The winter months and their wet and cold weather bring many challenges to the construction sector and its workers, with one of these being the need for extra workwear maintenance. The harsh weather conditions can exaggerate dirt and debris, leaving PPE looking worse for wear and uncomfortable to use. Correct
NatWest has today announced a new package of £10 billion of funding to the UK social housing sector before the end of 2028, which when deployed will bring the total funding to social housing in the UK to over £35 billion* since 2018. Through this new ambition, the bank is
Acero Construction is pleased to announce the appointment of Bob Thompson as Non-Executive Director, effective 1 February 2026, further strengthening the company’s board with significant sector expertise and strategic leadership experience. Bob brings a wealth of knowledge from across the construction and piling industries, having held senior leadership roles within
Josh Maskell, says: “I didn’t just want to learn simple carpentry, working at Greencore allows me to learn a variety of different skills on interesting sites. I’m keen to learn more about the company’s fabric-first approach and understand the Passivhaus standards that we build to. A typical day on-site involves
MPs and Peers are being urged to approve a £3bn programme of early works designed to stem the rising cost of repairs at the Palace of Westminster and pave the way for the largest restoration project in its history. A new report from the Parliamentary Restoration and Renewal Client Board
Salboy, the UK property development and funding group, has officially launched Salboy Construction, a specialist residential construction business created to deliver and support complex, time-critical and distressed housing schemes at a time when rising build costs, contractor capacity constraints and programme risk are increasingly impacting new housing delivery across the
Global Crane Services has strengthened its heavy-lift capability with the arrival of a fourth 700-tonne class mobile crane at its Scottish operations. The business has taken delivery of another Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1, expanding its capacity to support large-scale lifting projects across the civils, renewable energy, ports and offshore sectors. The
Developers bringing forward a new local retail centre in Swaffham, Norfolk, have welcomed Tesco to the scheme. Redleaf is delivering Brandon Road Shopping Centre, an 850 sq m (9,150 sq ft) commercial development at the front of Cygnet Rise, a new residential scheme launched in September 2024 of 160 new
Liverpool’s world-famous waterfront is set to benefit from a £40m investment to cut carbon emissions at 35 public buildings across the City Region. Work is starting on the major programme that will see heat decarbonisation and energy-saving measures introduced at many historic buildings, town halls, leisure centres and libraries –
Deals totalling 14,000 sq ft bring office scheme to full occupancy Leading real estate advisor CBRE has secured a number of high-profile lettings at Trinity building in Manchester for client Swiss Life Asset Managers, with the latest signings taking the office scheme to full occupancy for the first time since
The winter months and their wet and cold weather bring many challenges to the construction sector and its workers, with one of these being the need for extra workwear maintenance. The harsh weather conditions can exaggerate dirt and debris, leaving PPE looking worse for wear and uncomfortable to use. Correct upkeep during these months helps maintain garment performance and wearer visibility, but laundering mistakes are common. Adam Halewood, Head of Sales at custom workwear supplier Clothes2order, reveals the most common winter workwear maintenance mistakes, the issues these cause and how to avoid them. Don’t skip the pre-wash tasks Adam says, “When you’ve changed out of your wet and muddy clothes after a day at work, most of us will throw them straight into the washing machine with little thought, but this is the first mistake many make. With workwear becoming heavily soiled with mud, dust and other debris from building sites in the winter months, it’s important to remove as much of this before clothing items go into the washing machine, not only to ensure all dirt is removed during the laundry process, but to keep your washing machine in top condition. You can usually shake excess dry debris from clothing or gently wipe items down with a damp cloth to remove surface marks, so it doesn’t have to be a time-consuming step. Always avoid harsh scrubbing, especially on hi-vis pieces, as this can damage reflective material, leading to non-compliance with safety guidelines. Once surface grime has been removed, always fasten up items and turn them inside out before putting them in the washing machine. This stops zips, Velcro and other fastenings from snagging on the items during the wash cycle, protecting from pulls, scratches and holes being made in the material.” Avoid harsh wash cycles Adam explains, “Once PPE is ready for the washing machine, the next most common mistake made is using harsh cleaning cycles, which can cause fluorescent-coloured fabrics to fade fast and shorten garment lifespan. When washing workwear, you should follow the manufacturer’s care label instructions in the first instance, but generally it’s advised to avoid running hot water cycles; instead, opt for a cool temperature of 30°C. Whilst it may be tempting to use stain remover or bleach on stains, these harsh chemicals can damage the fibres within clothing, leaving it at risk of developing holes and needing to be replaced more frequently, so they should also be avoided unless the care label suggests otherwise. The best practice is to use only mild detergent on a cool wash and a gentle cycle. To be extra sure that all the detergent residue has been removed and won’t cause any future damage, an extra rinse can also be used at the end of the cycle.” Check before you tumble dry “Most workwear needs to be air-dried, unless the label specifies it is safe for the tumble dryer”, Adam says, “The high temperatures used in tumble dryers can cause clothing to shrink, and with hi-vis items, this can lead to reflective strips becoming dull, degrading and in some extreme cases, melting. Whilst we typically have our radiators on during the winter months, drying PPE directly on these should also be avoided for the same reasons. If you find your items are still holding a lot of water after their wash cycle, never wring them out, as this can cause damage to the material. Instead, put them back into the machine for a spin-only cycle to help remove the excess moisture, before hanging them to dry on an airer in a well-ventilated room.” Adam concludes, “It is really important to keep on top of PPE workwear maintenance all year round, but in the winter months, extra care should be taken to ensure protective clothing remains in good condition. The weather in winter not only brings more dirt to construction sites, but days with little daylight, rain and fog bring poor visibility, making compliant hi-vis clothing even more vital to workplace safety.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NatWest has today announced a new package of £10 billion of funding to the UK social housing sector before the end of 2028, which when deployed will bring the total funding to social housing in the UK to over £35 billion* since 2018. Through this new ambition, the bank is aiming to support the delivery and maintenance of social housing in the UK, which is vital to the people and families who rely on affordable housing, as well as the wider economy. NatWest has worked with not-for-profit housing associations across the UK to support their growth and development plans building homes and communities for many years. Recent government commitments will help unlock development and speed up delivery. In response, NatWest is committing billions in funding to housing associations, to help enable the development of high quality homes across the UK and support economic growth. The bank also confirmed it has now provided more than £25 billion of funding into the social housing sector since 2018, helping to create and sustain affordable homes nationwide. NatWest aims to support the delivery and upkeep of social housing across the UK, helping housing associations build new homes, upgrade existing properties, and improve living conditions. Some of this lending can help fund energy efficiency and environmental improvements, including retrofit projects. Other funding can help the housing associations sector to deliver a pipeline of new homes and improve living conditions in existing properties. Paul Thwaite, CEO NatWest Group comments: “We are incredibly proud to announce the early achievement of our £7.5 billion UK social housing lending ambition. Delivering this milestone a full year ahead of schedule demonstrates our commitment to making a real difference in people’s lives by investing in the homes and communities that need it most, and shows the demand in the market. “Reaching this lending ambition early has enabled us to set a new target of £10 billion to year-end 2028, so we can continue to provide social housing lending and play our part in supporting the development and availability of affordable and social rent homes across the UK.” Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “This government is backing a step change in affordable housing to end the housing crisis, with £39 billion for a new social and affordable homes programme and 10 year rent certainty for the sector. “NatWest’s investment will be vital in helping housing associations deliver thousands of affordable homes for families priced out of home ownership, building an economy that works for and rewards working people.” The announcement forms part of the bank’s new five point Growing Together plan, setting out how the bank will help build the conditions for UK wide growth: backing powerful regions, championing mid-market companies, strengthening the country’s infrastructure and housing foundations, boosting financial confidence amongst families and young people, and supporting the innovators shaping the future economy. Drawing on its regional footprint, expertise and convening power, the bank aims to bring businesses, communities, and policymakers together to tackle structural barriers, unlock productivity and spread opportunity across the UK. Recent research from Shelter revealed that 382,618 people are homeless in England – including 175,025 children. And the number of people officially recorded as homeless has risen by 8% in one year. According to Shelter, the shortage of social homes, unaffordable private rents and the freeze on housing benefit are pushing more people into homelessness and trapping them there. With limited pathways into secure, affordable homes, many people risk becoming stuck in temporary accommodation intended for short-term use, for months or even years. Over 90% of the people recorded as homeless – including 84,240 families – are in temporary accommodation. In addition to these commitments, last year NatWest announced several other initiatives and partnerships that have complemented and contributed to our social housing lending ambition being achieved. These include a financial guarantee of up to £400 million from the National Wealth Fund to cover a series of new loans from NatWest to registered providers of social housing stock in the UK. The bank also launched a new social rent loan product to support housing associations, which are already NatWest customers, to support the construction of social rent houses across the UK. In December 2025, this fund was doubled to £1 billion in response to strong demand and to help continue the delivery of homes for social rent across the country. These initiatives complement NatWest’s ongoing dedication to supporting communities and helping to address the housing crisis. VIVID secures £100m from NatWest as part of landmark £500m social loan fund In November 2025, UK housing association VIVID, secured £100 million in funding from NatWest as part of the bank’s social loan fund, designed to support the delivery of homes for social rent across the country. VIVID was the first to draw down funds from this. The facility offers discounted interest margins and no arrangement fees, meaning housing associations could save significant sums in finance costs and reinvest those savings into building and improving homes for those who need them most. These homes for social rent are expected to help ease the shortage of social homes, support vibrant local communities, and the funding should give VIVID the flexibility to keep building where it matters most. It will go towards building an additional 450 new social rent homes for more customers and comes with a 10-year loan term, providing stability for long-term investment. David Ball, Chief Financial Officer at VIVID, said: “NatWest’s new social rent loan product gives housing associations the financial flexibility to build more homes at social rent levels. The overall rate discount being offered is an innovative step change that shows NatWest’s commitment to supporting the Government’s Social Rent led agenda.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Acero Construction is pleased to announce the appointment of Bob Thompson as Non-Executive Director, effective 1 February 2026, further strengthening the company’s board with significant sector expertise and strategic leadership experience. Bob brings a wealth of knowledge from across the construction and piling industries, having held senior leadership roles within leading organisations. His appointment reflects Acero Construction’s commitment to sustainable growth and to supporting its clients through high-quality, independent support services, with a strong focus on innovation and continuous improvement across the business. In his role as Non-Executive Director, Bob will act in an advisory capacity, working alongside the board and senior leadership team to support Acero Construction’s long-term strategic growth plans, governance, organisational development, and the continued advancement of innovative solutions that add value for clients and partners. Welcoming the appointment, Karl Nelson, Founder and Managing Director of Acero Construction, said: “I’m pleased to welcome Bob to Acero Construction. He brings a strong understanding of the construction sector and of business at the highest level, along with first-hand experience of what clients value and expect from a support partner like Acero. As we continue to innovate and improve the way we work, Bob’s experience and practical insight will be a real asset to the business and to our people.” Commenting on his appointment, Bob Thompson said: “I am delighted to be joining Acero Construction as a Non-Executive Director. Acero has built a strong reputation for its values-led approach, with a clear focus on people, culture, and doing the right thing for clients and partners. Returning to the piling industry via Acero allows me to indirectly support my many former colleagues without the potential to be in competition with them. Acero’s position as an independent support services provider is clear and essential, and I look forward to supporting the Acero team to maintain this ethos as the business continues to grow.” The board at Acero Construction welcomed Bob’s appointment, noting that his experience, insight, and understanding of the industry will be a valuable addition as the company continues to expand its services, embrace innovation, and strengthen its role as a trusted partner within the construction and piling sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Josh Maskell, says: “I didn’t just want to learn simple carpentry, working at Greencore allows me to learn a variety of different skills on interesting sites. I’m keen to learn more about the company’s fabric-first approach and understand the Passivhaus standards that we build to. A typical day on-site involves working alongside experienced carpenters and learning new skills all the time. Every day is different, which keeps it interesting and helps me build confidence quickly.” “I’ve always been inspired by watching housebuilding videos on YouTube. Seeing projects come together made me want to build things myself,” he recalls. “I became interested in the construction industry after doing work experience in July 2024, where I tried site carpentry work and really enjoyed it. I heard about Greencore when they came into college to talk about opportunities. After that, I went through the interview process and was really pleased to be offered a role.” “My apprenticeship is helping me work towards becoming a qualified carpenter, and I’m particularly interested in the sustainable homes side of construction. It’s exciting to be part of projects that are building for the future.” Josh is enthusiastic about the apprenticeship scheme and its potential for career-building. He says: “I wanted to take an apprenticeship route because I like the idea of learning on the job and building a career in the industry. It’s been a great opportunity to start learning the trade properly while working on real construction projects.” Ian Pateman, Timber Frame Manager at Greencore Homes, and Josh’s line manager comments: “Josh’s enthusiasm for working with timber is fantastic to see. He’ll gain valuable hands-on experience from our skilled teams on site, which will help him learn new skills quickly. With fewer young people entering the industry today, passing knowledge from experienced professionals to the next generation is essential.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MPs and Peers are being urged to approve a £3bn programme of early works designed to stem the rising cost of repairs at the Palace of Westminster and pave the way for the largest restoration project in its history. A new report from the Parliamentary Restoration and Renewal Client Board sets out a proposed seven-year phase one programme of enabling and preparatory works. The aim is to reduce reliance on costly reactive maintenance, stabilise ageing systems and buy time while Parliament reaches a final decision on how the main restoration should be delivered. Under the plan, preparatory work would begin immediately, narrowing the long-running debate to two remaining delivery options by 2030. The first option would see both the House of Commons and the House of Lords fully decant from the Palace, allowing the building to be stripped back and restored in a single, continuous programme. While politically challenging, this approach is considered the safest and most cost-effective, with an estimated duration of up to 24 years and a projected cost of close to £12bn. The alternative is an enhanced maintenance and improvement option, which would keep Parliament operating within the Palace while works are carried out in multiple phases. This approach would require MPs and Peers to move between temporary chambers, including relocating the House of Lords to the QEII Centre for up to 13 years. The phased approach would significantly extend the programme, potentially running for as long as 61 years, with costs rising towards £39bn. Category Full decant Enhanced maintenance and improvement (EMI+) Comparison Total cost £8.4–11.5bn £11.8–18.7bn EMI+ significantly more expensive overall Total duration 19–24 years 38–61 years EMI+ takes roughly double or more House of Commons chamber decant 8–10 years Up to 2 years in the Lords chamber Longer Commons relocation under full decant House of Lords chamber decant 12–15 years 8–13 years in the QEII Centre Decant periods broadly similar Parliamentary business Delivered with some reduced provision, may require changes to ways of working Delivered with some reduced provision which may require changes to ways of working Operational impact similar Health, safety and fire risk Lowest level of risk Highest level of risk of the options Full decant safer Security risk Lowest level of risk in the Palace Highest level of risk in the Palace Full decant offers strongest security The Client Board warns that further indecision will continue to cost taxpayers heavily. Each year of delay is estimated to add around £70m in wasted option development and reactive maintenance, with construction inflation adding hundreds of millions more to the eventual bill. If approved, procurement for a series of strategic partners covering programme management, technical consultancy and delivery would begin later this year, with appointments expected in 2027. These partners would be tasked with delivering the early works and developing detailed designs, costs and programmes for both delivery options ahead of a final decision by both Houses later in the decade. Phase one would include a number of major enabling projects, such as the construction of a temporary Thames jetty and cofferdam to move materials by river, underground works to release space for new services, early masonry repairs and restoration of key courtyards. The programme would also see temporary power, water and utility systems installed, allowing life-expired infrastructure to be safely taken offline in future phases. Significant remodelling works at the QEII Centre are also planned to support decant arrangements and improve operational resilience during the restoration programme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Salboy, the UK property development and funding group, has officially launched Salboy Construction, a specialist residential construction business created to deliver and support complex, time-critical and distressed housing schemes at a time when rising build costs, contractor capacity constraints and programme risk are increasingly impacting new housing delivery across the UK. “The outlook for housing developers, fundings and associations shouldn’t look as bleak as it does,” comments Andrew Cavanagh, CFO of Salboy. “Buyer demand is robust, finance is accessible, and the supply:demand ratio for new housing in this country is skewed heavily in their favour. But the difficulty of securing capable construction partners to build in locations where houses are most needed is reaching fever pitch. Across the country, developers’ schemes are slowing down, stalling altogether or taking years to get out of the ground because suitable contractors cannot be mobilised quickly enough or with sufficient certainty that they can deliver on time and on budget.” Salboy Construction was established by Salboy in April 2024 in response to these conditions. The business was initially focused on supporting some of the Group’s own developments, as well as select sites funded by Salboy Capital, the Group’s property funding partnership business. In less than two years, Salboy Construction has grown to a team of 16 construction professionals, quantity surveyors and procurement specialists and has delivered 120 homes with a further 139 currently under construction. The team is now contracted to work on sites by both Salboy’s development team and a number of other developers, funders and housing associations around the country. Salboy Construction’s team is deployed onto a mixture of brand new sites where work needs to begin from scratch, as well as onto distressed sites where either sufficiently qualified partners were unavailable locally, or problems had slowed progress and a new delivery process was needed to bring the project to fruition. The business has live and completed schemes in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, London, Cornwall, Lincolnshire and Staffordshire. Recent projects include new-build sites in Wandsworth in London, Tuckingmill in Cornwall and Tean in Staffordshire, in addition to the takeover of a 70-home residential site in Lincolnshire, the reset of two distressed urban schemes in South London, and the delivery of a 77-home affordable housing development in Cornwall. With this track record firmly in place, Salboy Construction is formally launching its services to a wider range of third-party clients nationwide. Andrew Cavanagh: “Over the past few years, more and more funds, banks, housing associations and registered providers of social housing have approached Salboy to help bring their projects forward. Until this point, capacity was our only constraint. We’re excited that now, thanks to Salboy Construction, we can start saying ‘Yes’ to more of these projects and bring forward more homes where they’re desperately needed.” Demand is particularly high in cost-sensitive areas, such as affordable housing, where Salboy Construction has recently begun work on schemes for three registered providers. The business operates through a hybrid delivery model, combining its own direct delivery teams with a national network of trusted regional partners, including Salboy’s long-standing partner in the Northwest, Domis Construction. This structure allows Salboy to maintain full oversight of every scheme and ensure consistent standards of governance, reporting, quality and cost control. One of Salboy Construction’s key strengths and differentiators is its home-grown procurement network that enables regional partners to save up to 20 per cent on common building materials. The network gives the SME partners Salboy Construction works with access to the buying power and supplier relationships normally reserved for Plc housebuilders, helping them manage inflationary pressures and reduce exposure to material price volatility. Access to the procurement network is also available to developers funded by Salboy Capital. Stephen Ward, Construction Director at Salboy: “Anyone working in the construction space today will have seen good housing schemes stall, not because demand wasn’t there, but because the right delivery partner could not be secured or retained. That is exactly the gap Salboy Construction has been created to fill. In a short space of time we’ve been able to show developers and funders we’ve the right mix of domain expertise, supplier leverage and tenacity to bring greater certainty to schemes that might otherwise struggle to get off the ground.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Global Crane Services has strengthened its heavy-lift capability with the arrival of a fourth 700-tonne class mobile crane at its Scottish operations. The business has taken delivery of another Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1, expanding its capacity to support large-scale lifting projects across the civils, renewable energy, ports and offshore sectors. The new eight-axle crane will operate across Global Crane Services and Global Wind Projects, both part of Global Port Services Scotland Ltd. Delivered to the company’s Aberdeen depot, the crane underwent operator familiarisation training delivered by Liebherr Great Britain’s training team before being deployed straight into active service. The LTM 1650-8.1 offers two telescopic boom configurations, with a 54-metre base boom extendable to 80 metres. When paired with its 90-metre luffing jib and Y-shaped guying system, the crane achieves a maximum hook height of 152 metres and a working radius of up to 112 metres, making it well suited to demanding wind and heavy-lift applications. Global Crane Services general manager Gordon Harper said the latest addition would play a key role in supporting ongoing and future projects. He noted that the LTM 1650-8.1 has already proven itself as a reliable and versatile performer within the fleet, particularly on complex wind energy and heavy-lift operations. The delivery forms part of a wider programme of fleet investment. Global has already placed orders for two 250-tonne Liebherr LTM 1250-5.1 cranes, which are scheduled to arrive later this year. During the past year alone, the company added seven new mobile cranes ranging from 70 to 250 tonnes. Global Crane Services now operates a fleet of more than 70 cranes, almost entirely Liebherr machines, including two LG 1750 lattice-boom truck cranes, each rated at 750 tonnes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Developers bringing forward a new local retail centre in Swaffham, Norfolk, have welcomed Tesco to the scheme. Redleaf is delivering Brandon Road Shopping Centre, an 850 sq m (9,150 sq ft) commercial development at the front of Cygnet Rise, a new residential scheme launched in September 2024 of 160 new houses being built by Abel Homes. Having brought in Tesco Express as the anchor store, Redleaf is also in advanced discussions with a national coffee operator, leaving c.335 sq m (3,600 sq ft) for remaining commercial uses – with a minimum of 75 sq m. Brandon Road Shopping Centre benefits from planning consent for all retail uses – A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5. Sui Generis uses would require consent. There are 36 demised car parking spaces. Interest in the remaining space can be discussed directly with Redleaf. Paul Bishton, Founder of Redleaf, comments: “Redleaf prides itself on delivering high-quality commercial developments to compliment equally high-quality residential schemes and it’s a pleasure to be working with Abel Homes, Tesco and others to ensure these new homes are served by suitable amenities that meet the needs of local residents. With a convenience store and coffee shop on the way, we’d also love to hear from any other retail operators interested in locating to Brandon Road Shopping Centre.” Paul LeGrice, managing director of Abel Homes, said: “Our Cygnet Rise development is very much about creating a new community, providing a new local centre, a care home and assisted living units, as well as much-needed new homes. We are delighted to be delivering another key component of the community so early in the scheme’s programme, fulfilling the promises we made when we brought plans for the site forward.” Tesco Swaffham Express store manager Ashley Stolworthy said: “We are delighted that the fit-out of our new Swaffham Express store has started and we look forward to opening in the coming weeks. As well as serving customers with a wide variety of food, drink and bakery options, the store will also have on-site parking and an ATM. “We are also committed to supporting the local community through the Tesco Community Food Connection scheme, which redistributes surplus food to charities and community groups from every Tesco store at the end of each day.” The new shopping centre is being constructed by Warwick Burt Construction Ltd. of Northampton. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Liverpool’s world-famous waterfront is set to benefit from a £40m investment to cut carbon emissions at 35 public buildings across the City Region. Work is starting on the major programme that will see heat decarbonisation and energy-saving measures introduced at many historic buildings, town halls, leisure centres and libraries – cutting emissions by more than half. The project will connect landmark sites on Liverpool’s waterfront – including the Georges Dock and the Cunard buildings – to the Mersey Heat network, which is powered by water from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. It is the latest step in the Combined Authority’s five-year carbon action plan, approved in 2023, aimed at making the City Region net zero by 2035 at the latest – at least a decade before national government. Work is already underway at Bootle Leisure Centre, Bootle Library, Wirral Country Park, Prescot Soccer Centre and Landican Cemetery to install low‑carbon heating systems and complementary measures, such as insulation upgrades, solar PV, and modern building controls, with eight buildings expected to be completed by March. Cllr Anthony Burns, Liverpool City Region Cabinet Member for Net Zero, said: “Cutting carbon is one of the most important ways we can improve people’s everyday lives, and this programme shows the scale of our ambition. By transforming our civic buildings, we’re reducing emissions, lowering energy bills and future‑proofing public services for decades to come. “We know how big the task ahead is, but we also know the scale of the opportunity. With work already underway across the city region – from leisure centres and libraries to parks and historic landmarks – we’re proving that our commitment to reach net zero by 2035 is real, practical and already delivering results. Public buildings account for a sizeable amount of the total emissions, so it is right that we lead by example.” Buildings account for most carbon emissions, with public buildings responsible for 13% of the total. Together, the city region’s six local authorities and the Combined Authority (CA) own more than 600 buildings that emit almost 77,000 tonnes of CO2. The CA has secured £36m from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS). With additional funding from local authorities, a total of more than £40m will go towards improving energy efficiency, cutting carbon emissions and accelerating the transition to low-carbon heat across the region. The programme, delivered by the Combined Authority Energy Team, unlocks the extension of the Mersey Heat network, which is already supplying the Liverpool Waters site, the Titanic Hotel and the Tobacco Warehouse apartments. The network is driven by the Mersey Heat Energy Centre, developed by The Peel Group and Ener-Vate, which uses one of the UK’s largest water source heat pumps to extract energy from canal water. Connections are planned to the Cunard Building and George’s Dock Building, with additional funding awarded to National Museums Liverpool to connect the Museum of Liverpool. The expanded network is projected to reduce emissions by around 4,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. A range of measures to replace fossil‑fuel heating in each building with low‑carbon alternatives – such as heat pumps, solar thermal and district heating connection – will completely remove gas‑fired heating. Combined with fabric and energy‑efficiency upgrades, the programme is expected to halve energy demand and carbon emissions, saving around 21,500 MWh per year and cutting emissions by more than 50%. Alongside PSDS investment, the Combined Authority has also secured £1.45m through the Mayoral Renewables Fund to deliver solar PV installations across 14 public buildings, providing a total of 1.2 MW of new renewable generation capacity across the region. James Johnson, Head of Regional Programme at the North West Net Zero Hub, said: “Retrofitting these buildings is a significant step, not only due to the reduction in emissions, but also in terms of the efficiencies that this will bring to the public estate. “Heat decarbonisation and energy-saving measures will help to reduce running costs and allow those savings to be focused back into communities. Lower energy bills mean more public money that can be spent on services.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Deals totalling 14,000 sq ft bring office scheme to full occupancy Leading real estate advisor CBRE has secured a number of high-profile lettings at Trinity building in Manchester for client Swiss Life Asset Managers, with the latest signings taking the office scheme to full occupancy for the first time since its comprehensive redevelopment. British Engineering Group has regeared its lease and expanded by a further 3,500 sq ft, increasing its total occupation within the building to 11,000 sq ft. The company now occupies space across the mezzanine and 1st floor level within the centrally located John Dalton Street building. The recent activity also includes a new letting in December to leading law firm Lewis Silkin, which has taken 7,900 sq ft of fully fitted and furnished workspace, advised by JLL. The plug-and-play second floor workspace provides a ready-to-occupy environment, complete with meeting rooms, client lounge, kitchen breakout space and extensive desk provision. Sally Hulston, Partner and Head of Manchester Office, Lewis Silkin said: “It’s just over three years since Lewis Silkin opened in Manchester, and I’m proud to say that we’ve outgrown our office space for the third time. We’ve taken a 10-year lease on our space at Trinity, demonstrating our long-term commitment to the city. The facilities and location are excellent, and we’ve got plenty of room to grow into, which is exactly what we need as we continue to add to the team.” In addition, leading chartered accountants and business advisers Saffery Champness has expanded its presence within the building, taking an additional 2,600 sq ft of space on the sixth floor as part of its continued growth in Manchester, taking total space occupied to 6,800 sq ft. These latest deals underline Trinity’s continued appeal to professional services occupiers seeking high-quality, centrally located workspace in Manchester. Trinity provides fully fitted and furnished Grade A workspace, centred around a prominent double-height reception with concierge service and the on-site 92 Degrees café. The all-electric building benefits from VRF air conditioning, LED lighting, showers, basement parking and cycle hub. Matt Shufflebottom, Director, CBRE’s Office agency team in Manchester commented: “These lettings represent a major milestone for Trinity. We were delighted to be appointed as sole agents by Swiss Life Asset Managers, and to reach full occupancy for the first time since the building was redeveloped is a fantastic result for all involved, and testament to the investment made by the Landlord. The commitment made by all 3 occupiers reflects the continued demand for well-located, high quality workspace, particularly fitted and furnished.” CBRE acted as sole advisor to Swiss Life Asset Managers on the lettings at Trinity Building, while JLL advised Lewis Silkin and Savills advised Saffery Champness. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals