West Fraser’s 2025 Sustainability Report is bringing new clarity to the role timber can play in reducing the climate impact of buildings, revealing that the use of wood products helped avoid an estimated 19.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions in 2025. The figure comes from the company’s latest analysis
Cheltenham Borough Council and its development partner HBD have commenced construction on the first phase of Golden Valley – a £1 billion cyber and technology campus in Cheltenham which will be central to driving growth and innovation in UK National Security and Defence. The news marks a significant milestone in
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned developer of industrial real estate, has secured planning consent for T Park Southampton, a new Grade A industrial and logistics development at Salisbury Road, Totton. The scheme will deliver five detached speculative units, providing around 223,000 sq ft of high-quality space in one of
A joint venture between Countryside (part of Vistry) and L&Q has welcomed Chelmsford City Council’s Planning Committee resolution on 30th June 2026 to grant outline planning permission for Zone 2 of the Chelmsford Garden Community. This decision represents a significant milestone in delivering one of the UK’s most ambitious new communities
Working on behalf of property investor JohnMichael Mouskos, global architecture practice PLP Architecture has secured planning permission from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to transform 30 Pavilion Road, Knightsbridge, into a 30-room boutique hotel and spa. Historically a mews and service street serving the grand houses of Sloane
Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, has exchanged contracts to acquire an 11-acre site in northwest Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, where it plans to deliver 178 affordable homes. The Penniment Lane site has been acquired from Persimmon and will be brought forward as a 100% affordable housing scheme, helping to
At 1,000,000 SF, the fully fitted out, state-of-the-art development serves as one of the greenest and most ecologically advanced warehouse sites ever developed in the UK. PD Industrial, a leading UK provider of industrial storage and warehouse solutions, has today announced the successful completion of a significant, high-specification pallet racking
Set to deliver more than 500 new waterside homes, the scheme will establish a new waterfront landmark for Glasgow, with panoramic views of the city centre, vibrant ground floor uses including cafés and leisure, and an elegant colonnade. Plans have been submitted for the first homes at Yorkhill Quay, a
Andy Burnham’s flagship council housebuilding plan risks becoming a “postcode lottery”, according to new analysis by specialist lender Together, with shortages of available public land in the right locations. The Prime Minister in waiting has said Labour will “oversee the biggest council housebuilding programme since the postwar period” using vacant
HG Construction has secured two significant purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) contracts, further strengthening its position within one of the UK’s fastest-growing residential sectors. Appointed by Fusion Group as main contractor, the company will deliver major student living developments in Cardiff and Loughborough, adding to its expanding national portfolio. The latest
West Fraser’s 2025 Sustainability Report is bringing new clarity to the role timber can play in reducing the climate impact of buildings, revealing that the use of wood products helped avoid an estimated 19.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions in 2025. The figure comes from the company’s latest analysis of “displacement”, the measurable emissions avoided when timber is used instead of more carbon-intensive materials such as steel and concrete. This growing body of evidence arrives at a crucial moment for the construction sector, where attention is increasingly shifting beyond operational energy use to the full lifecycle impact of buildings. Scope 3 emissions, which include those generated across the supply chain, from material production through to end-of-life, often account for a significant share of a building’s total carbon footprint. By quantifying the emissions avoided through material substitution, West Fraser is helping to illustrate how early design decisions can shape these outcomes. The 19.8 million tonnes of CO₂e figure highlights the scale of opportunity. Rather than focusing solely on reducing emissions within manufacturing processes, the report points to the broader system-level benefit of choosing lower-carbon materials in the first place. Timber, as a renewable material that requires less energy to produce than traditional construction materials, offers a practical pathway to reduce embodied carbon while maintaining performance and structural integrity. For architects, engineers and other specifiers, the findings provide a stronger, evidence-based foundation for selecting timber as part of a low-carbon design strategy. As whole-life carbon assessments become more widely adopted across the built environment, the ability to demonstrate reduced Scope 3 emissions is becoming increasingly important, not only for meeting regulatory requirements, but also for satisfying client expectations and aligning with net-zero commitments. The report also reinforces a shift in thinking across the industry, that decarbonisation will depend as much on smarter material choices as on technological innovation. By capturing and communicating the impact of displacement, West Fraser’s analysis moves the conversation forward, helping stakeholders better understand how the materials specified today will influence emissions over decades to come. As pressure mounts on the construction sector to deliver meaningful carbon reductions, timber is emerging as a credible and scalable solution. West Fraser’s latest findings contribute to a growing consensus that, when sourced responsibly and used effectively, wood products can play a critical role in reducing the climate impact of buildings, particularly in addressing the often overlooked Scope 3 emissions that define their full environmental footprint. For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit Uk.westfraser.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cheltenham Borough Council and its development partner HBD have commenced construction on the first phase of Golden Valley – a £1 billion cyber and technology campus in Cheltenham which will be central to driving growth and innovation in UK National Security and Defence. The news marks a significant milestone in the delivery of this purpose-built cyber and tech innovation space, where government, academia and industry will co-create the future of national security and defence as part of a nationally-significant, diverse ecosystem. Bowmer + Kirkland has been appointed as main contractor for the first phase, which will include the delivery of IDEA, Golden Valley’s central innovation hub, which houses the national security innovation centre. Scheduled to open early 2028, IDEA will be a true national asset and will drive diversification of the ecosystem by creating a platform for government, academia and growing companies to co-create; its importance in growing UK Cyber and Defence Innovation is underlined in the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy. IDEA has also been designed to be 50% more energy efficient than typical workspaces, reducing annual carbon emissions by 200 tonnes, and it will sit within a landscape-led development where 60% of Golden Valley is dedicated to open green space. The building is already 68% reserved thanks to strong early interest in the space and will further strengthen the region’s established reputation as a leading destination for cyber security and advanced technologies. IDEA will also have an integrated Skills Hub, with training programs and pathway guidance to help grow local talent and address the skills gap. Phase one of the development will additionally deliver a second building called ROUTER. This transport hub is designed to support sustainable and smart movement throughout Golden Valley and beyond. The hub will provide advanced cycling facilities, e-bike charging, showers and lockers, alongside real-time transport information, as well as over 400 car parking spaces, addressing long-term infrastructure needs, as well as convenience retail and leisure amenities for occupiers, residents and the wider community. Hamer Boot, Managing Director at HBD, said: “Reaching the point where Golden Valley is now a live construction site is a major achievement and reflects the strength of collaboration between the public and private sector partners involved in bringing this project forward. Phase one is scheduled for completion in early 2028 and will drive significant investment, create employment opportunities and support the development of future ground-breaking technologies.” Councillor Rowena Hay, leader at Cheltenham Borough Council, added: “The delivery of phase one demonstrates our commitment to creating an internationally-recognised development that will deliver lasting benefits for the local, regional and national economy.” “This milestone also marks the first phase of the wider Garden Community vision at Golden Valley, which will establish a sustainable, mixed-use neighbourhood, including new homes, employment space, a new primary school and a range of amenities for the community.” Dr Marsha Quallo-Wright, GCHQ Director of Technology Futures, said: “As the Golden Valley development reaches an important milestone, we’re looking forward to working alongside academia and industry to strengthen our ability to address emerging security challenges, foster innovation, and support the region’s growth. Through these partnerships we will draw on new expertise, share knowledge, and help develop the skills needed for the future. These collaborations will play an important role in supporting our mission to keep the UK safe.” Stuart Fanshaw, Construction Director at Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “Golden Valley is a major strategic development, and this first phase will set the standard for the wider campus.” “IDEA and ROUTER will provide the foundations for the next stage of Golden Valley, while creating opportunities beyond the site itself, from supply chain involvement to skills development. We are pleased to be playing a key role in bringing this first phase forward.” Golden Valley has been designed to foster collaboration between government, SMEs, start-ups, major technology firms, universities and investors, creating an ecosystem that supports innovation, attracts talent and drives economic growth. GCHQ will serve as an anchor for the South West region, driving demand, talent, economic growth and national security focus while connecting to the wider national security cluster. Find out more by visiting: https://www.goldenvalleyuk.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned developer of industrial real estate, has secured planning consent for T Park Southampton, a new Grade A industrial and logistics development at Salisbury Road, Totton. The scheme will deliver five detached speculative units, providing around 223,000 sq ft of high-quality space in one of the South Coast’s most supply-constrained industrial markets. Units will range from approximately 25,000 sq ft to 100,000 sq ft, offering flexible options for manufacturers, distributors, last-mile operators, port-related businesses, and defence supply chain occupiers. T Park Southampton is immediately adjacent to Junction 2 of the M27, providing direct access to the wider South Coast, the M3, London, and the national motorway network. The site is also around 5.5 miles from Southampton Port, the UK’s second-largest container port and one of the country’s most important deep-sea trade gateways. The development is targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’, with EPC A+ offices and EPC A warehouse space. Sustainability features will include roof-mounted solar PV, 15% rooflights, rainwater harvesting, energy sub-metering, EV charging points, and enhanced building fabric to support lower occupational costs. David McDougan, Senior Development Director: South Coast, said: “Securing planning consent for T Park Southampton is an important milestone as we continue to expand our speculative development pipeline in key supply-constrained markets. Southampton is a strategic location with excellent motorway access, a major port, and a strong regional labour pool, and this scheme will provide modern, sustainable space for occupiers looking to serve regional, national, and global markets.” Panattoni T Park Southampton forms part of Panattoni’s continued investment into the UK industrial and logistics market, delivering high-quality, sustainable buildings in locations where occupier demand remains strong and new supply is limited. Vail Williams, Lambert Smith Hampton, and JLL are retained as letting agents for the scheme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A joint venture between Countryside (part of Vistry) and L&Q has welcomed Chelmsford City Council’s Planning Committee resolution on 30th June 2026 to grant outline planning permission for Zone 2 of the Chelmsford Garden Community. This decision represents a significant milestone in delivering one of the UK’s most ambitious new communities and marks a major step forward in realising the long-term vision for North East Chelmsford. Zone 2 will bring forward a residential-led, mixed-use neighbourhood of up to 3,500 new homes, alongside a wide range of essential infrastructure including schools, healthcare facilities,employment space, local centres and extensive green infrastructure. Building on the success of the partners’ existing development at Beaulieu, Zone 2 will play a central role in delivering the wider Garden Community, which will provide around 10,000 homes overall, designed in line with Garden City principles to create sustainable, well-connected neighbourhoods. The development will deliver: Together, these elements will create a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable place, where homes, jobs and services are delivered hand in hand with green space and community infrastructure. The application has been shaped through close collaboration with Chelmsford City Council, Essex County Council, Homes England and wider partners, building on years of masterplanning and community engagement. As well as making a substantial contribution to local housing needs, the scheme is designed to ensure infrastructure and community facilities are delivered alongside new homes. A strong focus on community stewardship will also ensure that public spaces and assets are carefully managed for the long term, giving residents a meaningful role in shaping their neighbourhood. Adam Simpson, Development and Project Management Director at L&Q said: “We welcome the Planning Committee’s decision to approve this important phase of the Chelmsford Garden Community. “This marks a significant step forward for our partnership with Countryside. Projects like this are vital, delivering new and affordable homes alongside schools, amenities, green spaces and infrastructure. This isn’t just about tackling the housing shortage but creating the conditions for communities to thrive. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to bring this new neighbourhood forward.” James Harkin, Head of Strategic Land at Vistry, commented: “Reaching this stage for Zone 2 reflects years of careful planning to create a place that genuinely works for the long term. What sets this scheme apart is its landscape-led approach and the way it brings together homes, jobs and everyday amenities within walkable neighbourhoods. “The vision for three distinct villages, connected by green corridors and active travel routes, will help foster a strong sense of identity and community from the outset. As we move forward, our focus will remain on delivering high-quality places that prioritise sustainability, support local economies and offer residents a better way of living”. The resolution is subject to the completion of planning obligations and legal agreements. Subject to this, development will be delivered in phases over the coming years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Working on behalf of property investor JohnMichael Mouskos, global architecture practice PLP Architecture has secured planning permission from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to transform 30 Pavilion Road, Knightsbridge, into a 30-room boutique hotel and spa. Historically a mews and service street serving the grand houses of Sloane Street, Pavilion Road has evolved into one of the area’s most distinctive destinations, bringing together independent shops, restaurants, homes and hospitality. The refurbishment of 30 Pavilion Road will contribute to the ongoing transformation of the characterful street, which now acts as a key link between Sloane Square and Knightsbridge. The project adds to PLP’s expanding hospitality portfolio in London, which includes Pan Pacific London at One Bishopsgate Plaza, named Hotel of the Year at the AA Hospitality Awards 2022, and the forthcoming Mandarin Oriental Bankside, due to open on the South Bank in 2028. It also draws on the practice’s experience working within conservation areas, including 60 Curzon in Mayfair. PLP Architecture’s proposals replace the previously consented mix of hotel and residential accommodation with a unified hotel and spa concept. Conceived as a sensitive refurbishment, the design retains more of the existing building fabric and carefully reorganises the interiors to improve the quality, accessibility and operation of the building’s future use as a hospitality and wellbeing destination. The architectural approach preserves the established character of the building, originally dating back to the 18th century, while addressing a series of unsympathetic alterations made over time. Elements of the existing elevations and original entrances are retained wherever possible, complemented by new, purpose-made painted timber sash windows with traditional detailing, a re-clad natural slate mansard roof and realigned lead-clad dormers. The approved scheme also includes basement works and a carefully integrated roof extension. Andrei Martin, Partner at PLP Architecture, said: “This is a refurbishment project centred around precision and restraint. Our design retains and strengthens the character of the existing building, while creating a highly individual and well-functioning boutique hotel and spa. It will add a distinctive new chapter to Pavilion Road and reinforce the special character of this part of Knightsbridge.” JohnMichael Mouskos, property investor, notes: “Securing planning consent for this landmark luxury hotel and spa is an important milestone in bringing our vision for the site to life. From the outset, our ambition has been to create a world-class destination that will make a lasting contribution to Knightsbridge while respecting its exceptional architectural heritage. PLP Architecture and our expert wider consultant team have embraced that ambition, and through a highly collaborative process we have achieved a planning consent of exceptional quality.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, has exchanged contracts to acquire an 11-acre site in northwest Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, where it plans to deliver 178 affordable homes. The Penniment Lane site has been acquired from Persimmon and will be brought forward as a 100% affordable housing scheme, helping to meet strong local demand for high-quality homes. Dave Bradley, Managing Director of Vistry North Midlands, said: “This is an important step forward for Penniment Lane and for the wider Mansfield area. The scheme will provide 178 much-needed affordable homes, helping more local people access high-quality housing in a well-connected location. “I would also like to thank everyone involved in bringing this agreement together. What would usually take months was progressed and exchanged in a matter of days, which is testament to the commitment, collaboration and determination of all parties involved.” For more information, quotes and a plan of the site please see below and attached. Best wishes, Vistry North Midlands Vistry secures 11-acre Mansfield site for 178 affordable homes Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, has exchanged contracts to acquire an 11-acre site in northwest Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, where it plans to deliver 178 affordable homes. The Penniment Lane site has been acquired from Persimmon and will be brought forward as a 100% affordable housing scheme, helping to meet strong local demand for high-quality homes. Dave Bradley, Managing Director of Vistry North Midlands, said: “This is an important step forward for Penniment Lane and for the wider Mansfield area. The scheme will provide 178 much-needed affordable homes, helping more local people access high-quality housing in a well-connected location. “I would also like to thank everyone involved in bringing this agreement together. What would usually take months was progressed and exchanged in a matter of days, which is testament to the commitment, collaboration and determination of all parties involved.” Lauren Jeffrey, Residential Development Partner at Gateley Legal, added: “We are pleased to have supported Vistry with residential development and planning advice to facilitate the exchange of contracts at Penniment Lane. It was a true team effort to get this over the line within such a quick time frame, and it’s great to see the scheme move forward and contribute to the delivery of much-needed affordable housing.” The development will become a key addition to Vistry North Midlands’ delivery pipeline and reflects the company’s continued focus on working with landowners, housing providers and local authorities to create sustainable places and lasting community value. A planning application is expected to be submitted in the coming months, with work anticipated to start on site in spring 2027, subject to approvals. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
At 1,000,000 SF, the fully fitted out, state-of-the-art development serves as one of the greenest and most ecologically advanced warehouse sites ever developed in the UK. PD Industrial, a leading UK provider of industrial storage and warehouse solutions, has today announced the successful completion of a significant, high-specification pallet racking installation at a major new logistics hub in Nuneaton. The fast-track project, which commenced at the end March and concluded at the beginning of June, was delivered smoothly within a tight nine-week window. The state-of-the-art 1,000,000 SF facility—developed by Baytree (AXA) and built by Glencar—is a multi-award-winning development designed to meet the highest modern logistics standards. Operating under full CDM regulations as both Principal Designer and Principal Contractor, PD managed the end-to-end transformation of the space, ensuring total regulatory compliance and a seamless execution. Project Highlights & Capacity Milestones The comprehensive fit-out has dramatically optimized the building’s footprint, delivering exceptional storage density and operational readiness. Key deliverables include: Speaking about the project, PD Industrial, Managing Director Darren Hardiman said: ‘We are incredibly proud to have acted as Principal Contractor on this highly prestigious development, one of the greenest and most ecologically developed warehouses ever built in the UK. Delivering over 13,500 pallet positions in just nine weeks requires precision engineering and tight project management and is a significant undertaking. Working within a world-class, award-winning building allowed us to showcase our ability to deliver high-density, safe, and highly efficient warehouse environments ahead of schedule. With the handover complete, the facility is now fully optimized and operationally live. I would like to congratulate the full project team for the exemplar nature of the works delivered.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Set to deliver more than 500 new waterside homes, the scheme will establish a new waterfront landmark for Glasgow, with panoramic views of the city centre, vibrant ground floor uses including cafés and leisure, and an elegant colonnade. Plans have been submitted for the first homes at Yorkhill Quay, a key neighbourhood within Peel Waters’ transformational Glasgow Waters district – one of Glasgow’s most significant regeneration projects, marking a major milestone in revitalising the city’s Clyde waterfront. Submitted by waterside regeneration specialists Peel Waters in conjunction with national property developer Urban Pulse, the proposals for 526 units will deliver a distinctive new waterside co-living development at Yorkhill Quay, helping to meet growing demand for high-quality, flexible rental living in Glasgow. The scheme has been carefully designed by Anomaly Architects to respond to its prominent riverside setting, featuring a series of contemporary, stepped towers. The design steps down towards the River Clyde, incorporating generous shared terraces with views across the water and creating a more human-scale frontage along the new waterfront promenade. A vibrant, active ground floor for future retail, leisure and amenity use will animate the quayside, with internal uses opening onto a sheltered colonnade – a covered, column-lined walkway designed to bring the quayside to life – to enhance the public realm and encourage interaction between residents and visitors. Residents will benefit from a central reception and amenity spaces, extensive shared facilities, and high-quality landscaped areas designed to foster community living. The development also includes a two-storey podium that helps balance the scale between the riverside and surrounding buildings, while accommodating practical elements such as cycle storage and plant space, enabling more active uses at ground level. The eastern tower has been designed as a landmark feature within the emerging skyline, with the potential for a distinctive roofscape and elevated amenity spaces offering panoramic views back towards Glasgow city centre. The proposals build on the outline planning consent secured by Peel Waters in July 2024 for Yorkhill Quay, which will deliver around 1,100 homes, alongside leisure uses and new public spaces. They also follow the commencement of £3.75 million infrastructure works currently underway and funded by Peel Waters, which will unlock the site for development and deliver a new 400-metre waterfront promenade connecting the Riverside Museum and The Clydeside Distillery. James Whittaker, Managing Director of Peel Waters, said: “Submitting plans for the first homes at Yorkhill Quay is a hugely significant moment for Glasgow Waters. It brings our vision for this part of the River Clyde a step closer to reality and demonstrates the strong momentum now building across our emerging new district. “Urban Pulse’s proposals for a high-quality co-living scheme will introduce a new, flexible way of living to Glasgow Waters, helping to create a vibrant and diverse community from the outset. Alongside the infrastructure works already underway, this is another important step in transforming Yorkhill Quay into a welcoming, well-connected waterfront neighbourhood.” James Paterson, Director at Urban Pulse, added: “We are excited to submit plans for our co-living development at Yorkhill Quay, which we believe will set a new benchmark for this type of living in Glasgow. “Our vision is to create a high-quality, design-led scheme that not only provides much-needed homes but also fosters a strong sense of community through generous shared spaces, amenity and a close relationship with the surrounding waterfront. This will be the first location in Glasgow where you can live, work and play on the waterside which makes this a truly unique and exciting opportunity.” Yorkhill Quay forms a key part of Peel Waters’ wider Glasgow Waters masterplan, a 13-acre mixed-use regeneration project transforming a former brownfield site into a thriving waterfront district. Once complete, the neighbourhood will deliver new homes, jobs, public spaces and improved connectivity, helping to reconnect communities along the River Clyde and create a vibrant new destination for the city. The project team working on the development includes: Project Manager – Axiom Project Services Quantity Surveyor – Axiom Project Services Architect – Anomaly Civil & Structural Engineer – Renaissance Services Engineer – Hawthorne Boyle Landscape Architect – Oobe Planning Consultant – Iceni Projects Fire Engineer – Atelier Ten Ecologist (BNG/PEA) – Enviro Centre CDM Principal Designer – Kirk and Marsh Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Andy Burnham’s flagship council housebuilding plan risks becoming a “postcode lottery”, according to new analysis by specialist lender Together, with shortages of available public land in the right locations. The Prime Minister in waiting has said Labour will “oversee the biggest council housebuilding programme since the postwar period” using vacant land to reduce costs. However, analysis by property lender Together into data provided by property data platform Searchland reveals publicly-owned brownfield land in England has capacity for at most 187,000 to 207,000 homes. That is less than two-thirds of a 300,000 social and affordable home programme which Labour has previously announced, and that is before accounting for whether each site is genuinely deliverable. The state does not own enough registered land to build the programme on public land alone: a third or more would still have to come from land bought at its current market value. What public land there is, is heavily concentrated. A handful of authorities — led by Birmingham (185 sites, capacity for around 11,500 homes) — account for a large share of the national total. For most of the country, vacant public land is scarce. In around two-thirds of the 20 areas with the deepest housing shortfalls, there is little or no significant public land to build on. Communities in these areas carry some of the largest deficits in the country — yet whether Burnham’s lever can help them depends almost entirely on which council boundary they happen to sit inside. Local authority Region Delivery shortfall Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole South West ~4,550 Greenwich London ~3,880 Newham London ~2,870 Leicester East Midlands ~2,280 Sandwell West Midlands ~2,220 Thurrock East of England ~2,020 Southend-on-Sea East of England ~1,980 Basildon East of England ~1,760 Portsmouth South East ~1,660 Southampton South East ~1,580 Delivery shortfall = homes required minus homes delivered over the latest Housing Delivery Test window. None of the above appears among the 20 authorities with the most public land. Source: Searchland. Much of the largest public landholding sits in authorities that are already meeting or beating their housing targets, among them Leeds, Wandsworth, Waltham Forest, Newcastle and Nottingham. The use of publicly owned land to deliver these targets risks rewarding places that are already delivering, while those falling furthest behind are left with little to build on. Only five authorities — Birmingham, Bristol, Bradford, Lewisham and Kirklees — combine a serious deficit with a serious public-land holding. Ryan Etchells, Chief Commercial Officer, Together said: “Building on vacant public land is a sensible idea, but our analysis shows it can only ever be part of the answer. There isn’t enough public land to deliver a programme this size, and that’s before considering that the places with the greatest need tend to have the least land. As it stands, whether this pledge reaches your community is close to a postcode lottery. “The areas falling furthest behind won’t be rescued by land the state happens to own. They need sites to be assembled and bought, existing land intensified, and the wider public estate brought into play — and all of that needs finance that moves quickly and understands complex, non-standard sites. That is precisely the gap specialist lenders like Together exist to fill. “If the ambition is genuinely national, the plan has to look well beyond vacant public land, otherwise many of the families on today’s waiting lists will be left exactly where they are.” A programme built on vacant public land is, by its nature, a programme of thousands of small, dispersed brownfield plots, the kind that typically take one to 50 homes; precisely the land the volume housebuilders overlook. The homes on public land will overwhelmingly be delivered by small and medium-sized (SME) builders and regional contractors; the type of home-builders who delivered the post-war council-house boom. This is where specialist lending becomes vital. After planning, access to finance is the single biggest constraint on SME housebuilders. Mainstream banks retreated from SME development lending after 2008 and rely on rigid, one-size-fits-all criteria that cannot price the realities of public brownfield land, which include contamination and remediation, non-standard construction, access and ransom strips, phased build-out and planning risk. A small builder typically has its capital tied up in just one or two schemes, so a delay or a “computer-says-no” decision can stall the business entirely. Etchells added: “Making more public land available is an important part of boosting housing supply, but land alone doesn’t build homes. Developers need access to funding that can keep pace with the realities of a project, whether that’s navigating planning delays, drawing down finance in stages or moving quickly when a site becomes available. “In many high-demand areas, developers also need acquisition finance to bring sites together before a scheme can get off the ground. These are often complex opportunities that don’t fit a standard lending model, which is why specialist lenders have such an important role to play. If the funding isn’t there, even the most promising sites can struggle to move from allocation to construction.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HG Construction has secured two significant purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) contracts, further strengthening its position within one of the UK’s fastest-growing residential sectors. Appointed by Fusion Group as main contractor, the company will deliver major student living developments in Cardiff and Loughborough, adding to its expanding national portfolio. The latest appointments continue HG Construction’s strategic growth across the UK, where the contractor is currently delivering residential and PBSA developments in more than ten towns and cities, including London, Manchester, Leeds and Bristol. The Cardiff development at Longcross Court will transform a prominent urban site into a modern 17-storey student accommodation scheme. Designed to provide high-quality living environments in a sustainable city-centre location, the project will contribute to Cardiff’s growing student housing provision while making more effective use of an underutilised site. Meanwhile, in Loughborough, HG Construction will regenerate a derelict brownfield site adjacent to the Grand Union Canal Basin. The eight-storey development will deliver purpose-built student accommodation alongside a range of resident amenities, landscaped courtyards and attractive garden spaces, creating a well-connected and vibrant student community. For the construction sector, both schemes demonstrate the continued demand for high-quality PBSA developments as university cities seek to meet increasing student accommodation requirements through sustainable regeneration. The projects also highlight the importance of brownfield redevelopment in supporting housing delivery while reducing pressure on greenfield land. Beyond the residential buildings themselves, the developments will incorporate high-quality landscaping and public realm, reflecting the growing emphasis on placemaking, resident wellbeing and the creation of attractive, community-focused environments. Adam Quinn, Chief Executive Officer of HG Construction, said securing the two projects represented another important milestone in the company’s national expansion, adding that its continued growth was built on strong collaboration with partners who share a commitment to delivering exceptional living spaces and lasting benefits for local communities. Paul Miles, Group Construction Director at Fusion Group, said HG Construction had demonstrated its capability in delivering complex student accommodation projects, making the contractor a natural choice for both developments. He added that the Cardiff and Loughborough schemes would transform underused sites into high-quality residential environments with a strong emphasis on placemaking, long-term value and positive community impact. As investment in the UK’s student accommodation market continues, the latest projects reinforce the role of specialist contractors and developers in delivering sustainable, well-designed PBSA schemes that support both university growth and wider urban regeneration Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals