Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, has leased a 17,000 sq ft office at Skypark near Exeter. The business historically operated from two separate offices in Exeter, but they will now be located in a Grade A, 17,143 sq ft office at One Tiger Moth Road at Skypark.
A multidisciplinary RSK team representing 14 RSK businesses and 16 separate disciplines is supporting the redevelopment of Fort Halstead in Sevenoaks, Kent. Complex brownfield redevelopment The project is a complex brownfield redevelopment project that will create a new 635-home community, including a mix of private residential properties, public open space,
VodafoneThree has today announced a partnership with Vyntelligence (Vyn®), a category-pioneering Agentic Video Intelligence Work Platform, to support its network integration and upgrade programme. Through the use of AI-powered video, Vyntelligence technology will help support engineers to upgrade thousands of mobile network sites more efficiently, safely and accurately. Following the
Taylor Wimpey North West is bringing forward plans for a new residential development of 58 homes in Lancaster, with the acquisition of land for its Beaumont Rise development taking place on 30th June. Located off Slyne Road, Beaumont Rise will deliver 58 homes, comprising a mix of two-, three- and
The UK’s retail property sector is set for another significant period of change after TGJones secured High Court approval for a major restructuring plan that could see up to 150 former WHSmith high street stores close across the country. The decision follows the acquisition of WHSmith’s historic high street business
Pye Homes has announced an exclusive Stamp Duty offer worth up to £10,000 on select properties for sale at Welborne Garden Village near Fareham in Hampshire. The housebuilder will pay Stamp Duty fees of up £10,000 for families who reserve one of its Welborne Garden Village homes in July.* The
A former 19th-century dyeworks near Huddersfield has been successfully transformed into a sustainable residential development following the completion of complex engineering works led by Dudleys Consulting Engineers. The Royd Edge Mills development delivers 30 new homes, ranging from two-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom detached properties, while breathing new life into a
The Thames Tideway Tunnel is a £4.6 billion infrastructure project designed to modernise London’s ageing sewer network. As part of the project, several sites along the Thames were expanded to accommodate the additional infrastructure required for the tunnel, creating new riverside public spaces and prompting upgrades to existing lighting assets.
FireAngel announces new Spec+ range incorporating a complete portfolio of domestic safety solutions, including multi-sensor and single-sensor smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms. FireAngel has announced the launch of its brand-new Spec+ range, an evolved solutions offering of mains-powered fire and domestic safety alarms designed to support professional installations, improve
Footasylum has reinforced its commitment to bricks-and-mortar retail with the reopening of its significantly upgraded store at the Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester, as the retailer continues an ambitious programme of investment across its UK property portfolio. The refurbished 17,178 sq ft store represents the latest phase of Footasylum’s national
Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, has leased a 17,000 sq ft office at Skypark near Exeter. The business historically operated from two separate offices in Exeter, but they will now be located in a Grade A, 17,143 sq ft office at One Tiger Moth Road at Skypark. Leased from Devon County Council, the move will enable Vistry to unite its two regional teams under one roof, bringing 300 employees together to provide a best-in-class service for customers and partners. The EPC A-rated building offers exceptional, state-of-the-art office space situated over three floors and is located within Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone’s Skypark, providing easy access to nearby transport hubs. Vistry has long been the largest homebuilder across the South West, with its teams delivering hundreds of new affordable homes in partnership with leading housing providers, including Livewest. In 2026, the combined business expects to deliver 1,400 homes across the region. Peter Tannian, Managing Director of Vistry Devon & Cornwall Regions, said: “This move provides a fantastic opportunity for our South West businesses to become more aligned and ensure we provide the best and most efficient service for our customers and partners. Equally, the exceptional, Grade A office space at One Tiger Moth provides a great opportunity for our teams to collaborate and ensure best practice is being adopted across the business.” Councillor Simon Clist, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Assets and Resources, and Chair of Skypark Development Partnership LLP, commented:“We are delighted to welcome Vistry Group to Exeter Skypark. Securing a leading house builder on a long-term lease is a powerful endorsement of Skypark’s quality and appeal. Skypark is setting a new benchmark for sustainable, people focused business environments, not just in Exeter, but across the UK. It is a vibrant, beautifully designed employment site to support businesses to grow and thrive.” Councillor Paul Hayward, Portfolio Holder for Assets and Economy at East Devon District Council and representing Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone, said: “We are delighted to welcome Vistry to Skypark, one of the four key sites within the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone. This is a strong vote of confidence in the quality of the business environment we are creating here and in Skypark’s continued appeal as a location for ambitious, growing businesses. Vistry’s arrival brings hundreds of employees together in one place and further strengthens Skypark’s role as a major employment destination for the area.” Vistry was advised by JLL and Hector Pearce. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A multidisciplinary RSK team representing 14 RSK businesses and 16 separate disciplines is supporting the redevelopment of Fort Halstead in Sevenoaks, Kent. Complex brownfield redevelopment The project is a complex brownfield redevelopment project that will create a new 635-home community, including a mix of private residential properties, public open space, commercial employment units and a primary school. Ancient semi-natural woodland (some 1600 individual trees) and the existing Fort Halstead (a scheduled ancient monument), as well as other historically important buildings, will be retained, with the fort converted to create a historic interpretation centre, capturing the site’s history. CS2 Chartered Surveyors, an RSK company, is project-managing the work to prepare the site for the client, Barratt David Wilson Homes Kent (BDW), with RSK companies contributing to this over a two-year period. CS2 Director and Fort Halstead Project Management Lead Paul Crowe said: “RSK began supporting BDW in November 2023 through pre‑acquisition due diligence, with activity intensifying following acquisition in September 2024. The project is now in the demolition and enabling phase, being delivered by the appointed contractor Soilfix, delivered alongside heritage, ecology and civil engineering design to ensure progress is carefully managed in an exceptionally sensitive and operational environment. Under the RSK approved Material Management Plan the development will be reusing some 48,000m3 of soil during the enabling works phase with the intention to reuse up to a further c80,000m3 during the construction phase. Wide stakeholder landscape with single point of control Paul said: “Fort Halstead brings together an unusually wide and active stakeholder landscape, including defence‑related partners, residents and office occupiers remaining on site, statutory bodies and the local community. Our role is to provide a single, trusted point of control that allows all parties to operate safely and confidently while enabling the project to move forward. “By integrating demolition, remediation and design, we are managing risk at every stage, protecting nationally important heritage assets, safeguarding ecology and maintaining day‑to‑day site operations. That coordinated approach gives clients, regulators and stakeholders assurance that change is being delivered responsibly, transparently and with minimal disruption.” Remediation, controlled demolition along with safe and appropriate material reuse Paul said the works include remediation of buildings to be retained, controlled demolition of redundant structures, remediation of contaminated ground, safe and appropriate material reuse and recycling, and preparing serviced parcels ready for construction. “This is about more than enabling development, it is about creating certainty on a complex site, maintaining trust with stakeholders and laying the foundations for sustainable delivery. For clients managing estates with historic uses, ongoing occupation or security sensitivities, the strength of RSK lies in our ability to bring multiple disciplines together under one management structure, allowing complex schemes to progress safely while respecting the people, history and environment already in place. When the site is handed over to BDW at the end of our project work it will be ready for the team to start work on the construction of the new housing development.” Range of multidisciplinary RSK companies delivering the project work RSK companies supporting BDW and delivering project work include:- RSK Geosciences Operations Director Darren Beesley said the size, history and complex nature of the site, including the previous military research use, made for a challenging and fascinating project that draws on a range of disciplines and services provided by RSK Group businesses. Military use dates back to 1890s as part of London Defence Scheme He said the team’s research revealed that military uses began on the site in the 1890s, when it was part of the London Defence Scheme, with the fort constructed between 1895 and 1897. Darren said: “When the London Defence Scheme ended in 1906, Fort Halstead was retained as an ammunitions store, with a laboratory and new buildings added, until it passed into private hands in the 1920s. It was bought by the War Office in 1937 and built up during the war years. Until recently, it was home to the Ministry of Defence’s, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, which carried out research into explosives and weapon systems. The site also had its own fire station and a petrol filling station. Site covers 70 hectares with 18 hectares earmarked for development “Challenges associated with a project of this nature include the sheer size of the site, which covers an area of some 70 hectares with about 18 hectares earmarked for development, the number of buildings to be demolished and historically important buildings that will be retained. The complex nature of the project recognises the site’s historical uses, the need for demolition and sustainable and carbon-efficient remediation, to deliver a safe development platform, minimising waste soils and maximising materials reuse, along with an emphasis on protection of heritage assets, protecting the ancient woodland and enhancing ecology and biodiversity on site.” Non-intrusive and intrusive ground investigation Darren added that pre-demolition ground investigation was completed in December 2024, which included the combined use of non-intrusive geophysical investigation and intrusive investigation at over 300 locations across the site, giving a 25 m borehole spacing in accessible areas where development is proposed. “The approach taken included the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to visualise and interpret the vast amount of data we collected. This has provided a detailed understanding of the site to support foundation and remediation design, reducing the need for over-excavation of materials during the development phase, minimising wastes generated, providing a more sustainable development. Further investigations are ongoing alongside demolition and enabling work being undertaken by the contractor Soil Fix. Results from the additional inspections will be used to inform final remediation design.” The ground investigation project was shortlisted for two 2025 Ground Engineering magazine awards: Ground Investigation Project of the Year and UK Project with a Geotechnical Value of between £500,000 and £1 million. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
VodafoneThree has today announced a partnership with Vyntelligence (Vyn®), a category-pioneering Agentic Video Intelligence Work Platform, to support its network integration and upgrade programme. Through the use of AI-powered video, Vyntelligence technology will help support engineers to upgrade thousands of mobile network sites more efficiently, safely and accurately. Following the merger between Vodafone and Three, VodafoneThree is investing £11 billion to build the UK’s best network. By integrating, modernising and upgrading sites across the country, VodafoneThree will deliver 5G Standalone (SA) coverage to 99% of the UK population by 2030, and 99.96% by 20341. Empowering the contractor ecosystem A key part of this network rollout is working with multiple delivery partners and subcontractors. Traditionally, the transition from build to activation has relied on detailed paperwork and manual audits, which can slow progress and lead to delays, or require additional site visits. Vyntelligence supports this process through the Vyn® app, enabling field teams to capture short, guided videos of their work. The technology then reviews the build quality in near real-time, helping to identify any risks or safety concerns and confirm when the site is ready. This creates a more streamlined and consistent way to evidence activity on site, while helping to reduce administrative burden for engineers. Iain Milligan, Director of Network Development & Infrastructure at VodafoneThree said: “Upgrading a network at this scale requires close collaboration across delivery partners and teams on the ground. By working with Vyntelligence, we’re giving our engineers a more streamlined way to capture and share their work, reducing the need for manual, time intensive processes while helping to maintain consistent standards across sites. “Using this technology, we can improve the efficiency, enhance safety and support engineers to progress the network rollout at greater speed and with more confidence – enabling us to deliver better connectivity for our customers.” Benefits for customers and the economy By using Video AI to help streamline these setup cycles, VodafoneThree can bring upgraded 5G coverage online more quickly. This means customers can start to benefit sooner, while supporting engineers in the deployment of resilient, high-quality digital infrastructure needed to support the UK’s growing digital economy. Kapil Singhal, Co-founder & CEO of Vyntelligence, said: “Vyntelligence is proud to support one of the UK’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. We provide the ‘eyes and ears’ on the ground, helping VodafoneThree deliver the UK’s best network and set a new global standard for how national networks are built and maintained. By fostering a unified ecosystem, we establish shared visibility and intelligence across all sites and assets, enabling faster decisions at scale.” Key facts at a glance Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Taylor Wimpey North West is bringing forward plans for a new residential development of 58 homes in Lancaster, with the acquisition of land for its Beaumont Rise development taking place on 30th June. Located off Slyne Road, Beaumont Rise will deliver 58 homes, comprising a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes designed to support a range of buyers, including first-time buyers, families and downsizers. The development has received full planning permission and work on the development is expected to take place later this week. Beaumont Rise will also include public open space, landscaped green areas, pedestrian links throughout the development and a range of energy-efficient features. Existing landscape features across the site are expected to be retained and enhanced as part of the plans. As one of the UK’s largest homebuilders, Taylor Wimpey has more than 100 years of experience delivering homes and communities across the country and has built more than one million homes since its foundations were established. Taylor Wimpey is also recognised as a five-star homebuilder by the Home Builders Federation, based on customer satisfaction scores from homeowners. Gavin Powell, Sales Director at Taylor Wimpey North West, said: “We’re pleased to be taking the next step towards bringing Beaumont Rise to Lancaster. “As Taylor Wimpey enters the area, we want to engage with local residents and stakeholders and ensure people feel informed as plans progress. “Our ambition is to create a new neighbourhood that meets local demands for new homes and provides a well-connected place to call home.” Residents interested in following the progress of the development can find more information and register for updates via the Beaumont Rise webpage. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK’s retail property sector is set for another significant period of change after TGJones secured High Court approval for a major restructuring plan that could see up to 150 former WHSmith high street stores close across the country. The decision follows the acquisition of WHSmith’s historic high street business by Modella Capital, with the retailer now operating under the TGJones brand while WHSmith continues to focus on its travel division. The restructuring represents one of the largest retail estate reviews in recent years and is expected to have implications for landlords, town centres, retail asset managers and commercial property investors as the business reshapes its nationwide portfolio. TGJones currently operates 451 stores and employs more than 4,700 people, but the approved plan will allow the business to streamline its estate by closing underperforming locations while renegotiating lease agreements across hundreds of remaining stores. As part of the restructuring, the retailer intends to significantly reduce its occupational costs. Around 120 landlords will receive no rental income from affected stores for up to three years, while rents across many other locations are expected to be reduced by between 15% and 75%. For the commercial property sector, the move highlights the continued evolution of Britain’s high streets as retailers seek more sustainable operating models in response to changing consumer behaviour, rising operating costs and increasing competition from online shopping. Store closures inevitably present challenges for landlords and local authorities, but they can also create opportunities for town centre regeneration through the repurposing of vacant retail units. Across the UK, former high street premises are increasingly being converted into mixed-use developments, leisure destinations, healthcare facilities, flexible workspaces, residential accommodation and community uses, helping to diversify town centres and attract new investment. Modella Capital has confirmed it intends to invest £35 million into the business as part of its long-term recovery strategy. Alongside changes to supplier repayment arrangements and lease restructuring, the investment is designed to create a more financially sustainable retailer capable of adapting to today’s retail environment. The company said many of the challenges inherited following the acquisition stemmed from years of underinvestment in the store estate, alongside a cash shortfall approaching £8 million. It also acknowledged that difficult retail trading conditions and the loss of the long-established WHSmith brand had added further pressure during the transition. For the construction and property industries, the restructuring serves as another reminder of the changing role of physical retail. As occupier requirements evolve, developers, investors and landlords are increasingly focusing on refurbishment, adaptive reuse and mixed-use regeneration to ensure town centre assets remain commercially viable and continue to contribute to the long-term vitality of local communities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Pye Homes has announced an exclusive Stamp Duty offer worth up to £10,000 on select properties for sale at Welborne Garden Village near Fareham in Hampshire. The housebuilder will pay Stamp Duty fees of up £10,000 for families who reserve one of its Welborne Garden Village homes in July.* The exclusive offer is an ideal opportunity for those looking to buy a property in this idyllic location, 300 metres from nature, within 444 acres of parks and woodland, less than eight miles to the nearest beach, and just 10 minutes’ drive from Fareham railway station, which offers direct trains to Cardiff, Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton and London Waterloo. This limited-time incentive follows the opening of Pye Homes’ showhomes and show apartments as it unveiled an exclusive collection of six Audley apartments, which feature two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and allocated parking. The Audley apartments are perfect for home buyers who are interested in downsizing but still want every modern convenience in a beautiful setting. Pye Homes is crafting 210 of the 6,000 new homes at Welborne Garden Village, which will also include a Village Centre featuring independent shops, pub/hotel, GP surgery, pharmacy and eventually four new schools. Over 50% of the development’s land will be dedicated to public open space, with additional outdoor spaces including the 30-acre Welborne Park, a community orchard, allotments, sports fields, and play areas. Welborne is now open for prospective buyers to visit the Pye Homes customer lounge, tour the showhomes and show apartment, and experience the new neighbourhood for themselves. *For more information and the Stamp Duty incentive terms and conditions, visit www.welborne.co.uk/event To find out more about The Audley apartments and the collection of homes now available at Welborne Garden Village, and to register for an appointment, visit www.pyehomes.co.uk/developments/welborne/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A former 19th-century dyeworks near Huddersfield has been successfully transformed into a sustainable residential development following the completion of complex engineering works led by Dudleys Consulting Engineers. The Royd Edge Mills development delivers 30 new homes, ranging from two-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom detached properties, while breathing new life into a historic brownfield site with industrial origins stretching back to the late 1830s. Originally established as a textile mill drawing water from Royd Edge Moor via Thick Hollins Dyke, the site later became a thriving dyeworks before eventually falling into disuse. Following decades of decline and the demolition of the former industrial buildings, the redevelopment presented a series of significant engineering and construction challenges. Extensive below-ground investigations uncovered remnants of historic foundations, former basements, wheelhouses, engine rooms and underground chimney structures, alongside areas of quarrying, steep bedrock and an intricate network of historic watercourses. These conditions required careful planning and innovative engineering solutions before construction could begin. Dudleys Consulting Engineers was appointed to provide civil and structural engineering expertise across the project, delivering designs for the development’s foundations, drainage infrastructure and structural solutions for both the houses and apartment buildings. Working closely with the wider project team, the consultancy developed a revised site-level strategy incorporating a combination of shallow trench, deep trench and piled foundation systems to suit the varying ground conditions. The approach enabled efficient connections to existing adopted drainage while delivering an effective surface water management solution. One of the project’s most significant engineering achievements involved reconfiguring the former mill pond. Rather than constructing a substantial retaining wall to manage flood risk, the team redesigned the landscape by cutting back the pond, reducing the risk of leakage and creating a more practical, attractive and sustainable solution. This approach not only improved the visual character of the development but also increased usable garden space, enhanced natural landscaping and reduced off-site material waste. New woodland walkways have also been incorporated, helping integrate the development into its surrounding environment while encouraging biodiversity and providing attractive outdoor spaces for future residents. Andy Walker, Managing Director of Dudleys Consulting Engineers, said the project demonstrated how innovative engineering could unlock difficult brownfield sites while delivering environmental, commercial and community benefits. Adam Howarth of Royd Edge Mill Developments added that the engineering solutions had enabled the complex site to be developed efficiently while respecting its industrial heritage and creating lasting value for the local area. The Royd Edge Mills project demonstrates how collaborative design, sustainable engineering and intelligent site remediation can successfully regenerate former industrial land, transforming challenging brownfield sites into high-quality residential communities while preserving the character and legacy of their historic setting. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Thames Tideway Tunnel is a £4.6 billion infrastructure project designed to modernise London’s ageing sewer network. As part of the project, several sites along the Thames were expanded to accommodate the additional infrastructure required for the tunnel, creating new riverside public spaces and prompting upgrades to existing lighting assets. At Tyburn Quay and Bazalgette Embankment, these works brought two distinctive heritage lighting installations into focus. Delivered for Transport for London and the City of London Corporation respectively, the schemes formed part of Tideway Central, led by FLO Joint Venture, with FM Conway and consultant WSP among the wider project team. Drawing on its long-standing experience working with historic lighting across central London, DW Windsor supported the delivery of both schemes, retaining the defining features of each installation while introducing the structural, lighting and control technologies needed for their continued use. The road running alongside Tyburn Quay is lined with a mix of original Grade II-listed cast column bases and a number of later replicas. Dating from 1900, the original bases feature dolphins, floral detailing and representations of Britannia. While the project required the lighting installation to be upgraded, preserving these historic bases was an important part of the brief. Each casting was removed from site and transported to DW Windsor’s Hertfordshire factory, where the company’s specialist restoration team repaired and repainted the decorative finishes in their distinctive combination of black, red and gold. As part of the upgrade, new reinforced steel columns designed to retain the proportions and appearance of the originals were installed. These were completed with traditional scroll brackets and finials finished in a custom gold paint to complement the decorative elements on the bases. Strand lanterns were then fitted as a like-for-like replacement for the previous luminaires, preserving the familiar appearance of the lighting. The lanterns incorporate efficient LED lighting technology and Zhaga sockets, currently fitted with Zhaga photocells. This future-proofs the installation by allowing CMS nodes to be added should Transport for London adopt a central management system at a later date. Once the work was complete, DW Windsor worked alongside FM Conway to transport the restored column bases back to site and assist with their reinstallation, helping to minimise handling and protect these important heritage assets. At Bazalgette Embankment, the project team faced a different heritage challenge. The existing lighting featured George Vulliamy’s iconic dolphin pedestal design, better known to many as the Sturgeon lamp post, originally created for the Victorian Embankment works and now one of the riverside’s most recognisable features. While the sculptural bases and cradles were retained for their architectural and historic significance, the globe lanterns above required replacement. DW Windsor was tasked with recreating the original appearance while developing a completely new internal lighting system. The solution needed to deliver modern performance, improved control and easier maintenance without detracting from the character of the historic installation. The age of the cradles made this particularly challenging. Created using historic manufacturing methods and exposed to decades of weathering, the individual structures varied in dimension and condition. Working with specialist installer London and Kent, DW Windsor developed an adjustable mounting system that allowed each new globe lantern to be fitted securely within its existing cradle. Inside the recreated globe, two separate LED systems perform distinct roles. A CoB LED provides the principal downward illumination, with a rear shield helping to reduce light spill back towards the Thames, while a second light source softly illuminates the upper section and opal lid, preserving the characteristic glow and visual presence of the original globe. Specified at 2700K, the new lighting produces a warm appearance suited to the historic riverside setting. Urban Control’s CMS technology was also incorporated discreetly within the globe, with the antenna concealed inside the fitting so that the external appearance remained unchanged. Both Tyburn Quay and Bazalgette Embankment highlight the importance of balancing heritage preservation with modern lighting requirements. By retaining significant original features wherever possible and replacing only those elements requiring renewal, the schemes preserve the established character of Victoria Embankment while introducing improved performance and control. Robert Maisey, Operations Director at DW Windsor, said: “At Tyburn Quay, the priority was to retain the character of the original installation. Restoring the bases and upgrading the columns, brackets and lanterns allowed us to bring the scheme back to life while introducing the structural strength and technology needed for the future.” Alex Winship, Specials Product Design Manager at DW Windsor, added: “The challenge at Bazalgette Embankment was to recreate the appearance of the original globes while completely redesigning their internal lighting architecture. By combining two light sources, discreet CMS integration and an adjustable mounting system, we were able to preserve their familiar glow while delivering modern lighting performance.” The schemes form part of DW Windsor’s wider contribution to the Thames Tideway project, which has included the supply of heritage and contemporary lighting across several locations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals Clients and partners Clients – Transport for London / City of London Corporation Main Contractor – FM Conway Joint Venture – FLO (Ferrovial Construction and Laing O’Rourke) Consultant – WSP Specialist Installer (Globes) – London and Kent
FireAngel announces new Spec+ range incorporating a complete portfolio of domestic safety solutions, including multi-sensor and single-sensor smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms. FireAngel has announced the launch of its brand-new Spec+ range, an evolved solutions offering of mains-powered fire and domestic safety alarms designed to support professional installations, improve ease of replacement, and to keep more people safe in their homes today and in the future. Classified as Grade D1 alarms in line with BS 5839-6, the range comes with a 10-year sealed rechargeable lithium backup battery, making them suitable for most residential applications under current legislation and standards. Domestic safety solutions for evolving needs Developed for the UK professional market, the Spec+ range brings together smoke, heat, carbon monoxide and multi-sensor protection in a flexible new product family, with anticipated changes to legislation and consumer habits considered in its development. It includes dedicated smoke and heat alarms, as well as multi-sensor alarms offering smoke, heat and CO detection in a single device. Designed with professional installers, landlords, housebuilders and housing providers in mind, the new Spec+ products ensure long-life performance and interconnection capability, and a practical base plate design to make installation and replacement as straightforward as possible. The smoke alarms combine Thermoptek™ and UltraSense™ technology, which work in parallel to improve response to fire risk whilst reducing ‘nuisance alarms’ due to lifestyle factors and contaminants. Improving on previous products, Spec+ incorporates bug mesh and dust compensation components to increase device longevity and minimise interference or contamination which can cause false alarms. The alarms have built-in Bluetooth (BLE) as standard, supporting the optional interlinking of up to 50 Spec+ devices either wirelessly, via hardwired connection or a mix of the two, without the need for additional costly modules. Standards, testing and certification for domestic safety solutions All core alarms in the Spec+ range are designed for a 10-year lifespan and come with a leading 10-year warranty, providing peace of mind for residents. Smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms typically have a 10-year working life and despite often functioning beyond this, FireAngel advises all alarms should be replaced after 10 years to ensure continued protection. Nick Rutter, Chief Executive Officer at FireAngel, said: “Our new Spec+ range represents a significant product portfolio for FireAngel that will enable a step-change for the future of domestic safety. Spec+ has been designed around real installation needs, quality-first design principles and trusted protection for residents.” “The launch comes at an important time for the fire safety sector, where innovation and healthy marketplace competition are essential to continuously improving protection in homes across the UK. FireAngel believes that bringing new products to market plays a vital role in giving specifiers, contractors and housing providers greater choice, while ensuring safety-critical technology continues to evolve.” The Spec+ range includes: Find out more about FireAngel professional services and the Spec+ range: https://www.fireangel.co.uk/specplus Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Footasylum has reinforced its commitment to bricks-and-mortar retail with the reopening of its significantly upgraded store at the Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester, as the retailer continues an ambitious programme of investment across its UK property portfolio. The refurbished 17,178 sq ft store represents the latest phase of Footasylum’s national expansion strategy, reflecting growing confidence in prime retail destinations that continue to attract strong footfall and deliver engaging customer experiences. Located within one of the UK’s premier shopping centres, the upgraded store has been designed to provide an enhanced retail environment, offering an extensive range of leading sportswear and lifestyle brands including Nike, Adidas Originals, ASICS, Saucony and Berghaus, alongside Footasylum’s own exclusive labels such as Monterrain and Forena. The investment forms part of a wider programme of property and operational expansion that has seen the retailer open new stores in Manchester Arndale, Trinity Leeds and Merthyr Tydfil, while continuing to strengthen its presence in strategically important retail locations across the UK. For the property and construction sector, the latest investment highlights the ongoing evolution of physical retail space. Modern retail fit-outs increasingly focus on creating flexible, experience-led environments capable of supporting changing consumer behaviours, premium product presentation and seamless integration with digital retail platforms. Alongside its store expansion programme, Footasylum has continued investing in its wider operational infrastructure, including increasing warehouse capacity to support future growth and securing additional funding from HSBC UK to accelerate its ongoing rollout strategy. The business has also expanded into international markets across Central Europe and the Gulf region, demonstrating confidence in its long-term growth ambitions. The retailer has also strengthened its leadership team with the recent appointment of Hannah Mercer as Chief Executive Officer and entered into a strategic partnership with British streetwear brand Trapstar, further enhancing its product offering and brand appeal. Shannon Osman, Retail Director at Footasylum, described the upgraded Trafford Centre store as another landmark in the company’s UK expansion plans. She said the investment reflects Footasylum’s commitment to creating innovative retail destinations that strengthen customer engagement while offering an enhanced shopping experience in one of the country’s highest-performing retail centres. The continued investment also demonstrates the resilience of well-located shopping destinations such as the Trafford Centre, where landlords and occupiers are working together to deliver high-quality retail environments that attract leading brands and support long-term asset performance. As retailers continue to adapt their property strategies to changing consumer expectations, investment in modern store design, premium fit-outs and flagship locations remains an important driver of the UK’s retail property market, creating opportunities across construction, interiors, building services and commercial fit-out sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals