Construction workwear is one of the few site costs decided quickly and regretted slowly. Somebody orders what the last supplier sent, the kit arrives, and the problems surface months later. Trousers split at the knee, hi-vis fades to a dull lime, and nobody can reorder the same jacket in the
McLaughlin & Harvey has been appointed by the Education Authority as the main construction contractor on the phase 1 expansion of specialist SEN provision at Rathore School, enabling much needed facilities for children in the Newry, Mourne and Down area. The scheme, which is being delivered in three stages, is
Willmott Dixon has secured planning permission for the near £50 million redevelopment of Bramhall High School in Stockport, paving the way for construction of a new three-storey secondary school to replace the existing RAAC-affected campus. Construction is expected to begin in January 2027, with the replacement school being built alongside
The Local Plan is a guide to development and growth in the city over the next fifteen years and Manchester people are invited to have their say for the final time yesterday. The Plan is a legal requirement for every Council to set out a long-term framework about how development
Short-term economic easing indicates construction sector recovery still on track for 2027 Today, Glenigan | A Hubexo Product (Glenigan), one of the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, releases the August 2026 edition of its Construction Review. The August Review focuses on the three months to the end of July 2026,
Lovell Partnerships is preparing to start construction on the first phase of a major residential regeneration scheme in Horsham, transforming the former Novartis Pharmaceuticals campus into a new neighbourhood of around 450 homes. Work is expected to begin in October on Lovell’s 206-home development across the 2.72-hectare site, with the
Southeastern services have resumed, once again, at Charing Cross and Waterloo East after a 22-day closure for essential engineering work at the central London terminus. During the closure, engineers replaced almost two kilometres of 36-year-old track and the switches and crossings, the moveable rails that allow trains to switch paths,
Upgrades will improve the resilience of critical wastewater treatment services. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been awarded work by Thames Water to upgrade strategic treatment assets across the Thames Valley region. The award will see Costain complete around £150m of essential upgrades to wastewater treatment assets across 15 sites
A2Dominion appoints NEC Software Solutions (NEC) to provide housing management systems for its 70,000 residents. NEC Housing is the market leader in housing management platforms and will support the housing association as it manages more than 38,000 homes across London and Southern England. A2Dominion carried out a detailed and collaborative procurement
Laing O’Rourke and the Hochtief Murphy joint venture (HMJV) have secured major construction packages on National Grid’s £1 billion North West London Upgrade, a substantial infrastructure programme designed to strengthen electricity capacity and support the rapid expansion of data centres and digital infrastructure. The project will reinforce the electricity transmission
Construction workwear is one of the few site costs decided quickly and regretted slowly. Somebody orders what the last supplier sent, the kit arrives, and the problems surface months later. Trousers split at the knee, hi-vis fades to a dull lime, and nobody can reorder the same jacket in the same colour. The garments were not wrong on the day they arrived. They were wrong when they were specified. This guide covers how to specify and buy construction workwear properly, working from the site risk assessment outwards. What counts as construction workwear? Construction workwear is the clothing and protective equipment worn by teams on building sites. It normally covers hi-vis garments, work trousers, base layers, outer layers, footwear and head protection. Every order splits into three parts, each governed differently: Start with the risk assessment, not the catalogue The most common buying mistake is starting with a product list. Somebody opens a catalogue, picks garments that look about right, and works out afterwards whether they suit the work. Work in this order instead: That sequence also gives you a defensible record. If a client or inspector asks why a garment was chosen, the answer traces back to an assessment rather than a catalogue page. Which class of hi-vis does a site need? High-visibility clothing is divided into three performance classes under UK and European standards. The class is determined by the minimum surface area of fluorescent background and retro-reflective material a garment carries. Class Minimum material Typical application Class 1 0.14 m² fluorescent, 0.10 m² reflective Lowest risk. Warehouses, delivery yards, car parks, slow-moving traffic. Not suitable for roadside work. Class 2 0.50 m² fluorescent, 0.13 m² reflective Medium risk. Traffic control, deliveries, waste collection, work near moving vehicles. Class 3 0.80 m² fluorescent, 0.20 m² reflective Highest risk. Motorways, high-speed traffic, railways. Requires sleeves or trousers carrying reflective bands. Three practical points sit alongside the classification: Who is responsible for providing PPE? Employers are legally responsible for providing suitable PPE free of charge. That duty covers anyone they employ or control on site, wherever risks cannot be controlled by other methods. Companies cannot charge workers for standard work PPE or deduct it from wages. Employer duties: Worker duties: wear it as trained, store it correctly, and report damage straight away. This is worth checking rather than assuming on sites using subcontracted or agency labour. The commercial arrangement does not always match the legal duty. Building a core kit list for a site team Most site teams need four things: something against the skin, something on the legs, something high-visibility, and something for weather. The simplest way to buy this is in sets rather than garment by garment. Workwear bundle deals group a standard kit per worker, which is quicker to order and easier to repeat. It also solves reordering before it starts, because new starters and replacements match what is already on site. Getting work trousers right Trousers take more abrasion than any other garment on site, so they wear out fastest. They are also the item most often replaced mid-project, which makes them worth closer attention than they usually get. Check the seams, the knees and the hems, because that is where trousers fail. Triple stitching and reinforced knee panels last noticeably longer, and knee pad pockets should always be adjustable. Buy lighter cloth for summer and heavier for winter. Getting fit and sizing right Fit is a safety consideration, not a comfort preference. Loose garments catch on scaffolds and moving plants. Tight garments restrict movement, so they get unfastened or removed. Women’s fit still gets handled by issuing smaller men’s sizes, which produces poor sleeve length and hi-vis sitting wrong on the body. Ranges of ladies construction workwear cut for women’s proportions now cover most site categories. Order sizing samples before any bulk commitment, because a fitting session beats exchanging eighty garments. Choosing workwear jackets and outer layers The usual mistake is one heavy waterproof coat expected to cover the year. It is too warm for most of the working day, so it comes off, and then it is not on when the weather turns. A base, mid and shell system works better, because workers adjust through the day instead of choosing between overheating and getting wet. When specifying workwear jackets, check three things: whether seams are taped rather than only stitched, whether the garment is genuinely waterproof or merely water-resistant, and whether it is cut with room for layers underneath. Getting your logo on it: what to expect from a supplier Branding is where suppliers differ most, and the easiest part of the process to judge before committing. Two methods dominate. Embroidery Print Best on Polo shirts, sweatshirts, fleeces, jackets Technical fabrics, lightweight garments, hi-vis Strength Hard wearing, handles repeated industrial washing Reproduces detailed and full-colour artwork accurately Watch for Puckering on lightweight polyester Method must match the fabric A supplier who recommends a method for your logo on your garments is worth more than one applying the same process to everything. Insist on a proof before production This is the single most useful question to put to any supplier. Your logo is first converted into a production-ready file, a process called digitising for embroidery. Before production, expect a stitched sample photo for embroidery or a position and colour visual for print. You approve it, then production starts. Any supplier skipping that step is asking you to accept whatever arrives. Production run in-house rather than subcontracted also helps, because problems get fixed rather than passed along a chain. Where a logo can go on hi-vis Branding must not reduce the certified fluorescent or reflective area. Logos go in plain fluorescent gaps, never over reflective tape. Keep the logo small enough that it does not eat into the required background area. Print is generally preferred over heavy stitching on hi-vis and waterproofs, which avoids damaging the safety fabric. Which construction workwear brands should be on your shortlist? Brand matters less than specification, but it is
McLaughlin & Harvey has been appointed by the Education Authority as the main construction contractor on the phase 1 expansion of specialist SEN provision at Rathore School, enabling much needed facilities for children in the Newry, Mourne and Down area. The scheme, which is being delivered in three stages, is the first construction project in Northern Ireland for the Antrim based firm since the completion of the new distillery at Bushmills in 2021. This first phase of the project will see current and future pupils at Rathore SEN School will benefit from nine new classroom facilities with additional outdoor play areas, car parking and outdoor landscaping, ensuring the school meets the growing needs of the SEN community in the Newry Mourne and Down area. The project is well underway, with the scheme making use of modern methods of construction to minimise disruption to existing staff and pupils, including off-site fabrication of 1,300m2 of classroom and ancillary rooms. Completion is expected by the end of December 2026, with the new facilities ready to receive pupils from August 2027 onwards following further fit out by Rathore School. Gavin Parkinson, Operations Director at McLaughlin & Harvey said: “Our experience working on public sector construction and infrastructure projects across the whole of the UK means we’re ideally placed to deliver a project as important and sensitive as the one at Rathore School. We understand that the need for SEN school facilities across Northern Ireland is a pressing issue, and our approach to modern methods of construction will enable smooth delivery, ensuring classrooms are ready to meet the needs of young people in the area.” “Although our civils team has continued to thrive in Northern Ireland, we’re extremely proud to see our construction team back on site for a Northern Irish project.” Dale Hanna, EA Chief Operations Officer, said: “This project will make a real difference for children and young people with SEN and their families, giving them access to modern, purpose-built accommodation designed around their needs. “EA will continue to consider every available option to increase capacity and support children and young people to access appropriate SEN provision as close as possible to their local community. “This investment forms part of EA’s wider capital programme to expand SEN provision across Northern Ireland and support children and young people now and in the years ahead.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has secured planning permission for the near £50 million redevelopment of Bramhall High School in Stockport, paving the way for construction of a new three-storey secondary school to replace the existing RAAC-affected campus. Construction is expected to begin in January 2027, with the replacement school being built alongside the existing facilities to allow teaching to continue while the major redevelopment progresses. Designed by Sheppard Robson, the new school will accommodate 1,350 pupils on the existing 36-acre site off Seal Road. The project will consolidate the current sprawling school estate into a modern purpose-built teaching environment, while addressing problems associated with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) within the existing buildings. Once the new building has been completed, most of the existing school estate will be demolished, although the newer maths block will be retained and incorporated into the future campus. The replacement school will include 25 general classrooms and 10 science laboratories alongside specialist teaching facilities for drama, computing, ICT, art and design. Five dedicated SEND classrooms will also be provided, together with an assembly hall featuring tiered seating, dining facilities, a library and new staff and support accommodation. Sport will form another major part of the redevelopment. Indoor facilities will include a four-court sports hall, activity studio and changing accommodation, significantly improving the school’s provision for pupils and physical education. Externally, the plans include two replacement multi-use games areas and a new 3G sports pitch, while the existing hockey pitch will be retained. The phased construction strategy will be particularly important to the delivery of the project, allowing the existing school to remain operational while Willmott Dixon builds the replacement accommodation elsewhere on the site. The subsequent demolition and external works will then enable the wider campus to be reorganised around the new building. The project forms part of the continuing programme of investment required across the education estate following the discovery of RAAC in school buildings around the country. With planning now secured, the Bramhall High School redevelopment moves a significant step closer to construction, delivering modern teaching, SEND and sports facilities while replacing ageing and RAAC-affected accommodation with a more consolidated school campus for 1,350 pupils. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Local Plan is a guide to development and growth in the city over the next fifteen years and Manchester people are invited to have their say for the final time yesterday. The Plan is a legal requirement for every Council to set out a long-term framework about how development should be considered through the planning process, including new housing – as well as affordable homes – green spaces, development that creates employment opportunities, infrastructure projects such as roads, health facilities and schools – and how the city will achieve net zero carbon. The Plan complements a range of strategies and policies that look to deliver the vision of the Council. An initial consultation took place in September 2025 starting a process of review and engagement through the last year. This consultation attracted 2,184 responses that have since been considered by planning officers to help update the draft local plan. The Local Plan is currently going through Regulation 19, which is the final version of the plan before it is referred to a government inspector for public examination. The public will be asked for their comments relating to how ‘workable’ the draft plan is in practice, which is a requirement set out by Government. This ‘test of soundness’ asks the public: does the plan meet its objectives. Key changes to the draft local plan following previous consultation: Take part in the Local Plan consultation Local people, community organisations, businesses and stakeholders can take part in the consultation, submitting their views online via an online platform and all details are available on the following council web page A hard copy of the consultation will also be made available in Manchester Central Library. The consultation will remain open until Monday 28 Sept. The previous Manchester Local Plan was adopted in 2012. The current review was delayed while the Greater Manchester Places for Everyone plan was adopted, into which the Manchester Plan must align. Following consultation, the final draft of Manchester’s Local Plan will be submitted to a government inspector with an expectation that the plan will be adopted in the summer of 2027. Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “It’s important that future development plays its part well in making sure Manchester remains a great place to live, with great homes that our residents can afford in attractive neighbourhoods that they want to live in with quality green spaces nearby. This is the role of the Local Plan – to help guide development to help us deliver our vision and ambition. “The Local Plan will complement a range of other strategies delivering for our city, in particular our housing strategy that has set an ambitious target to deliver at least 36,000 new homes by 2032 – 10,000 of which will be social, Council and genuinely affordable homes. And the Local Plan looks to increase the target of social rent and affordable homes each year to deliver the homes our residents need. “Last year we saw thousands of responses that have helped guide our Local Plan review. This is the final chance for Manchester people to comment on the updated draft local plan, and we’d encourage as many people as possible to take part of play their part in guiding development in our city.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Short-term economic easing indicates construction sector recovery still on track for 2027 Today, Glenigan | A Hubexo Product (Glenigan), one of the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, releases the August 2026 edition of its Construction Review. The August Review focuses on the three months to the end of July 2026, covering all major (>£100m) and underlying (<£100m) projects, with all underlying figures seasonally adjusted. It’s a report providing a detailed and comprehensive analysis of year-on-year construction data, giving built environment professionals a unique insight into sector performance over the past year. Glenigan’s August Construction Review reveals a few rays of sunshine poking through an otherwise overcast industry landscape. It will provide some much-needed optimism to a sector that has been battling an extraordinary set of headwinds since the start of the year. A massive jump in Main Contract Awards, which rose 17% against the preceding three months, and soared a staggering 169% compared to 2025, is perhaps the strongest indicator that market confidence is returning. This can, in part be attributed to an activity spike in major projects, particularly in the healthcare, where various schemes in the New Hospital Programme reached the contract awarded stage. This includes the Leighton Hospital scheme, the Frimley Park Hospital as well as various others. Similarly, if somewhat more modestly, Detailed Planning Approvals picked up by 10% during the Review period and, despite dipping 3% year-on-year, this modest rise compared to the previous month indicates the pipeline is gradually refilling. It certainly offers a tentative sign that recovery, if not immediate, is on the horizon, echoing Glenigan’s own Forecast prediction of an 11% sector-wide performance increase in 2027. The refreshingly positive stats in the August Review can be largely credited to substantial gains in a number of commercial verticals, particularly Hotel & Leisure, as well as an acceleration of activity in both public sector and civils. However, before contractors and subcontractors get dazzled by these strong figures, it appears that intent is yet to properly translate into activity. Project starts are still stubbornly stagnant as the appetite to commit shovel to soil remains subdued, against a backdrop of lukewarm investor confidence and renewed uncertainty around public spending. This resulted in a 7% drop against the previous three months. Yet, whilst activity remains low, there are signals that a long period of decline is starting to bottom out, with levels breaking even (0%) compared to 2025. Looking at the results, Allan Wilen, Glenigan’s Economics Director, says, “There are plenty of reasons for readers to be cheerful when going through the August Review, especially following such a tumultuous and unpredictable six-months. Whilst a degree of uncertainty persists, labour and material costs are stabilising. Industry prospects appear to be turning a corner, but, before we get too excited, these green shoots are fragile and, as we’ve seen before, could wither away on the merest market change.” He continues, “the construction supply chain should stay mindful that the recovery will be shaped by wider economic conditions, investor confidence and public sector spending priorities. Remember, in spite of the excellent Main Contract Awards and Planning Approval figures, conversions into actual starts remains the litmus test of the sector’s performance over the back end of the year.” Taking a closer look at vertical highlights… Residential: Housebuilding slips as social housing steadies the ship Residential had a bruising three months, with project starts sliding 39% year-on-year even as main contract awards jumped 60% and detailed planning approvals eased back 22%. Private Housing bore the brunt, tumbling 52% to £2,434m despite holding a 40% share of the sector, while Private Apartments dipped 23% to £1,630m and Social Sector Housing softened 27% to £821m. The awards uplift hints at work waiting in the wings, though the sharp fall in starts underlines the ongoing pressure on near-term workloads. Regionally, London held top spot with starts worth £1,250m, even after a 16% dip. The North West proved the steadiest performer, barely moving at £962m with just a 1% decline. Elsewhere the picture soured, project starts in the South West, West Midlands and Wales all declined sharply against the previous year. However, Wales offered a rare bright spot, posting strong growth in planning approvals that points to a healthier pipeline further down the line. Private non-residential: Offices and hotels shine while industrial cools Private non-residential was a real mixed bag. Offices held firm, with starts dipping just 3% but approvals climbing 54% on the back of a buoyant mid-market: the £20-50m band rose 18% to £627m and the £50-100m band leapt 80% to £361m. Hotel & Leisure told a similar tale, with main contract awards rocketing 787% and approvals up 56%, even though starts eased at 17%. Industrial had a tougher time, with starts down 43%, though a 147% surge in approvals signals a pipeline gathering pace. Retail stayed muted, with starts off 16% but awards up 72%. Regionally, London ruled office activity, with value soaring 30% to £1,531m. The East of England led Industrial starts, up 218% to £465m, while Yorkshire & the Humber topped Hotel & Leisure at £178m and Scotland jumped 177% to £123m. The North West led Retail, climbing 223% to £50m, with Yorkshire & the Humber and Northern Ireland also enjoying strong runs against the previous year. Public sector: Health leads the charge as schools await their moment The public sector offers plenty of cheer. Health stole the show, with starts up 32%, awards rocketing 634% and approvals climbing 65%, buoyed by the New Hospital Programme and NHS capital commitments. Hospitals made up more than half of starts, rising 75%, while Nursing Homes & Hospices climbed 44%. Community & Amenity also impressed on paper, with awards up 182% and approvals up 95% despite starts falling 34%, led by blue light projects and a 466% surge in military work. Education was the odd one out, with starts down 44%, though a 204% jump in awards and the Schools Rebuilding Programme point to brighter days ahead. Regionally, the South East led Health starts
Lovell Partnerships is preparing to start construction on the first phase of a major residential regeneration scheme in Horsham, transforming the former Novartis Pharmaceuticals campus into a new neighbourhood of around 450 homes. Work is expected to begin in October on Lovell’s 206-home development across the 2.72-hectare site, with the scheme combining new-build houses and apartments with the sensitive conversion of the site’s landmark 1930s Art Deco clock tower building. Designed by architect Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt, the development will retain the locally listed tower as the architectural centrepiece of the new neighbourhood, preserving an important part of the site’s pharmaceutical and industrial heritage. Around 35% of the 206 homes within the first phase will be affordable. The existing multi-storey wings positioned either side of the clock tower will be demolished due to significant structural problems and replaced by new five-storey apartment buildings. The retained Art Deco building itself will be converted to provide 51 apartments, with a further 155 new apartments and townhouses constructed across the site. The masterplan has been designed with a varied building scale to help integrate the development into the surrounding area. Heights will begin with two-storey homes along Parsonage Road before increasing to three-storey properties around a new central boulevard and landscaped public square. The main retained building will rise to four storeys with a set-back upper level, while the existing 24m-high clock tower will remain the tallest and most prominent feature of the development. Public realm and landscaping will also play an important role in the regeneration. A new tree-lined boulevard will run through the neighbourhood towards landscaped space in front of the restored Art Deco building, helping to establish the clock tower as a focal point for the wider scheme. Lovell’s development represents the first phase of the planned transformation of the former pharmaceuticals campus. Muse is progressing proposals for the eastern section of the site, which would add a further 244 homes and take the overall development to approximately 450 properties. All 244 homes proposed within the Muse phase are planned as affordable housing, supported by grant funding from Homes England. A separate planning application for this element of the regeneration is expected to be submitted. With Lovell preparing to move onto site in October, the redevelopment will mark the beginning of a significant new chapter for the former Novartis campus, combining heritage-led regeneration, new housing and affordable homes with landscaped public spaces to create a new residential neighbourhood in Horsham. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Southeastern services have resumed, once again, at Charing Cross and Waterloo East after a 22-day closure for essential engineering work at the central London terminus. During the closure, engineers replaced almost two kilometres of 36-year-old track and the switches and crossings, the moveable rails that allow trains to switch paths, south of Hungerford Bridge. They also renewed the wheel timbers, the equivalent of sleepers when going over bridges, and completed structural repairs to sections of the Hungerford bridge’s steelwork before repainting it. Teams made full use of this once-in-a-generation closure to rebuild sections of platform at Charing Cross, removing 540 tonnes of concrete and installing more than 2,000m2 of glass-reinforced plastic. Working across all six platforms at once, they demolished sections, installed new steelwork and laid new surfaces. With Waterloo East closed, teams took the opportunity to complete work that could not be carried out safely while trains and passengers were using the station. They cleaned, treated and repainted the footbridge steelwork to protect it from the weather, and replaced window panels with self-cleaning glass that brings more light into the passageways and can be opened to improve ventilation. Network Rail and Southeastern, working together as the integrated South Eastern Railway, spent 18 months planning the closure and combined these essential renewals into one 22-day programme. The work will help keep the railway fit for decades to come, support a safer, better and more reliable railway at lower cost to taxpayers, and improve the customer experience at these central London stations. Completing the work in one extended summer holiday closure, when commuter numbers are around 20% lower, reduced overall disruption. This lowered delivery costs and gave passengers the benefits of the improvements sooner with the alternative options being 60 weekend closures or four separate nine-day closures. Scott Brightwell, Safety, Planning and Performance Director, South Eastern Railway, said: “We are pleased to have reopened the line between Charing Cross and London Bridge after 22 days of intensive work. “We know closing two of London’s busiest stations for more than three weeks caused inconvenience for many customers, I am sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience. Completing this essential work in one 22-day closure, rather than over 60 weekends, allowed us to carry out station improvement works that would, otherwise, have been impossible to achieve.” “Our teams replaced track and platforms dating back to 1990s, completed essential structural repairs to Hungerford Bridge (over the Thames) and Waterloo East station improvements. “Thank you to customers for bearing with us whilst we complete the works and thank you to the hundreds of colleagues who worked 24/7 through the high temperatures.” Liz Baldwin, Southern Integrated Delivery Director, Southern Renewals Enterprise, said: “The successful completion of the Charing Cross and Waterloo East closure is one of the most significant achievements delivered by Southern Renewals Enterprise to date. It demonstrates the power of the Enterprise model, bringing together colleagues from across the SRE, Network Rail, Southeastern and our Ecosystem supply chain partners to safely deliver a huge volume of work in a single coordinated programme. “I would like to thank everyone involved for their professionalism, teamwork and dedication, particularly those who worked around the clock in extremely challenging temperatures. I’d also like to thank our passengers and local communities for their patience and understanding while these vital upgrades were carried out.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Upgrades will improve the resilience of critical wastewater treatment services. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been awarded work by Thames Water to upgrade strategic treatment assets across the Thames Valley region. The award will see Costain complete around £150m of essential upgrades to wastewater treatment assets across 15 sites as part of Thames Water’s Wastewater Asset Assurance Programme (WAAP). Thames Water is undertaking its biggest ever upgrade of sewers and sewage treatment works in 150 years, with improvements planned at more than 250 sites across the region. Costain’s upgrade works will include modernising operations at inlet stations, improving the resilience of storm tanks and other repairs, modifications and upgrades to wastewater systems, and are expected to be completed during AMP8, which covers the period of 2025 – 2030. Costain’s upgrades will see it split the works into two regions, East and West, appointing a regional senior project manager for each region. The wastewater treatment sites in the Eastern section will include Barkway, Brentwood, Long Reach, Little Hallingbury, North Weald and Standon. The Western section will include Aldershot, Burghfield, Esher, Horley, Lightwater, Marlborough, Northleach, Waddesdon and Windsor. Costain is a long-term, trusted partner of Thames Water and was previously awarded contracts to upgrade strategic treatment assets in Markyate, Brickendon, Sandhurst and Selborne assets. Costain has also been involved in conducting clay compaction trials for The White Horse Reservoir, Thames Water’s new 150Mm3 reservoir in Oxfordshire which will provide a resilient water supply for up to 15 million people. Matt Bateman, Water Sector Director at Costain, commented: “We have a long-term, trusted partner relationship with Thames Water and this award is built on our excellent track record of identifying construction efficiencies and delivering best-in-class solutions. We’ll work closely with Thames Water and our supply chain partners to deliver these essential infrastructure upgrades, that will build resilience into the region’s critical wastewater system, efficiently and safely.” Tim Horton, Capital Delivery Director at Thames Water, added: “We are delivering the largest programme of investment in our wastewater network in more than 150 years, helping to improve resilience across our region and support a growing population. “Costain has a strong track record of safely delivering complex infrastructure projects and will play an important role in upgrading key treatment assets across these 15 sites. Together, we will modernise critical wastewater infrastructure, improve operational performance and help ensure we continue to provide a more reliable service for our customers and the environment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A2Dominion appoints NEC Software Solutions (NEC) to provide housing management systems for its 70,000 residents. NEC Housing is the market leader in housing management platforms and will support the housing association as it manages more than 38,000 homes across London and Southern England. A2Dominion carried out a detailed and collaborative procurement process, and the partnership aims to strengthen data quality, improve operational efficiency, and enhance resident experience. NEC’s platform supports housing management, repairs, income, assets, insight and integration in one place – providing a clearer, more consistent view of homes, safety and planned work for both colleagues and residents. This joined‑up approach also supports housing teams by bringing resident information into one place – so whether a colleague is taking a call, opening a case or handing one over, the relevant customer context is immediately available. Priya Javeri, Chief Information Officer at A2Dominion, said: “We’re delighted to partner with NEC Software Solutions to implement our new housing management system. “Throughout the selection process, NEC clearly demonstrated how their platform meets our requirements, supports the way we work, and offers real opportunities to improve our services for our customers and colleagues across the organisation. “I’d like to thank everyone involved in getting this over the line. The real journey begins now as we move into implementing the new system, and I’m confident our residents and colleagues will begin feeling these improvements soon.” Roger Birkinshaw, Executive Director for government and housing at NEC Software Solutions, said: “Maintaining safe and comfortable homes is a vital public service, and one that is becoming increasingly complex. Our close working partnership with A2Dominion ensures that the NEC Housing platform can support staff to continue meeting the changing needs of residents across London and the South East for years to come.” The implementation period of the enterprise NEC Housing platform is now underway and the system is expected to go live next year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Laing O’Rourke and the Hochtief Murphy joint venture (HMJV) have secured major construction packages on National Grid’s £1 billion North West London Upgrade, a substantial infrastructure programme designed to strengthen electricity capacity and support the rapid expansion of data centres and digital infrastructure. The project will reinforce the electricity transmission network running between Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and North West London, creating additional capacity to connect five new data centres with a combined electricity demand of 1GW. Laing O’Rourke has been appointed to deliver new and upgraded substations at Letchmore Heath, Elstree and St John’s Wood, forming a major element of the programme’s civil engineering and electrical infrastructure works. HMJV will undertake the installation of new 400kV cables and upgrade the existing transmission tunnel between Elstree and St John’s Wood. The wider supply chain will include Hyundai Electric, which will provide transformers and other major electrical equipment, while Siemens Energy will supply shunt reactors for the upgraded Elstree substation. Stretching from Sundon substation in Bedfordshire through Elstree in Hertfordshire and onwards to St John’s Wood in London, the programme represents a significant reinforcement of the electricity infrastructure serving the capital and surrounding areas. The works include upgrades at Sundon and a 35km reconductoring programme on the Sundon-to-Elstree overhead line. Elstree substation will be extended, a new substation will be constructed at Letchmore Heath and further reinforcement works will be undertaken at St John’s Wood. More than 200km of overhead line will be upgraded as part of the programme, while another 60km of new high-voltage cable will be installed through the existing 20km-long transmission tunnel between Elstree and St John’s Wood. The tunnel was originally designed with sufficient capacity to accommodate an additional transmission circuit, enabling National Grid to significantly increase capacity while making use of existing underground infrastructure. The investment comes as the growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other digital services drives increasing demand for energy-intensive data centre developments, particularly around London and the wider South East. The ability to secure sufficient electricity connections has become an increasingly important consideration for the development and construction of new data centre campuses. National Grid’s programme will provide capacity for five new facilities while simultaneously strengthening the network for homes, businesses and future developments. National Grid said the investment will improve network resilience, unlock future electricity connections and reduce long-term constraint costs across the transmission system. The North West London Upgrade brings together major civil engineering, tunnelling, cabling, substation and electrical engineering packages within a single infrastructure programme. With Laing O’Rourke and HMJV taking leading delivery roles, the £1 billion investment will provide critical new capacity as London’s built environment responds to the continued expansion of AI and digital infrastructure. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals