Prologis UK and main contractor, SDC have marked a key construction milestone at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus today, with a Topping Out ceremony at 2000 Discovery Drive – the latest addition to Prologis’ growing life sciences presence on the campus. The ceremony was attended by representatives from Prologis UK, SDC and
Golf-focused leisure brand Five Iron is set to open its first European site at British Land’s Broadgate Campus in the City of London, supporting its wider push into the UK market. The operator has taken a 6,900 sq ft unit at 1 Finsbury Avenue, where it will occupy a prominent
3D model of six hospitals supports digital transformation at one of UK’s largest NHS Trusts Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) has gone live with a digital twin of six hospitals as part of its strategy to create a smart estate. Designed to provide a single source of estates data to support
Flexible workspace operator marks milestone anniversary with record growth, expanding across the UK’s biggest cities. The last decade has seen the flexible workspace market change drastically thanks to shifts in remote and hybrid working patterns across the UK. With new data revealing that daily office occupancy has reached post-pandemic highs,
ARC Building Solutions (ARC), the market leading provider of passive fire protection and thermal solutions for the built environment, has secured a significant investment from LDC, the leading private equity investor which is part of Lloyds Banking Group. Based in Leeds, ARC manufactures certified and tested cavity barriers, offering up
The founders of luxury lifestyle brand, Nobu Hospitality and Salboy, the national property development and funding company, have gathered to celebrate a groundbreaking ceremony on the site of Manchester’s newest skyscraper. Standing at 246 metres when it is expected to be completed in 2031, the tower will transform the fast-evolving
Packaged Living has secured planning consent for a landmark two-tower development overlooking Liverpool’s waterfront, unlocking 434 new homes and extensive resident amenities on the site of the former Littlewoods computer centre. Rising to 19 and 25 storeys, the buildings will form a prominent gateway on the approach to the city’s
Arcadis, the world’s leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets, today announced the launch of its global strategic partnership with Jupiter Intelligence, the global standard for extreme weather risk and adaptation analytics. As climate pressures intensify and supply chains, assets and operations face
London Square has secured planning permission from the London Borough of Merton to convert and extend Wimbledon Bridge House into a mixed-use scheme, unlocking new homes and commercial space in the heart of the town centre. The 1989 office building, acquired by London Square earlier this year, sits opposite Wimbledon
The Oxford Science Park (TOSP), one of the UK’s leading locations for science and technology companies, has announced the acquisition of Northbrook House, a prominent three-storey building, comprising 23,500 sq ft, on the eastern side of the Park. Following refurbishment, Northbrook House will deliver flexible, high-quality laboratory and write-up accommodation
Prologis UK and main contractor, SDC have marked a key construction milestone at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus today, with a Topping Out ceremony at 2000 Discovery Drive – the latest addition to Prologis’ growing life sciences presence on the campus. The ceremony was attended by representatives from Prologis UK, SDC and the wider project team and marked the placement of the final steel beam, which will be signed and commemorated with a memorial plaque. 2000 Discovery Drive follows the successful completion of 1000 Discovery Drive in 2024 – a project that has already attracted leading life sciences organisations to the campus. Most recently, the Cambridge University Hospital Trust’s relocated its Histopathology service to a newly commissioned lab, enhancing its diagnostic capability. Together, the two buildings form a vital part of Prologis UK’s long-term commitment to delivering modern, flexible space for the nation’s science and innovation sectors. The ceremony also reflects Prologis’ landmark £3 billion investment intentions at Cambridge Biomedical Campus which was announced in September. Andrew Blevins, Head of Life Sciences, Prologis UK: “Reaching this milestone at 2000 Discovery Drive is a testament to the exceptional quality of work delivered by SDC and our wider project team. With Discovery Drive now home to leading life sciences organisations, including the NHS, BioNTech and Abcam, our latest development builds on that momentum. With lab-enabled space completing in late 2026, it presents a rare opportunity for businesses looking to grow within the UK’s most dynamic life sciences research ecosystem.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Golf-focused leisure brand Five Iron is set to open its first European site at British Land’s Broadgate Campus in the City of London, supporting its wider push into the UK market. The operator has taken a 6,900 sq ft unit at 1 Finsbury Avenue, where it will occupy a prominent ground floor position. The venue will feature eight Trackman simulators, providing players with real-time analysis of their swing and ball flight. Alongside golf, the site will operate as a sports bar and entertainment hub, screening major fixtures including Premier League football and Formula 1 races. The Broadgate opening will act as Five Iron’s London flagship and the first location in a multi-unit franchise deal that will see the brand roll out across the UK. The company currently runs more than 40 venues across the United States, Asia and the Middle East. Alice Keown, leasing director for hospitality and leisure at British Land, said the arrival of Five Iron Golf would further enhance Broadgate’s lifestyle offer. She added that the launch of Broadgate Central marked a key moment for the campus, bringing in a mix of hospitality and leisure operators that together create a destination focused on work, wellbeing and socialising in central London. The deal follows British Land’s announcement last month that it had secured 16,000 sq ft of new retail and dining lettings at Broadgate Central. Broadgate now provides 289,000 sq ft of retail, hospitality and leisure space, with Five Iron joining a line-up that includes Eataly, Los Mochis London City, Everyman, Monica Vinader, Tommy Hilfiger and Space NK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
3D model of six hospitals supports digital transformation at one of UK’s largest NHS Trusts Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) has gone live with a digital twin of six hospitals as part of its strategy to create a smart estate. Designed to provide a single source of estates data to support new workflows and better decision making, the 3D model is a major milestone in MFT’s digital transformation to improve operational efficiency and patient safety. Replacing disparate systems and paper-based processes, the digital twin visualises floors, rooms and spaces with associated data and is already being used to understand space optimisation and support the management of RAAC and asbestos. Future plans include adding indoor navigation, patient contact tracing and real-time asset tracking. Created using Esri UK’s GIS (Geographic Information System) platform, which includes indoor mapping, spatial analysis, navigation and asset tracking, the digital twin went live in October 2025. BIS Consult, MFT’s strategic data partner, led the development of the underlying data strategy and the integration of the multiple information sources required. Spanning 274,000 square metres of internal floor space, the 3D model includes Manchester Royal Infirmary, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and Saint Mary’s Hospital on the Oxford Road campus, plus Altrincham Hospital and Withington Community Hospital. David Bailey, Head of Digital Estates at MFT, who led the project, said: “Integrating all of our existing data into one 3D model has created the foundation for building a digital twin and is driving new opportunities for efficiency gains. Moving from analogue to digital achieves a better understanding of our buildings and assets which helps improve their management and maintenance, as well as improving patient safety.” The digital twin is being used in a trial to better understand the use of space, by quickly showing where room usage is not being optimised. Full roll-out will provide all staff with a real-time view of occupancy levels and space requests, while clinicians will be able to examine existing facilities more easily and plan new services. New applications for RAAC and asbestos management involve performing digital surveys on mobile devices, which feed directly into the 3D model and visualise the different risk levels. By providing more accurate and timely data, the new system is driving more effective maintenance regimes to improve safety. Digitising asbestos management has cut the time needed to prepare information by up to 10 days per month at one hospital site alone. The next phase will map the remaining four hospitals in MFT’s estate and digitise building condition surveys to help tackle the maintenance backlog. This will involve mobile data capture feeding into the digital twin, providing a clearer picture of requirements and helping to prioritise resources. Replacing a manual spreadsheet approach, data and reports will be shared more easily among project teams. Energy usage data will also be added to the digital twin to help analyse and reduce energy costs. The project overcame a major data integration challenge, which involved combining MFT data from multiple systems, including CAFM (Computer-Aided Facility Management) and CAD (Computer-aided Design) floor plans and improving the overall data quality. Establishing new data governance so information connected to the 3D model was accurate and up to date was also achieved. Duncan Booth, Head of Health & Social Care, Esri UK, said: “Indoor mapping is playing a central role in the modernisation of MFT’s estates and facilities department by giving users situational awareness of the entire site. Optimising the use of existing buildings and making RAAC and asbestos management more efficient are the first of many new benefits. Already used at airports, universities and industrial sites, the technology is helping large organisations realise plans for digital twins and is now experiencing growth in healthcare.” Plans for the future include using Esri’s GIS platform to create applications for indoor navigation for patients and staff to reduce missed appointments, contact tracing of patients to help stop the spread of pathogens inside the hospital and digital asset tracking, enabling equipment such as beds, scanners or wheelchairs to be located more quickly. Nicholas Campbell-Voegt, Director at BIS Consult, commented: “This project shows how smart use of data can transform NHS estates. By creating a single source of truth for assets and space, MFT is paving the way for a new standard in how Trusts manage their estates. The approach provides a blueprint that other NHS organisations can follow, helping build smarter, safer and more sustainable healthcare environments.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Flexible workspace operator marks milestone anniversary with record growth, expanding across the UK’s biggest cities. The last decade has seen the flexible workspace market change drastically thanks to shifts in remote and hybrid working patterns across the UK. With new data revealing that daily office occupancy has reached post-pandemic highs, climbing to 40%, hybrid working has moved from an experiment to an established habit.(1) As businesses rethink the purpose of the office and the value it can bring, flexible workspace providers are at the forefront of creating office spaces that offer genuine value to the people who use them. One flexible workspace provider redefining how modern businesses operate is Orega, who are celebrating 25 years in business with a period of record growth, a growing corporate client base, and ambitious future plans. Celebrating 25 years of growth Founded in 2001, Orega has grown from a single site to one of the UK’s most established flexible workspace brands, now managing 656,000 square feet of office space across 25 locations. Developing a strong hold in the UK’s major cities, the company currently is home to over 12,000 clients across 550 businesses, including major corporates in sectors including finance, legal, recruitment and business services. Alan Pepper, CEO of Orega, comments: “Reaching our upcoming 25th anniversary is a proud milestone for the business. The flexible workspace sector has evolved dramatically since Orega was founded – we’ve weathered the storm of three economic downturns and a global pandemic – and we’ve come out stronger than ever. “Recent data showing that daily office occupancy is increasing marks an important shift and this is something we’re also seeing across our portfolio. Businesses are rethinking the purpose of the office and the focus has moved towards spaces that foster culture, collaboration and improved wellbeing. “Since 2001 and into the present day, our core values have always aligned with this need for comfortable, professional, hospitality-led environments that enable businesses to thrive. I’m proud of the lasting relationships we’ve built with clients who value our approach to flexibility without compromise and the team who’ve got us to where we are today.” Business highlights Over the past two and a half years, Orega has opened eight new premium centres and grown its team with key strategic hires including CEO Alan Pepper, COO David Kinnaird, and Commercial Director Sophie Turnbull. Recognised as Operator of the Year at the 2024 Flex in the City Awards, Orega are the pioneers of Management Agreements with Landlords. This unique approach to flexible workspaces has been central to its success, setting a precedent for sustainable growth in the sector. Recent milestones include achieving 100% occupancy in under nine months on the recently opened London Lime Street building and the signing of a new London Citypoint space, opening in spring 2026. The acquisition of Citypoint is a nod to the high demand from businesses who require state of the art flexible spaces in central, well appointed locations, a trend that is expected to continue due to the current economic climate meaning businesses are reluctant to be tied into long leases. Sophie Turnbull, Commercial Director at Orega, comments: “We’ve seen sustained demand from established corporates who want flexibility without sacrificing on quality or location and this is driving our expansion across the UK’s major cities. “The market has matured since we started out and flexibility has become the central focus for many businesses and it’s reflected in the clients we’re attracting – professional service firms, financial institutions and established consultancies who see the workplace as a vital platform for success but want the flexibility to still scale up or down easily.” Looking ahead Orega’s growth shows no signs of slowing down, with ambitious plans to expand to 45 locations over the next five years at an average rate of four new sites per year. The focus will remain on London, the UK’s six big regional cities and select locations where demand for premium flexible workspaces continues to rise. New offerings are also in development to serve client’s evolving needs, reflecting the company’s commitment to ongoing innovation and customer satisfaction. Alan comments: “Our future growth will be shaped by the same principles that got us to where we are today. We want to keep empowering businesses to unlock their true potential, remaining agile and responsive to the changing market. The flexible workspace industry is maturing and we’re proud to be at the forefront of that evolution.” To find out more about Orega and available office spaces, visit: https://www.orega.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ARC Building Solutions (ARC), the market leading provider of passive fire protection and thermal solutions for the built environment, has secured a significant investment from LDC, the leading private equity investor which is part of Lloyds Banking Group. Based in Leeds, ARC manufactures certified and tested cavity barriers, offering up to four hours of fire integrity, alongside thermal insulation products that support fire safety and energy efficiency. Its technical system solutions enable residential and commercial property developers to create safer, more sustainable spaces for people to live and work. Founded in 2008, ARC has achieved consistent, long-term growth, supported by strong demand for safety critical and environmentally sustainable solutions. LDC is backing ARC’s management team, led by CEO Neil Weeks, and will support the business’ growth strategy. This is underpinned by investment in increased production capacity, enhanced systems, and sales and support teams to continue to deliver a market leading service to its customer base. The investment was led by LDC’s Yorkshire team, including Investment Director, Will Scales, Partner and Head of Yorkshire, Dan Smith, and Investment Executive, Connie Smith. Following the investment, Will Scales and Dan Smith will join ARC’s board as Non-Executive Directors, alongside Kevin Sargeant who joins as Non-Executive Chair. Kevin brings nearly 30 years of board experience, including former roles at Volution, Ventilair Group, Nuaire, Flexicon and Aqualisa. Newable, the specialist UK SME investor who has supported the growth of the business since 2019, will reinvest alongside LDC. Neil Weeks, CEO of ARC, said: “This is an important milestone in our mission to help the built environment to deliver more safe and sustainable buildings. We’ve known the LDC team for some time and are confident that with their backing, we will have the firepower and strategic support we need to scale our growth and continue to deliver for our customers.” Will Scales, Investment Director at LDC, added: “ARC has built an exceptional reputation for developing innovative, high-performance building safety products that are trusted by customers, and the business has an exciting future ahead. As part of Lloyds Banking Group, we have deep heritage in the built environment, and we’re looking forward to working closely with Neil and the team as they turn their ambitions into reality.” In the last decade, LDC has invested £660m into 35 industrials businesses, with a combined enterprise value of £1.9bn. It has made successful investments across key sub sectors including building products, automotive, aerospace, chemicals, packaging, manufacturing, and energy and renewables. In May 2024, LDC invested in Integrated Doorset Solutions (IDSL) Group, the leading testing, inspection, certification and compliance business in the fire door sector. Newable and the ARC management team were advised by Momentum Corporate Finance and CMS. LDC was advised by RSM, Shoosmiths, Dow Schofield Watts, PMSI and Collinson Grant. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The founders of luxury lifestyle brand, Nobu Hospitality and Salboy, the national property development and funding company, have gathered to celebrate a groundbreaking ceremony on the site of Manchester’s newest skyscraper. Standing at 246 metres when it is expected to be completed in 2031, the tower will transform the fast-evolving Manchester skyline and bring a fresh new approach to sophisticated living and first-class dining to the city’s residents and visitors. Developed in a partnership between Nobu Hospitality, Salboy and construction firm Domis, the tower will be home to a signature Nobu restaurant (Nobu Manchester), a 160-room luxury hotel (Nobu Hotel Manchester), and 452 branded Nobu residences (Nobu Residences Manchester). Together, these assets will cater to property buyers, locals, and visitors seeking sophisticated living and hospitality experiences in the UK’s fastest-growing city. The partners have announced that the Nobu restaurant, serving a world-class and endlessly innovative Japanese dining experience, will be situated on the ground floor of the tower, among the site’s original Grade 2 listed, Victorian viaduct arches. The vast brick arches will imbue the space with a strong sense of the city’s industrial heritage, marrying centuries-old architecture with modern cuisines. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa opened his first restaurant, Matsuhisa, in Los Angeles in 1987. After partnering with actor Robert De Niro, he opened the first Nobu restaurant in New York in 1994 and, since then, has taken his inimitable approach to creating memorable dining experiences in over 50 restaurants worldwide. In 2013, the first Nobu Hotel opened in Las Vegas, paving the way for Chef Nobu, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper to bring Chef Nobu’s famed attention to detail, innovation, and flair to luxury hotels and branded residences. The Nobu Residences Manchester mark Nobu’s entry into the UK’s luxury real estate market. Not only will the residences on the upper levels be some of the highest apartments and penthouses in Western Europe, but every property will be designed with refined Japanese-inspired interiors, and residences will enjoy premium amenities, including an exclusive swimming pool, a podium garden offering panoramic views over the city, a gym, and access to Nobu dining. The Salboy and Nobu Hospitality teams are collaborating with award-winning designers, Bowley James Brindley, to develop interiors that uniquely marry Nobu’s commitment to elevated curated living experiences with a strong sense of Manchester’s industrial and cultural heritage as well as its position on the contemporary world stage. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, Nobu Hospitality’s Shareholders, commented: “Breaking ground in Manchester is a defining moment for Nobu in the UK — our first venture beyond London, and the introduction of Nobu Residences to this market. This landmark project — encompassing a hotel, restaurant and residences — marks the debut of Nobu Residences in the United Kingdom. Manchester’s global outlook and dynamic spirit align perfectly with the Nobu brand. We’re proud to bring our signature hospitality, dining and design to the city, and excited to offer both guests and residents an authentic Nobu experience.” Fred Done, Co-founder of Salboy, said: “Ten years ago, Simon Ismail and I founded Salboy with a clear vision: to change Manchester’s skyline. I believe we are doing just that. I’ve been fortunate to experience exceptional cuisine and hospitality around the world, which is why we chose Nobu as our partner to help realise that vision. Best in class, best in creativity, the best of the best. This is our pièce de résistance— exactly what we wanted to bring to Manchester, the city of firsts. This is why it’s so fantastic to welcome Nobu to our wonderful city.” Simon Ismail, Co-founder and CEO of Salboy, added: “Chef Nobu’s 30-year influence on our culinary tastes can not be understated and I look forward with huge anticipation for the impact he and his team have on Manchester’s established and ambitious dining scene. As a proud Salfordian too, I’m keen to see how Chef Nobu and his team blend local produce and influences from the Northwest’s culinary heritage into the dishes and flavours they are famous for. Beyond the signature restaurant, which will look magnificent under the Victorian arches, being part of Nobu’s journey to extend its leadership in the global luxury hospitality and property markets is an honour. Manchester deserves luxury accommodation to match its growing position on the international stage and the Nobu team has the imagination and track record to make that happen.” The event comes as Domis, a partner on the scheme, has started enabling works on site with intentions to start construction next year. Salboy expects to launch sales for Nobu Residences Manchester by Q2 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Packaged Living has secured planning consent for a landmark two-tower development overlooking Liverpool’s waterfront, unlocking 434 new homes and extensive resident amenities on the site of the former Littlewoods computer centre. Rising to 19 and 25 storeys, the buildings will form a prominent gateway on the approach to the city’s commercial core. The scheme will deliver purpose-built homes for the private rented sector alongside shared facilities, with new public realm designed to improve permeability across the site and strengthen connections towards the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium. Demolition of the redundant computer centre is expected to begin early next year. Main construction is anticipated to start in early 2027, with a principal contractor yet to be appointed. The approved plans follow a period of public consultation, during which design revisions focused on townscape, active frontages at ground level and improved pedestrian links through the site. Development manager Edwina Coward said the project reflects a collaborative approach with the local community: “We’re excited to be bringing forward a landmark development at this prominent gateway site and we’re so pleased to be able to provide more homes and public realm for this great city. An extensive public consultation unlocked the wisdom of the Liverpool public and we were delighted at the quality of people’s ideas and observations about how we could improve the scheme and connectivity towards the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium and everything in between. The outcome is very much a shared vision.” Architect Adam Hall of Falconer Chester Hall added that the composition is intended to anchor a cluster of taller buildings: “The buildings offer an elegant and confident entrance statement to the city’s commercial core in an area that delivers on the potential of clustering taller buildings. The views north towards Everton’s new stadium, Blackpool Tower and the Lake District fells beyond will take some beating.” With consent secured, the team will move into procurement and technical design ahead of enabling works. The project is expected to contribute to Liverpool’s supply of high-quality city living while supporting local employment during construction and enhancing the waterfront approach with new public spaces and improved connectivity. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Arcadis, the world’s leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets, today announced the launch of its global strategic partnership with Jupiter Intelligence, the global standard for extreme weather risk and adaptation analytics. As climate pressures intensify and supply chains, assets and operations face growing exposure, the partnership gives clients a direct path from climate risk analysis insight to investment decisions, disclosure and delivery. Building on nearly a decade of collaboration, the relationship combines Arcadis’ deep sector and engineering expertise with Jupiter’s transparent, peer-reviewed science and decision-grade analytics to help organizations worldwide turn climate science into actionable intelligence for smarter, faster adaptation planning and implementation. Under the agreement, Arcadis integrates Jupiter’s advanced climate modeling, data, APIs and expert teams into its service offerings. By integrating Jupiter’s high-resolution projections directly into Arcadis’ digital climate solutions, including Climate Risk Nexus, clients gain decision-grade intelligence that connects hazard exposure to capital planning, asset management and operational decisions. This collaboration is already delivering results. Arcadis is working with the State University of New York (SUNY), using Climate Risk Nexus, supported by Jupiter’s data to conduct a comprehensive climate exposure assessment across 64 campuses. The work, which commenced in 2025 and is due for completion in 2026, will help inform resilience planning and investment decisions for higher education infrastructure. “We’re leveraging Jupiter’s multi-hazard climate datasets, grounded in the latest modeling and climate science to deliver consistent, peer reviewed analysis across global asset portfolios and supply chains.” Said Roni Deitz, Global Director of Climate Adaptation, Arcadis. “Our work with clients like SUNY shows how this combination of data, engineering and digital tools can enable faster, more confident resilience planning at scale.” The Arcadis-Jupiter partnership already supports adaptation and resilience programs across real estate, manufacturing and transport infrastructure, with active delivery in North America, Australia, Latin America and the United Kingdom. Designed to be scalable at speed, it aligns with global disclosure frameworks like the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), ensuring results meet standards recognized by investors, insurers and regulators. “We’re seeing rising demand for integrated, cross-sector solutions that connect science, best-in-class data and strategy. Clients don’t just need maps – they need decision-making intelligence. This partnership enables that, helping leaders protect critical assets, keep value chains moving and make defensible investments that build resilience and stakeholder confidence.” adds Heather Polinsky, Global President, Resilience at Arcadis. The collaboration also extends to joint innovation and product co-development, notably Jupiter’s new Adaptation Hub module within its ClimateScore™ Global platform. The module quantifies the cost and return on investment of resilience strategies. Arcadis contributed to its design and development, applying engineering and planning expertise to ensure the insights reflect real-world feasibility and economic dimensions of climate adaptation. “This partnership with Arcadis enables the world’s most critical institutions to integrate climate and extreme weather risk into their core decision-making to anticipate change, strengthen resilience and invest smarter for the future,” said Rich Sorkin, CEO of Jupiter Intelligence. “As increasing extreme weather events continue to impact physical assets and infrastructure, it’s more important than ever to move from awareness to action.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
London Square has secured planning permission from the London Borough of Merton to convert and extend Wimbledon Bridge House into a mixed-use scheme, unlocking new homes and commercial space in the heart of the town centre. The 1989 office building, acquired by London Square earlier this year, sits opposite Wimbledon station and close to the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Under the approved plans, the developer will reconfigure and sensitively extend the structure to deliver 123 apartments supported by around 27,000 sq ft of commercial floorspace. The ground-floor layout will be upgraded to improve the public realm and create more active frontages at street level, aiming to strengthen the connection between the station, local shops and nearby amenities. The residential element will offer a mix of apartment sizes to meet local demand, with the commercial component expected to accommodate a blend of employment, retail and service uses. By retaining and adapting the existing building rather than pursuing full demolition, the scheme is intended to reduce embodied carbon while bringing an underused asset back into productive use. Subject to approvals from the Building Safety Regulator, London Square anticipates completing the project in 2028. The programme will include façade enhancements, internal re-planning, and upgrades to building services to meet contemporary performance standards for comfort, energy efficiency and accessibility. Chief executive Adam Lawrence said the decision enables a high-quality addition to the townscape at a strategically important location. The scheme is expected to support local jobs through its commercial space and to contribute to Wimbledon’s wider regeneration by increasing footfall and enhancing the station gateway. With permission in place, detailed design and contractor procurement will progress ahead of the main construction phase, setting the stage for a prominent mixed-use destination at one of south west London’s busiest transport interchanges. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Oxford Science Park (TOSP), one of the UK’s leading locations for science and technology companies, has announced the acquisition of Northbrook House, a prominent three-storey building, comprising 23,500 sq ft, on the eastern side of the Park. Following refurbishment, Northbrook House will deliver flexible, high-quality laboratory and write-up accommodation designed to meet the needs of pioneering science and technology start-ups and growth businesses, with suites ranging from 3,600 to 23,500 sq ft. Originally designed by Ritchie Studio – formerly Ian Ritchie Architects – Northbrook House embodies the practice’s innovative and highly regarded architectural approach. The design provides a strong foundation for the building’s transformation, with the planned refurbishment enhancing and modernising the space, alongside an infrastructure upgrade that supports today’s science and technology companies. Situated close to the Park’s vibrant Magdalen Centre, Northbrook House benefits from immediate access to amenities including a café, conference suite, fitness classes, and a broad programme of networking and social events. The building also enjoys a picturesque setting overlooking Littlemore Brook, surrounded by mature landscaping, and offers allocated on-site parking and bike storage. A regular bus service is within a minute’s walk of the building, and the planned Cowley Branch Line station will offer even more connectivity with a fast rail link to the city centre and direct services to London every half hour. The station will feature a platform providing immediate access to The Oxford Science Park, making travel to and from the Park quick and convenient. Yong Shen, Director of The Oxford Science Park, said: “The acquisition and transformation of Northbrook House further strengthens our commitment to providing the best possible space for the UK’s most innovative science and technology companies. Northbrook’s flexible design and proximity to Park amenities make it an ideal location for organisations seeking both technical excellence and community connection.” The addition of Northbrook House forms part of TOSP’s ongoing development strategy to expand capacity and deliver exceptional laboratory environments for innovative early-stage companies in Oxford. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals