Cities across the country remain full of empty or underused buildings. These aren’t just missed opportunities; they’re failures to meet the pressing social need for more local resources and spaces. Across the UK, retrofitting these properties is becoming a larger priority. Instead of tearing down the past, communities and councils
Renewable energy developer Apatura plans to develop a £3.9 billion AI energy campus on the former Ravenscraig steelworks site, which could bring more than 2000 jobs to the area. The ambitious proposal includes a major 550MW data centre paired with a 650MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to harness Scotland’s
Staycity Group is set to bring its boutique Wilde Aparthotel brand to Blackfriars Road, confirming plans for a 25-storey scheme a minute from Southwark Underground station. The site at 203–208 Blackfriars Road, acquired from Swiss Life Asset Management (with JLL advising the seller), will be developed by Citygrove and designed
RED Construction Group, the specialist main contractor, has announced its results for the 2025 financial year. Reporting a turnover of £170.8m, the company continues to achieve sustainable profit, with the near 50% turnover increase year-on-year supported by higher pre-tax profit margin. Across the financial period, from 1st April 2024 to
Costa Coffee has chosen Colliers as estates management partner for its UK portfolio in a five-year agreement that covers more than 1,600 sites nationwide. Under the partnership, Colliers will deliver an integrated suite of services spanning property management, lease administration, data analytics, finance, technology, professional advisory and agency support. The
Accent Housing has secured £33.8 million in new government funding through its Strategic Partnership with Homes England. The funding, part of a £2 billion top-up announced in Spring 2025, will enable Accent and its partners to deliver 301 additional affordable homes, most of which will be for Social and affordable
BAM UK & Ireland and the Eden Project have launched a pioneering collaboration to place nature recovery at the heart of the built environment. In a first for both organisations, the new partnership aims to spark industry-wide change across the construction industry. The collaboration aims to inspire bold action, shift mindsets,
Caledonia Housing Association (CHA) has received four shortlist nominations at leading industry awards. CHA has been shortlisted in two categories at the 2025 Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Awards. The CIH Awards, which recognise the creativity, passion and innovation of housing organisations and individuals across the sector in Scotland, have
Leading construction and fit-out company, Gilbert-Ash has reported a strong increase in profits to almost £7million with further growth in turnover to more than £268million. The latest results revealed profit before tax of over £6.8million in 2024, up £5.3million from £1.5million in 2023 as a strong pipeline of work has
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 started construction on Unit S915 at Panattoni Park, Swindon. The scheme is the second phase of works for the contractor at the Swindon site and
Cities across the country remain full of empty or underused buildings. These aren’t just missed opportunities; they’re failures to meet the pressing social need for more local resources and spaces. Across the UK, retrofitting these properties is becoming a larger priority. Instead of tearing down the past, communities and councils are reimagining it. Architects and developers, backed by digital design tools, are unlocking the social potential of neglected buildings to create new hubs for education, inclusion and public life in areas where they are most needed. From derelict warehouse to community anchor One example is the transformation of a once-derelict warehouse on Great Patrick Street in Belfast. It has been reimagined as a vibrant, purpose-built youth facility serving three community organisations: Include Youth, VOYPIC and Viable Corporate Services. Previously abandoned and in disrepair, the two-storey industrial building was one of the few remaining structures in an area that had been overtaken by student housing developments. Determined to retain its original character while giving it new life, the client secured planning consent to convert the site into a hub for youth support services. But what initially seemed like a straightforward conversion quickly revealed deeper structural and logistical challenges, such as ensuring there was enough natural light entering the building. Natural light was a particular issue because of the long, narrow floor plan. To address this, a triple-height lightwell was introduced at the building’s core. Using Archicad’s sun study feature, the team could understand how daylight would move through the space and assign room uses accordingly. Interior finishes were tested digitally to maximise brightness and create a welcoming atmosphere for young people using the facility. To manage the complexity of the retrofit and meet a tight delivery timeline, Doherty Architects created a detailed 3D model of the existing building using Graphisoft’s Archicad. This allowed the team to work within the irregular geometry of the warehouse and design bespoke interventions that would enhance usability without compromising character. The warehouse now houses a mix of private offices and shared spaces, with flexible layouts that allow the charities to collaborate and adapt the environment to suit changing needs. Acoustic zoning, sensory rooms and dedicated activity areas ensure that the building supports users of all ages and abilities for years to come. A Victorian reservoir becomes a science hub In Nottinghamshire, a long-abandoned Victorian reservoir has been transformed into a planetarium and science discovery centre by architecture practice Anotherkind Architects for the Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society (MSAS). The aim was to create a landmark STEM facility to improve educational outcomes in an area with historically low engagement in science, while preserving a unique piece of heritage architecture. MSAS acquired the site in 2014 with the ambition of turning the observatory into a regional education hub. Despite early setbacks, including the original contractor going into administration, the team, backed by Towns Fund and Levelling Up Fund support, took the project through planning, funding and delivery. To help communicate this vision and secure funding, Anotherkind used Graphisoft’s Archicad to develop a fully integrated 3D model of the design. These were shared using virtual reality and BIMx, allowing stakeholders, investors and the public to walk through the proposed space. “It helped people who weren’t familiar with the designs understand the complexity of what we were doing,” explained architect Dan Kilarski-Marlow. The reservoir itself is a 25-metre-diameter underground chamber, seven metres deep, with challenging geometry. Using Archicad’s renovation filters and mesh modelling tools, the team coordinated the complex integration of new and existing elements. Contractors used BIMx onsite to visualise and interact with the design, reducing reliance on printed plans and improving construction accuracy. Reusing the Victorian structure significantly reduced embodied carbon, and all excavated earth was retained and reused on site. The new facility includes a green roof, EV charging points, cycle storage, and infrastructure for future solar panels, combining heritage reuse with sustainable urban design. Since opening in late 2024, the centre has welcomed more than 10,000 visitors, hosted dozens of school groups, and created learning opportunities through a volunteer-run café operated in partnership with a local college. In total, the project has delivered more than £2.9 million in quantified social value, with the majority of spend and labour sourced from within the region. Unlocking civic value through reuse These projects show how intelligent reuse of our existing buildings can drive inclusive regeneration. Both buildings were initially seen as liabilities, structurally awkward, financially uncertain and spatially complex. But with the right mix of community commitment and digital collaboration, they became platforms for shared social, educational and cultural value. This is not just about architecture, it’s about equity. Thousands of similar buildings across the UK are unused, ignored or awaiting demolition, while people struggle to access basic services and social infrastructure. Local authorities and developers must take stock of these assets. A full audit of estates, supported by digital design and retrofit strategies, could help address community requirements without the need for new land or heavy infrastructure. Learn more about Graphisoft’s architectural software on the website https://www.graphisoft.com/uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Renewable energy developer Apatura plans to develop a £3.9 billion AI energy campus on the former Ravenscraig steelworks site, which could bring more than 2000 jobs to the area. The ambitious proposal includes a major 550MW data centre paired with a 650MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to harness Scotland’s growing renewable power. The data centre would be a highly secure building that would house powerful computer servers that store, process and move vast amounts of digital information which powers emerging technologies and makes everyday life possible. An independent socio-economic study also calculated the centre would contribute an additional 0.4% to Scotland’s annual GDP once in use, generating around £766 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) during construction and £583 million in GVA to the local economy every year thereafter. These proposals support the wider Ravenscraig masterplan which is one of Europe’s largest brownfield regeneration and community creation projects. The vision for Ravenscraig is a self-sufficient community, with high quality housing, transport links, education and employment opportunities, all surrounded by beautiful green space and ancient woodland. Apatura continues to work closely with North Lanarkshire Council and Ravenscraig Ltd to advance the proposals alongside thorough consultation with the community. Response so far has been positive with 75% of attendees to the first consultation event in favor of the proposals. The second public consultation event takes place on Monday 6 October from 3pm at the Wellbeing Academy, New College Lanarkshire. Ravenscraig also awaits the outcome from the UK Government and The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) if Ravenscraig has been named as one of the UK’s AI Growth Zone sites (AIGZs). AIGZs are part of the UK Government’s Compute UK roadmap, a strategy to deliver new, sustainable AI infrastructure in high-potential growth regions across the country. In recent weeks DSIT announced Blyth in Northumberland and Cobalt Park in North Tyneside as the first AIGZ, which will support development of AI projects in the north-east and will ultimately boost economic growth and create thousands of jobs. Apatura CEO, Giles Hanglin, said: “We are confident in our proposals for Ravenscraig and the huge benefits this data campus would bring to local people, and the wider Scottish economy. The major investment, new jobs and training opportunities that our proposals bring would attract more people to the area and boost opportunities for the community to grow and thrive. “If we were selected as an AI Growth Zone it would be a significant endorsement of our ambition to make Scotland a powerhouse of AI-enabled digital infrastructure powered by Scotland’s vast renewable resource, beginning at Ravenscraig and extending across the central belt.” Russell Wilkie, Director at Ravenscraig Limited, added: “Ravenscraig is already transforming into the thriving, self-sufficient community we envisioned. With more than 1,000 homes, new park and sports facilities, college and biodiversity improvements already delivered, and further commercial development underway, we are making great progress. The proposal from Apatura represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to accelerate that transformation further, unlocking thousands of skilled jobs, driving major inward investment, and positioning Ravenscraig at the heart of Scotland’s green and digital economy.” When wind generation exceeds what the grid can transport or use, known as curtailment, turbines are paid to switch off, wasting clean energy and adding to consumer bills. In 2024 alone, curtailment costs to UK taxpayers were estimated at around £1 billion, a figure expected to rise to over £3 billion by 2030. By using constrained wind power and storing surplus energy for later use, the Ravenscraig project would help ease grid congestion, reduce curtailment, and make better use of Scotland’s renewable resources, ultimately cutting waste and costs while powering a new generation of digital infrastructure. In addition to these economic benefits, the campus is being designed to recover and reuse heat from IT operations. Through a dedicated plant and heat exchange system, the project could capture and repurpose this otherwise wasted energy, with the potential to supply the equivalent heat demand of over 180,000 homes. Apatura collaborated with North Lanarkshire Council, SEPA, the Scottish Government and other local stakeholders to ensure the approach aligns with Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and national policy goals. Apatura plans to submit its proposals to North Lanarkshire Council before the end of 2025, and if approved, site remediation and construction would commence in 2026 with the Campus complete and fully operational by 2029.. For more information on the vision for Ravenscraig and latest news visit ravenscraig.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Staycity Group is set to bring its boutique Wilde Aparthotel brand to Blackfriars Road, confirming plans for a 25-storey scheme a minute from Southwark Underground station. The site at 203–208 Blackfriars Road, acquired from Swiss Life Asset Management (with JLL advising the seller), will be developed by Citygrove and designed by EPR Architects. Subject to planning, ground works are slated to begin in June 2027 with completion targeted for March 2030. Conceived as an urban hub for short and extended stays, the tower will comprise a mix of studio and one-bed serviced apartments, each with fully equipped kitchens. A lounge, café-bar, retail unit and co-working space are planned across the ground floor and mezzanine, aiming to create an activated street presence along the Blackfriars corridor. The move deepens Wilde’s footprint in the capital, joining existing locations in Aldgate, Covent Garden, Liverpool Street and Paddington, with an additional WC1 project in the pipeline. It also follows Staycity’s purchase of Wyvil Court in Vauxhall, taking the company’s central London development pipeline to five sites with a combined GDV of more than £800m. Andrew Fowler, Staycity’s chief development officer, called the Southwark acquisition a milestone for the group. “This is another milestone acquisition for our central London pipeline, bringing in-house development to five London sites with a combined GDV of over £800m as we focus on larger, prime projects. It also marks a strategic entry into Southwark, one of London’s fastest-developing central boroughs.” The Blackfriars Road address places future guests within easy reach of the South Bank and some of London’s best-known cultural draws, including Tate Modern, the National Theatre, Borough Market, the London Eye and Shakespeare’s Globe. Staycity currently operates around 6,500 aparthotel rooms and reports a contracted pipeline of more than 4,500 additional rooms, signing roughly 2,000 keys a year across Europe for its Staycity Aparthotels and Wilde brands. The Southwark project is intended to showcase Wilde’s design-led positioning, with bespoke interiors and flexible spaces tailored to both leisure and business travellers. By combining a prime Zone 1 location with long-stay amenities and ground-floor activation, the scheme underlines Staycity’s confidence in London’s hospitality market and its strategy of concentrating capital on larger, centrally located developments. Subject to approvals, Wilde Blackfriars would arrive in early 2030 as one of the brand’s flagship properties in the city. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
RED Construction Group, the specialist main contractor, has announced its results for the 2025 financial year. Reporting a turnover of £170.8m, the company continues to achieve sustainable profit, with the near 50% turnover increase year-on-year supported by higher pre-tax profit margin. Across the financial period, from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025, RED Construction Group has doubled its pre-tax profits to over £4m, growing the margin from 1.7% to 2.4%, and the company’s cash reserve has substantially increased. The Group continues to demonstrate stability and sustained growth, forecasting a 12% increase in turnover for the next financial year, with more than 90% of that already secured and 50% for the following year. Key project wins and completions between April 2024 and March 2025 include the London team’s work on the 130,000 sq ft office redevelopment for Tellon Capital at 40 Broadway, the comprehensive refurbishment of 8 Lancelot Place in Knightsbridge for BEAM, the delivery of phase one and appointment on phase two of The Sheppard Trust’s senior living Royal Cambridge Home in Surrey, and the £20.5m office refurbishment to Shoreditch’s Grade II listed building, Curtain House, for Aviva Investors. In the South West, the team carried out Bristol’s prestigious £20m student accommodation development on Moon Street, and completed the £22m Net Zero Carbon Zeal Hotel in Exeter, creating a benchmark for the industry. Zeal Hotel Exeter is one of many hotel projects RED Construction Group facilitated over the period, joining works at the iconic St Pancras Renaissance Hotel and The Tower Hotel, both delivered by the Special Projects team. Revenue over the next period is planned to stabilise at c. £200m, achieving the company’s aim of a sustainable income and profit whilst embedding a new corporate structure geared towards long term growth. To support that vision, RED Construction Group has this year restructured its senior leadership team, to focus on the group’s strategic and operational growth in the coming years. Continuing to lead strategy is CEO Graham Sturge, whilst Derek Quinn has become COO of the Group, with James Devey to take on his former position leading the South West division. Sam Hewitt moves to Group Commercial Director for the construction business allowing Jon Hayes to assume the wider Group’s CCO role covering all subsidiaries. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary this month, RED Construction Group has shown consistent, stable growth since its inception, now firmly established across multiple regions and sectors, delivering works on time and on budget in what is an uncertain market. Graham Sturge, CEO, RED Construction Group, commented: “Almost a decade old, I’m proud that we’ve grown RED Construction Group into a settled and mature business, delivering year-on-year growth through a sustainable and controlled strategy. 2024/25 has been full of fantastic project completions and wins, our £170m turnover alongside increasing our cash reserves further confirms the stability and resilience we offer both clients and sub-contractors.” “Firmly established in London and the South West, we are now looking further afield into the East of England and the Midlands, organically expanding rather than chasing growth and taking undue risk. Our focus for the coming year, as always, is to continue to support our supply chain partners, manage risk, and grow sustainably, whilst the strengthening of our leadership team will drive the Group’s strategic and operational vision. Our 2024/25 results are robust, and we forecast the next few years to be even stronger.” Delivering works spanning the hospitality, commercial, office, and student accommodation sectors, RED Construction Group is currently carrying out projects including the refurbishment of Mayfair’s Bruton Place for BEAM, the second phase of The Shepperd Trust’s redevelopment of an independent living facility in Surrey, and Alumno Group’s Hollis Wharf mixed-use development in Bath. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Costa Coffee has chosen Colliers as estates management partner for its UK portfolio in a five-year agreement that covers more than 1,600 sites nationwide. Under the partnership, Colliers will deliver an integrated suite of services spanning property management, lease administration, data analytics, finance, technology, professional advisory and agency support. The remit is designed to give Costa a single, joined-up view of its estate while tightening execution on day-to-day operations and future growth. Founded in London over 50 years ago, Costa continues to expand both at home and internationally. Colliers’ brief will be to ensure the brand’s property strategy evolves in step with that growth agenda, aligning decisions on leases, refurbishments and new openings with performance data across the network. Simon Armitage, head of UK enterprise client operations at Colliers, said: “We are delighted to be working with Costa Coffee as they continue to grow their presence across the UK. It’s a well-known and well-loved brand and supporting a portfolio of this scale brings exciting opportunities. Our focus will be on consistency, responsiveness and clarity, ensuring Costa Coffee has the support it needs to deliver its property strategy.” From Costa’s side, the emphasis is on using the partnership to underpin an active development pipeline and maintain pace as consumer demand shifts. Nick Ridley, property and store development director at Costa Coffee, said: “Costa Coffee has an exciting pipeline of growth ahead as we continue to expand our presence across the UK. Our property strategy plays a vital role in helping us bring great coffee experiences to more customers, in more places. We’re delighted to be working with Colliers as we take the next step in developing and supporting our estate.” The arrangement brings together operational rigour and advisory expertise across a large and varied footprint that includes high streets, retail parks, travel hubs and drive-thru locations. By consolidating estates management and strengthening data flows, Costa aims to sharpen decision-making on rent reviews and renewals, streamline compliance, and target capital where it delivers the greatest customer and commercial impact. For Colliers, the mandate adds a sizeable consumer brand to its enterprise client roster and underscores the advisory firm’s focus on technology-enabled property services. The team will look to standardise processes across Costa’s network while building in the agility required to respond quickly to market opportunities. With the UK coffee market remaining competitive and location-sensitive, both organisations frame the partnership as a way to sustain momentum: Costa through disciplined expansion and estate optimisation, and Colliers through delivering measurable efficiencies and clear lines of accountability over the next five years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Accent Housing has secured £33.8 million in new government funding through its Strategic Partnership with Homes England. The funding, part of a £2 billion top-up announced in Spring 2025, will enable Accent and its partners to deliver 301 additional affordable homes, most of which will be for Social and affordable rent. Accent is already a Strategic Partner with Homes England under the Affordable Homes Programme 2021–2026. The new package will enable Thrive Homes, one of Accent’s partner housing associations, to deliver a further twenty-two social and affordable rented homes in Borehamwood, while Accent will deliver the remaining 279 across its development programme. Nick Apetroaie, Chief Executive of Accent, said: “This latest funding is a great vote of confidence in our place-based development programme and our people. It means we can go further and faster in delivering the affordable homes that communities across the country desperately need. With demand higher than ever, we are determined to play our part in tackling the housing crisis and providing secure, quality homes for those who need them most.” Steve Morris, Interim Executive Director for Development and Sales at Accent, commented ‘Our Development programme has gone from strength to strength since becoming a Strategic Partner for Homes England. We currently have over 700 homes under construction on 18 sites from Surrey to Yorkshire, including the regeneration of a large estate in Bradford due to complete in Spring 2026. This additional support gives us confidence to keep building, while we await announcements around the Government’s longer-term funding plans.” Chantelle Barker, Director of Development at Thrive Homes, said: “This is fantastic timing. We have just gone into contract on our 186-home development with Hill Investment Partnerships (The Hill Group) at Lyndhurst Farm, Borehamwood. This funding confirmation gives us security to deliver the last phase of 22 homes on that site, which will include homes for social rent.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
BAM UK & Ireland and the Eden Project have launched a pioneering collaboration to place nature recovery at the heart of the built environment. In a first for both organisations, the new partnership aims to spark industry-wide change across the construction industry. The collaboration aims to inspire bold action, shift mindsets, and lead the industry towards a nature-inclusive future by challenging barriers to implementation and further embedding nature into every stage of BAM UK & Ireland’s projects. Together, BAM UK & Ireland and Eden Project want to reimagine the built environment as a space where nature isn’t sacrificed but celebrated, with a purpose-driven three-year collaboration focusing on tangible action across three key pillars: Initially, BAM UK & Ireland’s focus will be on projects where it can maximise health, wellbeing, and biodiversity outcomes – for both its clients and its people. This includes health and education projects, as well as BAM UK & Ireland’s own estate. The aim is to integrate nature by design through healing gardens and green spaces that support patient recovery, create outdoor learning environments, and establish biodiverse spaces for children and communities. BAM UK & Ireland also plans to enhance some of its offices, depots, and sites with nature-rich breakout spaces that improve the daily work experience for colleagues. John Wilkinson, COO of BAM UK & Ireland, said: “Since the early 1970s, animal populations have declined by 73%* and our industry has played a role in that devastation – but we now stand at the edge of a precipice. We can either accept that human activity has caused this destruction and work together to address it, or we can ignore it and watch as nature loss inevitably results in damage to human civilisation. We’ve chosen to take a stand, and to do it alongside the Eden Project, to inspire and embed change across the built environment.” YouGov research* conducted for BAM UK & Ireland in 2024 highlights that 84% of large UK businesses say nature recovery is important, however, to date limited action has been taken with only one third of businesses having a biodiversity plan. Investment in resources and increased staff awareness and participation both top the list as the biggest challenges preventing businesses from turning intent into action on biodiversity. Andy Jasper, CEO of Eden Project, commented: “Nature is not a luxury – it’s the foundation of our wellbeing, our communities, and our future. We are excited to be collaborating with BAM UK & Ireland, we have the opportunity to reimagine construction as a driver of ecological recovery and to prove that every space we build can also be a space for life.” BAM UK & Ireland has already made major strides as part of its Biodiversity+ strategy, supporting the global Nature Positive agenda – aiming to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve full recovery by 2050. 95% of BAM UK & Ireland’s construction projects now include wildlife structures, while 63% of BAM UK & Ireland’s infrastructure projects apply Biodiversity Net Gain principles often exceeding legal requirements, with landmark projects like the Cross Tay Link Road Green Bridge and the Thames Tideway Bug Hotel demonstrating BAM UK & Ireland’s commitment towards nature-positive design. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caledonia Housing Association (CHA) has received four shortlist nominations at leading industry awards. CHA has been shortlisted in two categories at the 2025 Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Awards. The CIH Awards, which recognise the creativity, passion and innovation of housing organisations and individuals across the sector in Scotland, have shortlisted CHA in the Housing Organisation of the Year category. In addition, CHA has been shortlisted in the Excellence in Accessibility and Inclusion category for the Better Homes, Brighter Futures project. The shortlisting recognises CHA’s focus on maintaining connections, responsiveness, and trust while designing and maintaining homes for all ages, abilities, and circumstances – enabling people to live well, independently, and with dignity in communities they are proud to call home. CHA has also received two shortlist nominations at this year’s HR Network National Awards which recognise, acknowledge and reward the champions of the Scottish HR profession. The People Team have been shortlisted in Leading with Kindness category while Angie Merrilees, Caledonia Organisational Development Business Partner, has been shortlisted for Business Partner of the Year. Barry Johnstone, Executive Director of People and Governance, Caledonia Housing Association, said: “We are pleased to receive nominations for four categories in these two leading industry awards. At Caledonia Housing Association, our focus is on making life better for thousands of people across eight local authority areas, providing homes to over 5,700 tenants and factoring services to 2,300 homeowners. This recognition is a real tribute to the passion and dedication of our people, who strive every day to make a positive difference in the communities we serve.” The winners of the HR Network National Awards will be revealed on Thursday, 13th November. The winners of the CIH awards will be revealed on Friday, 14th November 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading construction and fit-out company, Gilbert-Ash has reported a strong increase in profits to almost £7million with further growth in turnover to more than £268million. The latest results revealed profit before tax of over £6.8million in 2024, up £5.3million from £1.5million in 2023 as a strong pipeline of work has maintained the company’s robust financial position. Projects completed in 2024 include the £24million Loveday Dementia Care Facility in London’s Belgravia and the 369-bedroom, £38million Premier Inn Paddington also in the capital. In Manchester the company completed the £29million CAT A office refurbishment at Great Bridgewater Street while at Brighton College Gilbert-Ash delivered a new performing arts centre valued at £24million. It was a year which also brought a shortlisting for the Stirling Prize for Gilbert-Ash’s outstanding work on the largest refurbishment in the history of the National Portrait Gallery in London. Looking ahead to 2025 the company is benefitting from a significant order book with several high-profile projects underway this year. Gilbert-Ash has been appointed to carry out phase one works at US healthcare technology company, Epic’s new campus project in north Somerset. The company has also been appointed to carry out a major refurbishment of RIBA’s Grade II listed London headquarters. And in a further boost to its strong reputation as an employer, Gilbert-Ash was named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work listing, while earlier in the year the company transitioned to an Employee Ownership Trust model, giving staff a greater stake in its future direction. Gilbert-Ash Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson said the company is in buoyant mood and looking to a bright future. He said: “There is no question that the past few years have been challenging in the construction industry but at Gilbert-Ash we put our faith in the quality of our work and the excellence of our people to help us navigate this period. “During this time Gilbert-Ash continued to deliver outstanding projects as we strengthened relationships with a number of long-standing clients across several sectors. “Looking ahead we have a strong pipeline of work secured and coupled with continued vigilance against economic headwinds we can predict a period of further growth for the company.” To help fuel this growth Gilbert-Ash continues to significantly invest in its workforce through its Make Your Mark campaign. The initiative seeks not only to celebrate the achievements of its people but also to attract the industry’s best operators to join Gilbert-Ash. Ray Hutchinson said: “With The Sunday Times endorsement and a growing order book of projects across several sectors, it is an exciting time for Gilbert-Ash. We are continuing to seek the industry’s finest people to come and work with us and help us to take the next steps in our development.” The company has a unique approach to construction, fit-out and refurbishment based on the belief that great buildings come about through hard work, inspired innovation and genuine collaboration. Sustainability is a key focus for Gilbert-Ash with a number of initiatives underway to help the company to drive down its carbon footprint. To find out more about Gilbert-Ash visit www.gilbert-ash.com. 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 started construction on Unit S915 at Panattoni Park, Swindon. The scheme is the second phase of works for the contractor at the Swindon site and marks the beginning of the build of a state-of-the-art 915,000 sq. ft warehouse and production facility for longstanding client, Panattoni – the largest logistics property developer in the UK and Europe. The construction of Unit S915 is a key milestone of the multi-phase regeneration of the 370-acre site and will comprise a single-storey logistics facility with a two-storey main office of 17,365 sq. ft, a two-storey transport office of 5,295 sq. ft, an external two-storey entrance tower and bridge of 1,808 sq. ft, a gatehouse, internal plant deck, clear haunch height of 21 metres and provision for a future vehicle maintenance. Works will also include all roads, service yards, car parks, hard and soft landscaping, drainage and utilities. Designed to target BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC A ratings, the unit will be delivered to a Net Zero Carbon in Construction standard (aligned with the UK Green Building Council 2019 Framework Definition). Phase two follows the successful completion of phase one which involved major demolition and site-wide infrastructure works, including the removal of the former Honda car manufacturing facility decommissioned in 2021. Running from February until September 2024, the initial programme included the demolition of over 15 buildings. Additional works involved extensive earthworks of approximately 800,000m³ to create development plateaus. Winvic also delivered critical infrastructure including foul and stormwater drainage systems, estate road construction, site wide utilities, highway access alterations and strategic footpaths and cycleways. Circularity has been a key focus of the scheme, with on-site recycling of 6F2 aggregate and a balanced earthworks strategy significantly reducing vehicle movements and associated environmental impact. Additionally, demolition materials have been recycled, helping to minimise waste sent to landfill and supporting a more sustainable construction approach. The Winvic site team carefully managed ecological and archaeological constraints as part of its early enabling works, Winvic also supported a comprehensive eight-week archaeological programme, in collaboration with Oxford Archaeology. Multiple areas of historic interest were identified across the site, with Winvic stripping topsoil to expose areas for excavation. The team also carried out significant ecological mitigation measures including the installation of wildlife protection barriers, the safeguarding of a key watercourse and full tree protection. Several inactive badger setts were carefully removed under supervision, while new owl boxes were installed on site to support local biodiversity as part of habitat creation measures. During Phase 1, the scheme prioritised the employment of local people including Honda’s former Facilities Electrical Engineer, who worked at the plant for 30 years, a Winvic Project Manager involved in the original Honda Car Plant build and a civil engineering student also gained valuable experience on-site as part of a placement. Phase 2 will see the delivery of an Employment and Skills Plan designed to make a positive local impact through employment, training, educational and community engagement. Danny Nelson, Managing Director of Industrial, Logistics and Distribution at Winvic, said: “It’s a privilege to continue our strong relationship with Panattoni and to be entrusted with delivering its largest ever speculative unit, following the successful completion of the complex first phase. The demolition and enabling works presented significant challenges – not just due to the scale of the site but also the sensitive management of existing infrastructure on the brownfield site. And the latest appointment is testament to our expertise in delivering high-quality industrial projects with industry-leading sustainability credentials” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals