Statom’s specialist turnkey delivery business, Fancourt Property Group, has secured a prestigious super prime residential construction contract in Bayswater, Westminster, involving the redevelopment of Esca House into 17 luxury residences. Appointed by Sunley Project Solutions, Fancourt Property Group will oversee a technically demanding redevelopment that combines demolition, façade retention and new construction within one of central London’s most desirable residential locations. The project will involve the demolition of existing elements of Esca House, while retaining the façade across the first two floors, followed by the construction of a new four-storey residential building. A significant engineering challenge will be the development’s location directly above the London Underground’s Circle and District lines, which run beneath the site. This sensitive setting will require careful coordination of demolition, piling, structural engineering and foundation works to ensure the successful delivery of the new building while addressing the constraints associated with constructing above operational railway infrastructure. The scheme represents a substantial undertaking within London’s specialist luxury residential construction market, where complex urban sites, retained architectural features and demanding structural requirements frequently influence the design and delivery process. Integrated Construction Expertise A key feature of the Esca House project will be the involvement of Statom’s vertically integrated construction businesses, enabling multiple specialist disciplines to contribute to the redevelopment under a coordinated delivery structure. Statom Demolition will undertake the demolition works, while Franki Foundations will provide specialist piling expertise. Apex Engineering will be responsible for design services, with Statom Group delivering the foundations and structural frame. Trident Lifting Solutions will provide tower crane services, while Harvill Brickwork will undertake the brickwork package. Mechanical and electrical installations will be delivered by Spark Tech MEP, completing the integrated team responsible for the principal construction disciplines. The involvement of these specialist businesses will enable Fancourt Property Group to coordinate key stages of the programme, from initial demolition and groundworks through to structural construction and building services installation. This approach is particularly relevant to projects involving complex site constraints, where close collaboration between engineering, structural and construction teams is essential. Building Above London’s Underground Network The location of Esca House above the Circle and District lines introduces an additional layer of technical complexity to the redevelopment. Construction projects situated above or close to operational underground railway infrastructure require detailed consideration of structural loading, ground conditions, vibration and the potential impact of construction activities on surrounding assets. For the Esca House development, the combination of demolition, retained façade elements and new structural works will make the coordination of the building’s foundations and frame a particularly important aspect of the delivery strategy. The involvement of Franki Foundations and Apex Engineering will bring specialist expertise to the ground engineering and structural design elements of the project. Meanwhile, the use of Statom’s wider construction capabilities will support the coordination of works across the constrained central London site. Delivering Super Prime Residential Accommodation Bayswater has become an increasingly prominent location within London’s luxury residential market, benefiting from its central position, established architectural character and proximity to Hyde Park and the wider West End. The redevelopment of Esca House will contribute 17 new super prime residences to the area, transforming the existing property into a modern residential building. Projects within this sector frequently require a combination of architectural sensitivity, specialist construction expertise and high standards of building services integration. The retention of existing façade elements at Esca House will also require careful consideration of how the historic or established external building fabric is incorporated into the new structure. For Fancourt Property Group, the appointment demonstrates the capabilities of Statom’s integrated construction model in delivering complex residential developments involving multiple specialist trades and challenging engineering conditions. The scheme also highlights the continuing opportunities for specialist contractors within London’s super prime residential market, particularly where redevelopment involves constrained sites, retained structures and significant below-ground infrastructure. With seven specialist construction businesses contributing to the project, the Esca House redevelopment will bring together expertise spanning demolition, piling, structural engineering, lifting operations, brickwork and mechanical and electrical services. The completed four-storey development will deliver 17 luxury residences in Bayswater, representing another example of the technically demanding construction and redevelopment projects shaping London’s high-end residential property sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

HG Construction has secured £225 million of construction contracts from developer FEC to deliver four new residential buildings in Manchester, marking a major step forward in the transformation of the Red Bank neighbourhood within the ambitious Victoria North regeneration programme. The appointment will see HG Construction deliver a total of 895 new homes across two development plots, NT02 and NT03, supporting the continued expansion of one of Manchester’s most significant residential regeneration areas. The contracts represent a substantial investment in the next phase of Red Bank, where FEC is progressing plans to establish a new residential neighbourhood north of Manchester city centre, supported by improved infrastructure, public spaces and green amenities. At plot NT02, HG Construction will deliver a 34-storey residential tower comprising 316 apartments. The development will represent FEC’s first build-to-rent (BTR) scheme within the neighbourhood, introducing professionally managed rental accommodation to the emerging residential district. Construction at NT02 is scheduled to commence immediately, with completion anticipated by 2029. The second contract covers plot NT03, where three residential buildings named Falcon, Kingfisher and Midrise will provide a further 579 homes. Construction of these buildings is expected to begin in early 2027, subject to securing Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator under the Building Safety Act framework. Together, the four buildings will make a substantial contribution to housing delivery within Victoria North, while adding further density and architectural variety to the evolving Red Bank skyline. The Gateway 2 process remains an important consideration for major residential developments, requiring detailed regulatory approval before construction can commence on higher-risk buildings. For developers and contractors, successfully navigating these requirements is increasingly central to maintaining project programmes and progressing high-rise residential schemes through to delivery. The latest appointments follow significant investment by FEC in the infrastructure and public realm needed to support the wider Red Bank neighbourhood. These improvements are helping establish the foundations for a connected residential community, with new homes being introduced alongside landscaped spaces and infrastructure intended to support long-term growth. Anthony Payne, Operations Director at FEC, welcomed the appointment and highlighted the progress being made across the regeneration programme. “With HG Construction on board we’re ready to deliver the exciting next phase of Red Bank,” he said. “Following significant investment in infrastructure and public realm, the neighbourhood is really taking shape, with new homes, green spaces and the next phases of development now coming forward.” For HG Construction, the £225 million package represents a major addition to its residential construction portfolio, with the contractor drawing on its in-house delivery capabilities to support the programme. The company plans to utilise its self-delivery expertise, including offsite-manufactured bathroom and utility pods, to improve construction efficiency, programme certainty and quality control across the developments. The use of offsite manufacturing techniques is becoming increasingly important in high-density residential construction, where standardised components can help streamline installation, reduce on-site activities and support consistent building quality. Adam Quinn, Chief Executive Officer at HG Construction, said the company’s integrated construction approach would be central to delivering the four buildings. “Our in-house self-delivery capabilities, including offsite bathroom and utility pods, allow us to mobilise efficiently while maintaining greater control over programme execution, quality and safety from the outset,” he said. “We look forward to working with FEC to deliver high-quality homes and help create a thriving new neighbourhood.” The Red Bank developments form part of the wider Victoria North regeneration programme, which is reshaping substantial areas to the north of Manchester city centre through residential development, infrastructure investment and the creation of new neighbourhoods. The introduction of FEC’s first build-to-rent development at NT02 also reflects the continued importance of professionally managed rental housing within Manchester’s expanding residential market. With construction on the first tower due to commence and the remaining three buildings progressing towards regulatory approval, the £225 million programme will establish another major phase of residential delivery at Red Bank. Once completed, the four developments will provide 895 additional homes, reinforcing Victoria North’s role in accommodating Manchester’s growing population and supporting the long-term regeneration of the city’s northern districts. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals