Midgard has been appointed as the main contractor for a striking new residential development in the heart of Birmingham, as the city continues to attract major investment and architectural ambition. Developers Court Collaboration and Select Property have awarded Midgard a £145 million contract to deliver the much-anticipated Edition Birmingham scheme.
Project will establish Europe’s first advanced uranium fuels production facility to power the next generation of nuclear reactors Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been chosen to design a ground-breaking advanced fuels production facility for Urenco, global suppliers of uranium enrichment services and fuel cycle products for power generation. The
Plans to create a dynamic new commercial hub in Warwickshire – as part of a wider regeneration scheme – will be showcased at a major property forum. Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG), Warwickshire County Council’s arms-length property development company, will show off its vision for Fusiliers Way, located between
The team behind York Central, one of the UK’s largest and most ambitious city centre regeneration projects, has announced the line-up of architects who will bring the scheme to life. Allies & Morrison, the original masterplanner for York Central, will continue as lead architect. They are joined by seven other
Property management and building consultancy specialist Workman LLP has been appointed by Sager House Almeida to deliver property management services at the high-profile Islington Square development in north London. Located on Islington’s bustling Upper Street, the 170,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme combines heritage architecture with a modern lifestyle offering. Workman
Construction has officially started on Caerphilly’s flagship £38 million Leisure and Wellness Hub—an integral part of the wider Caerphilly Town 2035 placemaking regeneration strategy. Commissioned by Caerphilly County Borough Council, the state-of-the-art facility is being delivered by Alliance Leisure as development partner and future operator, with Morgan Sindall appointed as
The University of Cambridge with Jestico + Whiles and Bouygues UK have unveiled the Ray Dolby Centre, the landmark new building that serves as the home of the Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics. Designed by the award-winning architecture and interior design practice Jestico + Whiles and constructed by main contractor
Kier has secured a major contract from the Department for Education to redevelop East Coast College in Great Yarmouth—transforming it into a modern, future-focused learning hub for the town. The multi-million-pound project will see the complete replacement of the existing facilities with a purpose-built campus, designed to support a wide
Construction contract awards are now almost £1bn below the 2024 average at £5.7bn, according to Barbour ABI. Contract awards have declined over the past two months with April value down 19% compared to the same period last year, following a positive start to the year. There are signs of resilience
Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel brand, which operates over 610 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, has exchanged contracts to develop a new 89-room hotel at the Goods Yard development in Bishop’s Stortford. The new-build hotel will feature Travelodge’s latest premium look and feel design, including a contemporary
Midgard has been appointed as the main contractor for a striking new residential development in the heart of Birmingham, as the city continues to attract major investment and architectural ambition. Developers Court Collaboration and Select Property have awarded Midgard a £145 million contract to deliver the much-anticipated Edition Birmingham scheme. The project will bring 581 new homes to the city centre, with construction expected to break ground in the coming months. Phase one is scheduled for completion in 2027. Located adjacent to Centenary Square and near the landmark £1.2 billion Paradise development, Edition Birmingham will feature one- and two-bedroom apartments split across two distinctive towers: the 46-storey Centenary Tower and the 15-storey Park Residence. The development is already seeing strong demand, having secured £85 million in off-plan sales. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is acting as engineering consultant, while Weedon Architects is leading the interior design. Midgard, a subsidiary of JRL Group, brings proven high-rise expertise to the table, currently completing the 65-storey Consort Place in London’s Canary Wharf and Court Collaboration’s One Eastside in Birmingham. The contractor plans to use modular construction methods to accelerate the delivery of the Edition project, incorporating modern features such as floor-to-ceiling vent screens, mechanical ventilation systems, triple glazing, and air-source heat pumps. “Edition will be a major milestone in the redevelopment of the Birmingham skyline and we are excited to be involved in such a high-quality development,” said Kevin Keegan, Director at Midgard. Alex Neale, Chief Executive at Court Collaboration, added: “Edition Birmingham is visually stunning and will be built to the very highest standards of safety and quality. We’re very pleased to have Midgard on board and look forward to breaking ground and bringing this world-class development to Birmingham.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Project will establish Europe’s first advanced uranium fuels production facility to power the next generation of nuclear reactors Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been chosen to design a ground-breaking advanced fuels production facility for Urenco, global suppliers of uranium enrichment services and fuel cycle products for power generation. The contract will see Costain’s multi-disciplinary in-house civil nuclear and engineering team carry out the front-end engineering design (FEED) for Europe’s first High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) Advanced Fuels Facility. HALEU is uranium that has been enriched to have between 5% and 20% of the fissile isotope, U-235. It’s needed to fuel the next generation of reactor designs, including Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), to produce clean, cheap and secure nuclear energy for decades to come. The new facility, to be built at Urenco’s Capenhurst site in Cheshire, will produce the specialist fuel to support the development and deployment of the next generation of nuclear reactors at home and abroad and the associated global export opportunities. Costain is expected to complete the FEED in 2027. The FEED will inform Urenco’s plans for its new advanced fuel enrichment technologies and production facility. Earlier this year Urenco selected Costain as programme delivery partner to deliver new and upgraded infrastructure at Urenco Capenhurst over the next three years. Sam White, managing director, natural resources at Costain, commented: “This incredibly exciting project will establish the UK as the first country in Europe to launch a high-tech advanced nuclear fuels programme, confirming its status as a world leader in the civil nuclear energy market. “Ensuring the UK’s supply of advanced nuclear fuel will be critical for powering the next generation of reactors, including AMRs and SMRs. These are nuclear technologies that will play an important role as low-carbon sources of electricity to support a secure, resilient and decarbonised energy system in the UK. “Our expert engineers will work collaboratively with Urenco and the wider supply chain to design a state-of-the-art fuel facility. Constructability will be at the heart of the designs to make this concept a reality.” Costain has extensive experience in delivering FEED studies to solve complex problems, and integrating engineering and constructability across a range of sectors for nuclear and non-nuclear design and build projects. It is currently delivering critical projects across the UK’s nuclear energy ecosystem, providing a range of services and solutions including project delivery, design, build, decommissioning and maintenance of nuclear energy sites. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to create a dynamic new commercial hub in Warwickshire – as part of a wider regeneration scheme – will be showcased at a major property forum. Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG), Warwickshire County Council’s arms-length property development company, will show off its vision for Fusiliers Way, located between Leamington Spa and Warwick, at UKREiiF in Leeds later this month. The Fusiliers Way proposal will be central to WPDG’s promotional activity at UKREiiF, where it will join forces with Warwickshire County Council as one of the authority’s official partners. The scheme would see the development of 16 units across 43,000 sq ft of commercial space to support SMEs and local businesses.Fifteen of the business units would range from 1,000 sq ft to 3,500 sq ft. The application, which has been submitted to Warwick District Council, also features the footprint for a larger 15,000 sq ft building. Fusiliers Way aims to deliver high quality, sustainable and energy efficient units, built to BREEAM Very Good and EPC A standards. Stuart Buckley, Managing Director at WPDG, said: “We’re looking forward to joining our partners at UKREiiF to highlight our recent successes and to showcase what we have coming up. “After the success of our Sucham Park scheme in Southam we are pressing forward with a pipeline of sites that can provide high-quality space to support SMEs to grow and thrive in Warwickshire. “We are expecting to start work this summer on our scheme at Fusiliers Way, which is part of a wider masterplan to create a mixed-use community in the area. “Alongside our successful joint ventures, we are ramping up WPDG-led activity at two residential sites in the region– with two further direct delivery sites set to come through over the coming months. “This means we are in a great position to meet with potential residential development partners and occupiers for our upcoming commercial schemes – and we hope to do this at UKREiiF.” If approved, phase one of Fusiliers Way will provide purpose-built space for expanding businesses and start-ups in the area and help to create in the region of 85 jobs. The second phase would seek to deliver a local centre to support the area’s growing neighbourhood and business community, including a convenience store, children’s day nursery and coffee shop. WPDG is one of eight organisations across the public and private sectors that Invest Warwickshire, Warwickshire County Council’s inward investment team, will partner at UKREiiF, taking place from May 20 to 22. The partnerships will see each organisation involved in panel discussions Invest Warwickshire is hosting at UKREiiF, the UK’s largest real estate event and conference. Mark Ryder, Executive Director for Communities at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Warwickshire is one of the most dynamic economic locations in the Midlands and the UK. The county is a popular destination for both UK and foreign direct investment, and the area is home to some of the most important commercial property developments such as Coventry & Warwick Giga Park, one of the eight UK Investment Zones, MIRA Technology Park South Site and major town centre opportunities like Transforming Nuneaton, Creative Quarter Leamington Spa and Rugby Town Centre. “UKREiiF is a great opportunity for us to promote our partner organisation, Warwickshire Property Development Group and the new homes and SME commercial space being developed by them in the county, and Warwickshire County Council’s Property Infrastructure Fund, which can lend up to £10m to bring forward commercial development projects in support of growth and jobs. “We also look forward to working with a range of partners, including Tritax Big Box, IM Properties and Stoford to promote new development opportunities in the county and local area at the event this year.” WPDG was formed in 2021 and is delivering projects to realise the value and economic impact of Warwickshire County Council assets for the benefit of residents in Warwickshire. Its first commercial development, a 42,200 sq ft industrial scheme in Southam, completed last year and is now 100 per cent let. The Group is also delivering around 2,000 homes through its Develop Warwickshire joint venture with Vistry Group and WCC, and its own direct delivery. WPDG will be in the West Midlands Pavilion at UKREiiF. To arrange a meeting with WPDG, before, during or after UKREiiF, call the main office on 0192 695 6492, email info@wpdg.co.uk or contact Warwickshire Property Development Group’s LinkedIn page. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The team behind York Central, one of the UK’s largest and most ambitious city centre regeneration projects, has announced the line-up of architects who will bring the scheme to life. Allies & Morrison, the original masterplanner for York Central, will continue as lead architect. They are joined by seven other leading practices: Grant Associates, Sheppard Robson, Cartwright Pickard, Corstorphine & Wright, Haworth Tompkins, 3D Reid, and Re-form Landscape Architecture. Led by joint venture partners McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate, the £2.5 billion regeneration will transform a 45-hectare brownfield site behind York railway station. The scheme will deliver 2,500 new homes and up to one million square feet of office, retail, leisure, and hospitality space. Plans also include enhancements to the railway station and National Railway Museum. The development is being brought forward by Homes England and Network Rail, the majority landowners, in collaboration with the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum. £135 million in government funding has already been secured for enabling infrastructure. Allies & Morrison will maintain oversight of the overall vision and produce the site-wide design guide, as well as lead on a new Innovation Hub. Grant Associates will lead on landscaping, including the central park, public spaces, and the long-term reimagining of the historic coal drops area. Sheppard Robson will design the 195,000 sq ft government office space commissioned by the Government Property Agency (GPA). The residential components will be delivered by Cartwright Pickard, along with Corstorphine & Wright’s Leeds studio, which will focus on build-to-rent homes. Haworth Tompkins will take the lead on affordable housing. 3D Reid has been appointed to develop the site’s hotel offering and the western station entrance. Re-form Landscape Architecture will oversee the design of Museum Square and public realm in the first delivery phase. Tom Gilman, Managing Director of McLaren Regeneration, said:“Following a comprehensive competitive process involving both local and international firms, we have carefully selected some of the world’s leading architects and design specialists to work with us and bring our ambitious vision for York Central to life. Key to our decision-making was ensuring they had a proven track record in delivering large-scale regeneration schemes and a strong understanding of York and its unique character. Now, we are excited to begin this next stage of delivery, working closely with our design team, partners and the local community to create a vibrant, sustainable new neighbourhood for the city.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Property management and building consultancy specialist Workman LLP has been appointed by Sager House Almeida to deliver property management services at the high-profile Islington Square development in north London. Located on Islington’s bustling Upper Street, the 170,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme combines heritage architecture with a modern lifestyle offering. Workman will work closely with asset manager Sovereign Centros to attract new occupiers and support the performance and vibrancy of the estate. The development is already home to a wide variety of retail and leisure tenants, including Third Space, Odeon, a Heal’s pop-up, Megan’s, Anthropologie and A.P.C. Originally constructed in the early 1900s as a red-brick sorting office for the General Post Office, the building has been reimagined as a contemporary destination while preserving its historic character. James Simpson, partner at Workman, said:“We are very much looking forward to working alongside Sovereign Centros and Sager House Almeida to highlight the very best aspects of this much-loved asset, ensuring it performs to the top of its potential.” The appointment reflects Workman’s continued growth across landmark mixed-use and retail-led schemes, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner for complex and character-rich urban developments. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction has officially started on Caerphilly’s flagship £38 million Leisure and Wellness Hub—an integral part of the wider Caerphilly Town 2035 placemaking regeneration strategy. Commissioned by Caerphilly County Borough Council, the state-of-the-art facility is being delivered by Alliance Leisure as development partner and future operator, with Morgan Sindall appointed as main contractor. Architecture is led by Watson Batty, while Hadron Consulting oversees project management. Set to become a major community asset, the two-storey, timber-clad building will house a six-lane swimming pool with an adjoining wet play zone, a modern fitness suite equipped for cardiovascular and strength training, two squash courts, and a power-assisted wellness suite. Additional features include flexible studio spaces, a group cycle studio, health consultation rooms, and an adventure play area alongside a TAGactive Arena. The facility will also incorporate a health-focused café, community lounge, and versatile social spaces to support local group use. It is designed to meet modern environmental standards, with air source heat pump technology helping to create an energy-efficient, low-carbon building. Julia Goddard, regional director at Alliance Leisure, said:“The Alliance team has been working with the council on this project since 2022, so it is fantastic to finally see a vision being turned into a reality. The new building integrates modern technologies to create an efficient, air-source-powered environment, housing an array of innovative facilities that directly match the needs of the community.” The project is being jointly funded by £20 million from the UK government’s Levelling Up fund and £18 million from Caerphilly County Borough Council’s own reserves. With construction now underway, the Caerphilly Leisure and Wellness Hub is on track to become a cornerstone of the region’s regeneration ambitions—delivering improved health, wellbeing, and community infrastructure for years to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The University of Cambridge with Jestico + Whiles and Bouygues UK have unveiled the Ray Dolby Centre, the landmark new building that serves as the home of the Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics. Designed by the award-winning architecture and interior design practice Jestico + Whiles and constructed by main contractor Bouygues UK in partnership with executive design partners NBBJ and BDP, this state-of-the-art facility is set to revolutionise scientific research and education. The Cavendish Laboratory has been at the forefront of physics research for more than 150 years. With 31 Nobel Prizes emanating from it, The Cavendish Laboratory has been the grounds of numerous groundbreaking discoveries, including the electron, the neutron, and the structure of DNA. Its new home, the Ray Dolby Centre, situated at the heart of Cambridge West Innovation District, sets the stage for a new era of scientific innovation. Spanning 32,900m² across five floors, the highly technical research and learning facility is equipped with laboratories, workshops, cleanrooms, offices, and collaborative spaces, all tailored to support a diverse array of physics research. Serving as a national hub for physics it hosts the new EPSRC National Facility, CORDE. The Collaborative R&D Environment will foster cooperation collaboration between industry and university researchers and enhance public access to groundbreaking scientific endeavours. Empowering the Next Generation of Scientists The Ray Dolby Centre is designed to inspire and educate, offering extensive teaching and learning spaces for its 1,100 staff members and students, including a 400-seat lecture theatre, undergraduate teaching labs, a learning resource centre, café space, and outreach and exhibition spaces organised around six peaceful courtyards and a connecting ‘street’ to encourage collaboration and interaction between staff and students. Jestico + Whiles’ design prioritises active fronts and an inclusive public realm, featuring a lively new south-facing central garden off JJ Thomson Avenue and three pocket rain gardens. Large picture windows provide views into the laboratories and public areas, showcasing the research and learning activities within. The central garden leads guests up to an elevated piazza and into the arrival space with twin floating lecture theatres adorned in burnished bronze shingles. Drawing inspiration from Cambridge’s distinct architectural heritage, the building’s facade features a durable, timeless combination of white polished concrete, glass, and aluminium. The Ray Dolby Centre’s facilities bridge the gap between the cutting-edge research happening within the university and the wider community, promoting greater engagement, outreach and understanding. Innovative and Intricate Design Both architecturally and technically complex, the project had to meet strict specifications to provide the perfect environment for world-class scientific research. Jestico + Whiles, Jacobs and Bouygues UK worked closely with the Department of Physics to understand the set of requirements needed for each of the 173 laboratories, adapting their design and construction methods to the experiments they will host. A deep basement is the home of the most vibration-sensitive equipment: the microscopy labs have achieved a VC-H vibration control (the highest rating) through passive means only; the laser labs require very close temperature (to 0.1 degree) and humidity control. The STM and cryostats labs required electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and infrasound shielding. Some labs have anti-static and/or non-magnetic requirements, leading the structural teams to use stainless steel instead of traditional rebar and resulting in the invention of a new type of epoxy flooring, in order to meet the unique set of performance criteria. The clean rooms cover almost 2,500m² and range from ISO 7 to ISO 3. The cleanest room, the EBL (electron beam lithography ISO3) is also non-ferrous, and has very high acoustic, vibration and environmental control capacity. Services include traditional solutions such as ventilation or laboratory gases, as well as liquid nitrogen distribution, toxic gases, specialist extracts, and a network of clean earthing. Sustainability is at the core of the Ray Dolby Centre’s design. The building has achieved BREEAM Excellent certification and features a ground source heat pump system that will reduce operational energy consumption throughout the building’s lifespan, providing a robust and resilient solution for the Department of Physics’ 24/7 operations. In addition to the Ray Dolby Centre, the ground source heat pump supplies the adjacent West Hub, also designed by Jestico + Whiles and built by Bouygues UK, and has further spare capacity. The building includes 770 cycle spaces discreetly located beneath the raised public piazza, reflecting the high proportion of staff and students who use sustainable modes of transport. The Ray Dolby Centre is the centrepiece and final part of the University’s project to replace the previous facilities for the Cavendish Laboratory, which were outdated and had poor environmental performance. A Testament to Ray Dolby’s Legacy Named in recognition of a generous £85 million donation from the estate of Cambridge alumnus and sound pioneer Ray Dolby, along with £75 million support from the UK government through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Ray Dolby Centre stands as a testament to Dolby’s enduring legacy and commitment to scientific innovation. Phillippe Bernard, Chair and CEO of Bouygues UK, said: “We are immensely proud to have delivered the Ray Dolby Centre, a project that demanded the highest level of technical expertise and precision. Through close collaboration with the University of Cambridge and our committed partners, we have created advanced facilities that will support pioneering scientific research for years to come, with a focus on building for life. Working on such a transformative project has been incredibly rewarding for our team and partners, and the end result is a testament to the dedication and skill of everyone involved. We eagerly anticipate the substantial impact this state-of-the-art centre will have on the scientific community.” Jude Harris, Director at Jestico + Whiles, said, “The Ray Dolby Centre represents a significant milestone in our 10-year journey to create spaces that will enable scientific discovery and collaboration. Our design fosters an environment where researchers and students will be inspired to push the boundaries of knowledge and innovation. We are excited to see the next set of groundbreaking scientific advancements that will emerge from this remarkable facility.” Professor Mete Atatüre, Head
Kier has secured a major contract from the Department for Education to redevelop East Coast College in Great Yarmouth—transforming it into a modern, future-focused learning hub for the town. The multi-million-pound project will see the complete replacement of the existing facilities with a purpose-built campus, designed to support a wide range of vocational and academic programmes for both 16 to 19-year-olds and adult learners. Planned facilities include a mock hospital ward for aspiring healthcare professionals, a fully operational hair and beauty salon run by students, new sports amenities, training kitchens, restaurants, a lecture theatre, and advanced digital learning suites. The redevelopment will also feature updated spaces for staff and community use, creating a modern and welcoming environment for all users. A key focus of the project is sustainability. The new campus will harness solar power through the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels, reducing reliance on non-renewable energy. In addition, the design incorporates an enhanced building envelope to improve thermal efficiency—minimising heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer—helping to lower both operational costs and carbon emissions. The scheme forms part of the government’s £1.5 billion Further Education Capital Transformation Fund, with East Coast College being one of just 16 institutions across England selected to benefit. Mark Dady, managing director of Kier Construction Eastern & Midlands, commented:“East Coast College is a landmark project due to the scale of teaching facilities on offer, and we look forward to continuing the great work we’ve done to date with both the college and the Department for Education. Kier will use its extensive expertise in delivering first-class educational facilities to build a campus that will benefit the local community and support students to achieve their full potential—ultimately inspiring future generations.” Construction is scheduled to begin on site this summer, paving the way for a revitalised educational offer in Great Yarmouth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction contract awards are now almost £1bn below the 2024 average at £5.7bn, according to Barbour ABI. Contract awards have declined over the past two months with April value down 19% compared to the same period last year, following a positive start to the year. There are signs of resilience and optimism in some areas. Infrastructure stood out as a relative bright spot, increasing 14% between March and April, with an increasing volume of brick and concrete deliveries and a growing pipeline of green energy projects. Infrastructure planning approvals were up 85% on March and 150% on the 2024 average, with green energy projects that including the Rampion offshore windfarm and Moy Lodge hydro energy storage facility in Scotland leading the way. “The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has forecast that infrastructure will be the main driver of industry growth in the coming years,” said Barbour ABI’s Head of Business and Client Analytics, Ed Griffiths. “Adding momentum to the infrastructure and planning outlook, the Chancellor has pledged to reform environmental regulations that supposedly unnecessarily hinder development.” Residential awards were also up month on month; however, the three largest projects (totalling £726m) were student accommodation developments in the North of England and Scotland, which do not contribute to the government’s 1.5million housing target. Regionally, Wales had an optimistic month almost doubling the 2024 average for contract awards. However, over two-thirds of this value came from the £225m Cardiff Bay music arena and hotel development. Contract value for the North West increased by 86% to £1bn, 60% above the 2024 average. The overall value of new planning applications dipped from February falling 14% to £8.5bn in March. “Despite some positive indicators, including increased materials deliveries and infrastructure momentum, job cuts across the sector and uncertainty driven by external pressures such as US tariffs, suggest that the near-term outlook remains challenging. Notably, new home starts in London are at a 16-year low according to the latest industry figures.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel brand, which operates over 610 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, has exchanged contracts to develop a new 89-room hotel at the Goods Yard development in Bishop’s Stortford. The new-build hotel will feature Travelodge’s latest premium look and feel design, including a contemporary reception area and next-generation rooms, offering everything business and leisure travellers need for a comfortable and relaxing stay. Subject to planning permission, the hotel will be developed by Solum, the developer of the Goods Yard scheme, a joint venture between Kier Property and Network Rail. Samuel Turner of Carter Jonas acted on Travelodge’s behalf to secure this deal. Steve Bennett, Travelodge Chief Property & Development Officer, comments: “We are delighted to have exchanged contracts with Solum for our proposed Bishop’s Stortford Travelodge. This is our second development deal that we have transacted with Solum, which previously built and delivered our fantastic Travelodge in the centre of Epsom. “Travelodge now operates over 610 hotels across the UK, and we are actively targeting a further 300 new locations, with 95 of these in the South East region. Our ongoing expansion will create even more jobs across the UK and will allow us to continue to offer our diverse customer base of business and leisure customers great value when travelling across the South East and the wider UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
