Plans to deliver 124 much-needed Extra Care apartments in South Shields have this week been given the green light by South Tyneside’s planning committee. The much-needed specialist accommodation, to be developed by Karbon Homes in partnership with South Tyneside Council, will be built on the site of the former Chuter
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has commenced works on the Carholme Road and A46/A57 roundabout scheme in Lincoln. Marking Winvic’s fourth project awarded under the Lincolnshire County Council Highways Framework, Winvic
Neville Special Projects, the long-established specialist Luton-based contractor and part of the Neville Trust Group of Companies, has secured a new £11.6 million contract – for the design and build refurbishment of Hangars 60, 127, and 9 at London Luton Airport (LLA). This contract award follows a highly competitive tender
Snap Fitness has marked a major milestone with the opening of its 100th UK gym in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, as the franchised operator continues its rapid nationwide expansion. Since launching its first UK site in Sittingbourne, Kent, in 2012, the brand has grown to 106 gyms across the UK and Ireland,
A fast-growing Midlands architecture business is celebrating after completing its 30th project for the UK’s largest sporting goods retailer, Sports Direct. Wolverhampton-based Pinnacle Architecture has provided architectural services, interior design and project management for Sports Direct’s concept stores around the UK, including one of its biggest flagship stores in Birmingham
PRO:DIRECT Sport is set to launch its first flagship PD:FC concept store at Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre in early 2026. The new store will combine retail with community space, aiming to become a hub for Birmingham’s football culture. Alongside an extensive product range, PD:FC will host events, training sessions, and
Chelmsford City Council has begun the hunt for a development partner to help deliver the £250m regeneration of Chelmer Waterside, one of the city’s most significant brownfield sites. Formerly home to the town’s gas works, the site has been rebranded as Chelmer Waterside and is now primed for transformation into
Clowes Developments has begun a multi-million-pound site remediation and enabling works programme at its recently acquired 31-acre Harrier Park site in Hucknall, paving the way for new industrial and warehouse development. The brownfield site, once home to the creation of the Harrier ‘Jump Jet’ and Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, is set
GMI Construction Group and Olympian Homes have marked the completion of Rialto House, a £50 million purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development in York that delivers 275 high-quality student bedrooms and state-of-the-art amenities in a design-led environment. The four-storey scheme on Fishergate, developed by Olympian Homes, funded by Cain International and
O’Brien Contractors Limited has made substantial progress on the next phase of critical earthworks at Fairham, one of the East Midlands’ largest and most ambitious mixed-use developments. The earthworks are a key part of the delivery of the remaining residential parcels at Fairham, a transformative new neighbourhood on the edge
Plans to deliver 124 much-needed Extra Care apartments in South Shields have this week been given the green light by South Tyneside’s planning committee. The much-needed specialist accommodation, to be developed by Karbon Homes in partnership with South Tyneside Council, will be built on the site of the former Chuter Ede school and Ede Community Association. The scheme has been designed to help people with differing levels of care and support needs to live well and independently for longer. 25 of the apartments are specifically designed for people living with dementia. Zoey Hawthorne, Assistant Director of Development Delivery at Karbon Homes, said: “It’s great to have the backing of the South Tyneside Council planning committee to bring this exciting, much-needed scheme to fruition. “This project represents a major commitment from us to provide affordable, high-quality homes in the borough, a modern and welcoming place to live for residents with a number of socially-focused features to help facilitate community cohesion. “We have a great working relationship with South Tyneside’s Adult Social Care and Commissioning, who we have worked with on a number of housing projects that support adults with care and support needs. We look forward to further developing this relationship with them as we take this next project forward.” Karbon has worked with Tyne and Wear based JDDK Architects on the design, with apartments sitting across four storeys laid out around a central communal courtyard. The scheme will be highly energy efficient, with heating and hot water to be powered by air source heat pumps, with additional energy generated through roof mounted solar PV panels. The scheme will also have multi-use spaces for activities, which will be open for community groups to use, alongside a bistro café open to the general public. Bringing more housing of this type to the local authority area forms part of the Council’s wider Adult Social Care Accommodation Strategy, aimed at supporting people who may need care and support to live independently in the community. Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “I’m delighted this development has been given planning permission. “We continue to invest in affordable accommodation that reflects the needs and wants of our communities and allows people to live with dignity and independence in the heart of their communities in a place they can call home. “I’m really looking forward to watching this new facility take shape.” Karbon has appointed Robertson Construction North East as the lead contractor for the project. It will be the second Extra Care facility built by Robertson for Karbon and South Tyneside Council, the first being a 95-apartment scheme in Hebburn town centre. Its delivery will be part-funded by Homes England, through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with the Government’s housing delivery agency. This strategic partnership is supporting Karbon to deliver 2,324 new affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire by 2028, 10% of which will be new homes for people requiring additional support needs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has commenced works on the Carholme Road and A46/A57 roundabout scheme in Lincoln. Marking Winvic’s fourth project awarded under the Lincolnshire County Council Highways Framework, Winvic will deliver vital infrastructure improvements valued at £1.9 million. Scheduled to run from July to November 2025, the scheme involves complex civil engineering upgrades to Carholme Road – between Nelson Street and the A57 Saxilby Road – as well as the westbound carriageway of the A46 at Carholme Roundabout, including adjoining side roads. This key transport corridor sits in the heart of Lincoln city centre. Key elements of the upgrades include 9,000m² of resurfacing, along with constructing 800m² of new footway and installing 350 metres of new drainage featuring 37 new gullies. Additional works will involve carriageway realignment, kerb improvements, structural pavement replacement, and the application of new road markings and surface course finishes. The scheme will also address minor kerb maintenance and will be undertaken with full traffic management to ensure safety and minimise disruption. As part of its social value commitments to the region, Winvic will be supporting local employment through new roles on the project, previously on other projects on the framework this has included labourers, groundworkers and traffic management roles. Winvic will also be engaging with local schools in the new academic year to deliver careers workshops and engaging STEM activities highlighting engineering and modern methods of construction. Winvic is furthering its community support through volunteering in the local area and is already looking to partner with Lincolnshire County Council to provide its expertise and time to support local community projects. Rob Cook, Winvic’s Managing Director for Civils and Infrastructure, adds: “We are proud to be continuing our partnership with Lincolnshire County Council on this vital highways scheme. Carholme Road and the A46/A57 roundabout are key components of Lincoln’s Road network, and our experienced teams are committed to delivering these works safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption to the local community.” Join Winvic on social media – LinkedIn, and Instagram. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Neville Special Projects, the long-established specialist Luton-based contractor and part of the Neville Trust Group of Companies, has secured a new £11.6 million contract – for the design and build refurbishment of Hangars 60, 127, and 9 at London Luton Airport (LLA). This contract award follows a highly competitive tender process and reflects Neville’s reputation and presence in the region, where it has been delivering construction excellence for generations. In 2025, the group celebrates its 150th anniversary, marking a century and a half of continued investment in the local community, workforce and economy. Ben Knight, Construction Director at Neville Special Projects, commented: “This was a tough, highly competitive tender, and the effort the team put in behind the scenes was exceptional. From early engagement through to final submission, the level of collaboration, technical input, and sheer tenacity was second to none. It’s wins like this that really highlight what we can achieve when we pull together with a clear focus and shared purpose. A huge thank you to all involved – this is a fantastic result and a great opportunity to further strengthen our presence with London Luton Airport.” The refurbishment will bring three previously vacant hangars – once operated by Monarch Aircraft Engineering Ltd – back into active use. Built by our founding company T & E Neville Ltd for Monarch in the 1990s, Hangar 60 is set to house a new EasyJet aircraft maintenance facility and apprenticeship training campus, creating over 30 highly skilled engineering roles and supporting up to 40 apprentices annually. As a long-standing employer in Luton, with a previous history of works at the airport backdating to the 1960’s, Neville Special Projects remains committed to creating local opportunities. The company employs a workforce drawn primarily from the surrounding area and runs its own in-house apprenticeship programme, training the next generation of skilled tradespeople and construction professionals, many of whom stay with the business to progress their careers. With a strong track record in delivering complex projects in live operational environments, Neville Special Projects specialises in high-quality refurbishment and new-build schemes across a wide range of sectors including aviation, education, healthcare and commercial. This latest contract reflects the business’s strategic growth and its continued commitment to infrastructure investment in its hometown. The Neville Trust Group of Companies, established originally in Luton by Thomas and Edward Neville in 1875, has been employing people across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire for nearly 150 years. For information about Neville Special Projects, head to the website at https://www.nevillespecialprojects.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Snap Fitness has marked a major milestone with the opening of its 100th UK gym in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, as the franchised operator continues its rapid nationwide expansion. Since launching its first UK site in Sittingbourne, Kent, in 2012, the brand has grown to 106 gyms across the UK and Ireland, outpacing all other franchised gym operators in terms of new openings over the past three years. Its latest wave of growth is being driven by both long-standing franchisees scaling their investment and new partners joining the business at record levels. Kevin Yates, CEO of Snap Fitness EMEA, said: “This is a great landmark for Snap Fitness in the UK which we’re all really proud of. So much hard work has gone into getting the brand to where it is today and we’re all really excited about the direction we’re heading in. We have a fantastic network of franchisees and we’re striving to continue providing them with a product that stands out in the market. Investing in our member experience is a key priority for us and with more technology being integrated into our offering, as well as the upcoming launch of Reformer Pilates, the future is bright for us.” Alongside this landmark opening, Snap Fitness has released its latest property requirements as it targets further locations nationwide. The operator is seeking units between 6,000 and 12,500 sq ft, with a preference for retail park or roadside settings that benefit from nearby free parking. Founded in 2003, Snap Fitness now operates more than 1,000 gyms across over 20 countries and has established itself as the sixth-largest gym operator in the UK and Ireland. It was recently recognised as the fastest-growing UK gym franchise in the 2025 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report, with membership increasing by 18% year-on-year against an industry backdrop of 5.4%. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A fast-growing Midlands architecture business is celebrating after completing its 30th project for the UK’s largest sporting goods retailer, Sports Direct. Wolverhampton-based Pinnacle Architecture has provided architectural services, interior design and project management for Sports Direct’s concept stores around the UK, including one of its biggest flagship stores in Birmingham city centre. The £10 million New Street development includes in-store retail outlets for Game, Evans Cycles, USC and the Belong Gaming Arena. The huge 85,000 sq ft store is over four levels. Pinnacle has also recently supported major Sport Direct outlets in the Cascades Shopping Centre in Portsmouth and the £1.3 million Sports Direct store at The Fort in Birmingham. As well as architectural, design and project management services, Pinnacle has provided structural engineering work and cost consultancy for many other Frasers Group projects. Pinnacle Architecture Limited managing director Hurnake Singh Johal said, “We are delighted to have been on this journey and to continue to provide services for such a high profile retailer. The developments involved combining premium design and advanced retail features into spaces which embody the Sports Direct brand and reflect Frasers Group’s high status and values.” Pinnacle Architecture provides a one-stop bespoke service for architecture, structural and civil engineering and laser scanning. Founded in 2019, the firm has a wealth of experience across a wide range of sectors including buy-to-rent developments, care, retail, residential, mixed-use developments and more. Headquartered in a Grade 2 listed building in Deansgate Offices, Wolverhampton, Pinnacle also has offices in Telford and London. Pinnacle supports clients through the development process, from planning to design and implementation on a wide range of new build and refurbishment projects. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
PRO:DIRECT Sport is set to launch its first flagship PD:FC concept store at Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre in early 2026. The new store will combine retail with community space, aiming to become a hub for Birmingham’s football culture. Alongside an extensive product range, PD:FC will host events, training sessions, and activations that connect players, coaches, fans, and creative talent from across the region. Sam Baldock, chief of brand at PRO:DIRECT Sport, said:“Birmingham has always been a city with deep roots in football and youth culture. PD:FC at Bullring will be much more than a store – it will be a destination for the football-inspired community, bringing together the game’s passion, lifestyle, and future in one place. We are creating a space that reflects the city’s energy and love for football.” Retail landlord Hammerson, which owns and manages Bullring, said the signing reflects strong demand from digitally native and sports-led brands seeking physical retail opportunities in prime locations. Toby Tait, director of asset management at Hammerson, commented:“PRO:DIRECT Sport choosing Bullring for its debut flagship concept underlines the centre’s status as one of the UK’s leading retail destinations. The store will strengthen our line-up, offering visitors a new experiential space that celebrates both sport and culture.” The opening adds to a wave of new signings at the Bullring and Grand Central estate, including Nike Rise, Lululemon, and JD Sports expansions, cementing Birmingham’s role as a key hub for retail and lifestyle brands. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Chelmsford City Council has begun the hunt for a development partner to help deliver the £250m regeneration of Chelmer Waterside, one of the city’s most significant brownfield sites. Formerly home to the town’s gas works, the site has been rebranded as Chelmer Waterside and is now primed for transformation into a residential-led neighbourhood. Recent infrastructure improvements, including a new pedestrian bridge linking the site to the city centre in under five minutes, have unlocked the area’s potential for large-scale development. Chelmsford City Council said the scheme could deliver between 770 and 1,000 new homes across six hectares, with phases designed around apartment-led blocks. Work has already begun on relocating the existing gas pressure reduction system, due to complete in early 2026, while remediation and decontamination of the former gasworks land will form a key part of the early programme. Some housebuilders, including Taylor Wimpey, have already delivered homes on adjoining parts of the wider waterside area. The council is now seeking a lead partner to accelerate the main residential development. The procurement process will shortlist up to three bidders from an initial questionnaire stage, who will then move into dialogue and negotiation before final tenders are submitted. The winning bidder will enter into a preferred developer agreement to confirm delivery commitments. A council spokesperson said the vision for Chelmer Waterside is to create a vibrant new residential community that makes the most of its riverside setting, while supporting wider regeneration and growth across the city. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Clowes Developments has begun a multi-million-pound site remediation and enabling works programme at its recently acquired 31-acre Harrier Park site in Hucknall, paving the way for new industrial and warehouse development. The brownfield site, once home to the creation of the Harrier ‘Jump Jet’ and Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, is set to be transformed into a major commercial hub. The clean-up will tackle legacy contamination, preparing the land for up to 500,000 sq ft of modern employment space alongside the existing 200,000 sq ft RM Resources facility. Lead contractor TanRo has been appointed to deliver the complex works, which include ground remediation, groundwater treatment, earthworks, construction of retaining walls, drainage infrastructure, and road access improvements. The programme will run beyond an initial 20-week schedule, forming the first phase of long-term investment into the site. Although planning permission is already in place for six industrial and warehouse buildings, environmental remediation is essential before development can progress. The site’s strategic location, close to junctions 26 and 27 of the M1 and within half an hour of East Midlands Airport, Derby and Nottingham, makes it a prime choice for occupiers seeking new space in the region. Kevin Webster, Associate Development Director at Clowes Developments, said:“Harrier Park is a special site with a remarkable heritage, and we’re proud to be bringing it back into productive use. Our first major step is to address its long-standing issues with contamination. Our enabling works are designed to prepare the land for high-quality industrial development, and interest is already strong from potential occupiers looking for bespoke space in a well-connected location.” Clowes Developments is working with FHP Property Consultants and Fisher German to market the site, with design-and-build opportunities available on both freehold and leasehold terms for units ranging from 60,000 to 206,000 sq ft. For enquiries, please contact: Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GMI Construction Group and Olympian Homes have marked the completion of Rialto House, a £50 million purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development in York that delivers 275 high-quality student bedrooms and state-of-the-art amenities in a design-led environment. The four-storey scheme on Fishergate, developed by Olympian Homes, funded by Cain International and built by GMI, provides 80,000 sq. ft. of modern living space tailored to meet the city’s growing demand for student housing. Rialto House is just a ten-minute walk from the city centre and seven minute bus ride from the University of York. With a focus on student welfare, it features a comprehensive range of facilities including gym, yoga studio, games area, podcast studio, music room, co-working spaces, group dining areas, landscaped courtyards, and integrated cycle storage. In recognition of the site’s heritage, it also includes a bespoke in-house cinema, a nod to the former Rialto Cinema from which it takes its name. It is one of three PBSA schemes GMI is delivering in York, reinforcing its position as a key player in strengthening the city’s higher education offering and addressing a national shortage of student accommodation. Ed Weston, Regional Director for Yorkshire at GMI Construction Group, said: “Rialto House is a flagship scheme delivering excellence in student living while honouring the legacy of a much-loved York landmark. We’re delighted to have completed this project in partnership with Olympian Homes and are proud to be playing a key role in tackling the student accommodation shortfall through our growing portfolio of PBSA developments. I also hope this marks the start of a strong and long-lasting relationship with Olympian and we look forward to collaborating on future opportunities.” Mark Slatter, Chair of Olympian Homes, added: “With Rialto House, we set out to create something distinctive, delivering outstanding student living. Thanks to GMI and our funding partner Cain International, this scheme sets a new benchmark for purpose-built student accommodation in York. The result from GMI is outstanding, with a level of finish that stands among the highest we’ve been involved with.” The development stands on the former site of the Rialto Cinema, which first opened in 1913, and the adjacent Mecca bingo hall. The cinema holds a special place in local memory, having hosted four performances by The Beatles in 1963, just months before their rise to global fame. Demolished in 2003 and used as a car park for many years, the Rialto site has been transformed into a new residential community that will welcome students from the autumn term onwards. Olympian exchanged contracts on the site in April 2021 and submitted a planning application in June 2021 to demolish the existing Mecca Bingo Hall. Works began in Q2 2022 after GMI secured the contract. Olympian and Cain International completed a funding agreement for the scheme, alongside a second PBSA scheme, in 2023. GMI delivered the project using a predominantly local supply chain, reflecting its commitment to regional growth and sustainability. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
O’Brien Contractors Limited has made substantial progress on the next phase of critical earthworks at Fairham, one of the East Midlands’ largest and most ambitious mixed-use developments. The earthworks are a key part of the delivery of the remaining residential parcels at Fairham, a transformative new neighbourhood on the edge of Nottingham. Once complete, Fairham will offer 3,000 new homes, over one million square feet of employment space, and 200 acres of open green space, creating a balanced community where people can live, work, and thrive. Delivered by O’Brien Contractors on behalf of master developer Clowes Developments, in partnership with Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, the earthworks are part of a wider £100 million infrastructure investment across the 606-acre site. Earthworks includes: These operations pave the way for future construction activity and are expected to be completed by the end of October 2025, subject to weather conditions. Rob Hopkinson, Technical Associate Director at Clowes Developments commented, The progress achieved at Fairham reflects a significant collective effort from all parties involved. Completion of this phase of earthworks will unlock substantial parcels of land ready for residential development, marking a pivotal step forward in the delivery of this landmark scheme. Once these works are finalised, we will be positioned to complete the remaining roads, sewers, and key landscaping phases, further advancing the creation of a sustainable and well-connected community. Fairham is being designed as a sustainable and highly connected community. Alongside residential and employment zones, plans include a local centre, new education and healthcare facilities, sports and leisure amenities, and a safeguarded route for a future NET tram extension. To support this major development, Clowes Developments and Homes England continue to work in close coordination with National Highways, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, and Rushcliffe Borough Council to deliver infrastructure improvements with minimal disruption to existing transport networks. Once fully developed, Fairham will make a significant contribution to regional growth—delivering thousands of homes and jobs, and supporting Rushcliffe Borough Council’s housing target of 13,500 new dwellings by 2030. With its strategic location, integrated design, and focus on sustainability, Fairham is setting a new benchmark for modern, mixed-use communities in the East Midlands. Keep track of the progress onsite at Fairham, here: https://fairhamlife.co.uk/news/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals