Bicester Motion, the 444-acre future mobility estate in Oxfordshire, has unveiled plans to enable substantial investment in its estate over the next 10 years to enhance its masterplan vision to foster a connected, dynamic and sustainable community for automotive and aviation experience brands to thrive, alongside the introduction of new and
STARK Building Materials UK (STARK UK) has launched a digital delivery tracking and notification service providing real-time updates on orders. Launched as part of STARK UK’s ‘trusted deliveries’ strategy, the new service firstly informs customers of a two-hour delivery window before sending a second update, narrowing it to a one-hour
Two Yorkshire businesses have expanded into new premises at Logistics Hub at Howley Park Estate in Morley, taking more than 17,000 sq ft of industrial space as they grow operations within West Yorkshire. The lettings, completed by J Pullan & Sons Ltd (Pullans), reflect continued demand for well-located industrial accommodation
June is officially National Homeownership Month, but for many, it feels more like a month of window shopping. With the average deposit required to buy a home skyrocketing out of reach for most, first time buyers are having to get seriously creative with how they secure their first rung on
The landmark renewal of London’s iconic Barbican Arts Centre is gathering pace, with the value of planned upgrade works to the value of £170m as the City of London Corporation prepares for the next phase of the ambitious regeneration programme. A series of new procurement notices released this week has
Legrand UK & Ireland has opened a new 43,000 sq. ft. electronics manufacturing facility at Nelson Park in Cramlington, Northumberland, establishing a new centre of excellence for the Legrand Group in Europe. The purpose-built site is home to Legrand’s CP Electronics lighting controls and Legrand Care brands, positioned close to
The data centre industry is sprinting to build the necessary infrastructure to support the next phase of the AI buildout. This year, the five biggest AI infrastructure companies will spend somewhere between $660 billion and $690 billion on building AI data centres, almost twice what they spent in 2025. Worldwide
A new 82-bedroom hotel is taking shape in Greater London, with help from a leading Birmingham-based construction consultancy. The Construction Consultants (TCC) has been appointed to support the development of a new £8.6 million Travelodge in Upminster in the London Borough of Havering. TCC is providing contract administrator and quantity
Harlequin Watford, Hertfordshire’s leading retail and leisure destination owned and operated by SGS UK Retail, has announced the signing of immersive gaming concept Activate, further strengthening its position as the region’s premier all-day destination for shopping, dining and leisure. The fast-growing competitive socialising brand will bring a major new experiential
The Memorandum of Understanding brings together the capabilities needed to make electric construction equipment a practical, on-site reality. By addressing power supply, charging, energy management and operational integration as a single system, the collaboration responds directly to rising sustainability and productivity pressures and the industry’s shift from standalone technologies to
Bicester Motion, the 444-acre future mobility estate in Oxfordshire, has unveiled plans to enable substantial investment in its estate over the next 10 years to enhance its masterplan vision to foster a connected, dynamic and sustainable community for automotive and aviation experience brands to thrive, alongside the introduction of new and affordable apartments and its strengthened plans for a hotel. Bicester Motion was established in 2013 when the 444-acre former RAF site was acquired to create a world-leading mobility cluster for like-minded mobility manufacturers, artisans, engineers, innovators and change-makers who have a shared passion to deliver the future mobility solutions society needs. Bicester Motion has previously secured a number of major planning consents bringing its total areas of active business space and consents to total circa one million sq ft (92,903 sq m). These include Bicester Heritage, The Hangars, The Command Works, The Rushes, The Ranges and The Hotel. The first five years of ownership focused on regenerating the award-winning technical site to create Bicester Heritage, which has evolved into the mobility-focused and award-winning new build development home to eight buildings forming The Command Works in 2020 and The Ranges’ first HQ with the first phase completed in 2026. Today, the estate hosts a diverse range of businesses in the automotive and aviation sector and is supported by a range of amenities on site that includes cafés, overnight accommodation, vehicle valeting and storage, specialist retail, insurance, events and apprenticeship training. More than £100 million has already been invested to re-purpose the estate, bringing it to new life as a hub for innovation, home to more than 50 companies, the majority of which were new to Bicester employing more than 500 people and training 200 apprentices per year. The cluster currently boosts the economy by circa £500 million in gross value added per annum. Future mobility automotive and aviation brands such as Audi Revolut F1 Team, Polestar, Motorsport UK, Skyports Infrastructure and record-breaking synthetic fuel manufacturer Zero have recently arrived at the estate. TeamSport is also set to open its new indoor e-karting centre later in the year, while Mercedes-Benz-owned electric motor technology company YASA will this summer move into a new HQ at The Ranges bringing with them 400 skilled employees. This activity has demonstrated a strong demand from businesses seeking to be part of Bicester Motion’s community and benefit from its strategic location in the heart of Motorsport Valley. Bicester Motion’s proposed enhanced masterplan will draw upon its experience to deliver distinct and connected areas of its estate by their unique character to enable an additional circa one million sq ft (92,903 sq m) of offices and technical workspace for pioneering companies accelerating the world’s adoption of future mobility technology. It also plans to create a place where people can live, work and thrive, supported by a wider ambition to create in the region of 200 one to three-bedroom new and affordable apartments, while the hotel will support new lodges and include a clubhouse for people to visit and stay. With ecology and biodiversity initiatives already in place, the proposed masterplan will further invest in the landscape and enhancements to deliver 10% biodiversity net gain to enrich its environment through mindful design and development. The plans will foster employment opportunities and career pathways within the traditional and pioneering businesses based on the estate and across its construction programme. As a destination for automotive enthusiasts through its annual events programme, which includes its sold-out Scrambles and attracts circa 150,000 per year visitors from all over the UK and world, the ten year vision is designed to boost growth, bolster the local economy, UK PLC and generate enduring opportunities for people to live, work, and flourish. Also, it will ensure Bicester Motion is further cemented as a proud part of the Bicester community. Daniel Geoghegan, chief executive officer, Bicester Motion said: “As custodians of the estate, we’re proud of the world-leading mobility cluster we have created by investing in Bicester and Oxfordshire, creating skilled jobs, remarkable opportunities and unique experiences. We remain driven to deliver a dynamic and inclusive environment, with thoughtful design, community wellbeing and long-term sustainability all coming together to shape a vibrant place for generations to enjoy. We now look ahead to the next 10 years and welcome people’s feedback as we look to further invest in and enhance this unique place.” A four week public consultation has opened on Thursday 28 May 2026 and will run until Thursday 25 June 2026. A public exhibition will be held at Bicester Motion on Friday 12 June from 2pm to 7pm. To view the public consultation, please visit: https://consultation.bicestermotion.com/ Ridge, Edgars, Nicholsons, Stantec, Motion, Auroch Ecology, Worlledge Associates and LDA Design acted on behalf of Bicester Motion. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
STARK Building Materials UK (STARK UK) has launched a digital delivery tracking and notification service providing real-time updates on orders. Launched as part of STARK UK’s ‘trusted deliveries’ strategy, the new service firstly informs customers of a two-hour delivery window before sending a second update, narrowing it to a one-hour slot. Alongside this, a live tracking link allows the customer to monitor the driver’s route in real time. Customers must simply add their mobile telephone number when making an order to ensure they benefit from the service. Following development, STARK UK undertook an extensive six-month customer trial period of the software, which received positive feedback from pilot users and enabled the business to fine-tune its capabilities ahead of launch. So far, the service has been rolled out to Jewson, Minster, and Frazer customers and will soon be expanded across other STARK UK businesses, including Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS) and Major Build Solutions (MBS) in coming months. Ian Goldsmith, Chief Operating Officer for STARK UK, said: “Real-time delivery updates have become part of everyday life, and customers increasingly expect the same level of visibility and convenience from their builders’ merchant. Our new service has been designed to bring that experience into the construction supply chain, giving customers clearer communication, greater confidence around delivery times, and improved visibility from dispatch through to arrival. “The feedback throughout the trial period was extremely positive, with customers welcoming improved visibility and communication around deliveries. Several pilot users commented that this level of service feels special for a builders’ merchant, and over time we expect it will also help reduce the need for customers to contact branches to check on delivery times or order status, letting them focus more of their time on their projects. “This is another example of how we continue to invest in customer experience across STARK UK, and we’ll be developing the platform further to ensure it continues to meet and exceed expectations in the future.” The launch of STARK UK’s new digital delivery and tracking service comes alongside its #LetsGetBritainBuildingNOW petition, which calls on the government to get Britain’s building and construction sector out of crisis and into positive economic growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Two Yorkshire businesses have expanded into new premises at Logistics Hub at Howley Park Estate in Morley, taking more than 17,000 sq ft of industrial space as they grow operations within West Yorkshire. The lettings, completed by J Pullan & Sons Ltd (Pullans), reflect continued demand for well-located industrial accommodation across the region, particularly from occupiers seeking larger operational bases with room to expand and units featuring large service yards. Total Resource (UK) Limited has taken 8,586 sq ft at Unit 7 on a 10-year lease, expanding from its previous Leeds depot. The company supplies traffic management and maintenance equipment across the UK and will use the premises as a combined storage, servicing and office facility. Bespoke office accommodation was constructed by Pullans within the unit to support the company’s operational requirements and future growth plans. At neighbouring Unit 6, comprising 8,488 sq ft, Thermo King UK Limited has expanded and relocated from South Kirkby. The business specialises in the servicing and maintenance of refrigerated units for commercial vehicles and has fitted out the premises to provide workshop space, secure external parking and improved customer vehicle handling facilities. Both businesses cited the estate’s accessibility, extensive yard provision and proximity to Junction 28 of the M62 motorway as key factors in their decision to relocate to Morley. Bruce Strachan, Property Director at Pullans, said:“It’s encouraging to see Yorkshire businesses continuing to invest and expand within the region. Demand remains strong for industrial space that can support a range of operational requirements while also giving occupiers the flexibility to adapt and grow over time. Both businesses were looking for practical facilities that could support day-to-day operations as well as their future plans, and we are pleased that the Logistics Hub units at Howley Park were able to provide that.” James Proctor, Regional Manager at Thermo King UK said:“The facility has proven to be an excellent fit for our business. The combination of workshop space and external parking allows us to respond quickly to customer demand across the region, while also providing a secure and accessible environment for customer vehicles. We also found that having a landlord who understood our operational requirements and could respond quickly during the relocation process made a significant difference in helping us get established smoothly in the new facility.” Laura Winfield, Area Manager at Total Resource (UK) Ltd added:“Howley Park offers the combination of unit size and yard space that we were looking for as part of our expansion. The motorway access supports our distribution operations across Yorkshire and beyond, while the office accommodation provides a professional environment for both staff and visitors. The move gives us the flexibility and capacity needed to support the next stage of our growth.” Strategically located just outside Leeds adjacent to the M61/M621, Howley Park Estate extends to around 170 acres and provides more than 700,000 sq ft of industrial and commercial accommodation, supporting a broad range of regional and national occupiers including Asda, Currys, DPD, Stax Trade Centres and Walkers Transport. CBRE and Carter Towler are joint agents for the estate. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
June is officially National Homeownership Month, but for many, it feels more like a month of window shopping. With the average deposit required to buy a home skyrocketing out of reach for most, first time buyers are having to get seriously creative with how they secure their first rung on the property ladder. Instead of waiting for a miracle, savvy buyers are rewriting the rulebook. Owning a stake in your home, whether that’s through a 25% Shared Ownership property or by exercising your Right to Buy your council home, is infinitely better than owning 0% of a rental home. From hunting down bargain-priced ‘doer-uppers’ at auction to utilising alternative lending, it’s time to stop waiting for the ‘perfect’ 100% traditional mortgage dream and start looking at the alternative routes that can get you the keys to your first home. Ryan Etchells, Chief Commercial Officer at Together, the specialist mortgage lender, shares his top tips to help hopeful renters and FTBs get on the property ladder this summer: The biggest mistake first-time buyers make is looking at the total property price and panicking. When you’re trying to save while renting, huge house prices can make homeownership feel totally out of reach. For example, if a house is £300,000, you don’t need a massive £30,000 upfront. Through Shared Ownership, you buy a portion you can actually afford—usually 25% to 75%—and pay a subsidised rent on the rest. This means a 10% deposit on a 25% share of that £300K home is slashed to just £7,500. Best of all? This isn’t just ‘part-renting’ forever. It unlocks a process called ‘staircasing’ where, as your salary grows, you can buy more shares until you can potentially own the whole property. You’re building your own long-term wealth and turning those monthly payments into an investment in your own future instead of someone else’s. For those willing to be a bit more adventurous, and who want to bypass the fierce competition of the traditional first-time buyer market, the auction room can uncover hidden gems. You might think houses under the hammer are all run-down “problem properties,” but they often offer a golden chance for newbies to secure a home way below market value and create a unique space entirely to your taste. There is also a clever investment play here; by flipping the property—renovating it and selling it on—you can potentially make a serious profit that provides a larger deposit for your ultimate forever home. However, auctions are a high-stakes “sprint” finish that can catch first-timers off guard. When the hammer goes down, you have effectively exchanged contracts and are legally obliged to complete. You’ll need a 10% deposit on the day and typically only 28 days to pay the balance in full. If you miss that deadline, you lose your deposit and the property, which is a nightmare scenario. That’s why having specialist “auction finance” ready to go is the only way to step into the auction room and bid with absolute confidence. When you are trying to buy alone, the numbers can feel incredibly restrictive. But who says you have to do it solo? Savvy buyers are increasingly pooling their resources. Some specialist lenders will allow up to four applicants to join forces on a single mortgage, meaning you could buy with friends or siblings to get that first crucial foothold on the ladder. If you’ve been renting from a local authority, council, or housing association, you could be sitting on a major discount without even realising it. The Right to Buy scheme is one of the most overlooked shortcuts to homeownership for current renters. Depending on how long you’ve lived there, you could qualify for a substantial discount on the property’s actual market value. The real game-changer here? Specialist lenders can often use that built-in council discount as your deposit. This means you could potentially buy the very roof over your head with zero cash deposit required upfront. You get to keep the home you already know, entirely skip the stress and cost of moving day, and instantly swap paying rent for building your own equity. Many “Generation Renters” don’t even bother applying for a mortgage because they think their situation is too “complex” to ever be accepted. This could mean you’re a freelancer, a side-hustler with two part-time jobs, or carrying a minor credit blip from years ago. When you’re trying to buy your first home, high-street banks use rigid computers that love to say “no,” especially when an applicant doesn’t match their ‘one size fits all’ standard. But don’t give up hope. On the other hand, specialist lenders, like Together, look at the real human behind the paperwork and support first-time buyers keen to make the next step. Don’t let a ‘non-standard’ life stop you from landing the keys to your very first place. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The landmark renewal of London’s iconic Barbican Arts Centre is gathering pace, with the value of planned upgrade works to the value of £170m as the City of London Corporation prepares for the next phase of the ambitious regeneration programme. A series of new procurement notices released this week has revealed the scale of the investment planned across the Grade II-listed Brutalist complex, with major contractors and specialist consultants now expected to be lined up for a range of high-profile packages. Alongside this, an additional £60m infrastructure package is also being prepared, while a further £50m programme will focus on the overhaul of the Barbican Conservatory — one of the capital’s most recognisable indoor gardens and public attractions. Other planned works include a £30m refurbishment of foyers and circulation areas aimed at improving accessibility and visitor experience. The procurement drive follows planning approval earlier this year for the wider first phase of the Barbican Renewal Programme, a £231m retrofit-led scheme designed by Allies and Morrison alongside Asif Khan Studio and engineering consultancy Buro Happold. The broader programme aims to modernise the internationally recognised arts and cultural venue while preserving its historic architectural character through a sensitive refurbishment approach focused on repair, restoration and infrastructure renewal. Plans include significant improvements to accessibility, environmental performance and public spaces, alongside the replacement of outdated building systems that have supported the complex since the 1980s. Major construction works are expected to begin in late 2027, with many Barbican activities temporarily paused between 2028 and 2029 during the most intensive stages of the programme. The project represents one of the UK’s largest and most technically complex retrofit and cultural infrastructure programmes currently in development, highlighting the growing focus on preserving and modernising nationally important heritage assets through long-term sustainable investment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Legrand UK & Ireland has opened a new 43,000 sq. ft. electronics manufacturing facility at Nelson Park in Cramlington, Northumberland, establishing a new centre of excellence for the Legrand Group in Europe. The purpose-built site is home to Legrand’s CP Electronics lighting controls and Legrand Care brands, positioned close to the North East’s growing clean energy sector and skilled workforce. The new manufacturing site will extend Legrand’s presence in the UK, which spans more than 40 years. Designed and built with Net Zero principles at its core, the facility is entirely gas-free. A high-efficiency air source heat pump system provides heating and cooling across the site, eliminating direct Scope 1 emissions. A rooftop solar PV array with an installed capacity of 163 kilowatt-peak (kWp) is expected to generate close to 128,000 kWh annually, significantly reducing reliance on grid electricity. The site also incorporates EV charging infrastructure, sustainable drainage, permeable paving and high-performance insulation. Wherever possible, the facility has been equipped with Legrand’s own products, including its Linea 5000 door entry panels, cable management solutions and digital energy metering technology. These systems contribute to the site’s connectivity and energy efficiency while serving as a working showcase for the company’s product portfolio. Paolo Murdocca, COO at Legrand UK & Ireland, said: “This facility represents a significant milestone for Legrand in the UK. We have built a site that not only strengthens our manufacturing capability but also reflects the standards we set for our customers. “Cramlington gives us a modern, sustainable base from which to grow our CP Electronics and Legrand Care brands, and it demonstrates that high-quality electronics manufacturing and genuine environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. The North east offers exactly the skills and supply chain we need, and we are proud to be investing here for the long term.” Legrand UK & Ireland continues to invest in its UK operations, and this investment highlights its commitment to powering technological advancements and providing exceptional value to customers. For more information, see Legrand.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The data centre industry is sprinting to build the necessary infrastructure to support the next phase of the AI buildout. This year, the five biggest AI infrastructure companies will spend somewhere between $660 billion and $690 billion on building AI data centres, almost twice what they spent in 2025. Worldwide data centre power consumption is forecast to grow by 50% between 2025 and 2027, rising by as much as 165% by the end of the decade. The hurdles that have arisen as the result of meeting this generational surge in infrastructure demand are well documented. From securing the necessary access to power from ageing grids to securing skilled engineers and technicians, many challenges inherent to executing the AI boom are being widely discussed. But the accelerated pace and sheer scale of data centre demand poses other problems that, as yet, aren’t getting the attention they deserve from the industry. As AI demand pushes for faster data centre construction and compresses delivery timelines, the race to deliver the next generation of digital infrastructure is putting unprecedented pressure on the commissioning process. This is happening at a time when new data centre designs, bigger facilities, and shorter project windows are making independent verification and certification more critical than ever. The industry’s focus on speed-to-market is ramping up pressure on testing and validation processes, and the resultant incentive to cut corners is raising the potential operational and commercial risk if the need for speed compromises verification. Ahead of Datacloud Global Congress, Global Commissioning is sounding the alarm that, as AI demand accelerates data centre construction and compresses delivery timelines, commissioning and independent verification are becoming more critical than ever. They will be hosting a panel discussion on the topic at the upcoming event. Commissioning: the invisible, invaluable last line of defence Commissioning rarely makes headlines. But when it goes wrong, the consequences certainly do. The commissioning process is widely understood as a set of tests that take place close to the completion of a project. Its technical and regulatory necessities are broadly agreed upon, but ask why commissioning matters at a business level, and many people in the industry will struggle to articulate their answers. In practice, commissioning is so much more than an exercise in compliance. A rigorous commissioning programme begins at design review, long before a cable is pulled, and runs through every layer of a building’s systems, from the component level up to integrated performance under full operational load. It is the process that determines whether a data centre actually does what its designers intended. The industry shorthand for this is L0 to L6: a structured testing methodology that progressively validates each system layer, culminating in integrated systems testing and operational readiness. When it’s done properly, it produces a test record that is a genuine risk management instrument. That record protects developers, operators, and investors alike. When that process is compressed, deferred, or treated as a box-ticking exercise, that protection disappears, and the consequences tend to surface at the worst possible moment. This is the moment to centre commissioning, not set it aside Commissioning is not just a technical exercise or final-stage checklist. It is a critical risk management and accountability process that protects long-term data centre performance, resilience and investor confidence. The data centre sector is building faster than at any point in its history. Hyperscale demand, AI infrastructure investment, and energy transition pressures are all compressing timescales and raising the stakes on every delivery decision. In that environment, the tolerance for substandard commissioning, for incomplete test records, deferred defect resolution, and integrated testing that never quite happened, is shrinking fast. Operators who have been through difficult handovers are restructuring how they procure commissioning authority. Developers are being asked harder questions about what their documentation actually reflects. And the wider market is converging around a new understanding of what credible, independent verification looks like: one that integrates commissioning, certification, and operational validation into a single, accountable chain. The data centre industry is engaged in an infrastructure buildout of generational scale and significance to the fabric of the modern world. The industry responsible for certifying and verifying that infrastructure is fit for purpose should not be relegated to a box-ticking exercise. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new 82-bedroom hotel is taking shape in Greater London, with help from a leading Birmingham-based construction consultancy. The Construction Consultants (TCC) has been appointed to support the development of a new £8.6 million Travelodge in Upminster in the London Borough of Havering. TCC is providing contract administrator and quantity surveying services to the creation of the new hotel in Station Road. It will be Travelodge’s 86th hotel in London, and add to the hotel chain’s portfolio of 600 hotels around the UK. The new hotel will feature 24 family rooms, 49 double rooms with showers and nine wheelchair accessible rooms. The project also includes ground floor retail units along with car parking and landscaping. As contract administrator TCC has the responsibility of acting on behalf of developers Eastern Iron Works Ltd alongside construction manager Stack London Ltd to see the project through to completion. TCC co-founder and director Sandeep Sunner said, “We are delighted to have been appointed to this project which will provide high quality accommodation for business and leisure visitors to the area, contributing to the local economy of Upminster.” TCC has a wealth of experience across public and private sectors including industrial, commercial, retail, leisure, care and residential projects. Headquartered in Bennett’s Hill, TCC is a multi-disciplined consultancy providing specialist project management, quantity-surveying, employers agent, building surveying and health and safety services to a wide range of sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Harlequin Watford, Hertfordshire’s leading retail and leisure destination owned and operated by SGS UK Retail, has announced the signing of immersive gaming concept Activate, further strengthening its position as the region’s premier all-day destination for shopping, dining and leisure. The fast-growing competitive socialising brand will bring a major new experiential attraction to Watford town centre, located across a 15,592 sq ft unit. Activate’s newest location is launched by experiential leisure operator We Do Play, the group behind Flip Out, the UK’s largest trampoline and indoor park operator, which is also located at Harlequin and has welcomed thousands of visitors since its opening in December 2024. The Harlequin venue will combine immersive gaming with technology-driven challenges, designed for groups of visitors to move through a series of interactive game rooms, including all of Activate’s flagship experiences, featuring lasers, grids, hoops, portals and reaction-based challenges. The upcoming arrival of Activate marks another significant step in Harlequin’s evolution, with a rejuvenated leisure focus delivering a diversified destination. It also reflects the brand’s rapid growth and sustained consumer demand, perfectly paired with visitors seeking social, activity-based leisure experiences. Richard Beese, Co-Founder of We Do Play, said: “Watford is a thriving, well-connected town with a strong retail and leisure offer, making Harlequin a natural choice for Activate. Retail destinations that invest in immersive leisure experiences are encouraging increased dwell time and repeat visits, particularly among younger audiences and families. Activate is designed to tap into that demand with a high-energy, bookable experience that delivers something genuinely different.” Robert Jewell, Managing Director of Asset Management at Pradera, commented: “Harlequin has evolved into far more than a traditional shopping destination, and the signing of Activate will continue the momentum of bringing fresh and contemporary concepts that complement the centre’s growing leisure and hospitality offer. This is another strong example of our long-term strategy coming to life, creating more reasons for visitors to stay longer, spend more and return more frequently.” Harlequin’s dominant position as the region’s first-choice retail and leisure offer brings together flagship stores from leading brands including Zara, Uniqlo and Next under one roof, alongside a strong mix of hospitality and experience-led attractions. With continued investment, the scheme continues to evolve in line with changing consumer demand and visitor expectations. Time Retail and LM are Harlequin’s retail leasing agents, and Metis and LM lead the leisure leasing. Pradera asset manages Lakeside on behalf of SGS UK Retail. LM acted for Activate. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Memorandum of Understanding brings together the capabilities needed to make electric construction equipment a practical, on-site reality. By addressing power supply, charging, energy management and operational integration as a single system, the collaboration responds directly to rising sustainability and productivity pressures and the industry’s shift from standalone technologies to integrated, ready-to-deploy solutions. Hitachi Energy, a global leader in electrification, and Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), a leading manufacturer of construction equipment machinery, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on developing end‑to‑end approaches that support the deployment of zero‑emission construction sites. The collaboration brings together electric construction equipment with clean power supply, energy management, and system integration capabilities to help address one of the construction industry’s most pressing challenges: decarbonization. Customer and investor demand for lower‑emission, more productive construction operations is reshaping the industry. At the same time, regulatory and permitting frameworks increasingly require projects to address emissions and environmental performance throughout the planning and approval process. While electrification, automation, and efficient resource and asset planning offer clear pathways to reduce emissions, transitioning from individual electric machines to fully functioning zero‑emission construction sites requires a coordinated ecosystem of solutions and effective system integration across equipment, power infrastructure, and energy management systems. Under the agreement, Volvo CE and Hitachi Energy will work on a non-exclusive basis to assess potential technical and commercial concepts supporting zero-emission construction and manufacturing operations, with a focus on system integration and site-level operational execution. The scope includes joint work on business models, go‑to‑market approaches, and aftermarket and support considerations, supported by joint teams from both companies. “Strategic partnerships such as this with Hitachi Energy are key to accelerating the transition to zero-emission construction,” said Melker Jernberg, President of Volvo CE. “By combining complementary expertise and delivering a complete, integrated solution, we are giving customers the confidence, security, and peace of mind they need to adopt emission-free operations today.” “Electrification is a game changer in the decarbonization puzzle, particularly for hard‑to‑abate environments such as construction sites,” said Niklas Persson, CEO of Grid Integration at Hitachi Energy. “As construction operations become more electric and more complex, success depends less on individual technologies and more on system‑level integration, strong execution, and close collaboration with partners like Volvo CE who share our ambition to enable zero‑emission construction at scale.” Zero-emission construction requires a coordinated ecosystem of solutions and seamless integration between machines, electrical infrastructure and energy management systems (Illustration: Volvo CE/Hitachi Energy) The initial focus is business and go‑to‑market‑oriented, emphasizing practical, plug‑and‑play approaches to help customers simplify the transition to zero‑emission construction sites. At the same time, the agreement establishes a foundation for deeper technical engagement over time, with the potential to explore more advanced capabilities such as connected machines, digital integration, and expanded service offerings. Volvo CE has long been at the forefront of the construction industry’s move toward electrification and digitalization, while Hitachi Energy brings deep expertise in power systems, energy management, and system integration. Together, the collaboration represents an important next step in providing customers with a comprehensive solution to help navigate and accelerate this transition. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals