Kier has secured a major contract from the Department for Education to redevelop East Coast College in Great Yarmouth—transforming it into a modern, future-focused learning hub for the town. The multi-million-pound project will see the complete replacement of the existing facilities with a purpose-built campus, designed to support a wide
Construction contract awards are now almost £1bn below the 2024 average at £5.7bn, according to Barbour ABI. Contract awards have declined over the past two months with April value down 19% compared to the same period last year, following a positive start to the year. There are signs of resilience
Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel brand, which operates over 610 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, has exchanged contracts to develop a new 89-room hotel at the Goods Yard development in Bishop’s Stortford. The new-build hotel will feature Travelodge’s latest premium look and feel design, including a contemporary
Network Space Developments (NSD) has submitted a full planning application for a cutting-edge employment development at the St Helens Manufacturing and Innovation Campus. The Project Halo proposal relates to a five-acre council-owned site located off the A570 James Roby Way and seeks to deliver four state-of-the-art “Tech Box” units –
The Midlands Rail Hub project would deliver 20 million extra seats a year for businesses, residents and commuters. The Midlands Rail Hub proposes building two ‘chords’ and over 10 further engineering interventions throughout the region to deliver a massive step change in rail transport in the Midlands. This will see
A trailblazing crane operator – the first woman to qualify in the UK – took centre stage at the latest Women in Construction Anglia Lunch this week. The sold-out event at Suffolk New College in Ipswich, on Wednesday April 30, was attended by almost 100 people and showcased the vast
Winvic Construction Ltd has announced its pavilion programme at UKREiiF next month and has a new partnership with Leeds-based charity, Zarach. The pavilion, ‘Winvic and Partner’s Hub’, will be a place for thought leadership and dynamic industry collaboration, with panel discussions and interactive sessions addressing the most pressing challenges and
Women continue to be very underrepresented in council maintenance roles across the UK, with only three metropolitan district councils employing more women than men in these types of jobs. This is according to a freedom of information (FOI) request made by builder’s merchant Travis Perkins, which also revealed that the
Chapmanbdsp, an independent design consultancy, specialising in building services engineering and environmental design is pleased to announce Riccardo Zara as Director of Sustainability and Building Physics, effective immediately. This appointment underpins the firm’s strong commitment to environmental responsibility. Riccardo Zara brings with him over 15years of experience in environmental management
In April, IWFM Academy were excited to launch the third episode of our Tech Survival Guide at the Workplace Event, plus announce an exclusive offer to save money by purchasing the full guide. It’s perfect for workplace and facilities management (WFM) professionals who feel overwhelmed by the pace of technological
Kier has secured a major contract from the Department for Education to redevelop East Coast College in Great Yarmouth—transforming it into a modern, future-focused learning hub for the town. The multi-million-pound project will see the complete replacement of the existing facilities with a purpose-built campus, designed to support a wide range of vocational and academic programmes for both 16 to 19-year-olds and adult learners. Planned facilities include a mock hospital ward for aspiring healthcare professionals, a fully operational hair and beauty salon run by students, new sports amenities, training kitchens, restaurants, a lecture theatre, and advanced digital learning suites. The redevelopment will also feature updated spaces for staff and community use, creating a modern and welcoming environment for all users. A key focus of the project is sustainability. The new campus will harness solar power through the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels, reducing reliance on non-renewable energy. In addition, the design incorporates an enhanced building envelope to improve thermal efficiency—minimising heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer—helping to lower both operational costs and carbon emissions. The scheme forms part of the government’s £1.5 billion Further Education Capital Transformation Fund, with East Coast College being one of just 16 institutions across England selected to benefit. Mark Dady, managing director of Kier Construction Eastern & Midlands, commented:“East Coast College is a landmark project due to the scale of teaching facilities on offer, and we look forward to continuing the great work we’ve done to date with both the college and the Department for Education. Kier will use its extensive expertise in delivering first-class educational facilities to build a campus that will benefit the local community and support students to achieve their full potential—ultimately inspiring future generations.” Construction is scheduled to begin on site this summer, paving the way for a revitalised educational offer in Great Yarmouth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction contract awards are now almost £1bn below the 2024 average at £5.7bn, according to Barbour ABI. Contract awards have declined over the past two months with April value down 19% compared to the same period last year, following a positive start to the year. There are signs of resilience and optimism in some areas. Infrastructure stood out as a relative bright spot, increasing 14% between March and April, with an increasing volume of brick and concrete deliveries and a growing pipeline of green energy projects. Infrastructure planning approvals were up 85% on March and 150% on the 2024 average, with green energy projects that including the Rampion offshore windfarm and Moy Lodge hydro energy storage facility in Scotland leading the way. “The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has forecast that infrastructure will be the main driver of industry growth in the coming years,” said Barbour ABI’s Head of Business and Client Analytics, Ed Griffiths. “Adding momentum to the infrastructure and planning outlook, the Chancellor has pledged to reform environmental regulations that supposedly unnecessarily hinder development.” Residential awards were also up month on month; however, the three largest projects (totalling £726m) were student accommodation developments in the North of England and Scotland, which do not contribute to the government’s 1.5million housing target. Regionally, Wales had an optimistic month almost doubling the 2024 average for contract awards. However, over two-thirds of this value came from the £225m Cardiff Bay music arena and hotel development. Contract value for the North West increased by 86% to £1bn, 60% above the 2024 average. The overall value of new planning applications dipped from February falling 14% to £8.5bn in March. “Despite some positive indicators, including increased materials deliveries and infrastructure momentum, job cuts across the sector and uncertainty driven by external pressures such as US tariffs, suggest that the near-term outlook remains challenging. Notably, new home starts in London are at a 16-year low according to the latest industry figures.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel brand, which operates over 610 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, has exchanged contracts to develop a new 89-room hotel at the Goods Yard development in Bishop’s Stortford. The new-build hotel will feature Travelodge’s latest premium look and feel design, including a contemporary reception area and next-generation rooms, offering everything business and leisure travellers need for a comfortable and relaxing stay. Subject to planning permission, the hotel will be developed by Solum, the developer of the Goods Yard scheme, a joint venture between Kier Property and Network Rail. Samuel Turner of Carter Jonas acted on Travelodge’s behalf to secure this deal. Steve Bennett, Travelodge Chief Property & Development Officer, comments: “We are delighted to have exchanged contracts with Solum for our proposed Bishop’s Stortford Travelodge. This is our second development deal that we have transacted with Solum, which previously built and delivered our fantastic Travelodge in the centre of Epsom. “Travelodge now operates over 610 hotels across the UK, and we are actively targeting a further 300 new locations, with 95 of these in the South East region. Our ongoing expansion will create even more jobs across the UK and will allow us to continue to offer our diverse customer base of business and leisure customers great value when travelling across the South East and the wider UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Network Space Developments (NSD) has submitted a full planning application for a cutting-edge employment development at the St Helens Manufacturing and Innovation Campus. The Project Halo proposal relates to a five-acre council-owned site located off the A570 James Roby Way and seeks to deliver four state-of-the-art “Tech Box” units – hybrid industrial and office buildings designed to meet the needs of life science advanced manufacturing occupiers. The scheme forms a key part of the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone, which aims to stimulate innovation and create high-value jobs across the region. NSD was appointed by St Helens Borough Council as development manager for the site in 2023, following the Council’s acquisition of the land with support from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The company previously partnered with the Council to deliver the landmark £54 million Glass Futures adjacent to the site, a global centre of excellence for sustainable glass research and innovation. The site has already undergone extensive enabling works, including ground remediation, re-profiling, and the construction of a new estate road and roundabout arm at Langtree Way. These works, led by NSD, enhance connectivity with neighbouring developments and position the site as a “development-ready” location. The application seeks approval for four high specification Tech Box units ranging from 7,629 sq. ft to 31,484 sq. ft. Totalling 85,000 sq. ft they will offer high quality flexible employment space across use classes B2 (advanced manufacturing), B8 (storage/distribution), and E(g) (R&D laboratories, professional services, and ancillary offices). All will have adaptable layouts to accommodate bespoke tenant office and laboratory requirements. This sustainable scheme will include all electric air source heat pumps and photovoltaic roof panels to minimise operational energy, electric vehicle charging points, cycle parking and landscaping aligned with the decarbonisation goals of the St Helens Campus. Already home to flagship projects such as Glass Futures, SINA Medical Glass and Inovus Medical, the Campus has also aided the collaboration and expansion of existing tenants. The scheme has been designed with a strong emphasis on sustainability and will target BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ accreditation, reflecting the highest standards of environmental performance and design. The Project Halo development will target synergistic life science advanced manufacturing occupiers, bolstering St Helens’ position as a hub for innovation and manufacturing. The project aligns with the Liverpool City Region’s Life Sciences Innovation Zone Prospectus, which aims to create 8,000 jobs and unlock £800 million in public-private investment over 10 years. As part of this initiative, the St Helens Campus will focus on materials science and health technologies, complementing the region’s strengths in infectious disease research and AI-driven healthcare. Situated in a City Region Innovation Zone, any future occupiers will enjoy multiple benefits that include: full Stamp Duty Land Tax relief for land and buildings bought for commercial use or development for commercial purposes; 100% relief from business rates for 5 years on newly occupied business premises; Enhanced Capital Allowances of 100% first year allowance for companies’ qualifying expenditure on plant and machinery assets; and enhanced Structures and Buildings Allowance with accelerated relief allows businesses to reduce their taxable profits by 10% of the cost of qualifying non-residential investment per year, relieving 100% of their cost of structures and buildings over 10 years. Employer National Insurance Contributions Relief is also zero-rated for Employer NICs on salaries of any new employee based in the Zone for at least 60% of their time – on earnings up to £25,000 per year. This relief can be applied for up to 36 months per employee. NSD Development Director Joe Burnett said: “This application represents a pivotal step in realising the vision for a high-quality employment space that addresses a productivity gap within the manufacturing science sector. By attracting life sciences businesses, there is the potential to create hundreds of skilled jobs while reinforcing St Helen’s key role in the region’s Investment Zone.” Councillor Anthony Burns, St Helens Borough Council’s Leader said: “This is another major step forward for the growth and regeneration ambitions of St Helens. It isn’t just about shiny new buildings but more about raising aspirations and creating new opportunities for our residents. In this project we will support hi-tech businesses to start up or expand operations here in our great borough. This development proposal will build on the renewed focus of our borough as a world leader in manufacturing innovation, building on our rich history for a brighter future for our residents and communities.” Subject to approval, construction is anticipated to start in early 2026. Support for the Halo Project has been provided by Architects AEW, GWB Consultants, Stantec, Kaizen Consulting Engineers and Spawforths. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Midlands Rail Hub project would deliver 20 million extra seats a year for businesses, residents and commuters. The Midlands Rail Hub proposes building two ‘chords’ and over 10 further engineering interventions throughout the region to deliver a massive step change in rail transport in the Midlands. This will see up to 300 extra trains traveling into or out of Birmingham every single day and will help create a ‘turn up and go’ service on the busy Cross City line. Birmingham Moor Street will see 14.2 million extra seats and Birmingham New Street will gain an extra 5.4 million seats. The Cross City line will see two extra trains, in each direction, per hour, which will create 5.4 million new seats each year. Redditch, Alvechurch and Barnt Green will see one extra train, in each direction, per hour and 2.7 million new seats for passengers, whilst Bromsgrove will see 4.7 million new seats. Lichfield will gain 5.4 million seats. Nottingham, Hereford, Coleshill Parkway, Worcester, Hinckley, South Wigston, Droitwich Spa and Worcestershire Parkway will see at least 2 million new seats. Derby will see 4.1 million new seats. Andy Clark, Head of Rail at Midlands Connect, said: “The benefits of the Midlands Rail Hub will be felt by millions of people across the Midlands and beyond. “Being able to run faster, more frequent services and deliver 20 million extra seats is the definition of a win-win project. The Midlands Rail Hub is our flagship project at Midlands Connect, and we are working to deliver massive benefits to all corners of the Midlands.” The Midlands Rail Hub project is co-sponsored by Midlands Connect, the Department for Transport and West Midlands Rail Executive. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A trailblazing crane operator – the first woman to qualify in the UK – took centre stage at the latest Women in Construction Anglia Lunch this week. The sold-out event at Suffolk New College in Ipswich, on Wednesday April 30, was attended by almost 100 people and showcased the vast diversity of roles in the construction sector, encouraging more women to join the profession. Guests heard from keynote speaker Katie Kelleher, the first woman in the UK to complete a Lifting Technician Apprenticeship, who later worked on some of the biggest projects in the UK – including Crossrail and Tideway in London. Katie talked about some of the barriers she had faced in entering the sector, including backlash she has faced online and on social media, and how she overcame them. She said: “I loved today’s event, I think it was really great. It was a full room and everyone was positive, really supportive. “I think events like this are so important, showcasing what we do in this industry. “There was a really nice mix of students and people already in this sector, which was a really nice blend. If any students need some more information, everyone is there for them.” She added: “If you are a woman considering entering the sector, I would say go for it. “I never thought I would work in the industry but I absolutely love it. There’s plenty of scope, plenty of different jobs – so just go for it.” Women in Construction Anglia (WICA) was launched October 2024 and has already made a big impact in the sector, providing events and initiatives to inspire the next generation of women into the industry. Clare Friel, founder of WICA, who hosted the event alongside Siu Mun Li, said: “This was our fourth Women in Construction Anglia event, drawing key people from across the UK to showcase the wealth of opportunities the construction industry has on offer.. “Each event has built on the last, providing a space for people to connect, network and discover opportunities for a successful career in the sector.” Kat and Fi Parsons, who launched the Female Design and Build Project, and structural engineer Holly Peirson also featured as part of the event’s panel discussion. Amanda Ankin, from Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, a partner of Women in Construction Anglia, said: “I thought the event was really inspirational. “We had some fantastic speakers, we had a lot of conversation in the room as well. I think a lot of people will be walking out of here thinking, yeah, we can do this.” For more on Women in Construction Anglia and its upcoming events, see www.womeninconstructionanglia.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Winvic Construction Ltd has announced its pavilion programme at UKREiiF next month and has a new partnership with Leeds-based charity, Zarach. The pavilion, ‘Winvic and Partner’s Hub’, will be a place for thought leadership and dynamic industry collaboration, with panel discussions and interactive sessions addressing the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the construction industry. Partners joining Winvic in the pavilion include Ridge, UMC Architects and Maber, who alongside industry and government representatives, will bring expertise together to drive conversation and action on key topics such as Net Zero, ESG and social value, the housing crisis, the Building Safety Act, and the growth of data centres. As part of its UKREiiF attendance, Winvic will be proudly supporting Zarach, a Leeds-based charity helping children living in poverty by providing beds to those without a safe, comfortable place to sleep. The ‘Beds for Beds’ programme will see the contractor fundraising in the run up to and throughout the event, by inviting its clients, supply chain and partners to join them in making a meaningful impact. With a target of 24 bed bundles – a bed, mattress, bedding and pyjamas – which symbolises the contractors 24 storeys at its Lisbon Street multi-room scheme in Leeds, Winvic will match-fund the number of bed bundles pledged during the event via a QR Code in the pavilion. Winvic is also proud to be working with Leeds-based social enterprise Shine for its catering. Heidi Salmons, Director of Marketing, Business Development and Social Responsibility at Winvic, said: “We’re thrilled to be a pavilion partner at UKREiiF 2025. Collaboration sits at the heart of everything we do, from industry-wide knowledge sharing to supporting grassroots initiatives that make a real difference. Our sessions will explore key topics and insights into the latest industry trends and challenges, shaping the future of construction and the built environment. “Guided by our ’Doing It Right’ ethos and The Winvic Way values, our partnership with Zarach reflects our commitment to balancing commercial endeavour with positive community impact during UKREiiF and beyond. It means a great deal to us to be supporting such a dynamic and effective charity, which puts the wellbeing and educational needs of children in Leeds at its heart. We hope our partners and wider network embrace the opportunity to make a difference and support our ‘Beds for Beds’ fundraising campaign.” Arun Thaneja, Sustainability and Technical Services Director at Winvic, said: “What was clear from the panel session we hosted at UKREiiF last year, is that taking inspiration from others and collaborative ideas will help the construction and property sectors reach its environmental, sustainability and social value goals more efficiently. Having recently joined the Advisory Board of the Westminster Policy Liaison Group on ESG as the Voice of Construction, we are eager to share our expertise and help advance the industry’s ESG journey. Our primary goal at UKREiiF is to help accelerate and unlock sustainable, inclusive and transformational buildings and infrastructure assets.” Ellie McGrath, Fundraising and Supporter Engagement Manager at Zarach, said: “Zarach is delighted to partner with Winvic and we are grateful that their contribution to our mission will enable us to lift many more children out of bed poverty. We believe that every child deserves a good night’s sleep and a bed to call their own, and partnerships like this have an impact that lasts a childhood.” Nathan Spencer, Managing Director at UKREiiF, said: “We are thrilled to have Winvic on board as a pavilion partner for our 2025 event. Their expertise and reputation in the construction industry make them a perfect fit for UKREiiF, where we aim to showcase the best of the UK’s real estate, infrastructure, and investment sectors. Winvic’s participation underscores the importance of innovation and sustainability in the built environment, and we look forward to the insights and contributions they will bring to the forum.” Recognised as the nation’s leading ‘shed specialist,’ Winvic recently celebrated the construction of 100 million sq ft of industrial space. In addition, Winvic has built a strong reputation for complex civil engineering and infrastructure projects, with over 125km of highways works and six Rail Freight Terminals built to date. As a prominent player within the build-to-rent and student accommodation sector, it has delivered over 12,000 beds. For more information on Winvic, its plans at UKREiiF or the company’s latest project news and job vacancies, please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit X (Formally Twitter) @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Women continue to be very underrepresented in council maintenance roles across the UK, with only three metropolitan district councils employing more women than men in these types of jobs. This is according to a freedom of information (FOI) request made by builder’s merchant Travis Perkins, which also revealed that the majority of local authorities surveyed had recruited more men than women in these roles over the past three years. In the 24 responses of the 36 metropolitan district councils asked, many councils do at least appear to be making efforts to increase female representation though. Number of women employed in manual or maintenance roles Liverpool City Council, Manchester City Council and Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council are the only three councils who responded to the FOI which currently have more women in manual or maintenance roles than men. There are 119 women out of a total of 153 employees in these types of jobs at Liverpool City Council, representing a 77.78 per cent split in favour of women. Manchester City Council has 1,535 women out of 2,283 total members of staff (a 67.24 per cent split) and Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council 608 women out of 976 overall employees (a 62.3 per cent split). On the other end of the scale, North Tyneside Council only has 14 women in manual or maintenance roles out of 587 employees in total – a 2.39 per cent split. Sunderland City Council (eight women out of 323 overall members of staff, representing a 2.48 per cent split) and City of Wolverhampton Council (ten women out of 311 employees in total) do not fare much better in this part of the FOI. Number of new hires which were female over last three years The numbers are a bit more appealing when councils were asked how many women they had hired into manual or maintenance roles in the past three years, as seven local authorities revealed they had recruited more women than men during this period. Liverpool City Council again come out on top when these statistics were analysed, with 17 of the 21 new starts in the last three years being women – an 80.95 per cent split in favour of women. The other councils to have recruited more women than men recently are as follows: However, a total of 16 councils which responded to the FOI request had recruited more men than women into manual or maintenance roles over the three-year period analysed. North Tyneside Council (five female new starts out of 162 total employees in the past three years – a 3.09 per cent split) and Sunderland City Council (again five female new starts but this time out of 130 employees overall in the last three years – a 3.85 per cent split) have shown particularly minimal progress when looking to get more women into manual and maintenance roles. Are councils encouraging recruitment, retention & representation of women in manual or maintenance roles? An encouraging aspect of the FOI request is that 13 of the 24 councils which responded said that they had initiatives, policies or programmes in place which look to encourage more women to be recruited into manual or maintenance roles at the local authority. These schemes also aim to better retain female members of staff once they are in these types of jobs. Targets and strategies designed to increase the representation of women are also setup at ten of the local authorities surveyed. Efforts being made include: Natalie Ashcroft HR Business Partner at Travis Perkins and also member of the D&I board, commented: “Travis Perkins is always challenging ourselves, our colleagues and our peers on the gendered imbalance that still exists within our industry. Creating an inclusive environment where everyone belongs is an important message that we want to put across. “Our FOI request has shown some positive steps in the number of councils which have recruited more women than men into manual or maintenance roles in recent years. There appears to be a lot of effort being made by various local authorities to encourage more women to be recruited, retained and represented in these types of jobs. “However, more needs to be done. Only three of the councils who responded to our FOI have more women in the roles focused on than men, with many local authorities admitting they do not have any specific policies, initiatives, programmes or targets which could change this underrepresentation.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Chapmanbdsp, an independent design consultancy, specialising in building services engineering and environmental design is pleased to announce Riccardo Zara as Director of Sustainability and Building Physics, effective immediately. This appointment underpins the firm’s strong commitment to environmental responsibility. Riccardo Zara brings with him over 15years of experience in environmental management and sustainable engineering practices. Having begun his studies in Italy as a structural engineer and then completed his master’s degree in Sweden as an environmental and sustainability consultant, his early career was focused on building services design, building physics, and decarbonization strategies. He has since gained valuable experience in building services particularly in mechanical engineering as well as developing skills in strategic team management and business development in recent years. Passionate about creating an inclusive working environment, as well as focused on technical excellence, Riccardo has experience of working with world leading architects on cutting-edge building projects in sectors ranging from arts and culture to life sciences, commercial, residential, and industrial. Ray Upjohn, chapmanbdsp Chief Executive says, “We are delighted to welcome Riccardo Zara to our leadership team. His appointment comes at a crucial time within our change management programme as we continue gearing for growth. Riccardo brings exceptional experience and vision that will help us deliver on our ambitious sustainability objectives while creating additional value for our clients. The Board and I look forward to working with him.” Commenting on his appointment, Riccardo Zara adds, “The engineering sector has a pivotal role to play in decarbonisation and creating resilient infrastructure. I’m excited to join chapmanbdsp because of its strong technical foundation. That kind of deep knowledge is crucial to fully understanding and tackling the complexity of sustainability in the building environment.” This appointment represents another step in chapmanbdsp’s journey towards becoming the industry leader in sustainable engineering solutions, supporting clients in meeting their own environmental objectives whilst creating lasting positive impact for communities and the planet. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In April, IWFM Academy were excited to launch the third episode of our Tech Survival Guide at the Workplace Event, plus announce an exclusive offer to save money by purchasing the full guide. It’s perfect for workplace and facilities management (WFM) professionals who feel overwhelmed by the pace of technological change and are looking for practical, digestible insights to enhance their tech proficiency. Whether you’re a seasoned professional aiming to stay current or someone new to the field seeking foundational knowledge, the bitesize, 20-minute episodes provide an accessible way to quickly grasp essential tech skills and confidently integrate new tools into your daily workflow. Why professionals need CPD in relation to technology IWFM and sector leaders have highlighted the need for workplace and facilities management (WFM) professionals to get to grips with evolving standards in today’s landscape, such as the recent UK Information Management Initiative. Episode three explores ISO 19650, its practical use in workplace data and how to leverage data for strategic gains. It covers improving data accuracy, efficiency and decision-making through information management and standards. Key topics include: Click here to learn more, access each episode and purchase the entire guide with our exclusive offer. Looking ahead: Attend upcoming webinars with IWFM’s Technology Special Interest Group (SIG), including: Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals