents and visitors while strengthening links across the wider city centre. For the construction and commercial property sectors, the scheme represents another significant investment in Newcastle’s office market, responding to growing demand for high-quality, environmentally sustainable workplaces capable of attracting businesses and supporting long-term economic growth. Construction of the office building is expected to support around 300 jobs over the two-year build programme, providing a further boost to the regional construction industry and local supply chain. The latest proposals build on the success of the wider One Founders Place masterplan, which is steadily transforming the historic Robert Stephenson & Co. locomotive works into a thriving mixed-use neighbourhood. The first completed phase, The Pattern Shop, opened in 2024 and is now fully occupied by Atom Bank, demonstrating strong demand for premium workspace within the regeneration scheme. Alongside the commercial development, Orchard Yard will deliver 79 new homes comprising apartments, duplexes and family houses, complemented by commercial space within the restored listed Machine Shop and Smiths Shop buildings. Elsewhere on the site, the Grade II-listed Coppersmiths Shop, another important part of the former Robert Stephenson works, is currently being assessed for future redevelopment opportunities as the masterplan continues to evolve. Joe Broadley, Development Director at igloo, said: “One Founders Place is about much more than delivering a high-quality office scheme – it’s about creating a destination that reflects Newcastle’s rich industrial heritage while providing the sustainable workplaces and welcoming public spaces that modern cities need to thrive. “This investment is helping to attract new businesses, support skilled jobs and create a bustling city neighbourhood where people want to work, meet and spend time. By combining exceptional workspace with high-quality public realm, we’re creating a place that will contribute to Newcastle’s long-term economic growth while celebrating the history that makes this location so distinctive.” As Newcastle continues to invest in city centre regeneration, One Founders Place is emerging as a flagship mixed-use development, combining commercial offices, residential accommodation, heritage restoration and public spaces to create a dynamic new destination that celebrates the city’s industrial legacy while supporting its future growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A major regeneration programme that could transform the heart of Portsmouth has taken a significant step forward after Portsmouth City Council selected ECF as its preferred development partner for the next phase of the ambitious City Centre North masterplan. The proposed regeneration has the potential to deliver up to 2,300 new homes alongside commercial, leisure and public realm improvements, creating one of the largest mixed-use developments on the South Coast. The 13.25-hectare brownfield site, which occupies land formerly home to the now-demolished Tricorn shopping centre and surrounding car parks, is set to be reimagined as a vibrant new city centre neighbourhood that combines residential, commercial and community uses. ECF – the regeneration partnership between Homes England’s National Housing Bank, Legal & General (L&G) and Muse – will now work alongside Portsmouth City Council to assess development options before progressing towards a formal development agreement. For the construction and property sectors, the appointment marks another major regeneration opportunity that could unlock substantial investment, housing delivery and long-term economic growth while bringing a strategically important city centre site back into productive use. Alongside a mix of homes across different tenures, the emerging masterplan includes new commercial workspace, leisure facilities and improved pedestrian connections designed to increase footfall, strengthen the local economy and create a more accessible and attractive urban environment. A key feature of the proposals will be more than 240,000 sq ft of new public realm, including a significant urban park that will provide valuable green space for residents, workers and visitors while enhancing the overall quality of the city centre. The regeneration reflects the growing emphasis on brownfield redevelopment as local authorities seek to deliver sustainable housing growth by repurposing underutilised urban land rather than expanding onto greenfield sites. Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman of ECF, said: “We’re looking forward to working with Portsmouth City Council over the coming months to explore the site in detail, test what’s deliverable here, and build the case for how we might take this forward together.” ECF has built a strong reputation for delivering large-scale regeneration projects across the UK, with an extensive portfolio that includes developments in Canning Town, Stockport, Bradford, Wolverhampton, Northampton and Stevenage. If brought forward, City Centre North has the potential to become one of Portsmouth’s most significant regeneration projects in decades, delivering new homes, employment opportunities, public spaces and commercial investment while creating a thriving mixed-use destination that supports the city’s long-term economic and residential growth ambitions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Intecho has successfully integrated intelligent smart building solutions as part of the landmark transformation of Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere. As part of the project, Intecho integrated an intelligent Guest Room Management System (GRMS), bespoke Room Control Panels (RCPs) for every guest room and a range of state-of-the-art smart building solutions to compliment the luxury hotel’s extensive £125 million redevelopment. Paul Murphy, Co-Founder and Director of Intecho, said: “Luxury hospitality depends on far more than beautiful architecture and interiors. The technology behind the scenes has to work seamlessly, supporting both guests and hotel teams without ever becoming intrusive”. At the heart of the project is an advanced Guest Room Management System (GRMS), which integrates lighting, heating, cooling, motorised curtains and room status into a single intelligent platform. The system gives guests intuitive control of their environment while providing hotel teams with real-time visibility of occupancy, temperature, Make Up Room (MUR) and Do Not Disturb (DND) status. Intecho also designed and manufactured bespoke Room Control Panels (RCPs) for every guest room, integrating HVAC interfaces, lighting control, monitoring and circuit protection into a robust solution engineered specifically for the demands of luxury hospitality. Beyond the guest accommodation, Intecho delivered intelligent lighting control throughout the hotel, covering front-of-house areas, guest corridors, meeting rooms, function suites, the ballroom and external spaces. Flexible scene control allows event spaces to adapt effortlessly to conferences, weddings and large-scale functions, while centralised management provides hotel operators with greater flexibility and efficiency. The smart building solution also incorporates advanced DALI lighting control, automated emergency lighting testing, intelligent fault monitoring and centralised HVAC management. These technologies improve energy performance, reduce maintenance requirements and simplify compliance, while ensuring the building continues to operate at the high standards expected of an international luxury hotel. Intecho Director, Paul Murphy, continued: “Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere is a fantastic example of how intelligent building technology can enhance comfort, improve operational efficiency and create a smarter, more sustainable hotel. We’re incredibly proud to have played a part in such a prestigious development”. Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere is a luxury 5-star lakeside hotel, spa, and golf resort in Knutsford, Cheshire, featuring 117 rooms, an 18-hole championship golf course, and dining by Gordon Ramsay. Following a £125m redevelopment, the reimagined property opened in July 2026 on a 157-acre estate overlooking The Mere Lake. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Confidence is continuing to return to the UK’s retail property market, with new research from Savills revealing a £1.4 billion pipeline of shopping centre investments that is expected to drive a strong second half of 2026. According to the real estate adviser, 17 shopping centre transactions with a combined value of £1.1 billion are currently under offer, while a further 19 schemes, worth approximately £320 million, are actively being marketed. Together, the figures point to renewed momentum across the investment sector following a mixed start to the year. Although transaction volumes slowed during the second quarter, Savills believes this masks a much healthier underlying market, with substantial investor interest now focused on larger, high-quality retail destinations. For the construction and property sectors, the resurgence reflects growing confidence in well-positioned mixed-use retail assets that offer long-term redevelopment, asset management and placemaking opportunities alongside resilient occupier demand. During the first half of 2026, average shopping centre transaction values reached £44 million – the highest level recorded since 2016. Landmark deals involving Merry Hill and The Broadway, Bradford accounted for around 72% of total transaction activity, highlighting the renewed appeal of institutionally significant retail assets. Savills believes the second half of the year will see activity accelerate as transactions currently progressing through the market reach completion. Mark Garmon-Jones, Head of Shopping Centre and Retail Investment at Savills, said: “The second half of the year is where we expect the market to become much more active. H1 was respectable, but uneven, with a strong Q1 followed by a quieter Q2. What matters now is the depth of the pipeline; this is not a market short of demand, but one where activity is increasingly being driven by better-quality assets.” The research also highlights a notable return of institutional investors and REITs to the shopping centre market after several years of limited activity. Investors are increasingly targeting dominant retail destinations with strong occupational performance and opportunities for long-term value creation through active asset management. The improving occupational market is further strengthening investor confidence. Shopping centre vacancy rates fell to 16.1% during the second quarter, the lowest level recorded in a decade and the sharpest quarterly improvement since early 2016. Savills attributes the decline in vacancy to strengthening leasing demand, delayed occupier decisions finally progressing, continued pressure on the constrained retail warehouse market and the ongoing repurposing of secondary retail space for alternative uses. Sam Arrowsmith, Commercial Research Director at Savills, said: “The shopping centre market enters the second half of 2026 in a stronger position than the Q2 figures alone suggest. Vacancy has seen the largest quarter fall in 10 years, leasing demand is improving and the return of institutional capital is a clear signal that confidence is rebuilding. The risks are more about timing than direction, and for well-capitalised buyers the window to secure high-quality assets ahead of further yield compression is narrowing.” As retail destinations continue to evolve into mixed-use environments incorporating leisure, hospitality, workspace and residential elements, the latest research suggests investor confidence is steadily returning. With a substantial pipeline of transactions progressing and occupier demand strengthening, the shopping centre sector appears well placed for renewed investment activity throughout the remainder of 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Clancy Consulting has announced a restructure that will see the business focus exclusively on its long-established Civil and Structural Engineering consultancy, creating a simpler, stronger business for the future. The change marks a return to the discipline on which Clancy has built its reputation for more than 54 years. By focusing its future and expertise on its core engineering services, the business is strengthening its ability to support clients across the built environment and position itself for long-term sustainable growth. As part of these changes Clancy will step away from its Building Services division following a period of challenging market conditions and ongoing skills pressures within that sector. This has resulted in a number of unavoidable redundancies. Where possible, members of the Building Services team will transition to another consultancy, helping to provide continuity for clients while safeguarding jobs. Chris Acton, Chief Executive of Clancy Consulting, said: “These essential changes mark the next chapter for Clancy. By returning our full focus to Civil and Structural Engineering, we’re building on the expertise and reputation that have defined our business for more than five decades. “We’re creating a business with greater clarity, greater focus and an even stronger platform for our future. Our clients will continue to receive the same high-quality service they know and trust, while we focus on the capabilities that will shape the future of our practice.” The Civil and Structural Engineering business will continue to be led by its experienced Board Director team. Clancy’s current portfolio reflects the breadth of its technical expertise, including the delivery of the new sustainable community at Adelphi Village in Salford, a 20-year nationwide partnership with Holcim, and a long-standing collaboration with North Ayrshire Council delivering public sector projects across the region. The restructure reinforces Clancy’s ambition to remain a leading engineering consultancy, enabling the business to invest further in its people, technical capability and client relationships while continuing to deliver high-quality engineering solutions across multiple sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading commercial real estate firm, CBRE, has successfully completed the sale of 115,000 sq ft industrial site in a multi-million pound deal on behalf of the seller, Noble Foods. Previously used as an egg-packing facility, the self-contained site features all the necessary facilities for a manufacturing operation including two office buildings, two warehouses, 19 loading bays and additional storage buildings. The site also came with 15.2 acres of vacant land with outline planning permission to build additional warehouses already granted. Based in the heart of Oxfordshire’s industrial hub, the site is adjacent to Lakeside Industrial Estate in rural Witney. It also has excellent connections, with access to both the A40 and A420, making it easy to get to nearby Oxford, only 13 miles away, and beyond. Will Davis, associate director at CBRE, said: “This deal reflects the strong demand for industrial space both in Witney and across wider Oxfordshire. A self-contained site of this size is incredibly rare, especially in such a popular location. The fact it came with outline planning permission for additional warehouses was the cherry on top and made it the perfect site for a business looking to expand its operations.” Will Cadbury, Chief Financial Officerat Noble Foods, said: “When our Witney site became surplus to requirements, we were keen to find the right buyer who would be able to make the site purposeful again. The sale marks the start of an exciting new chapter for the Witney site and we’re grateful to CBRE for their support in structuring this deal.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mears has strengthened its position as one of the UK’s leading housing maintenance providers after securing more than £1.4 billion of new work during the first half of the year, driving its order book to a record £4.2 billion. The public sector housing specialist continues to expand its long-term maintenance portfolio after a series of major contract awards and renewals, reinforcing confidence in the company’s strategy despite a temporary dip in profits linked to the mobilisation of new contracts. Revenue reached £560 million during the period, while adjusted pre-tax profit stood at £29 million. Although margins eased slightly to 5.2% from 5.6%, the company attributed this to the costs associated with mobilising several significant long-term contracts. Among the largest awards was a landmark 10-year, £450 million contract with Birmingham City Council. Under the agreement, Mears will deliver a comprehensive range of housing services, including responsive repairs, void property works, gas servicing, heating installations and planned maintenance across the authority’s housing stock. The company also secured a further 10-year contract with Rooftop Housing Group worth £150 million, providing repairs and maintenance services to approximately 7,000 homes across South Worcestershire and North Gloucestershire. Alongside these new appointments, Mears successfully retained several key long-standing partnerships, including contracts with Cross Keys Homes, Livin, Leeds City Council, Moat Homes and Thurrock Council. Together, these renewals contributed more than £1 billion of additional work to the company’s expanding pipeline. For the construction and housing sectors, the results underline the continued demand for long-term asset management, planned maintenance and compliance services as housing providers invest in improving existing homes, enhancing building safety and maintaining regulatory standards. Mears also completed the integration of consultancy Pennington Choices during the period, strengthening its expertise across compliance, asset management and building safety services. The acquisition enhances the group’s ability to provide integrated solutions to local authorities and registered housing providers. In line with its strategic focus on housing, the company also completed the sale of its non-core facilities management business for £18 million, allowing it to concentrate resources on its core maintenance and housing services operations. Chief Executive Lucas Critchley said: “Mears has continued to make strong progress against its key strategic objectives.” The company also noted that an intensive two-year programme of rebidding existing contracts has now largely concluded. As a result, its bidding teams are increasingly able to focus on pursuing new opportunities rather than defending existing work, providing further potential for future growth. Looking ahead, Mears has reaffirmed its full-year guidance, forecasting revenue of around £1.04 billion and adjusted pre-tax profit of approximately £51 million. With a record order book, strengthened building safety capabilities and a growing portfolio of long-term maintenance partnerships, Mears appears well positioned to play an increasingly significant role in supporting the management, maintenance and improvement of the UK’s public housing stock. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housing association believe housing has achieved its best ever customer satisfaction results, with feedback helping to shape services and lessons from complaints driving further improvements. The not-for-profit landlord, which owns and manages more than 18,000 homes across the northeast of England, has recorded its highest Tenant Satisfaction Measures results. Overall satisfaction rose from 78% in 2024-25 to 82% in 2025-26, while satisfaction with repairs increased from 76% to 85%. More customers also said they feel safe in their homes, up from 82.3% to 84.9%, and that they are treated fairly and with respect, up from 83.1% to 86.2%. The results reflect the work believe housing has done to listen to customers and act on what they say. But the organisation says there is always more to learn and is continuing to gather insight from customer feedback, comments and complaints. One way it is doing this is through its new Customer Complaints Panel, established in November 2025. The panel brings together customers who want to use their experiences to improve complaint handling, learn from complaints and help ensure the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code is followed. Members have received training on believe housing’s complaints policy, the Code and what good complaint handling looks like in practice. Meeting at least every three months, the panel reviews performance information, explores customer journeys and identifies learning from complaints and feedback. Members will also hear from colleagues across the business to understand how customer insight can help improve services. The panel helps believe housing understand what is working well, where improvements are needed and what actions should be taken next. Louise Taylor, Executive Director of Governance and Strategy at believe housing, said: “These are our best ever Tenant Satisfaction Measures results and they reflect the commitment of colleagues across believe housing to do the right thing for customers every day. “We’re particularly pleased that more customers told us they are treated fairly and with respect. Feedback regularly highlights the professionalism, kindness and commitment of our colleagues, and that’s something everyone across the organisation should be proud of. “But our focus is on continuous improvement. Whether customers tell us we’ve done something well or raise a complaint when we’ve fallen short, every conversation gives us valuable insight. “Customer feedback helps shape services, while the learning we gain through complaints helps us understand where we can do better. “By listening to customers and acting on what they tell us, we can continue to provide healthy homes, a quality service and a better customer experience.” Customer feedback is already helping believe housing improve services, shape policies and communicate more clearly. During 2025/26, customers shared their views through more than 6,000 feedback survey responses, 1,164 Tenant Satisfaction Measures survey responses, consultations, co-design projects, workshops, app and portal testing, and Customer Complaints Panel meetings. The latest Tenant Satisfaction Measures results are available on believe housing’s website at tenant satisfaction measures | believe housing believe housing customers who would like to share their views and help shape services can find out more at get involved | believe housing Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
By Amman Boughan, CEO at Pagabo Group. Members of the new Labour cabinet are busy making their arrival known, with announcements coming thick and fast. Procurement has been a frequent talking point for prime minister Andy Burnham since his resurgence and rise to the top of government. However, talking is one thing and issuing a procurement policy note (PPN) is another. With that in mind, we wholeheartedly welcome and are encouraged by the direction of travel that the government is embarking on with the announcement of PPN 026 – the social value model – this week. The direction of travel, to simplify the model, helps to cut the red tape that locks smaller firms out, and focuses squarely on jobs, skills and community impact, which is what the Pagabo Group has been championing for a decade across wider public procurement. Continued simplification of an industry that is often overcomplicated can unlock so much opportunity. As our strapline goes: ‘Simply better procurement.’ Our focus has always been on helping the public sector deliver outcomes faster and creating impact where communities need it most. The government wants to back British jobs and skills in every postcode, so that’s exactly what its new weighting in public contracts will help achieve. Though it’s vital that social value is measured and proven, not just promised, as we’ve been advancing through our digital operating system. We don’t have long to wait until the rules begin to apply and we stand ready to be a partner in leading the change that the government wants to see. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Peel Group has launched a £582 million cash bid to acquire Harworth Group, offering shareholders 172.5p per share in a move that could reshape the future of one of the UK’s leading brownfield regeneration and strategic land developers. The offer values the listed developer at approximately £582 million and comes as Peel, already Harworth’s largest shareholder through subsidiary Goodweather Holdings, looks to take full control of the business. Goodweather currently owns around 29.96% of Harworth’s issued share capital. Harworth has established itself as a major player in the UK’s regeneration sector, with a portfolio comprising modern industrial and logistics assets alongside extensive strategic land holdings across the North of England and the Midlands. The business has played a significant role in transforming former industrial sites into employment, residential and mixed-use developments, including securing planning approval last year for its £190 million Gascoigne Interchange scheme. However, Peel believes the company’s current financial model is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain, citing rising administrative and financing costs alongside weakening recurring rental income. For the year ending 31 December 2025, Harworth reported administrative expenses of £36.34 million and net interest costs of £10.6 million, representing increases of 9.5% and 58.2% respectively compared with the previous year. During the same period, rental income from its investment portfolio fell by 7% to £14.7 million. Peel argues these figures demonstrate growing pressure on Harworth’s cash flow, with operating and financing costs significantly exceeding the income generated from its investment portfolio. The proposed acquisition also reflects Peel’s view that Harworth’s stock market listing no longer provides meaningful strategic benefits. The investor points to the company’s concentrated shareholder base, with the three largest shareholders controlling approximately 75.7% of the business, limiting trading liquidity and reducing the advantages typically associated with being publicly listed. Peel further noted that Harworth has not raised new equity for almost a decade and believes current market conditions, combined with what it describes as a persistent discount to the company’s underlying value, make future equity fundraising unlikely to deliver attractive returns. The cash offer represents a substantial premium for shareholders, equating to 36.9% above Harworth’s one-month volume-weighted average share price and 36.0% above the three-month average. For the construction, development and property sectors, the proposed acquisition could have significant implications. Harworth has become one of the UK’s foremost brownfield regeneration specialists, delivering large-scale industrial, logistics, residential and mixed-use developments that support regional economic growth while unlocking previously underutilised land. Should the transaction proceed, Peel would gain full ownership of a substantial regeneration pipeline and strategic land portfolio, further strengthening its position within the UK’s development and regeneration market. The proposed takeover also highlights the continuing attractiveness of long-term regeneration assets, as investors seek to secure development opportunities capable of delivering future residential, commercial and industrial growth across key regional markets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals