GMI Construction Group, one of the biggest privately owned construction companies in the UK, has boosted its Midlands presence, having been awarded over £100m in projects across the region. GMI has signed deals on projects including £30m investment at the landmark Becketwell regeneration scheme in Derby, a 155,000 sq ft
THE GOVERNMENT OF QATAR is investing millions of pounds in the expansion of the South Hook LNG terminal in Milford Haven, as the UK becomes more dependent on shipments of the liquefied fuel imported from abroad. To accommodate around 25% more liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from around the world,
LEADING MEP and sustainability consultancy CPW has partnered with developer Court Collaboration to deliver its most ambitious project to date – One Eastside, the tallest building in Birmingham and the city’s first ever skyscraper. Having secured funding work will now start on the 51-storey building, with a total height of
Following on from the delivery of a 100Te gas turbine rotor to Saltend Power Station, Hull, the Collett Team were once again appointed by Expeditors to undertake transport of the original turbine. The Saltend CHP (Combined Heat & Power) Power Station generates power efficiently using exhaust heat from the gas
UK property developer Godwin Developments today announces the launch of a nationwide build-to-rent (BTR) platform. Working as an equity investor in partnership alongside a leading institutional real estate partner, Godwin has ambitious plans to build a portfolio valued in excess of £1 billion. The joint venture (JV) will target both
The world’s first science and innovation park dedicated to space-related companies has won two prestigious building awards. Space Park Leicester was officially opened by UK astronaut Tim Peake earlier this year and has built an impressive reputation for itself working on ground-breaking projects such as NASA’s internationally acclaimed James Webb
Property industry heavyweight Paul Millington has become the new Non-Executive Chair of leading Yorkshire commercial developer Wykeland Group. Mr Millington, who has held senior Board positions with the Evans Property Group for 27 years, has been appointed to Chair the Wykeland Board as the business delivers a series of major
An £11 million advanced manufacturing unit is set to be developed at a business and technology park in Coventry by leading commercial property developer Barberry Industrial Ltd. The company has today revealed plans for a 50,750 sq ft industrial unit at Ansty Park, which has established itself as a hub
With Draft List for 2023 Revaluation Due out next week , Ratings experts at Colliers say this issue can no longer be brushed under the carpet “If the Government is serious about kickstarting the economy, it can no longer afford to brush business rates under the carpet.” says John Webber,
LEADING housebuilder, Lovell Homes, has launched the second phase of its development in the market town of Louth. When complete, phase two of Tennyson Fields will offer 141 two-, three- and four-bedroom high-specification homes. Prices for a two-bedroom house start at £188,500 and are suitable for a wide variety of
GMI Construction Group, one of the biggest privately owned construction companies in the UK, has boosted its Midlands presence, having been awarded over £100m in projects across the region. GMI has signed deals on projects including £30m investment at the landmark Becketwell regeneration scheme in Derby, a 155,000 sq ft logistics warehouse for St. Modwen Logistics in Birmingham and a retail park in Tamworth boasting brands such as Lidl and B&M. In Derby, work has commenced on the Becketwell development – the most significant development in Derby city centre since 2007 – which will see the completion of a GMI-built Build to Rent apartment block in 2023. GMI will also complete a bottling plant for a German client at Dove Valley, Foston, by December 2022. As part of its investment in the West Midlands, GMI has commenced build on various sites in Birmingham, including the development of a 102-unit residential project in the Jewellery Quarter, the regeneration of the former James Cond building for University College Birmingham and the development of a new student accommodation in Selly Oak. It has also recently completed a logistics warehouse for fashion retailer, ASOS, in Lichfield. Andy Bruce, Divisional Managing Director at GMI, said: “The Midlands is a big area with even bigger potential and, as we continue to invest in the region, it’s expected to become our largest UK division. “As we further grow our pipeline of work in the Midlands, we will be collaborating with likeminded, forward-thinking organisations that align with our key purposes of sustainability and supporting the next generation of workers. “It’s an exciting time for the Midlands and we’re committed to supporting the region to grow and thrive in the future, mirroring the ambitions of the Midlands Engine to create positive change.” To find out more about GMI, please visit: www.gmiconstructiongroup.co.uk.
THE GOVERNMENT OF QATAR is investing millions of pounds in the expansion of the South Hook LNG terminal in Milford Haven, as the UK becomes more dependent on shipments of the liquefied fuel imported from abroad. To accommodate around 25% more liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from around the world, Qatar is upgrading to meet demand. ExxonMobil is also making a significant investments to help increase the capacity of the South Hook. Prices for fuel have skyrocketed as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, prompting the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe to scramble for a deal securement with the world’s biggest LNG exporter, Qatar. After the Cop27 climate change summit in Egypt, UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to make a significant supply announcement with the United States, the Telegraph revealed. The two major players in the global LNG industry are Qatar and the US. The development of the $10 billion new Golden Pass terminal in the US, which is scheduled to open in 2024 and is anticipated to export to the UK, is being carried out in tandem with the investment in South Hook LNG by state-owned QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil. In recent years, the UK has relied more and more on LNG, despite previously vilifying gas producers and pushing for an urgent end to fossil fuel production. Approximately 17% of the UK’s gas demand was met internally in 2021, with its significance expected to increase as output from the ageing North Sea declines. In the midst of an LNG market boom, Qatar and relevant partners completed the South Hook terminal in 2009. The terminal is one of three UK LNG facilities, with the other two in Kent and Wales, respectively. The processing capacity of the station is 15.6 million tonnes of gas per year, or, according to the proprietors, nearly 20% of the UK’s annual gas demand. One of the largest in Europe, the terminal is already. Analysts believe that Qatar’s plan to extend South Hook’s capacity to over 20 million tonnes of gas annually might cost hundreds of millions of pounds. Midway through 2025 is the anticipated completion date. The US and Qatar are both already major LNG suppliers to the UK. 51 of the 175 shipments made to the UK between January and September originated from Qatar and 81 from the US, S&P Global Platts data detailed. This year, the UK has received significantly more international cargoes than usual because it serves as a “gas bridge” to Europe, which is rushing to replace Russian supplies but does not yet have sufficient import infrastructure, the UK Government said. A spokesperson for South Hook LNG in Milford Haven has confirmed there are plans to expand the facility by July 2025. “Our shareholders have taken a positive final investment decision to increase the Terminal’s re-delivery capacity to 812.5GWh/d.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING MEP and sustainability consultancy CPW has partnered with developer Court Collaboration to deliver its most ambitious project to date – One Eastside, the tallest building in Birmingham and the city’s first ever skyscraper. Having secured funding work will now start on the 51-storey building, with a total height of 155.1 metres, building on CPW’s experience with tall residential builds. The consultancy was awarded the contract in 2018 and is delivering mechanical, engineering, and plumbing services, along with advising on sustainable approaches. CPW developed the energy and embodied carbon strategies, ensuring environmental considerations were top of the agenda. Formerly a chemical engineering teaching facility for Birmingham Metropolitan College, One Eastside is a landmark regeneration of a brownfield site vacant for many years and is just a stone’s throw away from Curzon Street station, part of the £1billion HS2 development, expected to complete in 2026. Designing a build to rent tower of this height presents a range of challenges, in particular when considering fire prevention and ventilation. Led by associate director, Paul Titmus, and drawing on extensive experience in the industry, CPW were able to advise the developer of best practices to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the end tenants. The physical height of the building also meant engaging with the Civil Aviation Authority and Birmingham Airport to raise the height of the Instrument Flight Procedure (IFP) for the whole of Birmingham. Paul said: “The project has taken four years to reach this stage, so we are delighted to continue our involvement in the next stage of this landmark building’s development. One Eastside firmly puts CPW on the map and we’re really proud to be working alongside Court Collaboration to bring this vision to life. “The development will have a hugely positive impact on the area and will remain a very visible addition to Birmingham’s skyline; it’s a testament to where the city is headed in the future.” Local people will benefit for the development thanks to its proximity to the new station, with HS2 connecting Birmingham and London in under an hour. Residents at One Eastside will be just minutes’ walk from the city centre and all the amenities on offer, likewise businesses will benefit from increased footfall in the area, plus more students from several local universities drawn to the area’s renewed vibrancy. Alex Neale from Court Collaboration said: “For us, it was the obvious choice to partner with CPW – they have long been a trusted partner to Court Collaboration and bring a wealth of experience managing and delivering residential developments, including tall towers. “The CPW team, led expertly by Paul Titmus, were able to provide solutions-driven advice and were able to respond quickly and capably to the requirements of this unique project. As a company, we like to work with local teams wherever possible, as this brings an added sense of pride in working on projects that showcase our cities and showcases what can be achieved by teams living and working in the area.” One Eastside is expected to complete by Q3 2026. For further information on CPW visit www.cpwp.com or follow @CPWengineering on social media. For further information on Court Collaboration visit www.courtcollaboration.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following on from the delivery of a 100Te gas turbine rotor to Saltend Power Station, Hull, the Collett Team were once again appointed by Expeditors to undertake transport of the original turbine. The Saltend CHP (Combined Heat & Power) Power Station generates power efficiently using exhaust heat from the gas turbine to produce steam which, in turn, drives a steam turbine on the same shaft, increasing the energy output of each generating unit and producing more power for less fuel. The Collett Team, on behalf of Expeditors, were tasked with this two-stage project, firstly delivering a new 100 Tonne gas turbine rotor to the CHP station, before removing the old module to allow for refurbishment. Having undertaken the delivery and positioning of the new 100 Tonne gas turbine rotor from the Antonov 124 aircraft at Doncaster Airport the previous month, the original unit remained in storage at the power station awaiting transport and transshipment overseas. With the new turbine now in position and operational, our Team were on hand to begin stage two of the project, to extract and remove the old turbine rotor from the power station site. Stored on stools since its removal, we arrived on site ready to load the cargo. Utilising a 12-axle drawbar trailer, our Transport Team reversed directly under the module before employing the hydraulic capabilities of the trailer to raise the trailer bed. This, in turn, lifted the 100 Tonne turbine free of the support stools, loading directly to the trailer. Once secured, the cargo left Saltend Power Station, under escort, for the short journey to our Goole Heavy Lift depot for secure weekend storage. As Monday morning arrived, the loaded cargo took to the road again. Continuing to travel under escort, the convoy made the short 50-mile journey to the CLdN Terminal at North Killingholme, north-west of Grimsby, ready for short sea shipping to Rotterdam. Still loaded to a 8×4 MAN TGX equipped with a drawbar 12 row trailer, and accompanied by the driver and steersman, the gas turbine rotor arrived at the Port of Rotterdam. After rolling off the CLdN vessel, the cargo was then transshipped from the trailer by 500Te mobile crane for onward shipment to Antwerp. With all transshipment operations complete, the our Team hopped back on the ferry, returning to Goole and completing stage two of the Saltend Power Station project.
UK property developer Godwin Developments today announces the launch of a nationwide build-to-rent (BTR) platform. Working as an equity investor in partnership alongside a leading institutional real estate partner, Godwin has ambitious plans to build a portfolio valued in excess of £1 billion. The joint venture (JV) will target both the single-family and multifamily BTR sectors in recognition of the substantial growth potential of the asset class. The strategy enables Godwin Developments to leverage its strong track record across acquisition, planning and delivery whilst rapidly scaling its operations in the sector. The JV partner has significant experience in investing in the living sectors across multiple jurisdictions, including in the UK. In the near-term, the JV partnership is aiming to develop its BTR proposition through the acquisition of both standing and forward funded stock as well as by unlocking new land opportunities. The Oxford-Cambridge Arc and the Home Counties will be key to expanding the delivery of single-family units for rent, and London, Bristol and Birmingham will be important target cities for the multifamily offering. The JV will focus on creating high-quality, professionally managed homes with strong ESG credentials that will appeal to residents of all ages and life stages – from singles and sharers, to couples, families, and downsizers. Research by the British Property Federation and Savills published last month estimated the BTR sector to be worth £170 billion by 2032, with completed BTR homes projected to increase fivefold over the next decade. Stephen Pratt, Director and Co-Founder at Godwin Developments said: “We are thrilled to announce the next step in our growth ambitions in the BTR sector. BTR has proven itself to be a highly defensive asset class and is rapidly establishing itself as a real alternative to home ownership, delivering an opportunity to alleviate the shortage of housing across the country. This launch is truly transformational for our business, and we look forward to growing our portfolio nationwide, adding value for residents, housebuilders, landowners, local authorities and other stakeholders using our expertise and unique ability to deliver, market and manage schemes across the development lifecycle.” Godwin Developments was advised by Alantra (corporate finance), Gateley (legal) and KPMG (tax). Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The world’s first science and innovation park dedicated to space-related companies has won two prestigious building awards. Space Park Leicester was officially opened by UK astronaut Tim Peake earlier this year and has built an impressive reputation for itself working on ground-breaking projects such as NASA’s internationally acclaimed James Webb Space Telescope. The £46.4 million facility designed by Shepheard Epstein Hunter architects and constructed by Bowmer + Kirkland, is home to a community of leading organisations, academics from the University of Leicester and students who are undertaking world-leading research and driving growth in the space and space-enabled sectors. Now it has added two more accolades to its growing list of achievements having won both the Large Non-Residential Scheme of the Year Award and the Regeneration Project of the Year Award at the ProCon Leicestershire Awards which celebrate the best of the county’s built environment. Neil Loxton, Head of Project Delivery at the University of Leicester said: “The creation of Space Park Leicester took a long disused, contaminated brownfield site in a flood risk zone and transformed it into a major generator of social, economic and environmental improvement. “The facility is set to contribute £750 million a year to the UK space sector over the next decade and to support more than 2,500 direct and indirect jobs in the East Midlands. “The scheme was delivered within budget and on time, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is an incredible success story for Leicester and the East Midlands and we’re thrilled that this world-leading development has been recognised by the judges at the ProCon Leicestershire Awards.” Space Park Leicester is a project led by the University of Leicester in partnership with Leicester City Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP). The 9,700 m2 facility provides state-of-the-art facilities for research, development and manufacturing, with offices, shared laboratories, teaching facilities and co-working spaces, focussing primarily on research, development and applications of space. Firms have the opportunity to locate their business on a short- or long-term basis at Space Park Leicester. Dr Patricia Martin del Guayo, who led Shepheard Epstein Hunter’s team of architects for the project since 2017, said: “This is great recognition for a huge team effort providing something unique in the world which enables industry and university to work closely together on key issues like climate change. “It has brought a contaminated overgrown site in a flood risk area safely back into use, it welcomes schoolchildren as much as leading researchers and is designed as a low-energy, sustainable project which will last 100 years or more and can change and adapt to support the pioneering research in the building.” Space Park Leicester’s latest success comes on the back of it winning the Sustainable Project of the Year Award at the East Midlands Property Awards in September. To find out more information about Space Park Leicester, visit: https://www.space-park.co.uk/. To learn more ProCon Leicestershire, visit https://www.procon-leicestershire.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Property industry heavyweight Paul Millington has become the new Non-Executive Chair of leading Yorkshire commercial developer Wykeland Group. Mr Millington, who has held senior Board positions with the Evans Property Group for 27 years, has been appointed to Chair the Wykeland Board as the business delivers a series of major developments vital to regeneration and economic growth across Yorkshire and the Humber. He is joined on the Wykeland Board by a new Non-Executive Director, Richard Dawson, who brings to the business more than 30 years’ experience in senior financial, commercial and strategic roles. The new appointments bring further experience and expertise to the Wykeland Board as the business delivers some of the biggest and most ambitious developments in its history of more than 50 years. They include a £150m retail logistics fulfilment centre, for which Wykeland secured planning approval, and a £100m research and development and manufacturing facility for global medical technology business Smith+Nephew, which is going through the planning process. Both of these developments are at Wykeland’s Melton West business park, west of Hull, which is one of Yorkshire’s premier locations for large-scale investments. As well as Melton West, Wykeland’s flagship developments include the Bridgehead business park close to the Humber Bridge; the £100m-plus Fruit Market urban village in Hull, in partnership with Beal Homes; the £20m Treadmills mixed-use scheme on the site of the former Northallerton Prison in North Yorkshire; Hull’s @TheDock tech campus; the Flemingate retail and leisure destination in Beverley, East Yorkshire; and Europarc, the premier business location on the south bank of the Humber. Wykeland Managing Director Dominic Gibbons said: “We’re delighted that two such highly-respected property industry leaders have joined our Board. “Paul and Richard are well-known figures on the North of England property scene and bring to the Board decades of high-level experience which will support our next phase of growth. “Their expertise will reinforce our excellent executive team and will be important as we deliver existing developments and capitalise upon the many exciting new opportunities we have identified.” Mr Millington has held a series of senior Board level positions with Leeds-based Evans Property Group, one of the UK’s leading privately-owned property investment and development companies, with net assets of over £600m. His roles have included Group Finance Director, Overseas Investment Director and Executive Director responsible for overseeing the growth of the Dakota Hotels business. Mr Dawson became Finance Director of Highstone Group in 2001 and then became Head of Family Office for the Moore Family in 2007. This position included a key role in the growth of Wilton Developments, the Leeds-based property development business within the Moore Group. Mr Millington succeeds former William Jackson Food Group Chairman Christopher Oughtred as Chair of Wykeland Group, while Mr Dawson replaces Neil Stothard, Chief Executive of construction products and services specialist Vp PLC, as Non-Executive Director. Mr Millington said: “I’m delighted to be joining one of the region’s leading property developers. Wykeland is a fantastic business, underpinned by strong core values, and its engagement with community stakeholders has enabled it to consistently deliver first-class developments. “I’m really looking forward to working with Dominic and the executive team and to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.” Mr Dawson said: “Wykeland Group has an outstanding reputation for delivering high-quality projects and combining excellent financial results with a strong ethical code and values. With a healthy balance sheet and an enviable development pipeline, Wykeland is in a great position to build for the future.’’ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An £11 million advanced manufacturing unit is set to be developed at a business and technology park in Coventry by leading commercial property developer Barberry Industrial Ltd. The company has today revealed plans for a 50,750 sq ft industrial unit at Ansty Park, which has established itself as a hub for research and development and high-tech manufacturing. The park is home to major occupiers Rolls-Royce, Cadent, MTC, Meggitt and The London Taxi Company. An application for detailed planning consent for a Grade A unit, built to exceptional ESG standards – target EPC A and BREEAM Excellent – at Viggen Way has been submitted by Barberry to Rugby Borough Council. The site is located at the very heart of the manufacturing and logistics centre of the UK. Ansty Park benefits from direct access to the motorway network via junction two of the M6 and junction one of the M69. Coventry, Birmingham and East Midlands airports are all within a 40-minute drive. Jon Robinson, development director at West Midlands-based Barberry, said: “Ansty Park is a fantastic location for Barberry’s latest development, being one of the most significant business and technology parks in the Midlands. We are excited to unveil Barberry 50, a high-tech, build to suit unit which is ideal for a new headquarters facility or centre of excellence for a suitable occupier, available on both a leasehold and freehold basis. “Once we achieve planning consent, the unit will be built to BREEAM Excellent and EPC A standards and has been designed with a focus on sustainability which is at the forefront of our minds.” He added: “This significant investment demonstrates Barberry’s continued commitment to the region and the development while helping to address the continued shortage of new, high quality manufacturing accommodation in the West Midlands. “New buildings such as this help to create the quality accommodation that local, regional and national businesses need in order to expand their operations within the Midlands, creating new jobs and attracting investment. We continue to see significant occupier demand for new industrial and warehouse units.” Barberry has a 3.6 million sq ft industrial/logistics development portfolio with a Gross Development Value of in excess of £500 million. It is currently developing a £40 million state-of-the-art manufacturing and design facility for a global leader in engine and flight controls systems in Gloucestershire. The 207,000 sq ft centre of excellence for Moog’s Aircraft Controls Segment is being built on a 10-acre site at Ashchurch, Tewkesbury. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With Draft List for 2023 Revaluation Due out next week , Ratings experts at Colliers say this issue can no longer be brushed under the carpet “If the Government is serious about kickstarting the economy, it can no longer afford to brush business rates under the carpet.” says John Webber, Head of Business Rates at Colliers, “ And the new Chancellor must address this question in the Budget on Thursday- particularly with the new 2023 Revaluation list being announced next week”*. The current system which provides £26 billion (net) for local authority funding is not fit for purpose and with a new Revaluation in April 2023 fast approaching, decisions need to be taken now if businesses are to be encouraged to expand and invest rather than close or downsize their bricks and mortar estate. Colliers believes the Chancellor should address the following points on business rates in his forthcoming Budget: 89% of Colliers’ snapshot survey of retail clients and contacts ( taken in April this year) said yes to a new tax- provided it took the pressure off business rates in the High Street. John Webber added, “Jeremy Hunt has long admitted that the business rates system is in need of reform and now is his chance to do something about it. The current system is over-complicated, opaque and basically too high. We need a well-managed and transparent business rates system, and we need it now. The government obviously has a multi-billion pound deficit to fill in its Budget- but continuing to strangle businesses and destroy the high street certainly won’t be the solution to the problem.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING housebuilder, Lovell Homes, has launched the second phase of its development in the market town of Louth. When complete, phase two of Tennyson Fields will offer 141 two-, three- and four-bedroom high-specification homes. Prices for a two-bedroom house start at £188,500 and are suitable for a wide variety of prospective homeowners. Phase one of Tennyson Fields consisted of 100 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes – all plots are sold and completed since 2021. Robert Adams, regional managing director at Lovell, said: “The first phase of Tennyson Fields proved to be incredibly popular, with houses selling at record speed, which is why we’re delighted be expanding the development. We’re committed to creating exciting new communities as we continue to grow in the region and it’s great to see so many prospective new homeowners coming to look around.” The show homes for phase two of the development have just officially opened their doors, with tours available. Alexandrea Brown, sales executive at Lovell, said: “Tennyson Fields is a development that has something for everyone. Situated just a stone’s throw away from the Lincolnshire Wolds, Louth is a market town with a modern outlook that boasts good schools, amenities and is a foodie’s idea of heaven thanks to its weekly markets. It’s a jewel in the county’s crown. “I worked on the first phase of Tennyson Fields and, when I knew a second phase was coming, I had no hesitation in coming back. There’s something about this area that really gets under your skin, and I can’t wait for our customers to experience that and welcome new potential homeowners onto the development.” The marketing suite and show homes are open Thursday to Monday 10am till 5pm, for more information on Tennyson Fields Phase 2, visit: https://www.lovell.co.uk/developments/tennyson-fields-2-louth/ or call 01507 623 541. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals