Bellway has started groundworks on a project which will bring 93 new homes to Wilmington, including apartments within historic Kingsfield House. The new development, called Cedarcroft, will be located on the western part of the North Kent College campus, off Oakfield Lane. Bellway is renovating Kingsfield House and The Lodge
A striking new residential tower could soon reshape Manchester’s skyline after proposals were unveiled for a major city centre development that would bring nearly 600 new homes to one of the area’s last remaining vacant brownfield sites. Developer Allied London has revealed plans for One Castlefield, a landmark scheme that
Stuart Russell, Head of Commercial at CPI Euromix is celebrating the world’s biggest football tournament with a reminder of CPI’s stadia project portfolio… At CPI, we have a proud history of supplying our high-quality mortar for buildings varying in stature and purpose. And as sports fans across the globe eagerly
Property Management expert at Naylors, Katy Clark, explains how recent changes to the RICS Service Charge Code affect commercial property occupiers. Much of the advice around the new edition of the RICS Service Charge Code is aimed at landlords but if you occupy a commercial property – what does it mean for
Arcus Facilities Management has strengthened its long-standing relationship with Santander UK after securing a significant five-year integrated facilities management contract covering the bank’s nationwide property portfolio. The appointment follows a competitive review process undertaken by Santander, which sought to streamline its supply chain by appointing a single facilities management provider
The UK’s private rented sector continues to face mounting pressures as tenant demand outpaces supply, according to the latest housing market snapshot from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The survey paints a challenging picture for both renters and landlords, with demand for rental homes continuing to rise while
Long-term framework contracts will deliver new and upgraded infrastructure for UK’s second busiest airport. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been awarded a place on two framework contracts with London Gatwick. London Gatwick’s Civils Framework and Buildings Framework cover a range of capital projects to upgrade and modernise the airport’s
Darren Crockett, boss of RAS Crockett and Partners in Dundee, says he is ‘excited and honoured’ to take over at campaigning industry body Scotland’s largest trade construction association, SELECT has elected the managing director of a third-generation Dundee electrical company as its 68th President. Darren Crockett is Managing Director of
Plans for the £1.3bn transformation of Leighton Hospital in Crewe have received planning approval, marking a significant milestone for one of the flagship projects within the Government’s New Hospital Programme. The approval paves the way for the delivery of a state-of-the-art healthcare facility that will replace much of the existing
Work to commence this month on £15 million Westway Court scheme Canmoor has appointed Muir Group as the main contractor for the next phase of speculative development at Westway, adjacent to Glasgow Airport. The new £15 million development, known as Westway Court, will comprise of nine speculative warehouse / industrial
Bellway has started groundworks on a project which will bring 93 new homes to Wilmington, including apartments within historic Kingsfield House. The new development, called Cedarcroft, will be located on the western part of the North Kent College campus, off Oakfield Lane. Bellway is renovating Kingsfield House and The Lodge to create 28 converted homes as part of the project. The demolition of the other buildings on the site, which were no longer needed by the college, has now been completed and groundworks are underway to prepare for the construction of 65 new-build houses and apartments. The development is due to open this autumn when the first homes will be released for sale. Ed Brading, Acting Head of Sales for Bellway Thames Gateway, said: “Cedarcroft is set to transform this part of the North Kent College campus into an attractive new residential community for Dartford, set within nearly five acres of green open space including a number of beautiful mature cedar trees which give the development its name. “The main part of Kingsfield House is being retained and restored to become a landmark feature within the new neighbourhood, and we have now completed the demolition of the unattractive modern extensions which previously detracted from the building’s appearance. “With groundworks underway, we are looking forward to starting construction of the 65 new-build homes on the site – comprising 37 three, four and five-bedroom houses for private sale and 28 houses and apartments available as affordable housing for local people. These will be highly energy-efficient homes, with solar PV panels and air source heat pumps to reduce carbon emissions and electric vehicle charging points to promote greener travel. “We are also converting Kingsfield House into 27 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and The Lodge into an attractive and unique three-bedroom house, preserving these two historically significant buildings while providing a further 28 homes for private sale. “Our development will start a new chapter for this landmark site in Wilmington and we are looking forward to welcoming the first visitors to the development when it opens later this year.” Kingsfield House was built in 1859 for stockbroker Edward Satterthwaite before being sold to social pioneer Madame Martina Bergman-Osterberg in 1895. She set up a physical training college at the site specialising in gymnastics for girls and young women and is credited with inventing the modern game of netball at the location. Her life is commemorated by two blue English Heritage plaques – one of which is at Kingsfield House. The college continued to expand following Madame Osterberg’s death in 1915 and was renamed several times, most recently to North Kent College in 2015. Kingsfield House has been vacant since 2022 and had fallen into a state of disrepair. Its conversion into residential use will ensure its long-term future, while the sale of the land, which is no longer needed by the college, has provided additional funding for education resources. For more information about the new homes at Cedarcroft, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/thames-gateway/cedarcroft. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A striking new residential tower could soon reshape Manchester’s skyline after proposals were unveiled for a major city centre development that would bring nearly 600 new homes to one of the area’s last remaining vacant brownfield sites. Developer Allied London has revealed plans for One Castlefield, a landmark scheme that would deliver 593 apartments across two new buildings in the Castlefield district. The proposals form part of the wider St George’s regeneration masterplan and would complete the final undeveloped parcel within the long-established vision for the area. The development is being brought forward on behalf of investor Chatha Capital and is currently undergoing public consultation ahead of the submission of a formal planning application to Manchester City Council later this year. Designed by internationally recognised architects Denton Corker Marshall, the scheme comprises a 46-storey residential tower alongside an adjoining eight-storey building on Ellesmere Street. Together, the two structures would replace a previously approved project that failed to progress following the collapse of an earlier development proposal. The site has remained vacant since demolition works were completed after plans for a £75m residential scheme stalled several years ago. Allied London’s latest proposals aim to revitalise the location while making more efficient use of the city centre site. The revised plans significantly increase the residential offering, with the number of homes rising by more than 40% compared with the previous consented scheme. The proposed tower would accommodate 436 apartments, while the adjoining lower-rise building would provide a further 157 homes. The development would predominantly comprise one and two-bedroom apartments aimed at meeting growing demand for city centre living. However, a number of larger three and four-bedroom homes have also been incorporated into the proposals, supporting greater housing diversity within the scheme. Gary Mather, Development Director at Allied London, said One Castlefield presents an opportunity to bring a long-vacant brownfield site back into productive use while completing a key element of the wider regeneration vision for the area. If approved, the development would mark another significant milestone in Manchester’s continued growth, delivering new homes while reinforcing the city’s reputation as one of the UK’s most active urban regeneration markets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Stuart Russell, Head of Commercial at CPI Euromix is celebrating the world’s biggest football tournament with a reminder of CPI’s stadia project portfolio… At CPI, we have a proud history of supplying our high-quality mortar for buildings varying in stature and purpose. And as sports fans across the globe eagerly await the start of the tournament, we are pleased to say that our project portfolio includes high-profile UK football stadia and associated infrastructure. Football grounds matter. They are places of worship for millions of followers of the national game. In such places dreams are made, friendships are built, and families gather to enjoy a shared passion that is often handed down through the generations. Football stadia are not just bedecked in the colours of the occupant team; they are enveloped in history. The mere glimpse of a ground’s entrance or an iconic stand can be enough to stir memories of glories past – and moments not-so salubrious – in hardened fans. Foundational passion At many larger stadia, the bond between supporters and their team is literally etched into the foundations. In a dedicated area of the ground, fans can buy a brick and have it display their name or that of a loved one, as part of a commemorative wall portraying the particulars of hundreds, and sometimes, thousands of like-minded souls who want their commitment to their beloved club to be known for as long as time and the structure’s wellbeing allows. Football stadia in the higher echelons of the English game have undergone a huge transformation in the past couple of decades. No longer the crumbling concrete edifices of yore, England is now home to some of the best-equipped and most attractive grounds in Europe and the world; grounds that offer unprecedented safety and an unforgettable matchday experience for home fans and visiting supporters alike. Supporting structural evolution It’s therefore gratifying that CPI should have played a part in the structural revolution of a number of top-tier English football grounds. At Anfield, home of six-time Champions League winners Liverpool, our natural and coloured mortars were respectively used for the blockwork and external work of the club’s new main stand. With circa 8,500 seats, the facility is one of the largest all-seater single stands in Europe, increasing Anfield’s capacity to 54,000. Our natural-coloured mortar was also selected for the building of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Opened in 2006, the 60,000 north London venue replaced the club’s former home, Highbury, less than a mile away. It means on matchdays, fans can take a short walk through time to arrive at their current abode. Another Premier League stadium to benefit from our pioneering products was Stamford Bridge, the west London home of Chelsea FC. We supplied brickwork contractor, Irvine-Whitlock, with silos of dry-mixed mortar for a redevelopment that included Chelsa Village, the stadium’s commercial element comprising a shop, bars, a music venue, a hotel and restaurant. Football success is largely earned on the training ground. It is also where the football stars of tomorrow are born. For the building of Manchester City’s world-class training facility, CPI supplied natural and coloured mortar, as well as specialist white lime mortar. The state-of-the-art academy is not only a schooling ground for future City professionals; the venue’s community function supports the development of elite athletes and local students. In Manchester’s ‘other half’, CPI provided the mortar for an upgrade to Manchester United’s ‘Carrington’ training ground. The £25m renovation introduced a new medical and sports science facility to the site where the likes of David Beckham and Gary Neville plied their trade during ‘the Reds’ last golden era of success. Even non-football fans will – perhaps grudgingly – understand why the sport and its storied stadia mean so much to fans whose happy space for the next month or so will be in front of the TV being sure not to miss every last kick, save, tackle and dive of this year’s World Cup. Let’s hope the beautiful game lives up to its reputation, and at least one of the two home nations taking part gives us a thrill along the way. If not, then let us take comfort in the fact that even if football doesn’t come home (again), the UK will still be home to some of the world’s best stadia, which lest we forget, contain some world-class mortar. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Property Management expert at Naylors, Katy Clark, explains how recent changes to the RICS Service Charge Code affect commercial property occupiers. Much of the advice around the new edition of the RICS Service Charge Code is aimed at landlords but if you occupy a commercial property – what does it mean for you? The 2nd Edition of the Code recently came into force and, for occupiers, the updated guidance brings better transparency, timing and accountability. But, also, more responsibility. Occupiers can leverage the new Code to gain clearer visibility around costs, reduce disputes, and ultimately make more informed property decisions. Changes to the guidance – including more predictable budgeting, better upfront communication and fairer cost-allocation – are all welcome developments. Clearer explanations of costs Budgets are no longer expected to be just a series of numbers presented in isolation. Instead, they should be accompanied by supporting commentary that contextualises expenses and highlights any material changes. This enables occupiers to better scrutinise and reduce their reliance on retrospective queries once costs have already been incurred. The new Code states that landlord-specific costs should be excluded – such as void unit expenses, for example – which helps ensure tenants aren’t unfairly charged. New rules around funding major works There is the push for a more consistent approach to how service charges are used to fund significant repair or replacement works. These big works can have a substantial impact on both occupiers and landlords due to their cost and disruption. While both parties typically support carrying out necessary works, the way they are funded – and the effect on cash flow – is a key concern. The updated Code provides clearer best practice on funding options, including where costs are collected in advance through the service charge, as well as approaches where the landlord completes the works and then recovers the expenditure from tenants over an agreed period. More timely reconciliations Delayed reconciliations have long been a source of frustration for occupiers – often impacting financial planning and internal reporting. The new Code includes tighter expectations around the timing of year-end reconciliations which are designed to bring occupiers clarity sooner. Most institutional landlords and managing agents were already broadly aligned with best practice anyway but the Code gives those who weren’t, a push to do better. Hopefully, occupiers will see greater levels of compliance with the Code’s requirements to issue reconciliations within four months of year end. Fewer disputes The Code increasingly encourages upfront communication over reactive explanation. Early engagement between occupiers and landlords and better information sharing should ensure less disputes arise from unclear or unexpected costs. There are changes aimed at ensuring there is no ‘over-recovery’ and that there is clear treatment of reserve/sinking funds by reporting what landlords are doing, in advance. This includes clearer supporting documentation – such as detailed cost breakdowns and clear apportionment matrices – as well as more explicit reporting on areas like reserve or sinking funds. Occupiers are no longer expected to simply accept charges; they are being given the tools to understand them. The result should be fewer disputes but the key to that is both parties being equipped to interpret and act on the information provided. More work for occupiers The new Code brings more responsibility for occupiers. This is due to the increasing volume and complexity of the information provided. Interpreting budgets, understanding reconciliations and assessing whether costs are ‘fair and reasonable’ all requires time, expertise, and often specialist knowledge. This is particularly true for national or multi-site occupiers, where inconsistencies between assets can quickly accumulate into significant cost inefficiencies. As the landscape becomes more complex, occupiers increasingly need property management professionals for support. Independent service charge reviews and audits are becoming more common, helping occupiers validate costs, identify discrepancies and ensure compliance with both lease terms and the Code. Lease advisory is another key area for occupiers, especially in assessing recoverability and identifying areas of risk – whether that’s linked to ESG expenditure, reserve funds or ambiguous lease wording. For occupiers with larger portfolios, strategic advice can unlock even greater value. By analysing service charge data across multiple sites, it becomes possible to identify inconsistencies, benchmark performance and uncover opportunities for cost savings. In summary The evolution of the Service Charge Code shouldn’t be viewed purely through a compliance lens. For occupiers, it is a chance to take greater control of property costs and engage more constructively with landlords and managing agents. However, doing so effectively requires more than passive receipt of information. It needs active interpretation, informed challenge and in many cases, professional support. In a market where margins are under pressure and operational efficiency is paramount, service charge transparency is not just an administrative improvement, it’s a strategic advantage. Those occupiers who embrace this shift and equip themselves with the right expertise, will be best placed to save both time and money in the years ahead. Find out more at www.naylors.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Arcus Facilities Management has strengthened its long-standing relationship with Santander UK after securing a significant five-year integrated facilities management contract covering the bank’s nationwide property portfolio. The appointment follows a competitive review process undertaken by Santander, which sought to streamline its supply chain by appointing a single facilities management provider capable of delivering a comprehensive range of services across its diverse estate. The new agreement marks an expansion of Arcus FM’s existing role with the bank, evolving from the provision of retail engineering services to a fully integrated facilities management partnership. Under the contract, Arcus FM will support Santander’s entire UK property portfolio, which includes its major corporate offices in Milton Keynes and London, regional workplaces, around 350 retail branches and two data centres housing critical infrastructure. The scope of services will encompass engineering and technical maintenance, cleaning, front-of-house support and energy management services, alongside a number of back-office operational functions. Larger and strategically important sites will benefit from dedicated on-site engineering teams, while Arcus’s mobile engineering network will provide support across the wider branch estate. Service delivery will also be backed by a 24-hour UK-based helpdesk. In addition to day-to-day facilities management responsibilities, the agreement further strengthens the relationship between Santander and Arcus Projects, the specialist division responsible for supporting investment, refurbishment and development activities across the bank’s property portfolio. The contract represents a notable achievement within a market where large-scale, fully integrated facilities management agreements have become increasingly uncommon. Theresa Bell, Chief Commercial Officer at Arcus FM, said the award reflected the company’s continued investment in developing its capabilities across corporate and mission-critical environments. She added that the contract demonstrated Santander’s confidence in Arcus’s ability to deliver high-quality services consistently across a complex and geographically diverse estate. Lee Barrow, Head of Property Operations at Santander UK, highlighted the strong working relationship developed between the two organisations in recent years. He said Arcus had demonstrated technical expertise, a collaborative approach and the operational scale required to support the bank’s wider estate requirements. The appointment further reinforces Arcus FM’s growing presence within the integrated facilities management sector, particularly across complex, multi-site environments where resilience, technical capability and service consistency remain critical priorities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK’s private rented sector continues to face mounting pressures as tenant demand outpaces supply, according to the latest housing market snapshot from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The survey paints a challenging picture for both renters and landlords, with demand for rental homes continuing to rise while the number of properties entering the market remains constrained. In May, a net balance of 14% of respondents reported an increase in tenant demand, highlighting the ongoing imbalance between supply and need across the sector. At the same time, landlord instructions remained firmly in negative territory, with a net balance of -28% of contributors reporting a decline in new rental listings. The shortage of available homes is continuing to place upward pressure on rents, with expectations for rental growth strengthening to +36% – the highest level recorded since May last year. While the lettings market remains under strain, the wider housing market also continues to experience challenging conditions. Agreed sales remained subdued, with a net balance of -37% of survey respondents reporting a decline in transactions. Although still negative, the unchanged figure suggests that the pace of deterioration may be beginning to stabilise. One of the most notable findings was the increasing time taken for property transactions to complete. The average period from a property being listed to reaching completion rose to 21.5 weeks – the longest duration recorded since RICS began collecting the data in 2017. House prices also continued to soften, with the headline net balance remaining at -35% for the second consecutive month. Regional variations persist, with respondents in the South East and East Anglia reporting stronger downward pressure on prices, while Northern Ireland continued to record robust growth. Looking ahead, short-term confidence remains cautious. A net balance of -45% of respondents expect prices to fall over the next three months. However, sentiment improves when considering the longer-term outlook, with expectations for the year ahead edging into positive territory at +6%. Commenting on the findings, Tarrant Parsons, Head of Market Research and Analysis at RICS, said recent data suggests the housing market downturn may be stabilising, although it remains too early to describe the current environment as a recovery. He added that ongoing inflationary pressures and uncertainty around future interest rate decisions are likely to continue influencing market sentiment in the months ahead. For the lettings sector in particular, the continued mismatch between supply and demand remains a significant concern, reinforcing calls for greater investment and policy support to increase the availability of quality rental homes across the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Long-term framework contracts will deliver new and upgraded infrastructure for UK’s second busiest airport. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been awarded a place on two framework contracts with London Gatwick. London Gatwick’s Civils Framework and Buildings Framework cover a range of capital projects to upgrade and modernise the airport’s infrastructure, support growing passenger demand, and enhance resilience. The frameworks will run for a four-year period, with an option to extend by a further two years. Costain will bring its experience in delivering sustainable infrastructure solutions to support London Gatwick’s programme of major capital investment projects to enhance the airport’s operational efficiency, resilience, capacity and sustainability. The frameworks will deliver multiple design and construction projects both airside and landside. Jonathan Willcock, Managing Director of Transportation at Costain, commented: “Increasing UK airports’ capacity and enhancing the passenger experience will unlock regional and national economic growth, boost trade, and secure the country’s position as a major international transport hub. We’re working closely with London Gatwick and our supply chain partners to deliver the essential infrastructure upgrades that will enhance the airport’s operations and thereby create a more prosperous UK.” The award builds on Costain’s growing position in the aviation sector, where it is delivering a range of asset renewal projects and infrastructure services for the UK’s three largest airport operators. In addition to the work with London Gatwick, Costain is delivering the new baggage systems infrastructure at Heathrow Terminal 2. Costain is also designing critical civils upgrades at Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports for Manchester Airports Group. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Darren Crockett, boss of RAS Crockett and Partners in Dundee, says he is ‘excited and honoured’ to take over at campaigning industry body Scotland’s largest trade construction association, SELECT has elected the managing director of a third-generation Dundee electrical company as its 68th President. Darren Crockett is Managing Director of RAS Crockett and Partners, a family firm of electrical engineers which has been operating successfully in the city since 1964. The businessman was elected at the SELECT AGM in the DoubleTree by Hilton Queensferry last week (June 4) and replaces Mike Stark, who will become Immediate Past President after two years in the position. David Harris, MD of Glasgow-based DMH Electrical Services, was elected SELECT Vice President at the same event, with Mike Campbell, Apprenticeship Programme Manager at Inverness-based RSE, the association’s new Depute Vice President. Speaking in a new video to mark his election, Darren said: “I’m extremely honoured and excited to be taking over as the new President of SELECT and it’s a privilege to be representing the Members of this historic and well-respected association. “It’s a great honour to take up this role at a time when SELECT is campaigning on a number of vitally important issues for the electrotechnical industry and wider construction sector. “I’m now looking forward to raising awareness of regulation and promoting the importance of protection of title for the electrical industry, while at the same time helping to lobby the Scottish Government to secure more funding for apprenticeships.” As a nine-strong family business, RAS Crockett, has built a strong reputation in Dundee and won Best Small Contractor at the SELECT Awards in Glasgow in 2014. The thriving family business was founded by Darren’s grandfather, Bert – a Grade One football referee – who passed it to son Sinclair in 1974 when he retired. Sinclair’s son Darren joined the company when he left school in 1986 and served as Chair of the SELECT Tayside Branch in 2013 before becoming Depute Vice President of the association in 2020 and Vice President in June 2024. Darren, whose wife, Gill, sons Liam and Kieran and uncle Paul also work in the business, said: “It’s been a great privilege to work alongside outgoing President Mike Stark during my time as Vice President. “I’d like to thank him for the invaluable insights and knowledge that he’s passed on to me and which I hope to use to equally good effect throughout my Presidency.” RAS Crockett has been a member of SELECT for all 62 years of its existence and Darren says the association has provided invaluable technical, employment, health and safety and training support down the decades. He added: “Being a Member of SELECT means we have business credibility, guaranteed customer confidence and vital access to industry experts whenever we need it.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans for the £1.3bn transformation of Leighton Hospital in Crewe have received planning approval, marking a significant milestone for one of the flagship projects within the Government’s New Hospital Programme. The approval paves the way for the delivery of a state-of-the-art healthcare facility that will replace much of the existing hospital estate and provide modern, purpose-built facilities designed to meet the evolving needs of patients, staff and the wider community for decades to come. Submitted by Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the hybrid planning application proposes the creation of a 1.2 million sq ft hospital campus, with the majority of the new development situated to the north of the current Leighton Hospital site. The project has been accelerated following the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) throughout significant areas of the existing hospital. Around 80% of the 1970s-built estate has been identified as being affected, increasing the urgency to replace ageing infrastructure with a more resilient and future-ready healthcare environment. The new development is expected to be delivered by the Integrated Health Projects (IHP) joint venture between Sir Robert McAlpine and VINCI Building. The partnership is poised to construct the six-storey main hospital building alongside a range of supporting healthcare facilities. These include a dedicated ambulatory cancer care centre, a central sterile services department, an energy centre, associated plant buildings and a 1,000-space multi-storey car park designed to support the needs of patients, visitors and staff. The project will now move into its next phase, with detailed design work and business case approvals progressing ahead of the procurement of major supply chain packages. A key aspect of the scheme is its adoption of the NHS’s standardised Hospital 2.0 approach. The model has been developed to improve efficiency across the New Hospital Programme by accelerating delivery, reducing costs and creating a more consistent approach to the design and construction of healthcare facilities nationwide. While the majority of the existing estate will eventually be replaced, several buildings located around the perimeter of the site are set to be retained and repurposed. Together providing approximately 96,840 sq ft of accommodation, these facilities include the current emergency department, audiology and ENT services, satellite outpatient facilities and the Ward 27 and Ward 28 buildings. The wider development strategy also incorporates substantial enabling and infrastructure works. Full planning permission has been granted for the demolition of the South Cheshire Building and its temporary conversion into a 283-space car park to support construction activities during the early phases of the project. In addition, outline approval has been secured for the demolition of most of the remaining hospital estate, the construction of new healthcare facilities, the creation of a dedicated emergency vehicle access route from Middlewich Road and a new servicing entrance from Flowers Lane. Extensive landscaping proposals also form part of the wider masterplan, helping to create a more accessible and welcoming environment for patients, staff and visitors. The project team assembled to deliver the ambitious scheme includes WSP and Ryder Architecture, supported by Gleeds, WT Partnership, Mott MacDonald, Greengage and PwC. Construction is currently expected to commence in 2027, with the new hospital scheduled to become operational by 2032. Once services have transferred into the new facilities, demolition of the remaining older buildings will begin, with the final phases of the redevelopment anticipated to conclude in 2034. As one of the first schemes within the Government’s New Hospital Programme to secure planning approval and move towards delivery, the Leighton Hospital redevelopment represents a major investment in the future of healthcare infrastructure. Beyond replacing outdated facilities, the project promises to provide a modern hospital environment designed around efficiency, patient care and long-term resilience, ensuring the people of Mid Cheshire have access to high-quality healthcare services for generations to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Work to commence this month on £15 million Westway Court scheme Canmoor has appointed Muir Group as the main contractor for the next phase of speculative development at Westway, adjacent to Glasgow Airport. The new £15 million development, known as Westway Court, will comprise of nine speculative warehouse / industrial units, ranging from 6,430 sq ft to 37,560 sq ft with the ability to combine up to 91,560 sq ft. The scheme will include three larger units and six smaller units, all featuring high-quality office accommodation, dedicated yards and car parking and access to a secure 24/7 managed estate. Construction is due to commence later this month, with completion targeted for Q3 2027. Gregor King, Canmoor’s Scotland Director at Westway said: “We have established a strong track record at Westway, having successfully completed more than 400,000 sq ft of top quality speculative development at the estate over the past few years, all of which has been let before practical completion. “Our continued commitment to speculative development reflects our confidence in Westway and the wider Glasgow market. Westway Court will provide much-needed best in class space and offer certainty to occupiers requiring relocation or expansion opportunities. “It will be a pleasure to be working with Muir Group once again on the delivery of this latest phase.” David Fairweather, Business Development Director of Muir Group added: “We are delighted to have been awarded another contract at Westway. We have extensive experience in delivering high-quality industrial developments and look forward to continuing our successful relationship with Canmoor.” Joint Leasing Agent, Iain Davidson, Director at Colliers, said: “With demand for prime located high quality industrial space remaining strong and availability limited, we anticipate strong demand from both local and national industrial and logistics occupiers across Scotland who are seeking modern, highly specified, sustainable industrial accommodation. “We would welcome early discussions with potential tenants, keen to secure new space to help drive operational efficiencies in their businesses” Designed with sustainability at its core, Westway Court is targeting EPC “A” and BREEAM “Excellent” ratings. Sustainability features will include electric vehicle charging points, provision for photovoltaic (PV) panels and air source heat pumps, complementing wider ESG initiatives across the Westway estate. The units will be constructed using a steel portal frame design and will provide clear internal heights of between eight and 10 metres. The accommodation will be suitable for a wide range of occupiers, including storage, manufacturing, distribution and service-based businesses. Westway Court will benefit from excellent connectivity, with quick and direct access to Junction 28 of the M8 via the Barnwell Street Bridge, as well as close proximity to Glasgow Airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS). The development is expected to attract further inward investment and support additional employment opportunities within the area. Canmoor’s joint leasing agents are JLL and Colliers, with management by Knight Frank. For more information on Westway Court, please visit: HERE Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals