Adventure Leisure, the company behind Mulligans, BUNKERS, Total Ninja, and Ninja Warrior UK, is bringing its popular crazy golf concept to Guildford town centre. Set to be the 14th Mulligans venue in the UK, the new site will span 17,000 sq ft on North Street. It will be created by
Taiwan’s Fubon Life Insurance Company has appointed development and leasing specialist Fabrix to lead the refurbishment of Bow Bells House, a 216,000 sq ft office building in the heart of the City of London. Fubon acquired the eight-storey building from Mitsubishi Estate in 2015 for £197 million. Located next to
Landsec is planning a major shift in strategy, announcing plans to sell £2bn worth of office assets to fund its expansion into the residential sector. The move marks a significant pivot for the FTSE 100 property giant, which aims to establish a £2bn+ residential platform over the next two to
Charles Wilson Engineers (CW Plant) has expanded their hire fleet of Trime lighting towers with a further investment of sixty X-ECOLED and twenty-four X-ECO LITHIUM HYBRID sets. CW Plant’s site lighting fleet is entirely made up of Trime lighting towers, totalling six hundred and fifty sets all spread throughout their
Bobcat, a brand of Doosan Bobcat, has won a significant order for 90 PA7.2 portable air compressors from Speedy Services, one of the UK’s leading providers of tools, equipment and plant hire. This latest order underscores Speedy’s confidence in Bobcat’s outstanding service, strong existing relationship and industry-leading reputation. Speedy Services
Greggs is setting its sights on 140 to 150 new store openings in 2025, following a record-breaking year in which the bakery chain surpassed £2 billion in sales for the first time. In 2024, Greggs expanded its presence with 226 new store openings, while closing 28 locations and relocating 53.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced a £1.5 billion investment programme aimed at regenerating 75 neighbourhoods across the UK over the next decade. Each selected area will receive £20 million as part of the government’s new Plan for Neighbourhoods, designed to breathe new life into
Keon Homes has hailed being named on the £1billion Wolverhampton Housing Development Framework as a transformational moment for its business. The specialist in affordable housing and extra care schemes beat off intense competition to be granted preferred contractor status on all sites over 20 plots in the city and surrounding
With competency under the spotlight, it is important that all construction professionals have easy access to high quality educational opportunities. Siderise Academy is a new online learning platform designed to help the industry build its understanding of passive fire protection and acoustics in the built environment. Featuring RIBA-certified CPDs and
Croydon Council has given its backing to Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s (URW) masterplan to transform the heart of Croydon, marking a major step forward in long-awaited regeneration efforts. The proposals for the ‘North End Quarter’ aim to create a vibrant mixed-use destination, incorporating new homes, retail, offices, leisure facilities, cultural spaces and green
Adventure Leisure, the company behind Mulligans, BUNKERS, Total Ninja, and Ninja Warrior UK, is bringing its popular crazy golf concept to Guildford town centre. Set to be the 14th Mulligans venue in the UK, the new site will span 17,000 sq ft on North Street. It will be created by combining two vacant units – the ground floor previously occupied by TGI Fridays and a basement space that formerly housed a nightclub and later a pop-up leisure venue, Slice. The Guildford venue will offer two 9-hole crazy golf courses alongside a variety of interactive games, including electronic darts, American pool, and electro-shuffleboard. Sports-themed arcade games such as air hockey, skeeball, and basketball will also be available. In addition to the gaming experiences, Mulligans Guildford will feature a family-friendly sports area with booth seating and TV screens, as well as a food and drink offering to enhance the overall visitor experience. Stephen Brown, chief operating officer of Adventure Leisure, said: “We can’t wait to open our latest Mulligans venue in Guildford. We’ve had our eyes on the town for some time and have some exciting plans for the golf courses in particular. It’s fantastic to be working with Zachary Pulman to bring everything to life. “We’re in a really exciting period of growth for Adventure Leisure, following our new venue in Hemel Hempstead last year and with Mulligans Guildford opening soon.” Adventure Leisure currently operates 13 Mulligans locations across the UK, including sites in Basildon, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cheltenham, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Norwich, Sidcup, Stevenage, Tonbridge, Worcester, and Hemel Hempstead. The Guildford opening marks another step in the company’s expansion, bringing its unique mix of crazy golf, arcade games, and social entertainment to a new audience. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Taiwan’s Fubon Life Insurance Company has appointed development and leasing specialist Fabrix to lead the refurbishment of Bow Bells House, a 216,000 sq ft office building in the heart of the City of London. Fubon acquired the eight-storey building from Mitsubishi Estate in 2015 for £197 million. Located next to St Mary-le-Bow Church and Bow Churchyard, the property includes 197,000 sq ft of office space and 19,000 sq ft of retail space. It was previously occupied by the Bank of Ireland. The planned upgrades will transform Bow Bells House into an all-electric, fossil-free workspace, featuring state-of-the-art amenities such as enhanced end-of-trip facilities, a tenant business lounge, and landscaped terraces. Designed by Fabrix in collaboration with White Red Architects, the refurbishment will draw inspiration from the historic character of Bow Churchyard and its surroundings. While Fabrix has not disclosed the total investment in the project, the works are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2026. Fabrix CEO Clive Nichol said: “Fabrix is delighted to be working with Fubon on this exceptional building, drawing on our team’s extensive experience in repositioning assets. The City is evolving, and our focus is to bring Bow Bells House back to life with a sharp emphasis on decarbonisation and enhancing the occupier experience.” Nichol added: “Partnering with an international investor in a development and leasing management capacity allows us to apply our expertise in both technical and creative solutions, ensuring Bow Bells House is income-generating once again. With its strong foundations, this building has the potential to be a market leader through a sensitive revitalisation that enhances services, amenities, and environmental performance to meet modern standards.” The redevelopment of Bow Bells House is set to play a key role in the City’s ongoing transformation, blending sustainability with high-quality office space in one of London’s most historic locations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Landsec is planning a major shift in strategy, announcing plans to sell £2bn worth of office assets to fund its expansion into the residential sector. The move marks a significant pivot for the FTSE 100 property giant, which aims to establish a £2bn+ residential platform over the next two to five years while also growing its retail-focused portfolio. The company intends to reduce its exposure to office-led assets, releasing £2bn of its current £6.5bn capital in this sector and scaling back investment in new office developments by at least half once its existing pipeline is completed. Landsec said this strategic rebalancing aims to create a more stable, high-growth portfolio, with a focus on residential-led projects offering strong returns with lower risk. It noted that while net effective income returns for offices and residential properties are broadly similar, residential offers higher income growth and fewer lease incentives. To support the transition, Landsec plans to release half of its £0.7bn capital tied up in pre-development assets over the next three years and will also exit its remaining £0.8bn in retail and leisure parks to fund investment in key retail-led destinations. The strategy will roll out in two phases: the first, over one to three years, will focus on maximising returns from its existing retail and office assets, exiting low-yielding properties, and reducing overheads by £12m. The second phase, spanning two to five years, will see a significant reallocation of capital towards assets offering stronger income growth and long-term stability. By 2030, Landsec expects to have built a more balanced portfolio, better positioned for sustainable growth in an evolving property market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Charles Wilson Engineers (CW Plant) has expanded their hire fleet of Trime lighting towers with a further investment of sixty X-ECOLED and twenty-four X-ECO LITHIUM HYBRID sets. CW Plant’s site lighting fleet is entirely made up of Trime lighting towers, totalling six hundred and fifty sets all spread throughout their nationwide network of twenty-nine depots. Graham Pollard, CW Plant Director, said, “We made this new investment to top up our existing fleet of X-ECOs and to continue to grow a sustainable hybrid fleet. Trime products are tried and tested. They are the market leader and, in our opinion, the most reliable tower light in the hire industry and that’s also agreed by our customers.” The Trime X-ECO HYBRID LITHIUM is an LED lighting tower that is powered by a combination of a lithium battery and a small fuel-efficient diesel engine. X-ECO Hybrid Lithium can be fully recharged in less than 3.5 hours. This means that for 80% of operation, the X- ECO HYBRID LITHIUM is powered exclusively by its batteries and therefore emits zero noise and zero carbon emissions. Noise-sensitive areas will profit from the X-ECO HYBRID LITHIUM as it operates silently for up to 11.5 hours. The Trime X-ECO LED features 6 no. 160W, 48V multi-directionally adjustable LED lights floodlights, with safe 48V power between the generator and the lights. The vertical hydraulic mast has seven sections, rising to a maximum height of 8.5m with 340° rotation and wind stability up to 110 km/h. Easy lifting is via a central lifting eye with longitudinal and transversal forklift pockets for safe handling and transportation. Charles Wilson Engineers began trading in Harpenden, Hertfordshire in 1979 and the company remains a privately owned rental business. They offer a plant hire and tool hire service in London and all across the South East, South West, the Midlands, and North West, and in the North East. CW Plant also provides PASMA and IPAF training, alongside a comprehensive line of forklift and manual handling courses. Full details can be found at www.cwplant.co.uk Trime is regarded as the leading manufacturer and supplier of sustainable lighting towers to the UK and Ireland construction rentals markets. Their UK offices are based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, and their production facility is near Milan, Italy. Aside from its lighting tower range, the company also manufactures a wide range of water-recycling wash bays and dust suppression products. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bobcat, a brand of Doosan Bobcat, has won a significant order for 90 PA7.2 portable air compressors from Speedy Services, one of the UK’s leading providers of tools, equipment and plant hire. This latest order underscores Speedy’s confidence in Bobcat’s outstanding service, strong existing relationship and industry-leading reputation. Speedy Services has been a long-term partner of Bobcat, choosing the brand not only for its high-quality products but also for its commitment to reliability, innovation and sustainability. The PA7.2 compressor from Bobcat provides a free air delivery of 2.0 m³/min (70 cfm) and is built for high performance and durability. The compressors at Speedy Services have been supplied with fully bunded bases to ensure complete spill protection and compliance with the latest environmental regulations. This latest deal highlights Bobcat’s position as a trusted supplier in the equipment hire industry, providing market-leading products backed by exceptional service and environmental responsibility. In addition to this order, Speedy Services has also chosen to incorporate Bobcat’s ECOmizer technology into its fleet, ensuring that all new compatible models it purchases in the future from Bobcat will feature this fuel-saving innovation. The Bobcat ECOmizer system automatically adjusts engine speed during periods of low demand, significantly reducing fuel consumption, emissions and operating costs. Depending on the idle time of the machine, the ECOmizer system can deliver fuel savings of up to 70%, helping Speedy Services further enhance its environmental and cost-efficiency goals. By making ECOmizer a standard across its fleet where compatible, Speedy is reinforcing its commitment to sustainable operations and smart fleet management. Nick Kealy, UK Sales Manager for the Bobcat Portable Power range, expressed his enthusiasm about the deal, stating: “We are delighted to strengthen our relationship with Speedy Services through this major order. Their continued trust in our brand reflects our reputation for delivering high-quality, reliable and environmentally responsible equipment. Speedy’s decision to implement ECOmizer across all compatible models further demonstrates their commitment to sustainability, and we look forward to supporting their operational needs in the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Greggs is setting its sights on 140 to 150 new store openings in 2025, following a record-breaking year in which the bakery chain surpassed £2 billion in sales for the first time. In 2024, Greggs expanded its presence with 226 new store openings, while closing 28 locations and relocating 53. The company also refurbished 165 existing shops, bringing its total estate to 2,618 stores by the end of the year. Looking ahead, Greggs sees significant potential to exceed 3,000 UK stores in the long term. The company’s total sales for 2024 rose 11.3% year-on-year to £2.01bn, with underlying operating profit increasing 13.7% to £195.3m. Roisin Currie, chief executive of Greggs, reflected on the company’s success: “2024 was another record-breaking year for Greggs; we exceeded £2 billion in sales for the first time and opened our 2,600th shop. Our people have worked tirelessly to deliver on our strategic ambition to further establish Greggs as a multi-channel food-to-go retailer, and I want to acknowledge their efforts. It is thanks to their hard work, week after week, that we continue to grow, while maintaining the great prices, high-quality products, and friendly service that keep our customers coming back.” Currie also reaffirmed Greggs’ long-term growth strategy: “In 2021, we set our sights on doubling sales by 2026 and building a significantly larger business. Three years into this five-year plan, we are on track and confident in the growth opportunities ahead. The brand is stronger than ever, with vast potential to expand our store network and continue developing in newer markets and channels.” With strong momentum and ambitious expansion plans, Greggs is poised for another year of impressive growth in 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced a £1.5 billion investment programme aimed at regenerating 75 neighbourhoods across the UK over the next decade. Each selected area will receive £20 million as part of the government’s new Plan for Neighbourhoods, designed to breathe new life into local high streets, parks, youth clubs, cultural venues, libraries, and health and wellbeing services. To ensure that funding meets local needs, newly established neighbourhood boards will bring together residents and businesses to decide how best to invest the money in their communities. Options could range from repairing pavements and revitalising high streets to setting up community grocers offering low-cost essentials, co-operatives, or even strengthening neighbourhood watch schemes. The investment will also focus on improving education, health, and employment services while tackling pressing local issues such as crime. Alex Norris, Minister for Local Growth and Building Safety, said the programme would provide long-term support to strengthen community spirit and help struggling areas recover. “This will deliver lasting funding to reignite the potential of neighbourhoods that have for too long been left fighting for survival,” he said. “Alongside our planning reforms, devolution of powers, and strengthened workers’ rights, this investment will help people and places to thrive again.” Among the communities set to benefit are Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire, Irvine in Scotland, Wrexham in Wales, and Coleraine and Derry in Northern Ireland. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner highlighted the importance of putting local people in control of their own regeneration. “For years, too many neighbourhoods have been starved of investment despite their potential to grow and flourish,” she said. “Communities across the UK have so much to offer—from rich cultural heritage to strong local networks—but they know best what their neighbourhoods need. “Our fully funded Plan for Neighbourhoods does things differently. It puts local people in the driving seat, giving them the power to decide how government investment is spent, what issues to tackle, and where to focus growth.” With this ambitious funding package, the government aims to give neighbourhoods the tools and resources to transform their futures, creating stronger, more vibrant communities across the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Keon Homes has hailed being named on the £1billion Wolverhampton Housing Development Framework as a transformational moment for its business. The specialist in affordable housing and extra care schemes beat off intense competition to be granted preferred contractor status on all sites over 20 plots in the city and surrounding areas. It is about to start construction work on the £40m New Park Village remodelling project in the summer and is shortly getting underway with the first phase of 99 new bungalows at Lincoln Green in Bushbury. Five new jobs have been created at the Burntwood-based developer with tens more expected to follow indirectly in the supply chain. Importantly, the Housing Development Framework also included a Direct Award for Keon Homes, providing authorised users with a streamlined process to procure works for the next four years. This is open to any local authority or registered provider across Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, and the West Midlands. Matt Beckley, Partnerships Director, commented: “This is arguably the biggest deal in our history, with the opportunity to support the redevelopment of some key housing sites in Wolverhampton and, then potentially, further afield. “Our track record for bringing challenging schemes to market and then completing them on time and to budget played a key role in the award, that and our passion for creating communities where individuals and families can thrive. It’s more than bricks and mortar to us.” He continued: “New Park Village and Lincoln Green are two sites that drastically needed remodelling, especially the latter where old, prefabricated accommodation was coming to the end of its lifecycle in terms of structural integrity and energy efficiency. We’re replacing these with highly energy efficient properties that will be built using the latest construction techniques and with green spaces at their heart, meeting the needs of local residents.” Councillor Steve Evans, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Our new Housing Development Framework is helping speed up the delivery of good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods across Wolverhampton, while providing affordable housing to residents. “It will also allow our housing team to plan estate regeneration and gain advice from contractors and developers, like Keon Homes, on buildability and viability as we work in partnership to ensure value for money. “This will prove to be an effective way to deliver new homes and, crucially, increases the city’s housing stock when it needs it most.” The Wolverhampton Housing Development Framework is in place for four years initially with the opportunity for it to be extended if the agreement is going well. It marks another significant year of growth for Keon Homes, who recently announced it is bringing the £35m Phase 3 of Port Loop in Birmingham back to life and successfully completed its first extra care scheme in Newport nine months ahead of schedule. “We have slowly, but surely been building a reputation in the East and West Midlands as a developer that organisations can trust and this means we are now working with eleven housing associations and the City of Wolverhampton Council on this landmark Framework,” added Richard Williams, Managing Director of Keon Homes. “The Direct Award is also very important. In essence, it means other local authorities can come to us direct with a site award, without having to go through the time-consuming and costly procurement process.” For further information, please visit www.keonhomes.co.uk or follow the company across its social media channels. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With competency under the spotlight, it is important that all construction professionals have easy access to high quality educational opportunities. Siderise Academy is a new online learning platform designed to help the industry build its understanding of passive fire protection and acoustics in the built environment. Featuring RIBA-certified CPDs and ASFP-verified modules, it can support the creation of safe, comfortable and compliant buildings designed to last. Created by learning and technical experts at the global manufacturer of high-performance passive fire protection, acoustic and insulation solutions, Siderise Academy offers a range of on-demand courses, webinars and CPD modules that are accessible on any device with an internet connection. These are supported with reading materials and interactive quizzes and assessments designed to test your knowledge and reinforce your learning. With RIBA-certified CPDs and passive fire protection modules verified by the ASFP, the content aligns with high industry standards and can be used as part of the ASFP Competency Pathway. Once a course or webinar is completed, users can download a certificate of completion, enabling them to document their learning and provide evidence that they are taking steps to maintain their competence through continuous learning and development. Elan Penn, Training Manager at Siderise, spoke of the significance of the new platform: “Launching the Siderise Academy marks a key milestone in our mission to ‘Go Beyond, contributing to safer buildings.’ Both passive fire protection and acoustics are incredibly complex areas of construction and it is important that industry professionals have the right background knowledge to ensure the approaches and solutions they are using are the best practice for their projects, supporting both safety and regulatory compliance. Through this platform, we hope to better share the knowledge and experience of our technical experts, with even more valuable courses and modules set to be released over the coming year.” Siderise Academy has launched with three foundational courses and insightful webinars, enabling you to start your journey to a better understanding of passive fire protection and acoustics from today. Sign up for your free account at https://sideriseacademy.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Croydon Council has given its backing to Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s (URW) masterplan to transform the heart of Croydon, marking a major step forward in long-awaited regeneration efforts. The proposals for the ‘North End Quarter’ aim to create a vibrant mixed-use destination, incorporating new homes, retail, offices, leisure facilities, cultural spaces and green public areas. The scheme will replace previous plans for a Westfield-branded shopping centre, which had been stalled for over a decade. Historic landmarks such as the Whitgift Almshouses and the distinctive frontage of the former Allders department store will be preserved and integrated into the development. Jason Perry, executive mayor of Croydon, said: “Croydon has so much potential, and regenerating our town centre is crucial to unlocking it, putting our borough back on the map and restoring pride. This is a top priority for me, and I have been working with a wide range of external partners to drive forward an exciting vision for our town centre.” Penny Cameron, head of development at URW, added: “Our vision for the North End Quarter will breathe new life into Croydon’s town centre through a truly mixed-use offer while celebrating the area’s unique heritage.” URW has designed the masterplan to align with Croydon Council’s Town Centre Regeneration Strategy, with a strong focus on delivering high-quality homes catering to a diverse range of residents. As the project moves forward, a ‘NextGen Panel’ made up of 16- to 25-year-olds who live, work, or study in Croydon will collaborate with URW to help shape the final proposals. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
