MINISO is set to open its 50th UK store at Centre:mk in Milton Keynes, marking a milestone in the lifestyle brand’s rapid expansion since entering the market in 2019. The new 1,550 sq ft unit on Silbury Boulevard will stock fan-favourite collections from Hello Kitty and Friends, Sylvanian Families, Disney
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has exchanged contracts to acquire a prime 30-acre brownfield site at Hardwick Grange, Warrington, representing the largest strategic logistics land purchase in the North West this year. The site, formerly occupied by Safeway and later Iceland, has been acquired from UK real
Glenigan Review sees UK construction activity continuing to fall against a backdrop of economic uncertainty Today, Glenigan | Powered by Hubexo (Glenigan), one of the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, releases the October 2025 edition of its Construction Review. The Review focuses on the three months to the
GMI Construction Group PLC, a national award-winning UK contractor providing design and build capabilities, has reached a significant construction milestone as the final steel beam was raised into place during a traditional “topping out” ceremony for Avon Street, a £50 million purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Bristol’s Temple Meads Quarter.
Asda is stepping up its convenience store expansion drive with the launch of nine new Asda Express branches this week, seven of which are opening across London. The move underlines the retailer’s ambition to strengthen its footprint in high-footfall city locations, residential areas, and key transport hubs. London shoppers will
Plans for a major new clinical building at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax have been approved, paving the way for construction to begin in summer 2026. Laing O’Rourke’s proposal marks a key milestone in a £200 million programme to upgrade healthcare facilities across the region. The new development will deliver
RED Construction Group, the specialist contractor, has announced that its South West division has completed works on Alumno Group’s £13m Hollis Wharf student accommodation project in Bath, and Bristol’s Harbourside cladding remediation works. These project milestones coincide with the opening of a new Exeter office, the expansion of the existing
Leading structural and civil engineering consultancy provides innovative solutions for one of Next’s largest retail destinations. Perega has successfully completed comprehensive structural engineering works for the new flagship Next store at Lakeside Shopping Centre in south Essex. The store, which is now open to the public, showcases the consultancy’s ability to
The Crown Estate has announced plans for a £4.5bn science and technology district at Harwell East in Oxfordshire, following its acquisition of the 221-acre site adjacent to the renowned Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. The large-scale project is set to deliver up to 4.5 million square feet of new laboratory,
Watkin Jones has secured planning permission for a major mixed-use development in Chesser, to the west of Edinburgh city centre, following approval from Scottish ministers. The project will deliver 779 new homes in total, comprising 100 affordable apartments, 293 build-to-rent (BTR) homes, and 406 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) bedrooms. Initially
MINISO is set to open its 50th UK store at Centre:mk in Milton Keynes, marking a milestone in the lifestyle brand’s rapid expansion since entering the market in 2019. The new 1,550 sq ft unit on Silbury Boulevard will stock fan-favourite collections from Hello Kitty and Friends, Sylvanian Families, Disney and Pokémon, alongside a rotating line-up of vinyl plush pendants, blind boxes, surprise bags, toys, beauty, lifestyle accessories and snacks. The Centre:mk signing underscores MINISO’s strategy of targeting high-footfall destinations while steadily building a presence on prime high streets. It follows a flurry of 2025 launches, including Birmingham’s Bullring (opened 10 October), Glasgow Central (3 September), Bromley and Livingston (both 22 August), Telford Centre (11 July), Edinburgh Princes Street (21 March) and Kingston’s Clarence Street (7 March). Earlier flagships in London’s Oxford Street, Manchester’s Trafford Centre and Edinburgh’s Princes Street have helped cement brand visibility and supported a national roll-out of around 60 locations to date. For Centre:mk—one of the region’s dominant shopping destinations—the deal adds another crowd-pulling name to a tenant mix geared towards family and youth appeal. Kevin Duay, centre director at Centre:mk, said: “MINISO’s decision to bring its popular brand to Centre:mk is a reflection of the centre’s vast catchment area, high footfall and our ability to attract global retailers, and a clear endorsement in both Milton Keynes and the strength of Centre:mk as a dominant regional centre.” MINISO’s UK playbook blends fast-fit, merchandising-led store design with frequent product drops and licensed collaborations that fuel repeat visits. Recent openings suggest the retailer is balancing enclosed malls—where event-led activations can drive dwell—with town-centre locations that tap commuter and weekend footfall. The brand is also enhancing its digital offer, with plans to introduce click-and-collect to bridge online discovery and in-store purchase. For landlords and local authorities, the 50th-store announcement signals continued demand from value-led, impulse-friendly retailers that trade effectively across seasons and respond quickly to social media trends. For consumers, Centre:mk’s upcoming opening offers an accessible dose of “kawaii” culture and small-ticket gifting—timed neatly for peak shopping periods. Fit-out is expected to emphasise simple wayfinding, high-density front-of-house display and efficient back-of-house logistics to support rapid replenishment. With the milestone now set for Milton Keynes, MINISO’s UK footprint looks set to keep growing through 2026, combining shopping-centre anchors with targeted high-street infill and an increasingly omnichannel proposition. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has exchanged contracts to acquire a prime 30-acre brownfield site at Hardwick Grange, Warrington, representing the largest strategic logistics land purchase in the North West this year. The site, formerly occupied by Safeway and later Iceland, has been acquired from UK real estate investor and developer, Firethorn, and English Real Estates Ltd. Located adjacent to Junction 21 of the M6, the property benefits from immediate motorway connectivity, in one of the region’s most established industrial locations. Panattoni intends to bring forward proposals for a new sustainable logistics park on a speculative basis, replacing the obsolete existing buildings with high-quality, energy-efficient space designed to meet the growing demand for modern accommodation across the North West region. Dan Burn, Head of Development for the North West and Yorkshire at Panattoni, said: “We are delighted to have acquired this major strategic site in Warrington. The obsolete buildings are at the end of their economic life, and our intention is to bring forward a high-quality, sustainable redevelopment that reflects both the site’s potential and its importance to the local economy. We look forward to working collaboratively with Warrington Borough Council and our planning consultants, Lichfields, to refine our proposals ahead of submitting a planning application early next year.” The redevelopment will target BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings, reflecting Panattoni’s commitment to sustainability and Net Zero Carbon standards in construction. The scheme will also aim to deliver significant local economic benefits through job creation, enhanced landscaping, and improved accessibility. Brownfield regeneration continues to represent a substantial proportion of Panattoni’s UK investment activity, accounting for 2m sq ft of the company’s project acquisitions this year. The Warrington development reinforces Panattoni’s focus on repurposing redundant industrial land in established urban markets, driving sustainable growth while supporting regional employment. DTRE advised Panattoni on the transaction, with CMS providing legal counsel. For more information, please visit: www.panattoni.co.uk/warrington Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Glenigan Review sees UK construction activity continuing to fall against a backdrop of economic uncertainty Today, Glenigan | Powered by Hubexo (Glenigan), one of the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, releases the October 2025 edition of its Construction Review. The Review focuses on the three months to the end of September 2025, covering all major (>£100m) and underlying (<£100m) projects, with all underlying figures seasonally adjusted. It’s a report providing a detailed and comprehensive analysis of year-on-year construction data, giving built environment professionals a unique insight into sector performance over the past year. All Fall Down Once again, Glenigan’s October Review paints a picture of a sector continuing to slow down, as investor confidence fails to return to the private market and many public projects face significant delays. It was a case of across-the-board decline with project starts, main contract awards and detail planning approvals all down compared to both the preceding three months, and the same period last year. Looking at the former, project starts fell by 15% against the previous quarter and plummeted to a shocking 40% on 2024 levels. Likewise, the value of planning approvals was slashed by approximately fifth (-21%) during Q.3 and when measured against the previous year (-18%). Whilst main contract awards only dipped a modest 2% compared to the preceding three months, they finished almost a third down (-32%) against the previous year. Commenting on the results, Yuliana Ivanykovych, Senior Economist at Glenigan says, “The situation seems to be getting worse as the year progresses and, at this rate something truly transformative will need to happen to kick-start activity. Activity is depressed across both underlying and major projects, a result of low business confidence and the slow progress of government funded projects. Couple that with the industry’s long-term labour market challenges, wafer-thin margins and growing concerns over rising costs and you have a perfect storm, which the industry will have to try and weather in the months to come. She continues, “Not only that, there is added caution ahead of the Budget. Investors are keen to keep their powder dry, whilst Government departments cautiously watch for any changes to their funding allocations which might put capital projects at risk.” Residential continues to fall The residential sector is in decline, with that positive growth spurt seen over the Spring/Summer now seeming a distant memory. Whilst project starts only fell by 7% year-on-year, main contract awards tumbled by 47% and planning approvals by 39% when measured against 2024 figures. Private housing experienced a particularly poor period whilst social housing has been left with a significantly weakened pipeline. Even though there was strong growth in major project starts within this vertical, compared to both last year and the previous quarter, it was not quite enough to pull it up into positive figures. Regionally, performance was generally weak, with most posting lower project starts compared to Q.2 and the previous year. However, London and the South East both registered small project start increases, up 8% and 2% respectively on 2024. The latter also experience an uptick in planning approvals, growing 10% year-on-year, with the East of England (+28%) and South West (+11%) posting increases on a year ago. High-rise for office starts Offices continued their moment in the sun, despite planning approvals falling by three-quarters (-76%) and main contract awards down by 9% compared to 2024, the vertical posted an impressive 82% increase in starts year-on-year. This boost can be predominantly attributed to a spike in underlying starts as well as policy-driven momentum, with the Government recently signing a Tech Prosperity Deal, which has led to announcing an AI ‘growth zone’ in the North East. This £30bn investment will make the region home to one of the largest data centre hubs in Europe and hint at how this type of building will likely keep performance relatively resilient in the office vertical (which includes data centres) in the months and years to come. Most regions posted strong project starts performances with London possessing the highest share (68%) during this period, thanks to an 87% increase year-on-year. This growth is largely the result of the £400 million 50 Fenchurch Street development in the City. The North West also witnessed a 14% project starts increase compared to a year ago, in this case Manchester’s The Republic at Mayfield development was responsible. Bright spots amid the gloom Two others verticals particularly stood out: Hotel & Leisure and Civils. The former has experienced a surprisingly robust period of activity with project starts increase a whopping 93% year-on-year, with main contract awards also up 14%. Whilst detailed planning approvals were down 35% compared to 2024 levels, they did grow against Q.2 A 237% jump in indoor leisure facilities was only outstripped by an astonishing 344% leap in sports facilities performance. These impressive results were born out in the regions where developments including Manchester’s wellbeing resort and the Cardiff Arena & Hotel Atlantic Wharf are driving growth. Despite a poor start performance, Civils has seen a sharp increase in planning approvals (+150%) compared to the previous year and a 38% rise in main contract awards over Q.2 2025. Underlying figures were particularly positive, rising to 58%, against the preceding three months, indicating a strengthening of the development pipeline. This has likely been catalysed by the Government’s focus on clean energy projects, alongside the approval of more offshore windfarm projects, set to support overall growth in the future. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GMI Construction Group PLC, a national award-winning UK contractor providing design and build capabilities, has reached a significant construction milestone as the final steel beam was raised into place during a traditional “topping out” ceremony for Avon Street, a £50 million purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Bristol’s Temple Meads Quarter. The landmark development, delivered on behalf of a joint venture between leading PBSA specialist Host and Corebridge Real Estate Investors, will provide 447 high-quality student bedrooms across two apartment blocks and a standalone mixed-use building. The scheme, created in consultation with Bristol City Council, occupies the former Chanson Foods site on Avon Street and was designed by architects Chapman Taylor. Adam Taylor, GMI Construction’s Regional Director in the Midlands, said: “It is a privilege to be delivering such a high-profile development in the heart of Bristol. Demand for well-designed student accommodation in the city has never been greater, and this scheme will play an important role in meeting that need. Avon Street also demonstrates the depth of expertise we have amassed in the PBSA sector, as well as GMI’s ability to expand into new regions while maintaining the same standards of quality and delivery that our clients expect.” Situated 200 metres from Bristol Temple Meads station and overlooking the city’s Floating Harbour, the 12-story project is located directly opposite the new Bristol University Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, and, given the level of unmet demand from students currently unable to access PBSA in the city, will deliver much needed accommodations in the centre of Bristol. In addition, the project’s distinctive architecture references the area’s industrial heritage and neighbouring railway buildings, creating a new landmark for those traveling in and out of the station. John Nesbitt, Tiger Developments, Managing Director, said: “The topping out of Avon Street represents an exciting step forward that will transform the student living experience in Bristol. “The city faces significant pressure on student housing, and this scheme will make a real difference by providing much needed accommodations in a location that is second to none. Working alongside GMI, we are developing a project that combines architectural distinction with the modern facilities students want and need, ensuring it becomes one of the most desirable places to live and study in Bristol.” Kevin Reid, Global Chief Operating Officer and Head of Europe at Corebridge Real Estate Investors, comments: “Having developed or acquired nearly 5,000 beds of PBSA in the UK, we have a good perspective on not only where to invest but how best to do so. We are pleased to partner with Host and GMI on this exciting project.” The topping out ceremony, attended by key stakeholders from across the development team, marks a major achievement on the journey to final completion ahead of the 2026/27 academic year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Asda is stepping up its convenience store expansion drive with the launch of nine new Asda Express branches this week, seven of which are opening across London. The move underlines the retailer’s ambition to strengthen its footprint in high-footfall city locations, residential areas, and key transport hubs. London shoppers will soon find new Asda Express stores at Tower Bridge, Greenwich, Limehouse Station, Harringay, Deptford, Whetstone, and within the former Arsenal FC club shop at Finsbury Park Station. Beyond the capital, Asda will also open sites in Southampton and Stoke, enhancing its reach across southern and central England. Each Asda Express offers a broad range of ambient and chilled groceries, alongside beers, wines and spirits. Customers can also benefit from additional services including Costa Coffee machines, ATMs, Amazon collection and return points, and on-demand delivery through Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo. Joseph Sutton, vice president of Asda Express, foodservice and fuel, said the new stores are an important step in bringing Asda’s value proposition to more communities. “We’re thrilled to be opening nine new Express stores this week, including seven in London – an area where we have traditionally had less of a presence in convenience,” he explained. “These openings are a key part of our strategy to bring Asda’s unbeatable value to more urban areas and residential communities across the UK. We know customers have looked forward to these stores opening for a long time, and we’re delighted to welcome them in and offer outstanding value across their favourite products.” Earlier in October, Asda opened a new Express store in Castleford, marking the start of the latest phase of its rollout. The retailer plans to open a further ten stores before the end of the year and has a strong pipeline of additional sites lined up for 2026, reinforcing its rapid growth in the convenience sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans for a major new clinical building at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax have been approved, paving the way for construction to begin in summer 2026. Laing O’Rourke’s proposal marks a key milestone in a £200 million programme to upgrade healthcare facilities across the region. The new development will deliver a state-of-the-art hospital building featuring separate emergency departments for adults and children, along with eight new wards. Completion is expected in 2029. The scheme received reserved matters approval from Calderdale Council, confirming the design, appearance, layout, and landscaping details. This approval represents one of the final planning hurdles for the long-term redevelopment of the hospital estate. Designed to reflect Halifax’s architectural character, the new building will integrate seamlessly with existing facilities while embracing modern sustainability principles. It is targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating, underpinned by high energy efficiency, low waste, and biodiversity measures. Laing O’Rourke, which was appointed to lead the design and planning in 2024, has placed sustainability and modern construction techniques at the core of its approach. Project leader Christopher Northwood said the firm would use modern methods of construction to minimise carbon impact and accelerate delivery. Preparatory works, including essential upgrades to power and water services, are due to start in the coming months ahead of main construction activity next summer. The project forms part of Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust’s wider Foundations for our Future programme, which aims to transform hospital and community healthcare services across the region. Once complete, the redeveloped Calderdale Royal Hospital will offer expanded capacity, improved patient flow, and modern facilities designed to support high-quality, sustainable care. The new building is set to become a landmark within Halifax, blending local architectural heritage with cutting-edge clinical design. It will create improved environments for patients and staff while supporting the Trust’s goal of providing more resilient and sustainable healthcare infrastructure for the future. With planning approval now secured, Laing O’Rourke’s focus will shift towards finalising design and procurement activities, readying the site for construction in mid-2026. The project is expected to provide a significant boost to the local economy, supporting jobs and skills development throughout the build phase and beyond. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
RED Construction Group, the specialist contractor, has announced that its South West division has completed works on Alumno Group’s £13m Hollis Wharf student accommodation project in Bath, and Bristol’s Harbourside cladding remediation works. These project milestones coincide with the opening of a new Exeter office, the expansion of the existing Bristol office, and key senior leadership appointments. Hollis Wharf, the 45,000 sq ft, 120-student apartment building, was designed by AWW Architects and spans five floors. The RED South West team has completed its works on the project, accommodating the city’s growing student population. The team also drew upon extensive experience in minimising the environmental impact of the works, not only due to its position adjacent to two Grade II listed buildings, but also as it sits within a World Heritage Site, Housing Development Boundary, and Enterprise Area. This coincides with the completion of the £5m cladding remediation at Bristol’s Harbourside, comprising fire safety remedial works to occupied apartments. The South West team delivered works that included the replacement of existing combustible external wall systems, balcony decking, cavity barriers, and associated build-up, support systems, and accessories. As the RED South West team expands through new appointments, successful completions, and new offices, the business has strengthened its senior leadership team. James Devey is now leading the South West team as Divisional Director, following Derek Quinn’s promotion to COO at RED Construction Group. Georgina Lillington is taking on the role of Commercial Director, bringing over two decades of experience to the role, and Founding Director Grant Millar, takes up a new role of Technical Services Director. James Devey, Divisional Director of RED South West, commented: “Our team continues to go from strength to strength, and as we remain committed to delivering high-quality works, we also continue to expand our senior leadership team and expertise. The sustained growth of RED South West is propelled by our ability to complete great projects like Hollis Wharf and Harbourside, and we’re proud to work with the best client teams in the region, that focus on tangible, positive outcomes for our communities.” David Campbell, Founder and Managing Director of Alumno Group, added: “RED Construction’s South West team are experts in the region, so they were the obvious choice when choosing who to partner with for Hollis Wharf. The works here speak volumes, with this transformation set to serve both Bath’s significant student population.” These project completions and team restructuring have come as RED Construction South West has relocated in Bristol, into an office triple the size. The new Bristol office has been joined by RED’s inaugural Exeter office, extending the main contractor’s presence in the region. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading structural and civil engineering consultancy provides innovative solutions for one of Next’s largest retail destinations. Perega has successfully completed comprehensive structural engineering works for the new flagship Next store at Lakeside Shopping Centre in south Essex. The store, which is now open to the public, showcases the consultancy’s ability to deliver innovative and complex solutions for large-scale retail developments. The new Next store is one of the largest in the company’s portfolio and required bespoke engineering to bring its unique architectural vision to life. Perega’s work included designing and installing custom balustrade and structural glazing systems, a substantial customer staircase with a handrail, and carefully engineered shopfronts. Presenting unique engineering challenges, the project included complex load-bearing requirements and the need for seamless integration with the existing building. To meet these demands, Perega worked to a tight deadline to ensure the frameworks were done ahead of the summer launch date. This included developing bespoke detailing solutions, particularly for integrating the balustrade base with existing steelwork, demonstrating the team’s ability to deliver innovative technical solutions on a tight schedule. Jake Parsell, Structural Engineer and Project Lead at Perega, said: “This was a particularly exciting project that challenged our team to develop innovative solutions for integrating new structural elements with existing building systems. The scale and complexity of the works, combined with the tight timeline, required close collaboration and creative problem-solving. We’re delighted to have contributed to what has become a truly impressive flagship retail destination.” The new store features a modern design with open skylight windows, expansive atriums, and six customer entrances. The successful delivery of the Next Lakeside project reinforces Perega’s growing reputation in the retail sector, building on its established expertise across healthcare, education, and commercial developments. The project timeline, spanning ten months, demonstrates the team’s efficiency in managing fast-track retail developments. For more information, please visit perega.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Crown Estate has announced plans for a £4.5bn science and technology district at Harwell East in Oxfordshire, following its acquisition of the 221-acre site adjacent to the renowned Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. The large-scale project is set to deliver up to 4.5 million square feet of new laboratory, office, and advanced manufacturing space, alongside around 400 new homes. Once complete, it will become one of the UK’s largest purpose-built research and innovation hubs. Harwell East is expected to generate an estimated £2.5bn for the economy and create around 30,000 jobs, reinforcing the site’s role as a central driver within the Oxford-Cambridge Arc’s growing science corridor. The development forms part of The Crown Estate’s long-term strategy to invest £1.5bn in the UK’s science, innovation, and technology sectors over the next 15 years. Chief executive Dan Labbad said the project reflects The Crown Estate’s ambition to help shape the UK’s future innovation landscape. “Our vision for Harwell East is to create the space where great science can thrive, ensuring the UK remains a world leader in research and innovation,” he said. Planning for the scheme is being led by Crucible, the company founded by former Harwell Campus director Angus Horner, who first conceived the Harwell East concept. The new district follows a series of science-focused initiatives by The Crown Estate, including developments at Cambridge Business Park, Oxford city centre, and Lendlease’s Euston regeneration project in London. Together, these schemes highlight The Crown Estate’s growing commitment to supporting the UK’s knowledge economy through the creation of sustainable, future-ready places for research and technological advancement. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Watkin Jones has secured planning permission for a major mixed-use development in Chesser, to the west of Edinburgh city centre, following approval from Scottish ministers. The project will deliver 779 new homes in total, comprising 100 affordable apartments, 293 build-to-rent (BTR) homes, and 406 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) bedrooms. Initially approved by the City of Edinburgh Council’s development management sub-committee in December 2022, the application was called in by the Scottish Government in February 2023 for further consideration of noise-related issues. After a detailed review, ministers have now granted consent subject to several planning conditions. The Chesser site includes a series of listed buildings that once formed part of an agricultural market established in the early twentieth century. Many of these structures have fallen into disrepair and now require substantial investment. Working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council and Historic Environment Scotland, Watkin Jones has developed plans that retain and restore key heritage features, creating a publicly accessible ‘Heritage Square’ at the heart of the scheme. Sustainability has been placed at the centre of the project, which is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. The development will incorporate air source heat pumps and photovoltaic solar panels to reduce carbon emissions. Discussions are also under way with a local registered provider to manage the affordable housing once the project is complete. Watkin Jones planning director Iain Smith said the approval marks an important milestone for the city. “Securing approval from Scottish ministers for this landmark regeneration project in Chesser is another step in addressing the city’s housing shortage,” he said. “Following the Scottish Government’s declaration of a national housing emergency in 2024, our new development helps to meet Edinburgh’s housing needs across multiple tenures by delivering high-quality homes in a highly accessible location. “We are not only relieving pressure on the city’s housing market but also contributing to a more sustainable city. Importantly, the development will also protect the most important elements of historic buildings for future generations and ensure the public has access to Heritage Square for years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals