Contractor Clegg Construction has appointed a new bid writer to strengthen its pre-construction team. Chloe Lawless brings public sector procurement experience to the role, having joined from a specialist bid writing consultancy, supporting a wide range of UK clients to develop successful public sector tender submissions. She began her career
Starting out in the world of work can be tough, especially when experience is hard to come by. That’s why VIVID offers apprenticeships that give people the chance to learn on the job, gain qualifications, and build confidence in a supportive environment. Four new electrician apprentices have recently joined the
New facilities will build resilience into UK’s energy systems Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been chosen by EnergyPathways PLC (EPP) to study onshore location sites for EPP’s flagship integrated energy storage and decarbonisation project. Marram Energy Storage Hub (MESH) is expected to be the UK’s largest integrated energy storage
Barhale, in collaboration with Thames Water, has successfully completed the major upgrade of a vital trunk main at Fortis Green in North London. The £16.8M project strengthens network resilience and protects customer supplies for more than 35,000 properties in North London. It has been delivered under Thames Water’s AMP7 Trunk
Three-year contract will see Costain deliver engineering expertise to operations at the Kinneil Terminal in Scotland. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has secured a multimillion-pound engineering services contract with INEOS FPS. The contract, covering a minimum of three years, will see Costain deploy its extensive engineering expertise to support the
A major redevelopment is set to transform a prominent commercial building at the gateway to London’s Hatton Garden jewellery district, following unanimous approval from Camden Council. The scheme, designed by architecture practice DSDHA and backed by Morgan Real Estate and BNF Capital, will see the five-storey office block at 19
Cherwell District Council has approved Oxford United Football Club’s planning application for the UK’s first all-electric powered football stadium. The new 16,000 capacity stadium will create a larger and permanent home for Oxford United, and will be the most sustainable mid-sized sports venue in the UK. Teams from multi-disciplinary built
Construction contracts increased again in July with new work valued at £7.5 billion, according to analysis from Barbour ABI. The uptick places awards close to their highest level so far this year, marking a 10% rise on June and surpassing both the 2024 and 2025 monthly averages. The positive figures
Urban Splash UK Residential LLP (The Fund) has published its annual results for the financial year ending March 2025, reporting a period of significant growth and continued operational success. The Fund was established by SURE Capital Partners in 2017 to acquire design-led, sustainable homes in urban regeneration areas across the
Warringtonfire, part of the Element Materials Technology group, has issued a critical reminder to industry professionals responsible for emergency exit and external panic units to check they have the achieved the correct level of third-party certification. The leading provider of testing, inspection, and certification services warns that many these doorsets,
Contractor Clegg Construction has appointed a new bid writer to strengthen its pre-construction team. Chloe Lawless brings public sector procurement experience to the role, having joined from a specialist bid writing consultancy, supporting a wide range of UK clients to develop successful public sector tender submissions. She began her career working in commercial property for a Nottingham-based firm of chartered surveyors before moving into bid writing. Chloe, who is originally from Doncaster, said: “I’m looking forward to playing a key role in Clegg Construction’s future during this time of growth. I was really drawn to Clegg’s reputation for delivering high-quality projects that make a visible impact in the regions in which we work. “I value the company’s blend of heritage and forward-looking approach, and there’s a real commitment to growth, innovation and social value. The team already has such strong in-house expertise, and I’m excited to be able to bring my expertise to Clegg and further enhance our proposals.” Clegg Construction pre-construction director Christian White said: “I am pleased to welcome Chloe to the team. She brings significant experience to the role and her proven track record in developing successful tender submissions makes her a valuable addition as we continue to grow.” Outside of work, Chloe enjoys running, exploring the outdoors and spending time with her family. With its head office in The Lace Market in Nottingham, Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects. For more information visit www.cleggconstruction.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Starting out in the world of work can be tough, especially when experience is hard to come by. That’s why VIVID offers apprenticeships that give people the chance to learn on the job, gain qualifications, and build confidence in a supportive environment. Four new electrician apprentices have recently joined the team, taking their first steps into the housing and trade sector and beginning a journey that could shape their future. The new apprentices will be working alongside experienced teams—learning the ropes, gaining qualifications, and building the confidence and skills they’ll need to succeed. It’s a meaningful opportunity to get hands-on experience in a skilled profession, and VIVID will be supporting them every step of the way. VIVID is growing its apprenticeship programme as part of a long-term approach to developing talent and strengthening its workforce. Apprenticeships offer a practical route into skilled roles, helping people build experience while contributing to the work that keeps homes and services running safely and smoothly. There are currently 19 apprentices working across different teams, and VIVID is looking to expand that number as it continues to invest in future skills. Duncan Short, Group Resources Director at VIVID, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome our new electrician apprentices. Apprenticeships are a great way to learn, grow, and build a career—and we’re proud to support people taking that first step. We’re looking forward to seeing them build their skills and confidence as they settle into life at VIVID.” Myles, one of VIVID’s new electrician apprentices, said “I’m really happy to be here at VIVID and I’m excited to learn new things every day in a hands on environment.” Mark Churcher, Head of Building Compliance at VIVID, said, “It’s great to welcome new apprentices on board. They’re joining a busy and skilled group who are always happy to share their knowledge. We’re here to make sure they get the experience and support they need to build confidence and start a strong career in the trade.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New facilities will build resilience into UK’s energy systems Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been chosen by EnergyPathways PLC (EPP) to study onshore location sites for EPP’s flagship integrated energy storage and decarbonisation project. Marram Energy Storage Hub (MESH) is expected to be the UK’s largest integrated energy storage facility, planned to be approximately 15km off the coast of Blackpool. It is designed to support the UK government’s energy strategy for transitioning to clean power by providing long-duration energy storage solutions, combining natural gas, hydrogen, and compressed air technologies. Costain’s front-end engineering and design experts will initially compare possible locations for the onshore process facilities and associated infrastructure. The study will assess the impact of location on connectivity to the gas and electricity networks, review the impact of site selection on construction cost and schedule, and consider the opportunities and risks in reuse of existing infrastructure. The planned MESH onshore facilities will support large-scale natural gas storage and production, compressed air Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES), hydrogen storage, clean hydrogen production, clean ammonia and graphite production, and flexible clean power generation. Grant Johnson, technical director at Costain, commented: “MESH is an ambitious, exciting project that will enhance the UK’s energy resilience, and enable more clean energy generation through large-scale energy storage. “We know just how important it is to make robust choices at the early stages of a project, and we are looking forward to helping EPP with site selection, using our experience in delivering energy storage infrastructure to inform decision-making on aspects such as constructability and sustainability.” Ben Clube, CEO at EnergyPathways said: “We are delighted to have entered into this engagement with Costain, a tier 1 UK-headquartered infrastructure company with extensive engineering knowledge and experience of the North-West region. “Costain’s expertise will be invaluable in optimising the location for the MESH onshore facilities. Costain also brings relevant experience across several important aspects of the MESH project, including salt cavern development and in emerging technologies in the context of the UK government energy policy settings. “This engagement continues the selection by EnergyPathways of world-class strategic partners with the expertise and experience to deliver a large-scale low-carbon integrated energy solution of national significance.” Once operational, MESH will enable natural gas storage in the depleted Marram reservoir, with subsequent development to include Hybrid Compressed Air Energy Storage (H-CAES), which will store energy from offshore wind in the region by compressing air into adjacent salt caverns. The salt caverns will also be used to store green hydrogen, either derived as part of a decarbonised H‑CAES process or supplied via Project Union, the National Gas initiative that plans to repurpose and extend parts of the existing 5,000-mile gas transmission network to connect hydrogen production, hydrogen storage and industrial consumers. Costain has decades of experience in designing and delivering complex gas storage infrastructure, working across the full project lifecycle, from concept, investment support, project execution planning, front end design, and planning development, to consent, project delivery, and asset and operational support. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barhale, in collaboration with Thames Water, has successfully completed the major upgrade of a vital trunk main at Fortis Green in North London. The £16.8M project strengthens network resilience and protects customer supplies for more than 35,000 properties in North London. It has been delivered under Thames Water’s AMP7 Trunk Main programme, which targets critical assets across the capital where failure could cause severe disruption. Barhale worked closely with Thames Water to replace 2.4 kilometres of aging 24” steel trunk main using a combination of micro-tunnelling and open cut trenching techniques. Extensive collaboration throughout the project lifecycle led to a significant revision to the reference solution, moving the existing pipeline away from the A406 North Circular Road – and roughly 16M annual vehicle movements – to eliminate potential traffic delays and reduce disruption for residents during construction. Mark Taylor, Thames Water’s Director of Delivery from London Infrastructure emphasised the criticality of building resilience into the network. “Population growth and climate change are putting increased pressure on water infrastructure,” he said. “While Fortis Green was primarily a project to address a critical asset reaching the end of its natural life, it also presented an opportunity to upgrade part of the network and strengthen its resilience.” Shane Gorman, Barhale’s Water Director (Southern Region) highlighted the importance of the project’s successful delivery. “Thanks to our extensive modelling and changes to the reference design we have been able to improve the capacity and the dynamic flow performance of the pipeline,” he said. “The re-engineering of the solution also enabled Barhale to achieve a 14.9% reduction in cost over the reference solution and significant carbon savings of 10,800tCO2e. This project is a strong example of how strategic engineering and early collaboration can deliver sustainable, high-value outcomes.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Three-year contract will see Costain deliver engineering expertise to operations at the Kinneil Terminal in Scotland. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has secured a multimillion-pound engineering services contract with INEOS FPS. The contract, covering a minimum of three years, will see Costain deploy its extensive engineering expertise to support the optimisation and utilisation of operations at the Kinneil Terminal – a critical piece of the UK’s energy infrastructure. Costain has already been providing end-to-end engineering services at the Kinneil Terminal for more than ten years, having delivered multidisciplinary front-end studies through to detailed design engineering and procurement services for both onshore and offshore assets since 2014. Costain will service the contract from its new Aberdeen office where it continues to serve a growing customer base in the energy sector in Scotland and across the UK. Sean Close, energy resilience director at Costain, commented:“We’ll use our engineering expertise and long record of predictable best-in-class delivery to optimise the performance of Kinneil Terminal. This is critical national infrastructure, and our work will build vital resilience into the UK’s energy system with a safer, more efficient and more reliable terminal. “With our strong and growing presence in the region this contract marks the next chapter in our productive and collaborative relationship with INEOS FPS.” Costain’s energy sector delivers innovation, engineering and construction excellence to solve complex problems facing the UK’s energy infrastructure. It has a long track record of delivering infrastructure solutions in Scotland, including front end studies, asset maintenance and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts. Costain has also provided technical consultancy services to Storegga (formerly Pale Blue Dot Energy) in support of the Acorn carbon capture and storage project. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A major redevelopment is set to transform a prominent commercial building at the gateway to London’s Hatton Garden jewellery district, following unanimous approval from Camden Council. The scheme, designed by architecture practice DSDHA and backed by Morgan Real Estate and BNF Capital, will see the five-storey office block at 19 Charterhouse Street extended to ten storeys and comprehensively refurbished. Originally constructed in 1991 as part of the De Beers diamond campus, the building will retain much of its existing structure under a high-quality, low-carbon retrofit strategy. The extension will add 2,780m² of workspace, bringing the total to 12,800m². Roof terraces at the seventh, eighth and ninth floors will incorporate greenery and provide striking views towards St Paul’s Cathedral. The current stone-clad façade, often described as “fortress-like”, will be replaced with Portland stone, a fluted zigzag profile at roof level, and bronze-coloured windows. Central to the design is a high-performance building envelope, intended for long-term durability and enhanced thermal performance, aiming for a BREEAM Excellent rating. The development will also be entirely car-free, reflecting its strong sustainability credentials. The project will integrate affordable jewellery-making workspaces into the scheme, supporting the area’s historic industry. While Hatton Garden planning policy calls for 50 per cent of new commercial space over 200m² to be allocated to affordable jewellery use, this scheme will provide 520m² — around 19 per cent of the total. However, all units will be offered at a peppercorn rent, with terms agreed alongside Camden’s inclusive economy team. DSDHA director Deborah Saunt described the project as more than just an exemplary mixed-use retrofit. She emphasised its potential to enhance biodiversity on the historic site of the River Fleet, promote the cultural sustainability of Hatton Garden’s jewellery trade, and strengthen connections between the City of London and surrounding boroughs. The development will sit opposite the soon-to-open London Museum at Smithfield and feature a redesigned ground-floor lobby with hospitality and retail space alongside the specialist jewellery workshops. Saunt added that the scheme could contribute to the growth of the so-called “City Halo” — a vision for softening the City’s edges through improved urban integration. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cherwell District Council has approved Oxford United Football Club’s planning application for the UK’s first all-electric powered football stadium. The new 16,000 capacity stadium will create a larger and permanent home for Oxford United, and will be the most sustainable mid-sized sports venue in the UK. Teams from multi-disciplinary built environment consultancy Ridge and Partners worked alongside AFL Architects (Lead Architects), Mott Macdonald (Engineering Services) and Fabrik (Landscape Design) to develop the scheme. Ridge provided expertise across several aspects of the approved plans including site selection and planning, the sustainability strategy, and modelling and developing the transport strategy. Ridge also provided project management, design, environmental assessment and BREEAM consultancy services. The team’s vision for sustainability ensured it was at the heart of the design strategy from the outset. As the first all-electric stadium in the UK, it will operate entirely on renewable energy, integrating 3,500 sq m of roof-mounted photovoltaic panels to help reduce the impact on the national grid during matchdays. An air-source heat pump and energy efficient building fabric will remove the need for carbon-based fuels and provide an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions per year compared with gas boilers. The stadium will be located on a five-hectare (12 acre) site at the Triangle, 6km north of Oxford, and near to Oxford Parkway railway station and Kidlington Roundabout. The location of the approved scheme was chosen as the only viable site following Ridge’s consideration of more than 60 sites close to Oxford City Centre, prioritising sustainability, community needs and absence of flood risk or heritage constraints. With Oxford Parkway rail station and Park & Ride right by the new stadium, 90% of journeys to and from the ground have potential to be via sustainable transport. The project will create a new pedestrian and cycle link to nearby communities and public transport, enhanced rail and bus connections, and integration with Park and Ride services via dedicated fan shuttles. Nearly 450 cycle spaces will be provided on site. The football club is also exploring incentives to promote public and active transport. Ridge undertook extensive transport modelling, planning and consultation, using the North Oxford VISSIM model to assess the impact of development generated by the new stadium, scenario modelling for match-day traffic management, and detailed research of other stadia. A stadium for the club and the community The wider mixed-use development includes sustainable transport links, hospitality and events spaces, a new public plaza and wellness gardens, and local health services. It will create new spaces for Oxfordshire to host international events, activate the stadium and surrounds on non-match days, and unlock upwards of £130 million of investment into Cherwell. The new stadium will increase Oxford United’s stadium capacity by 3,500, and ensure that the club is financially sustainable, has a permanent home, and is no longer reliant on short-term leases, in turn improving its ability to deliver lasting impacts for the community. The stadium will feature purpose-built spaces for the club charity Oxford United in the Community, to expand their outreach programme and continue to deliver high-impact education, health and inclusion initiatives. The wider masterplan for the area also includes a 1,000-person events space – Oxfordshire’s largest purpose-built venue of this kind – as well as a 180-bed hotel, a restaurant, a health and wellbeing centre and a community plaza and gardens. This will boost the club’s vitality and secure its long-term commercial success, while also providing amenities to support community activities. New facilities at the conference centre will be flexible, with potential for discounted rates for local community groups. In granting its planning approval, Cherwell District Council noted the scheme’s significant public benefits, contribution to the community and sustainable commercial model. Jonathon Clarke, Development Director at Oxford United, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have secured this crucial step to safeguard the Club for generations to come. The Committee supported the recommendation of the Planning Officer and has approved our stadium plans. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Ridge and Partners who has been fundamental in reaching this milestone. Their dedication and expertise have truly made the difference in securing the future of Oxford United.” Giles Brockbank, Planning Partner at Ridge, said: “This is a momentous occasion for Oxford United, and for Ridge and our dedicated team who have been instrumental in helping the club get to this point. This project is more than a stadium – it is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure the future of Oxford’s only professional club, and deliver lasting social benefits for Oxford’s communities at the same time. Everyone who has been involved in translating this vision into a reality should be very proud. Our attention to detail, hard work and team ethic has helped bring Oxford United’s vision to fruition and we look forward to continuing to work with the club to implement the plans and deliver the transport strategy.” Sustainability by design Ridge worked on the Oxford United stadium plans alongside AFL Architects, Mott Macdonald and Fabrik. Mott MacDonald’s engineering team helped translate the sustainable vision into design, while its specialists in fire, acoustics, crowd modelling, catering and security will help to ensure fans have a safe and enjoyable stadium experience. The project is the latest in Ridge’s sports and stadia portfolio, including work on Stoke City FC Training Ground, Birmingham City FC training ground, Forest Green Rovers’ new stadium, Warwickshire County Cricket Club, the masterplan for Twickenham Stadium, and works to the roof of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. The new Oxford United stadium will lead to a 20% net gain in local biodiversity, and drainage and landscaping systems are designed to enhance rather than disrupt the site’s ecology and natural environment. It will provide new tree planting, green roofs, beehives, ponds, rain gardens, and wildflower meadows on site. The design and materials of the roof and stadium itself further add to sustainability. AFL Architects’ design – of a bowl that has a steeper rake than normal and a diagonally sloping roofline due to a deliberate choice to concentrate hospitality and hotel
Construction contracts increased again in July with new work valued at £7.5 billion, according to analysis from Barbour ABI. The uptick places awards close to their highest level so far this year, marking a 10% rise on June and surpassing both the 2024 and 2025 monthly averages. The positive figures are driven by a resurgence in infrastructure, education and commercial projects. Infrastructure rose by 21% to £2.6 billion, the highest since February, buoyed by headline schemes like the £400 million Thameside Energy Recovery Facility. Commercial and retail projects climbed 47% to £1.1 billion, largely attributed to the Botanic Place mixed-use development in Cambridge. Planning approval value also increased in July by 38% to £15bn with all sectors seeing a boost from the previous month. Notably, education recovered well after a poor June increasing 132%, helped by the approval of 14 projects over £10 million. Planning applications, however, are down by 16% to £7.67 billion. This decline in early-stage proposals suggests a lack of confidence to future work which is reflected in the S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), which has now recorded seven consecutive months below the 50 ‘no change’ mark. While current projects are progressing, this softening in applications hints at potential challenges in the pipeline. “The positive figures in contracts and approvals shows that the market today remains active and competitive, with work happening now and demand remaining strong in key sectors like infrastructure and education,” says Barbour ABI head of business and client analytics, Ed Griffiths. “The concern is that with fewer planning proposals are coming forward, and with the PMI still signalling contraction, there’s a risk that the flow of new projects could slow in the months ahead. Winning work in the second half of the year may become tougher if confidence at the planning stage does not recover.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Urban Splash UK Residential LLP (The Fund) has published its annual results for the financial year ending March 2025, reporting a period of significant growth and continued operational success. The Fund was established by SURE Capital Partners in 2017 to acquire design-led, sustainable homes in urban regeneration areas across the UK, and recorded a 9.9% increase in portfolio value to £102.6 million (2024: £93.3 million), alongside a 14.9% rise in turnover to £5.5 million. Operating profit reached £2.8 million, reflecting a 21.3% year-on-year increase, while Net Asset Value grew to £94.4 million (2024: £93.4 million). Like-for-like rental growth for the period was 4.6%, with financial occupancy holding steady at 95% and rental collection at 99%. This performance has been underpinned by a sound investment strategy and a continued focus on delivering high-quality rental homes across UK cities. During the reporting period, the fund entered into a significant new partnership with sustainable developer Citu, formalised by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth £200 million. The partnership has already resulted in the acquisition of 28 homes during the financial year, with a further 24 homes secured post-year end – a combined investment of £19.5 million. Post-year end in May 2025, the Fund also announced a new £50 million revolving credit facility (RCF) with Barclays, expanding upon a previous £20 million facility secured in 2023. This increased capacity positions the fund to capitalise on future growth opportunities and support further acquisition activity. Commenting on the results, Akeel Malik, Partner at SURE Capital Partners LLP, the Fund’s investment advisor, said: “FY25 has been another significant year of growth for us, marked by the establishment of a major strategic partnership with the award-winning developer Citu, with an initial pipeline of 600 homes. “It means we now own and operate 450 homes with a total investment value of £102.6 million. Our differentiated rental offer now spans multiple urban centres including Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Bristol, Cambridge, Bradford and, most recently, Leeds.” Established in 2017, the Fund has developed a reputation for delivering high-quality rental experiences that also prioritise ESG and community impact. The Fund’s bespoke community app – Ark –connects tenants to local businesses through curated discounts and events. These initiatives, Malik added, are a core part of the fund’s broader social and environmental strategy: “They align with our belief that sustainable living should be both accessible and rewarding – and they support long-term value creation for both our residents and our investors.” For further information, please contact Akeel Malik at akeelmalik@sure-capital.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Warringtonfire, part of the Element Materials Technology group, has issued a critical reminder to industry professionals responsible for emergency exit and external panic units to check they have the achieved the correct level of third-party certification. The leading provider of testing, inspection, and certification services warns that many these doorsets, which are safety critical construction products, may not have the right level of third-party certification meaning they are non-compliant and as such, illegal. The warning follows recent scrutiny from industry bodies such as the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) and the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI), who have been informed of the situation by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). This means that building owners, facilities managers, specifiers, architects, construction professionals, and other relevant stakeholders need to ensure the doorsets they are specifying, purchasing and installing have been third-party certified by an accredited laboratory. While it is the responsibility of manufacturers to confirm their products are correctly certified and have a Certificate of Constancy of Performance (CoCoP), industry professionals have a responsibility to select third-party certified products. Receiving a CoCoP allows the product to then obtain a conformity marking (CE or UKCA). Without this, doors cannot be legally sold on the market, posing significant financial and reputational risks to industry professionals who purchase them, as well as putting people at risk. “Simply having third-party certification for individual elements and hardware of the panic or emergency exit doors is insufficient,” warns Michael Skelding, DHF’s General Manager & Secretary. “It is the responsibility of professionals in this industry to make certain that manufacturers have certified the entire doorset to meet compliance standards. Without this, they risk repercussions from the OPSS such as building closures, along with severe reputational damage. “While the DHF and GAI have noted that many doorsets are non-compliant, we recognise that the majority are not deliberately breaking the law – it is more an issue of lack of awareness. It is now essential that the word is spread so that industry professionals can ensure they select products from manufacturers who have obtained third-party certification.” Mark West, Principal Product Assessor at Warringtonfire, states: “Ensuring the doorsets you purchase and install are fully certified is not only a legal obligation but also a commitment to safety and quality. Demanding to see evidence of certification means that you will be providing safe, compliant doorsets to your projects, protecting building users and your professional reputation.” For more information on third-party certification with Warringtonfire or to schedule an audit, please visit: https://www.warringtonfire.com/certification-services/fire-certification/ce-marking Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals