BDC

Search
Linkedin
BDC Magazine
Kenneth Booth
Taylor Woodrow takes the UK’s first autonomous excavator to site

Taylor Woodrow takes the UK’s first autonomous excavator to site

Kenneth Booth April 29, 2025

Taylor Woodrow, building on its long civil engineering heritage, is pioneering artificial intelligence technology in the plant sector following a full site-based trial of the UK’s first autonomous excavators. At the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Sheffield a dedicated demonstration site was set up so that the Taylor Woodrow

Read More »
Size Matters in Planning

Size Matters in Planning

Kenneth Booth April 29, 2025

The House Builders Association (HBA), the housebuilding division of the National Federation of Builders (NFB) has reignited its campaign for the planning system to adopt five clear site size definitions, replacing the current, arbitrary ones of ‘Minor’ (one to ten homes) and ‘Major’ (ten and above). Richard Beresford, Chief Executive

Read More »
SBS to deliver major energy-efficiency drive across Derbyshire homes

SBS to deliver major energy-efficiency drive across Derbyshire homes 

Kenneth Booth April 29, 2025

PRINCIPAL retrofit contractor Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd (SBS) has secured two major contracts worth a combined £15+ million to deliver large-scale energy efficiency upgrades to hundreds of mixed-tenure homes across North East Derbyshire.  Funding comes from the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 (WH:SHF) and the newly

Read More »
Barberry £20 million warehouse development gets underway

Barberry £20 million warehouse development gets underway

Kenneth Booth April 28, 2025

Construction of a £20 million speculatively developed industrial and logistics unit at one of the West Midlands’ leading business parks has started, commercial property developer and investor Barberry Industrial announced today. Barberry has appointed Bromsgrove-based main contractor Benniman to deliver the development at Junction 15 of the M40 at Tournament

Read More »
GRAHAM completes offshore renewable energy berth at Port of Leith

GRAHAM completes offshore renewable energy berth at Port of Leith

Kenneth Booth April 28, 2025

GRAHAM, a leading civil engineering company, has constructed Forth Ports’ new deep-water riverside berth at the Port of Leith – designed to host the world’s largest offshore wind construction vessels. The berth was formally opened on Thursday 24 April, marking a significant step forward in Scotland’s pursuit of net-zero emissions.

Read More »
Latest Issue
Issue 330 : Jul 2025

Kenneth Booth

Rockwell Reaches Construction Milestone with Topping Out at Hurlingham Waterfront

Rockwell Reaches Construction Milestone with Topping Out at Hurlingham Waterfront

Kenneth Booth April 29, 2025

Leading multi-use developer, Rockwell, has marked a significant milestone with a traditional topping out ceremony at Hurlingham Waterfront, its landmark 3.2-acre luxury riverside development in SW6. The official topping out was celebrated by Rockwell and the wider project team, local partners and key stakeholders including Palace and Hurlingham ward councillor, Amanda Lloyd-Harris. The development, which sits on the site of an old Curry’s superstore, is completely rejuvenating 150 metres of waterfront, rendering it a destination in its own right. Hurlingham Waterfront combines the tranquillity of waterside living with the excitement of the city, offering 269 beautifully designed apartments complete with private outside spaces and over 39,000 square feet of sustainably planted green spaces. Rockwell has provided an incredible range of choice for buyers with over 90 residency types, each of an exceptional standard and products of quality craftsmanship. Hurlingham Waterfront’s onsite amenities will be some of the best in London, with a 19-metre swimming pool, luxury spa facilities, a state-of-the-art gym, generous co-working facilities, a cinema room, 24-hour concierge and pet grooming facilities among them. Set within one of London’s most sought-after postcodes, SW6, the development is also in close proximity to some of London’s finest shops, restaurants, bars, galleries and green spaces in ‘one of London’s leafiest boroughs.’ Throughout construction and once complete, Hurlingham Waterfront will generate hundreds of new jobs for the local economy, in addition to 45 much-needed new affordable housing units for the local community. David Gaffney, Construction Managing Director at Rockwell said: “We are incredibly proud to reach this special milestone for both Hurlingham Waterfront and Rockwell. Topping out is a major achievement for this luxury waterfront development which is transforming the local area and offering over 260 new homes at a time when they are so desperately required. Thanks to its exceptional apartments and amenities, Hurlingham Waterfront will stand as one of the Capital’s finest regeneration projects in recent years. “As we move forward to the final stage of construction, we are proud to deliver a world-class collection of homes in one of London’s most sought-after postcodes.” ­For more information, visit https://www.hurlinghamwaterfront.co.uk or contact Savills or Knight Frank. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »
Costa Coffee Extends Property Partnership with Savills to Drive UK Expansion

Costa Coffee Extends Property Partnership with Savills to Drive UK Expansion

Kenneth Booth April 29, 2025

Costa Coffee has renewed and expanded its long-standing partnership with Savills as it gears up for a new phase of nationwide growth across the UK. Marking 20 years of collaboration, Savills has been reappointed to advise on the coffee chain’s property strategy, with an extended remit now covering the entire country outside the M25. Previously, the real estate advisor focused on expanding Costa’s footprint across the South West, Wales, and Scotland. Under the renewed partnership, Savills will identify opportunities for a variety of formats including drive-thru, drive-to, and travel hub locations. The search will prioritise prominent roadside and retail park sites with ample parking to support customer convenience. As part of its wider strategy, Costa Coffee is not only targeting new locations but is also actively rightsizing and upsizing existing outlets to better align with consumer demand and operational efficiency. Matt Brown, director at Savills, commented: “Our extended role reflects Costa Coffee’s ambitious plans and our shared commitment to securing high-quality sites that meet their evolving business needs. We’re proud to continue supporting their expansion across high streets, retail parks, and transport locations nationwide.” Tom Falk, head of property at Costa Coffee, added: “We’re entering a new phase of growth, and it’s vital we work with experienced partners who understand both the market and our brand. Savills has played a key role in our property success over the past two decades, and we’re looking forward to building on that foundation with this expanded agreement.” The move underlines Costa Coffee’s ongoing investment in its UK estate and its focus on adapting to changing consumer behaviours with flexible and accessible store formats. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »
Taylor Woodrow takes the UK’s first autonomous excavator to site

Taylor Woodrow takes the UK’s first autonomous excavator to site

Kenneth Booth April 29, 2025

Taylor Woodrow, building on its long civil engineering heritage, is pioneering artificial intelligence technology in the plant sector following a full site-based trial of the UK’s first autonomous excavators. At the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Sheffield a dedicated demonstration site was set up so that the Taylor Woodrow innovation team and its partners Gravis Robotics could put the intelligent machine through its paces. The autonomous excavator successfully passed a series of exercises including autonomous excavation to various depths in differing ground conditions, real-time LiDAR capture of the excavation, emergency safe stop as well as autonomous manoeuvring. The project was overseen and verified by experienced site managers, engineers and machine operators treating it as a real project. All the excavation tasks were taken from a real, upcoming scheme to robustly evaluate how it would perform if deployed there, and it worked! This trial was about more than just an excavator without an operator in the cab. This is about supporting the development of physical AI, the new technologies that will allow Taylor Woodrow to transform how physical work is done. Increasing inclusivity, productivity, safety, and accuracy whilst reducing environmental impact and waste. Taylor Woodrow is proud to have helped Gravis Robotics conduct early testing, helping to shape the v2 solution that was demonstrated at Bauma with a number of their partners and where attendees saw a video of the trial at the AMRC that showed how the Anywhere Autonomy approach developed by Gravis provides in-cabin copilot and remote autonomy. The next step is for the SV100-7 to go live at Taylor Woodrow’s project at Manchester Airport. Phil Skegg, managing director of Taylor Woodrow said: “Over the last 10 years our industry safety record has not improved, and our productivity has declined. As an industry around 20% of the cost of what we build can be attributed to not getting it right first time (GIRI). We believe that increasing the mechanisation and automation of the tasks we undertake on site will help address these problems, removing people from danger, being more productive and improving quality of workmanship. Computer controlled machines could be the way forward and as an industry leader we want to be an early adopter and trial what is available. This is an exciting first step made possible by our partnership with Gravis Robotics supported by Yanmar Construction Equipment and AMRC.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »
Size Matters in Planning

Size Matters in Planning

Kenneth Booth April 29, 2025

The House Builders Association (HBA), the housebuilding division of the National Federation of Builders (NFB) has reignited its campaign for the planning system to adopt five clear site size definitions, replacing the current, arbitrary ones of ‘Minor’ (one to ten homes) and ‘Major’ (ten and above). Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the NFB, said: “In order to build 1.5 million new homes and save our SME builders, we need a planning system that is fit for purpose, prioritises placemaking, and enables builders of all sizes. Our proposal for five different site sizes based on development impact would end the arbitrary, problematic two site size approach and aligns with what is already going on in local planning, while ensuring the Government’s planning reforms can deliver growth and good planning outcomes.” In 2018, the HBA was successful in inserting a paragraph into the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to support small and medium-size sites. However, with the then Conservative government focusing on tweaks rather than reforms, the HBA scaled back it’s ask to a ‘Medium’ sized site of between 10 and 50 homes. Although this was never taken up by the Conservative government, the term ‘medium’ was added to the NPPF, alongside a site size of ‘up to one hectare.’ NPPF reforms did not achieve their intended ambition. Data shows an increasing reliance on large site allocations, while non-allocated ‘windfall’ sites, typically under one hundred homes, are not given as great planning focus, however they can make up more than 50% of new local supply. To address this, the NFB and HBA are calling for the following site sizes to be included in planning policy: Rico Wojtulewicz, Head of Policy and Market Insight for the NFB, said: “Smaller sites of 1 to 10 homes support projects best targeting local demand. Sites of 10 to 50 are focused on organic growth. Sites of fifty to one hundred support almost all SMEs and do not greatly impact existing infrastructure. Meanwhile sites of 100 to 249 and 250+, whether urban or rural, create a threshold which ensures planners can strategically build out their communities or boundaries. Different site sizes also allow planning reform to avoid unintended consequences, such as making planning more expensive for SMEs, creating more burdens for non-allocated sites, or to target support, for example streamlining planning for sites creating the lowest levels of local impact. Although redefining site size is not a silver bullet to fix planning, it ensures that from the outset the system and reforms are set up to succeed, so we can achieve a planning system that supports better placemaking and recognises the value of all builders, whether micro, small or large.” The NFB’s ‘Size Matters’ report will available in the ‘Research and Political’ section of Ask NFB https://ask-nfb.builders.org.uk/documents-category/research-and-political/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »
SBS to deliver major energy-efficiency drive across Derbyshire homes

SBS to deliver major energy-efficiency drive across Derbyshire homes 

Kenneth Booth April 29, 2025

PRINCIPAL retrofit contractor Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd (SBS) has secured two major contracts worth a combined £15+ million to deliver large-scale energy efficiency upgrades to hundreds of mixed-tenure homes across North East Derbyshire.  Funding comes from the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 (WH:SHF) and the newly launched Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH: LG), with work spanning both social and privately owned housing over the next three years.  Rykneld Homes’ £10.4m project partly funded through WH:SHF includes almost 400 properties, while North East Derbyshire District Council’s £5.1m project funded through WH:LG will target more than 300 fuel-poor households in the region, taking an area-based approach to retrofit.  Retrofit measures planned across the projects – to help all properties reach an EPC rating C – include external wall insulation, cavity wall and loft insulation, window and door replacements, solar photovoltaic systems and air source heat pumps. Fabric, renewable and clean heat measures are planned to provide a reduction in energy demand and a switch to low carbon heating.   Daniel Owens, regional director at SBS, said: “Being appointed to deliver this scale of retrofit in North East Derbyshire is especially rewarding given our long-standing relationship with Rykneld Homes and the local council. We understand the local housing stock and community and have built foundations that will ensure trustworthy and efficient delivery from day one.  “These programmes enable us to continue making a real difference to people’s homes, health and energy bills, while contributing to local net zero goals and creating skilled jobs in the region. It is a fantastic opportunity to build on everything we have achieved here over the past decade, so we can’t wait to get started.”  SBS will continue its established partnership with Rykneld Homes to help deliver energy efficiency measures to social homes across the district. This builds on recent projects, including a £21 million retrofit scheme that upgraded more than 640 properties under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.  Niall Clark, deputy managing director at Rykneld Homes, said: “You only have to look at our track record of work with SBS and the partnership we have developed, to understand the difference we’re making in the region. SBS has worked extensively in North East Derbyshire, holding vast experience in the retrofit sector and vital knowledge of local housing.   “Through various schemes, we have improved thousands of homes with an approach that priorities customer engagement, as well as high quality results and service. The contractor’s values align very closely with our own, making this appointment an easy decision as we look to quickly mobilise our upcoming retrofit programme.”   The two programmes are designed to tackle fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions and improve comfort, health and wellbeing for residents in some of the region’s least energy efficient homes.  SBS has been appointed to deliver both programmes via direct award through EEM’s Property Improvements and Decarbonisations Works Framework. With dedicated teams already operating in the region, the contractor is well-placed to ensure consistent delivery across all property tenures included.  To find out more about SBS, visit www.sustainablebuildinguk.com  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »
Barberry £20 million warehouse development gets underway

Barberry £20 million warehouse development gets underway

Kenneth Booth April 28, 2025

Construction of a £20 million speculatively developed industrial and logistics unit at one of the West Midlands’ leading business parks has started, commercial property developer and investor Barberry Industrial announced today. Barberry has appointed Bromsgrove-based main contractor Benniman to deliver the development at Junction 15 of the M40 at Tournament Fields Business Park in Warwick, which is expected to generate further investment in the region and create dozens of new jobs. Barberry acquired the last remaining plot at the front of the highly sought-after business park last year and has secured reserved matters planning permission from Warwick District Council for a 92,246 sq ft Grade A ‘best in class’ distribution and logistics unit on the site. Jonathan Robinson, Barberry development director, said the development, known as Barberry Midbox 92, is expected to reach completion in Q4 2025 and is available to lease or purchase. “We are excited to announce that construction of our latest speculatively developed prime mid-box industrial and logistics building is now underway at Tournament Fields. Once again, we will be working alongside our trusted construction partner Benniman who expect to reach practical completion towards the end of this year,” said Jonathan. “The development of a best-in-class unit will help to address the ongoing shortage of new, high quality industrial accommodation in the West Midlands. New buildings such as this help to create the quality accommodation that local, regional and national businesses need to expand their operations within the Midlands. “Our speculatively developed buildings are designed to be flexible space that can be adapted to suit a wide range of occupier specific requirements while promoting sustainability, staff wellness and a high-quality environment to attract and retain staff while also appealing to occupiers to reduce their carbon footprint and deliver financial savings across their operation.” He added: “This high-quality development demonstrates Barberry’s continued commitment to the mid-box industrial logistics sector and capability in the UK market.” Christian Smith, director of Savills, said: “It’s great working on another scheme with Barberry who have the foresight to speculatively develop in this location where there are no other available opportunities for occupiers. Barberry develops market leading buildings designed to the highest standards, built with flexibility in mind to cater for occupier specific requirements. “We can also offer occupiers a unique freehold opportunity or leasehold options. We anticipate significant interest from a market starved of high quality, mid-box warehouse and production facilities on the M40 and M42 corridors.” It is described as a unique opportunity to join a number of international businesses who have made Tournament Fields their home, including Scholastic Publications, Gallagher Security, Semcon, Sodick and most recently, Hansgrohe, who took occupation of their 36,000 sq ft facility in the spring of 2023. Wareing & Company and Savills have been retained as agents. This highly visible and accessible site has the perfect combination of immediate motorway access off Junction 15 of the M40, providing a logistically superb location coupled with the prominence suitable for a HQ-style operator or customer facing business. The building will focus on sustainability and will be built to exceptional ESG standards, targeting EPC A + and BREEAM Excellent accreditation including electric vehicle charging points, solar panels, green initiatives, outdoor gym equipment and staff welfare. One of the UK’s leading developers of mid-box industrial units, Barberry simultaneously exchanged and completed the purchase of the Warwick site within 10 working days of instructing solicitors. It was bought for an undisclosed sum from Sackville Developments (Warwick) Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd. Barberry last year revealed exciting plans to develop two other high quality warehouse units in the West Midlands, demonstrating its commitment to investment in the region. In Birmingham, it plans to build a £17 million 77,000 sq ft Grade A warehouse after acquiring a high-quality site in an off-market deal at Quinton Business Park, Birmingham. The company also plans to develop an advanced manufacturing unit with a value of £11 million in Ansty, Coventry, at one of the most successful business technology parks in the UK. It will deliver a 50,750 sq ft advanced manufacturing unit at Ansty Park after completing the acquisition of the Viggen Way site from Homes England. Barberry has a 2.6 million sq ft industrial/logistics development pipeline with a Gross Development Value of more than £430 million and a growing income-producing commercial portfolio, delivering sustainable returns. The company also has 520 acres of strategically located residential and employment development land, capable of delivering 3,500 new homes including a 288 build-to-rent (BTR) apartment scheme in the heart of Coventry city centre. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »
HOME FROM HOME: RED CONSTRUCTION GROUP APPOINTED ON £31M SHOREDITCH STUDENT ACCOMMODATION SCHEME

Home from Home: Red Construction Group appointed on £31m Shoreditch student accommodation scheme

Kenneth Booth April 28, 2025

RED Construction Group, the specialist main contractor, has announced the appointment of its London division by Infrastructure Investments Ltd to complete works on a £31m student accommodation project. This follows the completion of £1.8 m worth of enabling works from RED Construction’s Special Projects team. Located close to Old Street Station in Shoreditch, and set to be completed in the Autumn, RED’s London team will carry out an extensive refurbishment and structural alterations increasing area from 47,000 sq ft to over 70,000 sq ft building in partnership with architects, ECE Westworks. Known as Willen House, the project has been designed to achieve a BREEAM rating of Excellent, taking the building’s height from six to eight storeys, whilst introducing a new façade with high-performance windows and glass-reinforced concrete. The refurbished student accommodation will house 208 bedrooms across seven floors, complemented by modern communal areas, together with two commercial units to the ground floor. RED Construction’s appointment is a direct result of the group’s extensive skillset, evidenced by the successful completion of the first phase enabling works by the Special Projects division. RED’s expertise in student accommodation has been instrumental in driving forward several schemes, with the London, South West, and Special Projects teams in the process of delivering over £75m of student accommodation in excess of 500 beds this year. Mark Iori, Managing Director of RED Construction London, commented: “Driven by growing demand, the student accommodation sector is a thriving, resilient market, and we are certainly seeing this influence our workstreams. The appointment of RED Construction London highlights the high standards delivered by the Special Projects team for the initial works, and how we create successful partnerships with clients like Infrastructure Investments.” Steven Gardner, at Infrastructure Investments Ltd, added: “Due to the project’s prominent location in Shoreditch, it was important for us to partner with a main contractor that had extensive experience delivering complex inner-city schemes. RED Construction London’s track record, paired with RED Special Project’s quality of enabling works, instil certainty that the London team will deliver the vision for our Willen House project.” RED Construction Group’s expertise in purpose-built student rooms is matched by its work in hotels, with the contractor’s South West division recently announcing the completed works on the UK’s first branded net zero hotel, voco Zeal Hotel at Exeter Science Park. Having been heavily involved from the design stage, RED Construction South West drew on their extensive knowledge of sustainable development to ensure the hotel would operate with industry-leading Energy Use Intensity (EUI) levels, a critical measure that will define building in the decades to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »
‘Landmark’ Potters Bar site set for new lease of life after deal agreed with developers

‘Landmark’ Potters Bar site set for new lease of life after deal agreed with developers

Kenneth Booth April 28, 2025

Two office blocks and a number of commercial buildings in Potters Bar look set for a new lease of life after their sale was agreed with developers. Chase New Homes has exchanged contracts on the unconditional purchase of a 4.5 acre brownfield site fronting the High Street. The land is allocated for mixed-use development in Hertsmere Borough Council’s draft Local Plan – potentially including up to 265 homes and approximately 26,910 sq ft of office and retail space. The site currently includes two substantial office blocks – six-storey Canada Life Place and 13-storey Maple House – alongside 11,400 sq ft of mixed-use buildings, including two parades of shops with flats above, a 5,000 sq ft car wash and a large car park. Chase New Homes has now selected a design team for the site and – based on initial concepts – it is hoped it should deliver a minimum of around 90 affordable homes and 170 market sale homes; with an element of new commercial space. Advised by the development team at Savills in Cambridge and purchased for an undisclosed sum, site owner financial services provider Canada Life and Chase New Homes have agreed a deferred completion date in 2026. Joe Last, Associate Director in the development team at Savills Cambridge, said: “We are delighted to have exchanged contracts on this landmark site. Its redevelopment represents an exciting opportunity to deliver sustainable growth in the shape of high quality residential, retail and commercial uses in a prime location, and will significantly contribute to the supply of much-needed new homes in the local area. “Chase New Homes are a leading regional housebuilder with a reputation for delivering high quality homes. From the outset they demonstrated a willingness to meet the requirements of the site owner – offering a flexible solution that was to the benefit of all parties. We look forward to seeing how the new scheme comes to fruition.” Nick Harding, Chief People Officer at Canada Life UK, said: “Canada Life has a long history in Potters Bar, and we were committed to finding a partner that shared our ambition to transform the site into a sustainable and attractive development that brings long-term benefits to the area. “Chase New Homes has a strong track record for delivering exceptional developments in and around Hertfordshire, and a plan that will meet the housing and commercial needs of the local community. We would like to thank both Chase New Homes for partnering with us on this exciting opportunity, and the Savills team for their support with the sale.” Gary Barton, Managing Director of Chase New Homes, said: “We are all extremely excited to be working on such an iconic site in Potters Bar and to add to our growing list of successful developments that we at Chase are very proud of delivering. We pride ourselves in creating schemes that not only enhance the area but also deliver an exceptional lifestyle living experience.’’ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »
Bradford’s Norfolk Gardens opening marks completion of £45million scheme

Bradford’s Norfolk Gardens opening marks completion of £45million scheme

Kenneth Booth April 28, 2025

The fences have come down from around Norfolk Gardens marking the completion of a £45 million project to transform Bradford city centre. This welcoming green space, which is now open for people to enjoy, complements the recently completed pedestrianised areas on Market Street, Bridge Street, Bank Street, Broadway and Hall Ings. The newly created 10,000 square metre park area contains a wide variety of trees, shrubs and plants, along with pedestrian space, benches and seating for people to rest as well as natural places for children to play. The cycle lanes and paths which run through the gardens and connect Jacobs Well with Hall Ings have had their finishing touches applied. The landscaping has been designed to reflect the heritage and culture of the district, using plants and features that bring together both functionality and biodiversity making it an inviting place for visitors and residents to spend time. The newly pedestrianised space in the city centre is already being used and recently hosted its first public events with the Big Brass Blowout with brass bands playing in the area outside St George’s Hall. A spring family fun day organised by Bradford BID took place last weekend on many of the newly pedestrianised streets. The next major event in the city centre is the Super Soapbox Challenge which takes place on Sunday 4 May and will make use of some of the newly pedestrianised areas. The Bradford City Centre Walking and Cycling Improvement Scheme has been delivered by Bradford Council in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and funded through the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF). Funding for this scheme was awarded to Bradford Council through a capital grant provided by the Department for Transport and cannot be used for other purposes, such as delivering day to day Council services or other projects. Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: “The entire project has seen major changes throughout Bradford city centre completely transforming it from traffic choked streets to safe and inviting spaces for people to spend time. I’m delighted to see Norfolk Gardens reopening as a major green park, reflecting public desire to see more green spaces in the heart of the city centre. It’s the culmination of years of hard work by the project team and around 18months of construction work.” Scott Donson, Project Director at Balfour Beatty said: “We are pleased to have completed works at Norfolk Gardens, marking a significant milestone in the transformation of Bradford city centre. “This newly created green space, featuring an array of trees, shrubs, and sustainable landscaping, will provide a lasting benefit to the community, encourage biodiversity and create a more welcoming environment for both residents and visitors to Bradford.” Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “The transformation of Bradford city centre is truly remarkable, creating a vibrant and welcoming place for both residents and visitors. “By reducing traffic and making it easier to get around, this project will have a lasting impact on people’s health, wellbeing, and daily lives. “I’m delighted to see the completion of the project as we aim to create a better-connected region that works for all.” For more information about the scheme visit https://www.future-bradford.co.uk/   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »
GRAHAM completes offshore renewable energy berth at Port of Leith

GRAHAM completes offshore renewable energy berth at Port of Leith

Kenneth Booth April 28, 2025

GRAHAM, a leading civil engineering company, has constructed Forth Ports’ new deep-water riverside berth at the Port of Leith – designed to host the world’s largest offshore wind construction vessels. The berth was formally opened on Thursday 24 April, marking a significant step forward in Scotland’s pursuit of net-zero emissions. It has been named the Charles Hammond Berth in honour of Forth Ports’ former Chief Executive, with the naming ceremony attended by Kirsty McNeill MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland. The newly engineered heavy-lift berth boasts a robust 100 tonnes per square metre (t/m²) capacity, backed up by 175 acres of adjacent land for associated renewables logistics, marshalling, and manufacturing. A pivotal asset within a 175-acre site, the design will accommodate Scotland’s energy transition plans, boosting local supply chains, creating new, high-quality green jobs, and making a significant contribution to the country achieving its net-zero carbon emissions targets. The Leith Renewables Hub is part of the Forth Green Freeport’s strategically located tax sites, which aim to reindustrialise central Scotland, generating thousands of high-quality green jobs by increasing trade and supporting the growth of businesses across the Firth of Forth. Paul Scott, GRAHAM Contracts Director, said: “The completion and grand opening of the Charles Hammond Berth is a proud moment for GRAHAM and a significant step forward for Scotland’s renewable energy sector. This complex project highlights our commitment to delivering critical infrastructure that not only meets immediate needs but also unlocks substantial long-term economic benefits for the region. We are delighted to have played a key role in creating a facility that will be instrumental in achieving Scotland’s net-zero targets and attracting significant investment and job creation.” The Charles Hammond Berth provides essential infrastructure for the Inch Cape wind farm and positions Leith as a key hub for the offshore renewables industry, attracting further investment and job creation within the Forth Green Freeport. Stuart Wallace, Chief Executive of the Forth Ports Group, said: “Today marks another important milestone in the history of Forth Ports and the transformation of the Port of Leith. Ahead of market demand, we have created a world class piece of infrastructure for Scotland as the nation starts to deliver the first wave of larger offshore wind projects taking shape in the North Sea. This, alongside our investment in the Port of Dundee, has created two purpose-built assembly terminals to meet the immediate needs of Scotland’s offshore wind sector. “These assets are part of Forth Ports’ vision aimed at addressing the UK’s port capacity required for the deployment of these projects, keeping the activity here in Scotland and the UK.  This port infrastructure will be here for the long term and will become part of our sustainable future. “Naming the berth after Charles couldn’t be a more fitting tribute to his leadership and we are proud to have his name on the berth as part of his legacy.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Read More »