Today, Glenigan | Powered by Hubexo, one of the construction industry’s leading insight experts, releases the September 2025 edition of its Construction Index. The Index reviews the three months to the end of August 2025, focusing on underlying projects with a total value of £100 million or less (unless otherwise
Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower has been shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize – the first time in the award’s history that a conservation project has been nominated. One of the UK’s most recognisable landmarks, its restoration was considered a ‘veritable masterclass in conservation and craftsmanship’
Primark has opened its first standalone Home store in Great Britain at Manchester’s Trafford Palazzo, marking a milestone for the retailer’s expanding interiors offering. The new two-storey, 12,000 sq ft store showcases an extensive homeware range, including bedding, throws, decorative items, and storage solutions. A mezzanine floor also houses Primark’s
Bouygues UK has been appointed by UPP as the lead contractor for the ambitious West Park development at the University of Exeter, following financial close. The project will redefine student accommodation, focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency while providing modern, purpose-built living spaces. Bouygues UK will partner with UPP, the
Places for People is to extend its affordable living portfolio into Hunstanton, Norfolk, with the development of 61 brand-new independent living apartments for people aged 55 and over at Lavender View. The leading social enterprise, which owns or manages more than 245,000 homes across the UK, celebrated the development alongside
Accidents remain one of the UK’s most preventable tragedies, yet thousands of lives are lost every year, with tens of thousands of people suffering from serious injuries due to a lack of coherent national action. Just last month, the government released statistics on workplace safety and fatalities in the workplace.
New Government data of fire and rescue service incidents analysed by HETAS for Chimney Fire Safety Week (CFSW), reveals that Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service responded to 181 chimney fires over the last year, the most out of all counties in England. Dorset and Wiltshire follow in close
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has commenced works on a new state-of-the-art warehouse facility at Coton Park in Rugby, celebrating with an official groundbreaking ceremony. On behalf of Newlands Developments, Winvic
Ikea has opened a new ‘Plan & Order Point’ at Clifton Moor Retail Park in York, continuing its drive to make its products and services more accessible across the UK. The smaller format store is dedicated to kitchen and bedroom planning, providing customers with free home furnishing advice. Shoppers can
Harworth Group plc, a leading land and property regenerator of sustainable developments, and Broxtowe Borough Council are pleased to announce the commencement of construction of 13,680 sq ft of Industrial & Logistics (‘I&L’) employment space designed for start-ups and SMEs. The development, at Bennerley in Nottinghamshire, is funded by Kimberley
Today, Glenigan | Powered by Hubexo, one of the construction industry’s leading insight experts, releases the September 2025 edition of its Construction Index. The Index reviews the three months to the end of August 2025, focusing on underlying projects with a total value of £100 million or less (unless otherwise stated). All figures are seasonally adjusted. It’s a report which provides a detailed and comprehensive analysis of year-on-year construction data, giving built environment professionals a unique insight into sector performance over the last 12 months. The September Index reveals that the high hopes for an industrywide recovery, forecast through a steady increase in activity during Q.2, were premature, with the value of work starting on-site dipping by 4% in the three months to the end of August, standing 6% lower than 2024 figures during the same period. The uptick in residential activity observed during the spring and summer, which drove the majority of the recent impressive growth, is starting to slow as Autumn starts. This is giving way to general decline, with starts-on-site falling 18% on the preceding three months, and 16% year-on-year, as persistent international socioeconomic pressures and unpopular Government policies erode investor and consumer confidence. However, the overall drop in performance was somewhat mitigated in the non-residential sector, which experienced a relatively positive period, registering a 13% increase on the preceding three months to stand 11% up on the previous year. Commenting on the results, Glenigan Economist Drilon Baca says, “Many contractors and subcontractors will be deeply frustrated by the apparent ‘false start’ performance-wise, especially within the residential verticals. However, as the numbers show, the sector is still in a far stronger position than it was during last winter, holding relatively steady overall when compared like-for-like against last year’s figures, with a modest dip in the single figures. He continues, “However, we need to be cautious. There remains a high degree of uncertainty. In the lead up to the widely-rumored Autumn Budget Statement, the sector will not be helped by persistent international pressures and, closer to home, ongoing speculation around property tax increases.” Taking a closer look at the Index results… Sector Analysis – Residential The residential sector faced pronounced headwinds. Overall starts were down 18% in the three months to the end of August compared to the previous 3-month period, finishing 16% below 2024. Private housing fell 16% during the Index period and 16% compared to the previous year. Social housing fared even worse with activity slashed by almost a quarter (-24%) to stand 17% lower year-on-year. Sector Analysis – Non-Residential Performance was generally subdued in non-residential sectors, however, there were some very impressive results within individual verticals. Activity within offices was outstanding. Starts surged 103% during the Index period and were 232% up on the previous year. These extraordinary figures can be attributed to shovels going into the ground on a number of major developments, including the retrofit of 30 Finsbury Square in London. It was a mixed bag elsewhere. Industrial project starts edged up by 1% compared to the preceding three months, but were still 11% below 2024 levels. Likewise, health sector activity grew 7%, but was 5% lower compared to last year’s figures. Elsewhere, community and amenity project starts were down 26% compared to the previous 3 months but saw a 35% increase compared to 2024. Hotel & leisure starts, in turn, dipped 5% but were 4% higher year-on-year. Civil engineering work inched up 2% on the preceding three months but remained 22% below year-ago levels. Infrastructure project starts rose 12% against the Index period, although they were down 17% year-on-year. Utilities construction declined 9% to finish 27% lower than last year. The retail and education verticals were the biggest losers. The former took a significant hit, falling 23% compared to the previous 3 months and were down 34% compared to last year. The latter experienced significant setbacks, dropping 14% compared to the preceding three months and 37% when measured against 2024 levels. Regional Performance London outperformed other regions, with project starts reaching £2,973 million, up a whopping 39% compared to the preceding three months, and a staggering 36% compared to the same period last year. Not to be outdone, the North East experienced strong growth, rising 61% against 2024 results and increasing by almost a third (+29%) against the preceding three months. The West Midlands also posted robust results, up 21% on the previous three months and 36% year-on-year. In contrast, the South East and South West both registered sizeable declines; the former fell by 15% compared to the previous 3 months, and 21% on the year; the latter dropped 29% and 32%, respectively. The North West slipped 5% on the preceding three months and 12% compared to last year. North of the border, Scotland declined 29% against the previous year and 16% on the preceding three months. Find out more about Glenigan here: www.glenigan.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower has been shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize – the first time in the award’s history that a conservation project has been nominated. One of the UK’s most recognisable landmarks, its restoration was considered a ‘veritable masterclass in conservation and craftsmanship’ by RIBA’s judges. Submitted for entry by Purcell – consultant architect on the project – the conservation was the most extensive and complex in the building’s history, combining traditional skills and crafts with cutting-edge upgrades that made the building fit for the 21st century. Chris Elliot, Managing Director of UK Parliament’s Strategic Estates team, said: “This nomination celebrates the successful restoration of the UK’s most photographed landmark, achieved through close collaboration with our architects, Purcell, alongside our exceptional supply chain. As custodians of a UNESCO World Heritage site, we are proud to have maintained and preserved the Elizabeth Tower as a symbol of our national heritage.” Running from 2017-2022, the project safeguarded the architectural integrity of the Elizabeth Tower and ensured that Big Ben could continue to ‘bong’ for decades to come. Prior to the restoration, the landmark suffered from many of the issues seen in buildings of its age, including crumbling stones, rusty ironwork, leaking roofs and, in this case, an aging clock. Repairing problems that could not be fixed while the clock was in action, the project also conserved key elements of Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin’s design, including stone carvings, the clock dials and the gilded spire. The restoration works repaired and redecorated the interior, renewed the building services, and made improvements to health and safety and fire protection systems. The works also improved energy efficiency, reducing the Elizabeth Tower’s environmental impact, as well as providing better access for maintenance and emergency services. A wide range of specialist companies and tradespeople from across the UK were involved in the programme, including from: Other areas involved include the North West England (building and M&E design), South East England and London (stone restoration and glass designers), South Yorkshire (stone replacements and cast-iron repairs) amongst others. The conservation of the UK’s most iconic landmark has already earned widespread recognition, including a RIBA National Award, RIBA London Award, AABC Conservation Award, Michael Middleton Civic Trust Award and Digital Construction Project of the Year Award. Parliament’s Strategic Estates team has also been nominated for the RIBA Client of the Year award, acknowledging their role in championing excellence throughout the project. Members of the public can find out more about the restoration through guided tours – and take home a piece of Big Ben memorabilia from the Houses of Parliament Shop. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Primark has opened its first standalone Home store in Great Britain at Manchester’s Trafford Palazzo, marking a milestone for the retailer’s expanding interiors offering. The new two-storey, 12,000 sq ft store showcases an extensive homeware range, including bedding, throws, decorative items, and storage solutions. A mezzanine floor also houses Primark’s travel collection, with luggage and travel accessories available for shoppers. Alongside the debut Home store, Primark has invested in its existing Trafford Palazzo branch. The store has undergone a significant makeover, featuring an expanded womenswear department, upgraded fixtures across health and beauty, and the introduction of a new beauty studio. Leandra Dwyer, asset manager at Peel Retail & Leisure, said:“Trafford Palazzo is fast establishing itself as the UK’s leading destination for new flagship retail and leisure concepts. The launch of Great Britain’s first standalone Primark Home store at Trafford Palazzo is a fantastic example of how Peel Retail & Leisure partners with major brands to create vibrant spaces where retail and leisure thrive and where consumers want to be. We are looking forward to seeing the progression of this exciting new store evolve.” The new concept complements Primark’s existing stores across Greater Manchester and follows the earlier launch of a standalone Primark Home in Belfast. The move highlights the retailer’s growing commitment to expanding its homeware range as part of its wider strategy to diversify its product offer and enhance the shopping experience. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bouygues UK has been appointed by UPP as the lead contractor for the ambitious West Park development at the University of Exeter, following financial close. The project will redefine student accommodation, focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency while providing modern, purpose-built living spaces. Bouygues UK will partner with UPP, the UK’s leading provider of on-campus student accommodation infrastructure, to deliver this innovative project for the University of Exeter. As the appointed lead contractor, Bouygues UK will spearhead the construction efforts, ensuring the creation of modern, energy-efficient student residences to Passivhaus standards. The West Park development includes the construction of six new student accommodation blocks and the refurbishment of one existing block within the University’s Streatham campus. Designed to accommodate 1,849 students, the development promotes interactive social lives with central social facilities on the main campus. The project’s design, led by Willmore Iles Architects and Architype, is to Passivhaus standards, an internationally recognised standard for energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Additionally, the development will be accredited to the WELL Community standard, ensuring a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of residents. Philippe Bernard, Chair and CEO of Bouygues UK, commented, “We are delighted to lead the construction for the Passivhaus West Park development, a project that symbolises innovation and sustainability in student accommodation. Bouygues UK is committed to delivering exemplary projects that meet the highest standards of energy efficiency and resident wellbeing and we are grateful for the trust of our client. We look forward to collaborating with UPP to bring this vision to life.” Elaine Hewitt, UPP CEO said, “We are delighted to reach financial close on this major project and to be working with Bouygues UK on the delivery of such an innovative scheme.” Bouygues UK is excited to contribute to a project that sets a new benchmark for university accommodation across the country and is committed to fostering a transformative student experience at the University of Exeter. The first tranche of students is expected to be welcomed into the new accommodation in September 2027, with full occupation in 2028. The project is scheduled for completion over a three-year period. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Places for People is to extend its affordable living portfolio into Hunstanton, Norfolk, with the development of 61 brand-new independent living apartments for people aged 55 and over at Lavender View. The leading social enterprise, which owns or manages more than 245,000 homes across the UK, celebrated the development alongside its partners on Tuesday 2 September with a traditional ‘topping-out’ ceremony – held to mark the construction reaching its highest point. Attendees included Cllr Thomas and Cllr Jamieson from Norfolk County Council, Cllr Rust from King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council, Teresa Snaith, Business Development Director of Lovell Later Living, Deepesh Patel, Executive Director of Radis Community Care and Simon Medler, Regional Managing Director of Lovell Partnerships. The event was facilitated by Ben Ruston, Director of Developments – South East Region at Places for People. Places for People is collaborating with partners including Norfolk County Council – which has provided £2.9m capital funding to support the scheme as part of its Independent Living programme, Homes England – which has provided £5.7m in grant funding for the scheme, alongside developer Lovell Later Living, building contractor Lovell Partnerships and care provider Radis Community Care. The development of this new community designed by Langtry Langton Architects will deliver 61 one and two bedroom affordable-rent apartments by the end of summer 2026. The Radis Community Care team will provide on-site care and support 24/7 at Lavender View, enabling individuals to remain independent in a home of their choice. It has aptly been named Lavender View after the rich and vibrant lavender fields established since 1932 and located three miles south of Hunstanton. The new community is being developed in the Hunstanton area of Norfolk and will bring much-needed independent living accommodation to people over 55 living here. Neil McKay, Head of Commercial. Quality and Growth at Places for People, said: “Tackling the housing crisis means providing homes that meet everyone’s needs. Lavender View is a vital development, offering people the right environment to live happy, independent lives. We are delighted to see progress on site and look forward to welcoming the first residents next year.” Lavender View will also offer residents an onsite café, an activity room for healthy and positive living, impressive communal areas including a main lounge and landscaped gardens, on-site hairdressing, a spa room, mobility scooter storage and on-site parking for residents and their visitors. Lavender View is due for completion in late summer 2026. Cllr Alison Thomas, cabinet member for Adult’s Services at Norfolk County Council, said: “This topping out ceremony marks an exciting moment for Hunstanton as we move another step closer to providing residents with an accessible, safe new home in a vibrant community as they age. “Norfolk County Council remain committed to investing in schemes just like Lavender View that prioritise independence, but with the added peace of mind of on-site care and support when they need it.” Kate Collins, Senior Manager for Provider Management at Homes England, said: “Increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting stakeholders of all sizes to achieve their ambitions. “Lavender View is a prime example of how we work collaboratively with partners like Places for People to achieve our mission to build much needed new communities that people can be proud to call home.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Accidents remain one of the UK’s most preventable tragedies, yet thousands of lives are lost every year, with tens of thousands of people suffering from serious injuries due to a lack of coherent national action. Just last month, the government released statistics on workplace safety and fatalities in the workplace. The report revealed that there were 124 deaths in the workplace between March 2024-2025. Steve Terry, Managing Director of Astutis, one of the UK’s leading workplace health and safety training providers, urges the government to appoint a dedicated minister for accidental prevention and adopt a cross-departmental strategy. This call comes after the recent House of Lords debate on RoSPA’s (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) National Accident Prevention Strategy proposal for an accident prevention minister, which failed to go through. While ministers acknowledged the scale of the problem, the idea of a dedicated leader was rejected, and instead, they chose to maintain a piecemeal system thinly spread across multiple departments. Steve Terry comments: “This is a hugely missed opportunity, and a dangerous one. Accident prevention cuts across health, construction, transport, housing, education and more. Without clear leadership at the Cabinet level, lives will continue to be lost and families will continue to lose loved ones. Prevention shouldn’t just be an option; it’s a national imperative.” RoSPA’s recent report Safer Lives, Stronger Nation exposed the lack of strategic focus within government, highlighting how responsibility for accident prevention is diluted across agencies, leading to gaps, duplication, and wasted opportunities. Over 20.00 lives are lost annually due to accidents in the UK, and this figure has risen over 40% in a decade. Not only that, accidents cost the NHS millions of bed days and almost £6 billion. Steve Terry also comments: “The report identifies a critical issue. Accident prevention efforts are fragmented, spread unevenly across numerous government departments and agencies, none of which have clear ownership or the authority to set a unified direction. This fragmentation inevitably results in patchy policies, gaps in action, duplication of effort, and ultimately, missed opportunities to save lives.” The Health and Safety Executive’s 10-year strategy shows progress is possible when coordination exists, but without overarching leadership, these successes remain limited. Terry added: “The human, social and economic costs of accidents run into billions every year. Beyond the numbers are devastated families and lost potential. By failing to appoint a minister and publish a national strategy, the government is effectively choosing to let preventable accidents continue. That is not acceptable.” Astutis has also released a 2025 Learner Report to showcase findings in workplace health and safety. One of the key stats that the report revealed is that 50% of employees were skipping essential HSE training due to time constraints. For the full report, you can download it here: https://www.astutis.com/astutis-hub/news/learner-report-2025 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New Government data of fire and rescue service incidents analysed by HETAS for Chimney Fire Safety Week (CFSW), reveals that Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service responded to 181 chimney fires over the last year, the most out of all counties in England. Dorset and Wiltshire follow in close second with a combined 113 chimney fires; Hereford and Worcester are third with a combined 95; North Yorkshire follows in fourth with 90; and Norfolk fifth with 86 chimney fires reported between April 2024 and March 2025. During this period, there were 2,019 chimney fires in England, 5% less than the year before and accounting for 0.33% of the total fires in the country. While chimney fires are steadily decreasing, recent data shows that more than 1.5 million stoves are currently installed across just over 60% of UK households – a number which is steadily increasing. The Government fire statistics, reviewed by HETAS as part of the not-for-profit organisation’s annual CFSW – a national campaign in partnership with the Government’s Fire Kills campaign, Industry, and fire and rescue services to promote positive safety messages to consumers – align with HETAS’ own national research into consumer burning habits. Also released today, HETAS’ data delves into the potential causes of chimney fires throughout the UK. It found that across all 88 counties surveyed in the UK, nearly 1 in 10 wood-burning stove owners leave it two or more years to sweep their chimney or never get it swept at all, whilst a fifth have either never serviced their appliance or are unsure if they have. Calvin May, Head of Technical & Certification at HETAS, said: “Our latest data reveals some interesting insights into the potential causes of these chimney fires, reiterating the need for our annual awareness campaign; we even discovered that some stove owners weren’t aware their appliance needs regular, ongoing maintenance. Regularly servicing your solid fuel appliance and sweeping your chimney is essential to help reduce these annual chimney fire figures even further. “No matter what type of chimney you have or whether it is lined or not, wood-burning stove owners are advised by industry to have their chimneys swept twice a year if they burn wood, and at least once every 12 months if using smokeless fuels. Appliances should be installed by a competent professional and serviced annually, using a HETAS registered servicing engineer for continued safety and compliance. “If a chimney isn’t regularly swept then a sticky, tar-like substance called creosote builds up on the inner walls of the chimney flue – building much more rapidly if the appliance is poorly maintained or the wood isn’t properly seasoned – which can ignite and cause a chimney fire to rapidly spread.” Jon Quinn, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council’s Home Safety Committee said: “Chimney Fire Safety Week is an important reminder that regular sweeping and maintenance are essential in reducing the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. “The National Fire Chiefs Council also urge households to fit and test smoke alarms as they provide early warning of a fire and save lives. We also recommend installing a carbon monoxide alarm to alert you to poisonous leaks. Smoke and Carbon monoxide alarms should be tested at least once a month to make sure they are working. By taking these simple steps, families can stay warm and safe as we move into the colder months.” Dr Nicki Harvey founder of Dr Sweep, a chimney and stove service company based in the West Midlands, who also suffered from CO poisoning from a faulty gas fire in her first home, also adds: “It’s so important to get your chimney and your appliance checked and swept regularly, and to test your smoke and CO alarm. By doing so, the stove will work better and more efficiently, it will be cleaner, and most importantly, it will be safer for you and your family. “An experienced sweep can offer advice on how best to burn fuel or to use your stove controls. They can also spot and fix any issues early on, giving you peace of mind when using and enjoying your stove.” HETAS’ findings revealed that a small percentage of consumers, over 1 in 10, either do not check if their fuel is certified ‘Ready to Burn’ or only check sometimes. Furthermore, 1 in 5 stove users nationally reported growing their own wood rather than buying it in person or online, with a small number (4%) of respondents voicing concerns around the cost of living. Calvin continues: “With the recent energy price cap increase announced by Ofgem, homeowners are continuing to look for cost-effective ways to heat their homes, but when buying fuel for your stove you must remember to prioritise the safety of your home. “In England, there are strict government regulations that any wood sold in volumes under 2m³ must be certified as ‘Ready to Burn’, meaning it has a moisture content of 20% or less and that Manufactured Solid Fuels contain less than 2% sulphur content. “Both are critical to ensure that these fuels burn efficiently, safely and cleanly – both for the environment and stove users. This not only benefits the lifespan of your appliance but also reduces the risk of chimney fires when burned in a sufficiently maintained stove and alongside a regularly swept chimney.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has commenced works on a new state-of-the-art warehouse facility at Coton Park in Rugby, celebrating with an official groundbreaking ceremony. On behalf of Newlands Developments, Winvic has started the 60-week build programme to deliver a 250,000 sq ft single-storey warehouse at the strategically located industrial park, which sits within the UK Golden Triangle of logistics. This project sees Winvic’s return to Coton Park, where the company previously delivered two distribution and logistics units on plots 2 and 3, bringing existing knowledge of the site’s infrastructure to support the successful delivery of the latest phase. The new facility will include 15,000 sq ft of office accommodation and will consist of a structural steel, multi-span portal frame with a height of 15 metres and will target a BREEAM Excellent certification and an EPC rating of A/A+. The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by representatives from Winvic and Newlands Developments marked a key milestone and highlighted Winvic’s agility and capability in overcoming complex site challenges early in the programme. As part of the infrastructure and enabling works, Winvic used a 350-tonne crane to install a 34-metre ex Ministry of Defence tank bridge, to span a 457 mm high-pressure gas main. This was a critical element of the works to enable access onto the site which requires crossing the major utility. To further progress works, Winvic is constructing a Filcor (polystyrene) road that will wrap around a 54-metre-long 4m x 2m culvert. Traditional construction methods such as cement and compacted fill were not viable due to the loadings imposed onto the gas main. Winvic and Cadent Gas are working together to develop and implement this solution to ensure the integrity of the gas infrastructure and safety of operatives working on site. Danny Nelson, Managing Director of Industrial, Distribution and Logistics at Winvic, said: “We’re proud to continue our partnership with Newlands Developments to deliver this at Coton Park, Rugby. “Working with partners, our solution to overcome the complex challenges of this site brought by the gas main, highlights our commitment to safety and a collaborative culture. Marking the start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony is always a proud moment, and we now look forward to delivering a high-quality facility that meets our client’s needs and supports continued growth in this key logistics location.” Coton Park is located 3.7 miles from junction 19 of the M1 and fronts the M6, giving direct connectivity to Coventry and Birmingham and other major routes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ikea has opened a new ‘Plan & Order Point’ at Clifton Moor Retail Park in York, continuing its drive to make its products and services more accessible across the UK. The smaller format store is dedicated to kitchen and bedroom planning, providing customers with free home furnishing advice. Shoppers can book an appointment with one of the York store’s six planning specialists or use self-service tools in-store to design their own solutions. Customers will be able to order from the full Ikea product range, with next-day collection and home delivery options available. The York site also features a dedicated collection point for online orders and facilities for returns of any Ikea purchase. Conor Doherty, Ikea market manager, said:“We’re thrilled to open the doors to our new Ikea Plan and Order Point in York. This welcoming space is designed to inspire; offering a chance to explore our unique kitchen ranges and smart storage solutions. It’s the perfect place to discover Ikea’s extensive selection of affordable home products, suited to every budget. Plus, it provides a convenient new location for collecting online orders and purchases from our Hull and Leeds stores.” The York opening is part of Ikea’s broader UK expansion strategy. In the months ahead, the retailer will launch another Plan and Order Point in Dundee and a small-format store in Chester. It follows the recent debut of similar outlets in Hull, Harlow, and Norwich, as well as a new city store in Brighton. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Harworth Group plc, a leading land and property regenerator of sustainable developments, and Broxtowe Borough Council are pleased to announce the commencement of construction of 13,680 sq ft of Industrial & Logistics (‘I&L’) employment space designed for start-ups and SMEs. The development, at Bennerley in Nottinghamshire, is funded by Kimberley Means Business, a funding facility from the UK Government1. Harworth will deliver five I&L units across two buildings, on behalf of Broxtowe Borough Council, under a forward funding agreement. The appointed design and build contractor is Britcon. The occasion was marked at a recent groundbreaking ceremony, attended by members of the Harworth team alongside members and officers of Broxtowe Borough Council and Kimberley Town Council. The project received planning permission in February 2025, and the buildings are due to complete in 2026, with BREEAM ‘Very Good’ accreditation and will meet the Council’s Biodiversity Net Gain requirements. Additional amenities will include the creation of a new access road, serving both the employment scheme and Friends of Bennerley Viaduct Visitor Centre, alongside landscaping to improve connectivity for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from Shilo Way into the site. The employment units form part of the wider transformation of the former Bennerley Coal Disposal Point and surrounding land, with the potential to deliver up to 1.8 million sq ft of employment space, when complete, creating around 1,000 full-time equivalent jobs once fully operational. Stuart Ashton, Head of Strategic Planning at Harworth Group, commented: “The creation of these five units will provide much needed employment space for start-ups and SMEs, supporting early-stage business growth in the area. This marks an important milestone in the transformation of Bennerley, with our vision for the wider site focused around creating space that supports local employment opportunities and economic growth, whilst also benefiting the local environment. We look forward to continuing to develop our plans for the site in the months ahead.” Councillor Milan Radulovic MBE, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Asset Management, added: “I’m delighted to be able to get construction underway for these new business units as part of the Kimberley Means Business project. Providing spaces for local start-ups to establish themselves, and existing SMEs to grow and develop, the units will help to drive economic growth in the area. Together with the new Bennerley Viaduct Visitor Centre, due to be completed in September, these new developments will create a new economic hub in the north of the Borough.” Matt Searston, Commercial Director at Britcon, added: “We are excited to have been awarded this contract and to be starting construction of this project at the Bennerley development, continuing our successful collaborative relationship with Harworth Group. This important strategic site presents a fantastic opportunity to deliver high-quality, sustainable employment space that will support long-term local employment and economic growth. Our focus is always on maximising opportunities for local employment and regional suppliers. We look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to bring this important development to life.” For more information on our vision for Bennerley, please visit: https://www.bennerleyemployment.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals